Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa November 2022

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Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa is happy to announce that we have a new World Headquarters location! We have vacated the town of Kimballton and moved a few miles west into a different place in Portsmouth, Iowa. After being in K town for a few years short of two decades, we decided it was time to move on to bigger and way better things. Our new mailing address is Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa, PO Box 131, Portsmouth, Iowa 51565. The website, phone numbers, and email addresses are still the same, but the Schwarte abode and TRMI can be reached via mail at the new address. We are excited because at the time of typing this Letter from the Editor, a new garage and office are in the works. Hopefully Mike Jurgensen, Ryan Eggers, Tom Stanley and their respective crews can get us a place to park our two and four wheeled vehicles out of the weather, by the time it gets white outside. With the move, nothing will be changing with the magazine except for the mailing address, so everything else will be business as usual.

As we are winding down the riding season and here in a few short weeks, the rest of the year, I must say it has been awesome to be able to complete another season at the helm of this magazine that we so dearly love. This thing we call TRMI has been a part of me since the beginning of 2010, and officially have owned it since the June 2010 Issue. It has been quite the interesting ride in the last dozen plus years of publishing this thing every month. There have been a lot of changes over the years, a lot of people that have come and gone, article series that have run their course and faded away, but one thing will never change, our undying love for the state of Iowa and sharing information with Iowa bikers.

I have had many opportunities to help the bikers of Iowa voices be heard through our pages, and also through other avenues opened up by owning this magazine. I was

O n t h e C o v e rOn the Cover

This bad ass but gorgeous motorcycle out of Council Bluffs was put together by Eddie Jones Senior, with help from his boy Eddie. That cool one piece fender and seat sat in waiting for forty years before being put on this cool as ride. Along with the bad ass gorgeous motorcycle is a bad ass gorgeous lady named Jaymie. This long haired, long legged red head works as a roofer by day, and completed the look for the cover in these images from Mark Fountain at fountainphoto.net

elected and continue to serve as a board member of the Iowa Motorcycle Dealers Association. The group of dedicated shop owners and managers plays an active part in keeping our ability to ride at the forefront of the minds of law-makers right here in Iowa. This group of like-minded souls focuses on enhancing the power sports business and usage in Iowa. Whether it relates to new and used motor sports dealerships, repair shops, manufacturers, distributors, transporters, and all other related entities doing business within the state of Iowa. I am also an invited guest of the Iowa Confederation of Clubs and attend meetings quarterly with that group. These groups of patch holders have allowed me into the group for meetings despite not being a member and occasionally seek out input on things that I am well versed. The Cost of Going Green article series was borne out of one of those meetings with the suggestions that it would be nice to hear the other side of green energy that was not simply blowing sunshine up our back sides. Last but not least on my list of groups that I am a part of is the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. Eric Ross and Christy Gunderson invited me aboard this amazing national level group as an MRF Assistant State Representative. Their annual gathering, called the Meeting of the Minds was in Des Moines this year. I was able to attend and had the opportunity to meet a ton of freedom fighting folks from all over this great nation. At the forefront of the MRF is the national level lobbying efforts on many fronts from fighting the profiling of bikers, to limiting restrictions on our two and three wheeled vehicles, limiting the level of legislation to end the motorcycle world as we know it, and to offer training, support, and guidance to state motorcycle rights organizations. All of these organizations that I am fortunate to be a part of serve their own little niche of our little biker world. I have much respect for the people that I work with and collaborate with in these groups and have no plans to part ways as long as they will have me. Being a part of these groups is a behind the scenes type of thing for me owning the magazine, but plays well into being able to keep riding and not losing any more rights or have to live with any further limitations for bikers. Consider stepping up if you have not already done so and do your part to keep bikers on the roads.

Vernon Schwarte Editor/Owner

Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa

Quote of the Month: “People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” Alan Moore

Thunder Roads Magazine of

This being the November article, two hugely important items come to mind. First the all-important midterm elections where we have the opportunity - and sadly maybe one of the last opportunities - to stop this train wreck our country is experiencing. Secondly, the honoring, celebrating and gratitude we should all have for our veterans past and present. Two items seemingly distinct but in reality, vitally interconnected. I would hope that it’s been increasingly clear to all but a few ostriches that the trajectory our country has been on the last couple of years is not upward but gathering speed while swirling the toilet bowl. The sad fact comes down to this: We are in a war. A war for our country, our history, our youth, our principles, and our way of life. Please talk with those in your sphere of influence and VOTE!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to attend the National MRF Meeting of the Minds which was held in Des Moines and hosted by our state ABATE organization. Our ABATE group did a fantastic job organizing and hosting this, the 38th annual event. Well done. We were so very fortunate to have this in IOWA. Three days with multiple seminars, awesome material as well as presenters. One of the highlights, and definitely the most moving, was Charlie ”Chopper” Gilmore of the Gilmore brother’s fame who held a general session seminar on The Price of Freedom. After a wonderful introduction by his brother, Slider, Charlie proceeded to tell the audience of his experiences in Viet Nam, the cost and sacrifice by so many in that war and the others that our country has been in. Like my own father, a WWII vet, Charlie didn’t speak of his experiences for many years. It took Charlie 50 years but thank God he is now sharing and educating those who did not have those experiences. The picture he painted as a platoon leader in the 101st Airborne was something most of us only see in movies and can only imagine: the unforgiving jungle, with its climate of never-ending infection, the booby-trapped trails, Punji stakes, Bouncing Betty mines, Agent Orange, sleep deprivation, never being able to let your guard down, scorpions, cobras, pit vipers, rats and insects, and then the North Viet Cong all out to get you. Charlie showed us how soldiers gave up their freedom so we could have ours.

This all brings me around to the one who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, Jesus, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His time on earth was not spent as the glorious conqueror that he is and will be at his second coming but as that of a servant, teacher and sacrificial Lamb of God. He exposes our enemy, the devil, for what and who he really is - Satan, the father of lies and the driving force behind the spiritual blindness and chaos this world is currently experiencing. I saw a quote from G.K. Chesterton that was so pertinent to today. He said, “When men stop believing in God, they don’t then believe in nothing; they believe in anything.

Thank God his Holy Spirit points us the way. Jesus is the light of the world and the hope and salvation of mankind. Apart from Him and the work of the cross we are lost. The book of Ephesians tells us that “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which HE loved us even

when we were dead in sin, made us alive together with Christ. It is by his grace you have been saved.”

Sacrifice comes in many forms and we, by doing our part, make things better for others. I’ll wrap this up with few more words of wisdom from different perspectives that have spoken to me recently. “Stand tall, stay loyal, remain free and always value honor.” -- Sonny Barger.

“Never give up, fight tirelessly, protect freedoms, never retreat and be vigilant.” -- Charlie “Chopper” Gilmore.

“It’s not that complicated; just be nice for Jesus.” -- Karla Cornick

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life.” -- Jesus

Blessings, Mark

Mark and Karla Cornick are with the Christian Motorcyclists Association. Find out more about CMA and God’s plan for you at www.cmausa.org

www.thunderroadsiowa.com

Thunder

Magazine of

The Biker Friendly Business Directory is a list of establishments throughout Iowa that sponsor the magazine. You can pick up your copy here every month. Let them know that you saw them in TRMI. If your business would like to advertise in Thunder Roads Iowa Biker Friendly Business Listing and become a part of the network, please email vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com

Biker Accessories

Edwards Motorsports and RV’s 1010 34th Avenue Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712-366-8400 fullthrottleia.com or edwardsrvs.com

Heartland Harley-Davidson 117 S Roosevelt Ave Burlington, IA 52601 319-754-1100 www.heartlandhd.com

Entertainment

Book Em Dano’s 33 S Main Street Denison, Iowa 51442 712-263-9818 Mon-Sat 4-2

Dancers Nightly 5-1:30

Chili Dawg’s Foods of Fire 1940 Blair Ridge Road Blair, NE 68008

www.chilidawgs.com

Retail/Online Spice and Seasoning Store

Desperados 105 E 5th Street Atlantic 712-243-7087

Crispy’s Biker Apparel Cedar Rapids, Iowa Find Us On Facebook

Dirty Biker Design 122 S. John Wayne Drive Winterset, Iowa 50273 www.DirtyBikerDesign.com 515-444-9050

Leather & Hawgs 121 1st Street Soldier, Iowa leather@wiatel.net (712) 884-2701 www.leatherandhawgs.com

Dealers

Baxter Cycle 311 4th Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2351 www.baxtercycle.com

Big Barn Harley-Davidson 81 NW 49th Place Des Moines, Iowa 50313 515-265-4444 www.bigbarnhd.net

Carroll Cycle Center 1327 Plaza Dr Carroll, Iowa 712-792-1610 www.carrollcycle.com

Indian Motorcycle of Mason City Mason City Powersports 12499 265th Street Mason City 641-423-3181 Masoncitypowersportsinc.com

Loess Hills Harley-Davidson 57408 190th Street Pacific Junction IA 51561 712-800-3500 loesshillshd.com

Metro Harley-Davidson 2415 Westdale Drive SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 319-362-9496 www.metro-motorsports.com

Route 65 Harley-Davidson 1300 S Jefferson Way Indianola, Iowa 50125 515.962.2160 www.route65hd.net

Storm Lake Honda 3040 Expansion Blvd Storm Lake, Iowa 50588 StormLakeHonda.com 712-732-2460

National Motorcycle Museum 102 Chamber Drive Anamosa, Iowa 52205 319-462-3925 Nationalmcmuseum.org

Okoboji Classic Cars Museum and Restoration Shop 810 Jeppeson Road West Okoboji, Iowa 51351 712-332-8029

Food and Drink (Popular Poker & Fun Run Locations)

American Legion Post 111 1101 W 4th Street S Newton 641-792-3353

Open to the Public 7 Days a Week Newtonamericanlegion111.org

Bea’s Place 108 N Main St Baxter 641-227-2080

Check Us Out on Facebook Food, Live Music, Bike Nights

Bloodline Irish Pub 214 Public Square Greenfield, Iowa 50849 Bloodline Irish Pub on Facebook

Catfish Charlie’s On the Mississippi River 1630 E. 16th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 (563)582-8600 www.CatfishCharliesDubuque.com

Home of Cold Beer, Good Times, Pizza & Wings

Firehouse Bar 1211 5th Street Downtown Sioux City, IA 712-224-1020

Open Daily at 12:00

Flaming Office 201 W High Street Toledo 641-484-2255

Outdoor Patio, Happy Hour 5-7 Flaming Office on Facebook & Google

Goozman’s Westside Bar & Grill 1019 7th St Harlan, Iowa 712-755-2259

Goozman’s Westside on Facebook

Haverhill Social Club 202 1st Street  Haverhill, Iowa 50120 641-475-3321

Tues-Sat 10-2, Sun 12-12

Iowa Legendary Rye 707 N Main Street Carroll, Iowa 51401

Iowalegendaryrye.com

Jake’s Station 107 West HWY 59 Hancock, Iowa 51536 712-741-BEER

Like Our Page Jakes Station on Facebook

J.R. Willie’s Gateway to the Beautiful Hill Country Colesburg, IA 563-856-5095

Open Daily Mon-Sun 11AM Home of the Willie Whopper

www.thunderroadsiowa.com

Iowa

Just 1 More 515-570-4206 641-757-0159 309 Railway Jamaica, Iowa 50128

Mi Casa Family Restaurant 512 Market Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-2258

Enjoy Drinks at the Full Bar!

Midway Tavern 206 1st Street Soldier, Iowa 712-884-2230 www.midwaytavernsoldier.com

Montgomery Street Pub 207 East Montgomery Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-2165

Papa Joe’s 117 South 6th Street Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-9015

Pearl Street Social Club 110 Pearl Street SW Shellsburg, Iowa 52332 319-436-7100

Find Us On Facebook!

Pines Steakhouse Oinkers Lounge & Grill 1500 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3606

M-F 11AM-, S-S 4PMRiverside Tavern 450 E Main St Lehigh, Iowa 50557 515-359-9998 Email:riversidetap@gmail.com

Sandbar 103 North Noyes Street Mondamin, Iowa 51557 712-646-2300

Facebook Sandbar Mondamin

Sidetracked 206 West Union Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-8534

Stumpy’s Bar & Grill 423 Main Street Duncombe, Iowa 50532 515-543-4222

Stumpy’s Bar & Grill on Facebook

Sugar’s Diner & Lounge 2725 E Kanesville Blvd Council Bluffs, Iowa 712-322-3600

Check us out on Facebook

The Exchange 171 S Elm Street Avoca, Iowa 51521 712-343-2609

Lang’s Pizza, Cold Beer, Sports

The Full Nelson 205 West 2nd Street Halbur, Iowa 51444 712-658-2425

The Full Nelson on Facebook

The Yankee Clipper 312 SW Maple St Ankeny, Ia 50023 515-964-9484 yankeeclipperbar.com

VFW Post 9662 Bar and Grill 1309 NE 66th Ave Des Moines 515 - 289 - 9914 and Facebook

Vic’s Main Tap 304 Broadway Audubon, Iowa 50025 712-563-2122

Opens M-F 2-Close, Sat 9-Close, Sun 2-Close

Wilson’s Tap and Recreation 1008 Story Street Boone, Iowa 50036/ 515-433-1395

Guns and Ammo

JLM Shooters Supply 6931 Douglas Avenue Urbandale, Iowa 50322 jlmshooterssupply@gmail.com 515-331-1577

Hobbies & Collectibles

Treasure Island Diecast/Facebook Hot Wheels, M2, Matchbox, Jada Ertl, Lightning, Harley, Maisto Buy-Sell-Trade 641-521-8036 rayaustinhd@gmail.com www.treasureislanddiecast.com

Insurance & Financial

O’Malley Wealth Mgmt. 5623 NW 86th Street Suite 400 Johnston, Iowa 50131 515-490-0930

State Farm Clark Ahrenholtz, Agent NMLS# 1679997 2114 12th Street Harlan, Iowa 712-755-5724 Clark.ahrenholtz.jb69@statefarm.com

Legal

Hupy and Abraham sc, pc Lawyers for Bikers 800.800.5678 Hupy.com

Inserra | Kelley | Sewell Injury Attorneys 6790 Grover St, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68106 www.inserra.com (402) 391-4000

TheBikerLawyers.com

The Biker Lawyers, P.C. Riding & Defending Your Rights for Over 30 Years 877-209-9452

Photo and Art

Ullrich Photography PO Box 1842 Clinton, Iowa 52733 563-243-8715 www.natanic.com

Shops & Fabricators

BS & Bikes 300 E 17th St S Suite 700 Newton, IA 50208 641-521-8448 Find us on Facebook

Butterfield’s M.C. Parts 8025 Blondo Street Omaha, NE 68134 402-391-3768

Chuck’s Cycle Service and Repair S&S and Drag Specialties Dealer 307 E 5th StreetWashington, Iowa52353 319-461-5278

Cycle Clinic 2209 ML King Pkwy Des Moines, Iowa 50314 cycleclinicdm.com 515-288-6954

F & J Racing 701 N 3rd Ave Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 641-752-8651 www.fandjracing.com

Mean Machine Cycle Parts Elkhart, Iowa 50073 Stereos, Bars, LED Lights, Air Ride Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-12 515-367-7336

Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook

www.thunderroadsiowa.com

Motorcycle Medic 3176 Highway 30 Woodbine, Iowa 51579 712-647-2818

Open Tues-Sat Noon-6PM

Nelson Machine & Forge General Machining, Ornamental Iron, Weld/Fab 70 Washington Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2220

Road Rage BikeWorks 401 High Street Avoca, Iowa 51521 712-307-6111

Road Rage BikeWorks on Facebook

Steffens Cycle and Detailing 1311 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-250-8493 steffenscycle@gmail.com

Thunder Road Cycles 4106 Rockingham Rd Davenport, Iowa 52802 563-323-3172

Thunder Road Cycles on Facebook

Tires

Sandbothe Firestone 1106 Main Street Griswold, Iowa 51535 712-778-2223

Sandbothe Firestone on Facebook

Trailers

Lacaeyse Trailer Sales 4192 HWY 146 Grinnell Trailers & Truck Accessories 641-990-2674 www.lacaeysetrailers.com

To buy ad space for your business or service in our directory, give us call at 712-249-5630 or email vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com

Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook

MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT

This year on Veteran’s Day or as you are looking for ways to help out others, please consider researching the following non-profit corporation. You may not have heard of the Missing in America Project, but it certainly deserves your consideration. The following information is being shared from their website, and if you would like to learn more, please visit https:// www.miap.us

“The Missing in America Project (MIAP) is a registered 501(c)3 Nonprofit Corporation. Our intention is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremains of American veterans. The Missing in America Project was launched nationwide in January, 2007. Further information may also be obtained by contacting the appropriate department/personnel listed below:

Board Of Directors: Linda K. Smith, National Director and President of the BOD, Clyde Taylor, Vice President, Don Gerspach, Regional Coordinator, Charlie Warthling, Web Site Manager, Chris Marsh, Board Member, Fred Salanti, Founder & Board Member Emeritus.

Why We’re Here.

The purpose of the MIA Project is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. To provide honor and respect to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes. The Missing in America Veterans Recovery Program (MIAP) (EIN: 20-8408832) is a Federal recognized Non-Profit Veterans Organization for the identification, location, verification, and movement of Veterans and their Dependents.

The initial focus of the MIA Project will be a massive, nation-wide effort to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed remains of forgotten veterans. This task will be executed through the combined, cooperative efforts of members of the American Legion, other volunteer service and veteran organizations, local Funeral Homes, State Funeral

Commissions, State and National Veterans Administration Agencies, and the State and National Veterans Cemetery Administrations. Local, state and national laws must be followed in the identification, claiming process and proper interment of the unclaimed remains of forgotten veterans. Veteran Recovery Program.

You served your country through a war, or through peacetime. You expected to receive a military burial, recognition by our government of your commitment to our great country. You expected to have honor and respect paid to you as a result of your service to our great country. Instead, you reside on a shelf in a mortuary or a storage facility at a crematorium.

The mission of the MIAP project is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremains of veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. These forgotten veterans have served our country and, as such, deserve to be buried with honor and respect. The impetus for our fine program began in November 2006. The Idaho State Veterans cemetery interred 21 cremains of forgotten veterans, with full military honors and the dignity these fallen heroes so richly deserved. Recently, a state hospital announced that 3500 cremains were on shelves to be identified. On the shelf were cremains for the time span of the 1890s to 1971. It is estimated 1,000 of these cremains are veterans. This is happening in every state.

This project has just begun. We need to blanket every mortuary and cemetery in the United States and let them know there are people who desire to claim our veterans. We need to let them know it is our desire to see they are interred with the honor and respect they deserve. They served our great nation. It is now our great nation’s turn to serve them.

The veterans languishing on shelves need us. They need America to step forward and ensure they are buried with honor. They need America to show their thanks for their service. Without them, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy today.”

www.thunderroadsiowa.com

Iowa

The Importance of Honoring our Veterans…

In case you didn’t know, November 11th is Veteran’s Day. Veteran’s Day seems to fall into that class of American holidays that typically includes one of the following activities: hanging with your buddies or family, eating or drinking way too much, catching up on chores or errands, or just plain relaxing and doing nothing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of those activities, as long as we don’t forget why we have this day, and who this day honors. What Exactly is Veteran’s Day?

Veterans Day was originally called “Armistice Day”, and has always been celebrated on Nov. 11. This is to commemorate the first anniversary of the end of World War I which ended Nov. 11, 1919. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.

What’s the Difference Between Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day?

Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) honors American service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans–living or dead–but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

Veteran’s Day Trivia:

In 1954, President Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by Congress, which moved the celebration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. The law went into effect in 1971, but in 1975 President Ford returned Veterans Day to November 11, due to the important historical significance of the date.

Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World Wars I and II on or near November 11th: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain has Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November). In Europe, Britain and the Commonwealth countries it is common to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. every November 11.

What do ALL Veterans Have in Common? They all have served YOU….

How did Veterans Serve?

First and foremost, our veterans protected our country and its’ values. They did this by putting their lives on the line every day, in foreign countries, against enemies with little or no moral code or regard for human life. They willfully did this whether or not their efforts were appreciated by us or not. But veterans did so much more than just fight the traditional battles.

They Provided Aid and Hope: They Provided Smiles and Security: They Provided Lollipops and a Small Piece of Happiness:

Why is it Important to Honor our Veterans?

There are so many ways to answer this question, but we will just focus on a few

1. Veterans fought for our freedoms and risked their lives whether or not we realized it or appreciated it.

2. Without the service of veterans we would not have the freedoms we have today.

3. Veterans have served ALL of us.

4. Many veterans struggle to adapt to regular life, get lost in “the system” or become homeless once they get back from their service.

Three Simple Ways to Honor a Veteran on Veteran’s Day:

Have you ever seen a soldier in uniform and wanted to go say “thank you” or something like that, but just didn’t quite have the nerve? Well problem solved my friends; below are a few simple things you can do to really show a veteran that you appreciate them on Veteran’s Day.

Veteran’s Day is great because so many Veterans go out there in their full uniforms, and this will make them really easy to spot. When you see a veteran in uniform, please do at least one of the following:

1. The Obvious Play: Go up to the veteran, look them in the eyes, smile wide, shake their hand, and sincerely thank them for their service. This is an extremely cost-effective way to let a veteran know how they are appreciated.

2. Buy a Veteran Lunch / Coffee: If you know a veteran invite them out to lunch / coffee; or if you see a vet while you are out and about, go up to that veteran and let them know you would like to pay for their meal / coffee. After that, look them in the eyes, smile wide, shake their hand, and sincerely thank them for their service.

3. Volunteer or Donate to the VA (U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs): Click this link for information on how to donate to the VA or how to volunteer in your specific state: http://www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow/default.asp

I guarantee you that if you do any of those about three steps, you will have successfully honored a veteran on Veteran’s Day.

The Challenge

Find a way today to go out of your way to thank a veteran, you really are only called to do this once a year. So go find a veteran and please give them a hug, a handshake or a hamburger. I guarantee you that they will appreciate any gesture from the heart. From ravencresttactical.com

www.thunderroadsiowa.com

The Price of Green...Part

After my slight diversion about the ridiculous legislation in California last month, I thought I would do some more digging into the batteries that power these so called zero emissions vehicles. One recurring theme while doing so has been China has been way ahead of the curve on the mining, procurement of resources, technology, and production of batteries for quite some time. They have been the leader in this realm for a number of years. Even our current administration admits this is a problem, for our electric vehicle push to be reliant on China and Biden has even signed legislation requiring domestic vehicle manufactures to source American made batteries. That is all fine and dandy, if there were any significant amounts of batteries made here, then we would be fine. So, this ended up being just another “feel good” piece of legislation with great photo opportunities, when in all reality, accomplishes nothing. For us to continue to jam electric vehicles down the consumer’s throat’s, we as a county need to rely on China and Chinese companies to provide us with the goods.

How does something that powers your remote control run a car? That is essentially the technology behind electric vehicles, many Lithium-Ion Batteries or Nickel Metal Hydroxide batteries that work together to store enough power for the vehicle to operate for any length of time. The electricity then is released when positive ions travel from one side to the other. These two main parts, are usually in very thin sheets that are rolled into a battery that looks

much like an oversized AA battery, then linked together with other batteries to form a larger power unit. A battery cell is combined into modules, and then into battery packs. The batteries and the packs are simply added until the required amount of power is attained, with an average battery needed being in the one-thousand-pound range. One of the heaviest electric vehicle batteries currently is for a Hummer EV, which is just short of three thousand pounds. So, the batteries themselves are not light by any means. A Hummer for instance depending upon how equipped is from 5,000 to 7,500 pounds, but an EV Hummer starts out at over 9.000 pounds, so these vehicles are carrying some elemental weight for sure.

There have been plenty of indications that the Chinese have been dipping their fingers in the United States interests for years, and now it even seems like they have the red carpet rolled out to allow them to do just that even more. In June of this year, reports were released by many news sources about the raw material costs for electric vehicles, and the sky rocketing prices. The costs more than doubled during the corona virus pandemic. When raw material costs increase, then guess what? The end product increases in price. Input costs increasing equates to higher prices at the cash register for items we want to or need to purchase. Internal combustion engine vehicles have also seen increases in prices, but the price increases in steel and aluminum were on a lower scale than the electric

After my diversion about the ridiculous

much like an oversized AA then linked

The Price of Going Green...Part

vehicle resources including cobalt, nickel, and lithium to name a few. The end result is everything is costing more, but electric vehicles have an extra hit as prices for those materials are even higher. It is almost like it was by design, that during the pandemic that came out of China, concurrently the election that got our current administration in power, is pushing electric vehicles, and prices for said vehicles is profiting from higher prices and limited competition. I have no proof of such, but it sure seems fishy that the flood gates of profits to China and Chinese companies have been made better by the virus, the election, and current trade agreements with our administration. But hey, I am sure there is nothing to see here, let’s move along.

Many different types of materials go into making a battery such as aluminum, graphite, lithium, cobalt, manganese, and nickel to name a few of the more common items. Australia accounts for 55% of the global supply of Lithium. So, a lithium-ion batteries main component, comes from down under. The Congo is the source of about 71% of the supply, with 37% of Manganese coming from South Africa, 37% of Nickel coming from Indonesia, and 100% of the EV graphite being produced in China. So, these materials are mined or produced in these places, and then all need to be in the factories for production to be able to make the batteries. How do they get mined? How many hours of fossil fuel powered machinery have to run to make the mining possible? How many millions of gallons of diesel fuel are burned in cargo ships taking the raw materials or processed goods to the factories in other countries, namely China to produce the batteries?

Do we have the raw materials here available in the USA to be able to produce the batteries on domestic land? Well, yes, we do! I found that very odd, that we have the ability to do this here, but there are so many road blocks to making it happen that it is not even really sought after. One of the issues are the permits needed to be able to mine the materials that we need. There are many regulatory agencies that simply make this about impossible. The people that are trying to save the land that we love environmentally, don’t want us to utilize the mining needed for green vehicles, but no one seems to mind messing up the Congo to get what we need to make people think green and “do their part” to save the environment. It appears it is a great idea, as long as the mines are elsewhere. Even if tomorrow the regulations on mining and producing the batteries here were lifted, it would take an estimated 10-15 years to be able to build and get running the infrastructure needed to go this route.

The materials after mining and shipping to the production plants then make the two main parts of a battery, the anode and the cathode. Some materials go into the anode, the other into the cathode. China accounts for 80% of the production of the cathode portion of the battery, and 89% of the anode portion of the battery. The United States is only responsible for 7% of the global share of battery production, while China is responsible for a whopping 76% of the global share. It appears for the Chinese that getting into the game earlier is paying dividends now.

So now we know a little bit more about what is in these batteries, how do we power them? Batteries do not make power, they store power. The energy in the great old United States of America, 83% of our electricity comes from non-

renewable resources. You know, the likes of coal, oil, and gas. So as green as you want to be, wouldn’t it make one think when they plug in their car, and wonder where that power comes from? I sure as hell know that I would be asking those questions. I would also ask how much the mining of raw materials puts a strain on the environment, even more so than oil and gas production for just simply getting the goods needed to make these cars? How are the factories powered that produce the batteries? I have yet to find any that are low emissions, as they need massive amounts of energy to run the machines to produce the batteries. Some are trying to integrate battery systems into their worlds, but have been finding it cost prohibitive, and greatly expansive for the area needed to store enough power to accomplish anything.

I recommend every one of you do your own research, see where it takes you, and then make informed decisions on how to deal with items such as this.

Article written on behalf of Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa, Iowa Confederation of Clubs, and Motorcycle Riders Foundation State of Iowa Representatives.

Vernon Schwarte

Editor/Owner Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa Owner Thunder Guns and Thunder Guns West Iowa Motorcycle Dealers Association (IMDA) Board Member

Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) Assistant State Representative

not so USELESS

RAMBLINGSnot so USELESS RAMBLINGS F*CK THE AMA!

Muslim community. There was an entire month of news coverage going on about how absolutely horrible it is. And they would be correct. It was being called a human rights abuse.

Now if female genital mutilation is universally recognized as abhorrent and incredibly abusive, why do we now have doctors and hospitals in the same business as radical Muslim extremists?

Does that title grab your attention? Good. Keep reading.

Yes, that’s right, f*ck the AMA. Not the American Motorcycle Association, the American MEDICAL Association.

It is time that we all call upon doctors and other members of the AMA to resign now and demand their dues be refunded. Why? Because the AMA is asking big tech and the Department of Justice to censor, deplatform, investigate, and prosecute journalists who question the orthodoxy of gender surgeries for minors. They argue that public criticism is “disinformation”.

I have to wonder exactly with what the AMA would like these journalists charged? I do believe that the very nature of their job falls under the purview of the 1st Amendment. I suppose that they could attempt to sue civilly for defamation, if what the journalists were writing about was false. But this is not the case. Many doctors and medical facilities are advertising procedures for minors on their own websites. It’s not disinformation if you’re telling the world that you’re doing it.

Looking back at not too distant history, I seem to remember human rights activists were all in a snit about female genital mutilation that was being performed on little girls in the

A child lacks the mental wherewithal to make the decision to cut things off of their bodies. We simply cannot argue that a child isn’t mentally developed enough to possess a firearm at the age of 18 (unless of course they enter the military and then we give them a fully automatic rifle, grenades, and rocket launchers), that they aren’t mature enough to hold a decent job that offers benefits so parents can now keep them on their health insurance until they are 26, and they definitely shouldn’t be smoking cigarettes until they are 21, but little Suzie can have a double mastectomy at age 10 and Billy can have his penis sliced and diced into a vagina before he even hits puberty. Let’s throw in some puberty blocking drugs and some chemical castration for good measure!

These are surgeries you don’t go back from. These children are being sterilized. The chances of them ever having children of their own is completely lost forever. The AMA is perfectly ok with this, but if a 25 year old woman wants to have her tubes tied or have a hysterectomy because she has decided that she does not want to have children, it turns into a fight with her doctor on whether or not they’ll perform the operation. Up until sometime in the 1970’s a married woman had to have her husband’s permission to have a tubal ligation. Despite federal court rulings against spousal consent laws, some hospitals still have policies against performing the procedure without the signed consent of both spouses. But today we have federal government agencies pushing for children, some as young as 5, to change their gender and be sterilized.

Medical professionals all subscribe to a certain code of ethics; the Hippocratic Oath. The oath has been handed down in various versions through generations of physicians.

The oath dictates the obligations of the physician to students of medicine and the duties of pupil to teacher. In the oath, the physician pledges to prescribe only beneficial treatments, according to his abilities and judgment; the refrain from causing harm or hurt; and to live an exemplary personal and professional life.

Armed with that knowledge, I ask you to jump online and search for an article. I’d personally suggest a DuckDuckGo search; Google might push a bunch of nonsense to the top of the results and you won’t find the one I read. You’re looking for an article in the Tennessee Star titled: Vanderbilt’s Gender Clinic Doctor: Trans Surgeries ‘Make Money for the Hospital’.

In the piece you’ll find tweets from Matt Walsh, an American conservative political commentator, “Vanderbilt opened its trans clinic in 2018. During a lecture that same year, Dr. Shayne Taylor explained how she convinced Nashville to get into the gender transition game. She emphasized that it’s a “big money maker,” especially because the surgeries require a lot of “follow ups.””

So Ms. Taylor is saying that she doesn’t care one bit about the mutilation and sterilization of your children, she doesn’t care about anything that happens to the mental health of this child in the future, just so long as they can continue to cash checks for follow up care. Care… yeah right.

Another tweet that is quite concerning, “Vanderbilt was apparently concerned that not all of its staff would be on board. Dr. Ellen Clayton warned that “conscientious objections” are “problematic.” Anyone who decides not to be involved in transition surgeries due to “religious beliefs” will face “consequences””.

Ms. Clayton basically tells everyone that they need to tow the line or they will be punished. Seems a bit fascistic, if you ask me.

These are physicians from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. VUMC claims they are ranked the number one children’s hospital in the southeast. This university is teaching young doctors how to mutilate our children! And the American Medical Association is on board and helping to push the agenda.

Why are these people so hell bent on destroying our children?

So yeah, I must reiterate… F*CK THE AMA!

David McCoy - david@thunderroadsiowa.com - Facebook.com/TRMIDave @TRMIDave

That Place Steakhouse

G Ave Conrad, IA 50621

366 2911

Tues. & Fri. 5 pm to 8:30 pm Wed., Thurs, & Sat. 5 pm to 9 pm

Once again social media helps me make a decision. This time it was where I was going to take the ol’ lady for her birthday dinner. One of Facebook’s sponsored ads came up in my feed with an article about a steakhouse not too far from home. I read what they had to say and the reviews were good. I mentioned it to Heather and she was ok with the plan. So last Saturday we made the 90 minute drive to That Place Steakhouse in Conrad.

That Place is a fairly modest building on the corner of highway 14 and 330th St. I would consider it an old roadhouse style building. I’m told that they’ve been in operation since sometime in the 60’s.

We pulled in about 5:30 pm and the parking lot was pretty close to full already. Mother Nature was getting ready to unleash some torrential downpours so we were lucky to get a spot right close to the door. Walking in the front door, we were immediately acknowledged by a smiling face from behind the bar. She asked if we had a reservation, we did not, but she said that Jeff would be right with us. As it turns out, Jeff is the owner and was very friendly. He had us at a booth within minutes.

We hadn’t even been seated for more than a minute before our server, Coleen, was at the table with glasses of water and menus in hand. She gave us a few minutes to peruse the menu and returned with our drinks. The menu offers several tasty sounding appetizers options, an array of seafood choices, some of the standard sandwiches you’d expect, and several beef and chicken dinners.

After a few questions about the specials, Heather opted for the 8 oz prime rib with baked potato and a side salad. I chose the 8 oz top sirloin, also with the baked potato and side salad. Our salads arrived within 3 minutes, along with a tray of crackers, butter, and little cups of sour cream for our upcoming spuds.

Just a touch over 30 minutes from giving Coleen our order and our entrées were placed on the table before us. My sirloin was cooked perfectly; slightly pink in the middle with a little bit of crunchy char on the edges. Heather’s prime rib was extremely tender and very flavorful. I’m not usually a fan of prime rib, but That Place has me rethinking my preferences. I may just order one next time we decide to take another dinner trip down there. The baked potato was piping hot and was thoroughly cooked. It almost had a smoked flavor to it. The Texas toast was a great finishing touch to soak up the remaining steak juice and left over potato bits.

Coleen is probably the best server we’ve ever had. She was very knowledgeable about the menu, always smiling, and never let our drinks get below the halfway point the whole time we were there. She offered us dessert, but we were both so stuffed we just didn’t have room for it, however that didn’t stop be from getting a piece of Dirt Cake to go. It’s cake; how could I not? It turned out to be layers of crushed up cookies with a creamy pudding layer in the center, which ended up being a perfect bedtime snack.

If you find yourself traveling around Marshalltown, Grundy Center, or Eldora, drive a few extra miles to That Place Steakhouse. Your taste buds will be glad that you did. And be sure to tell them Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa sent you!

Sitting in for Mama Thunder, David McCoy

If you have a WRTE location for us to visit, please let me know at Melanie@ thunderroadsiowa.com

Thunder Roads Magazine of

Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on

The world’s leading expert on European wasps walks into a record shop. He asks the assistant “Do you have ‘European Vespidae Acoustics Volume 2? I believe it was released this week.” “Certainly,” replies the assistant. “Would you like to listen before you buy it?” “That would be wonderful,” says the expert, and puts on a pair of headphones. He listens for a few moments and says to the assistant, “I’m terribly sorry, but I am the world’s leading expert on European wasps and this is not accurate at all. I don’t recognize any of those sounds. Are you sure this is the correct recording?” The assistant checks the turntable, and replies that it is indeed European Vespidae Acoustics Volume 2. The assistant apologizes and lifts the needle onto the next track. Again, the expert listens for a few moments and then says to the assistant, “No, this just can’t be right! I’ve been an expert in this field for 43 years and I still don’t recognize any of these sounds.” The assistant apologizes again and lifts the needle to the next track. The expert throws off the headphones as soon as it starts playing and is fuming with rage. “This is outrageous false advertising! I am the world’s leading expert on European wasps and no European wasp has ever made a sound like the ones on this record!” The manager of the shop overhears the commotion and walks over. “What seems to be the problem, sir?” “This is an outrage! I am the world’s leading expert on European wasps. Nobody knows more about them than I do. There is no way in hell that the sounds on that record were made by European wasps!” The manager glances down and notices the problem instantly. “I’m terribly sorry, sir. It appears we’ve been playing you the bee side.”

A man was having premature ejaculation problems so he went to the doctor. The doctor said, “When you feel like you are getting ready to ejaculate, try startling yourself.” That same day the man went to the store and bought himself a starter pistol and ran home to his wife. That night the two were having sex and found themselves in the 69 position. The man felt the urge to ejaculate and fired the starter pistol. The next day he went back to the doctor who asked how it went. The man answered, “Not well. When I fired the pistol, my wife pooped on my face, bit three inches off my penis, and my neighbor came out of the closet with his hands in the air.”

I asked my wife why she never blinked during foreplay. She said she didn’t have time.

Three women go down to Mexico one night to celebrate college graduation. They get drunk and wake up in jail, only to find that they are to be executed in the morning though none of them can remember what they did the night before. The first one, a redhead, is strapped in the electric chair and is asked if she has any last words. She says, “I just graduated from Trinity Bible College and believe in the almighty power of God to intervene on the behalf of the innocent.” They throw the switch and nothing happens. They all immediately fall to the floor on their knees, beg for forgiveness, and release her. The second one, a brunette, is strapped in and gives her last words. “I just graduated from the Harvard School of Law and I believe in the power of justice to intervene on the part of the innocent.” They throw the switch and again, nothing happens. Again,

they all immediately fall to their knees, beg for forgiveness and release her. The last one, a blonde, is strapped in and says, “Well, I’m from the University of Texas and just graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and I’ll tell ya right now, ya’ll ain’t gonna electrocute nobody if you don’t plug this thing in.”

their i knees, , d a na u ub b on a barmaid t to o bur r y and lick k ogize z s at his his s and ants. “I d

Bloke goes into a British pub on a hot summer’s day and the barmaid asks what he wants. “I want to bury my face in your cleavage and lick the sweat from between your tits” he says....”You dirty pig!” shouts the barmaid, “get out before I get my husband.” The bloke apologizes and promises not to repeat his gaffe. The barmaid accepts this and asks him again what he wants. “I want to pull your pants down, spread your arse cheeks and lick you up and down.” She says, “You dirty filthy pervert! You’re banned. Get out!!” Again, the bloke apologizes and swears never ever to do it again. “One more chance,” says the barmaid, “Now - what do you want?” “I want to turn you upsidedown, tear your knickers off and fill up with Guinness, and then drink every last drop from your womanly cup.” The barmaid is furious at this personal intrusion, and runs upstairs to fetch her husband, who’s sitting quietly watching the tv. “What’s up love?” he asks. “There’s a bloke in the bar who wants to put his head between my tits and lick the sweat off ”, she says. “I’ll kill him. Where is he?” storms the Husband. “Then he said he wanted to spread my arse cheeks and lick me” she screams. “Right. He’s dead!” says the husband, reaching for his cricket bat. “Then he said he wanted to turn me upside-down, fill me with Guinness and then drink it all” she cries! The husband puts down his bat and returns to his armchair, and switches the tv back on. “Aren’t you going to do something about it?” she cries hysterically. “Look love, I’m not messing with any bloke who has the strength to flip you upside-down and can drink that much Guinness...”

“I have a confession to make,” a young man told his girlfriend. “While we’ve been dating, I’ve been secretly seeing a psychiatrist.” “Oh, don’t worry about it,” she said. “I’ve been secretly seeing a car salesman, postman, and your father.”

What does tofu and a dildo have in common? They’re both meat substitutes.

Why do rednecks like having sex doggie style? That way they can both watch wrestling.

A man is taking a Rorschach test... The doctor shows him an inkblot, and the man says “That looks like a huge pair of breasts”. The doctor shows him another inkblot, and the man says “That looks like a big penis”. The doctor shows him another inkblot, and the man says “That looks like a man and a woman having sex.” At this point the doctor puts the inkblots away, and says, “Well, it seems as though you may be obsessed with sex”. And the patient says, “Me? You’re the one who’s showing me all these dirty pictures!”

What do a pizza boy and a gynecologist have in common? They both smell it but they can’t eat it.

What is the difference between Michael Jackson and a grocery bag? One is made of plastic and is dangerous for children to play with. The other is used to carry groceries.

Two guys walk into a bar and order lunch. “What brings you guys in today?” the bartender asks. “I guess you haven’t heard yet. The mayor passed a law yesterday to try to help out local restaurants during Covid-19. All adult males are required to go and eat lunch out with their best male friends at least once a week,” one of the guys answers the bartender. “Well, it’s not a law really,” the other guy corrects him. “It’s more of a mandate.”

An old blind cowboy wanders into an all-girl biker bar by mistake...He finds his way to a bar stool and orders a shot of Jack Daniels. After sitting there for a while, he yells to the bartender, “Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?” The bar immediately falls absolutely silent. In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says, “Before you tell that joke, Cowboy, I think it is only fair, given that you are blind, that you should know five things: The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat. The bouncer is a blonde girl with a ‘Billy-Club’. I’m a 6-foot tall, 175-pound blonde woman with a black belt in karate. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weight lifter. The lady to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler. Now, think about it seriously, Cowboy... Do you still wanna tell that blonde joke?” The blind cowboy thinks for a second, shakes his head and mutters, “No... not if I’m gonna have to explain it five times...”

What do you call a bunch of white people in an elevator? A box of crackers.

A man absolutely hated his wife’s cat and decided to get rid of him one day by driving him 20 blocks from his home and leaving him at the park. As he was getting home, the cat was walking up the driveway. The next day he decided to drive the cat 40 blocks away. He put the beast out and headed home. Driving back up his driveway, there was the cat! He kept taking the cat further and further and the cat would always beat him home. At last, he decided to drive a few miles away, turn right, then left, past the bridge, then

right again and another right until he reached what he thought was a safe distance from his home and left the cat there. Hours later the man calls home to his wife: “Jen, is the cat there?” “Yes”, the wife answers, “why do you ask?” Frustrated, the man answered, “Put that son of a bitch on the phone, I’m lost and need directions!”

A Jewish man walks into a bar and sits down. He has a few drinks, then he sees a Chinese man and punches him in the face. “Ouch!” the Chinese man says. “What was that for?” “That was for Pearl Harbor,” the Jewish man says. “But I’m Chinese!” “Chinese, Japanese, what’s the difference?” And the Jewish man sits back down. Then, the Chinese man walks up to the Jewish man and punches him in the face. “Ouch!” the Jewish man says. “What was that for?” “That was for the Titanic,” the Chinese man says. “But that was an iceberg!” “Ice berg, Goldberg, what’s the difference?”

A guy goes to the supermarket and notices an attractive woman waving at him. She says hello. He’s rather taken aback because he can’t place where he knows her from. So, he says, “Do you know me?” To which she replies, “I think you’re the father of one of my kids.” Now his mind travels back to the only time he has ever been unfaithful to his wife and says, “My God, are you the stripper from my bachelor party that I made love to on the pool table with all my buddies watching while your partner whipped my butt with wet celery?” She looks into his eyes and says calmly, “No, I’m your son’s teacher.”

A soldier serving overseas far from home was annoyed and upset when his girl wrote to break off their engagement and ask for her photograph back. He went out and collected from his friends all the unwanted photographs of women that he could find, bundled them all together, and sent them back with a note saying, “I regret that I cannot remember which one you are. Please keep your photo and return the others.”

Hello, and welcome to the mental health hotline. If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly. If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you. If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5, and 6. If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want. Stay on the line so we can trace your call. If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred to the mother ship. If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press. If you are manic-depressive, it doesn’t matter which number you press, no one will answer. If you are dyslexic, press 969696969696969. If you have a nervous disorder, please fidget with the dash key until a representative comes on the line. If you have amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number, and your mother’s maiden name. If you have post-traumatic stress disor-der, slowly and carefully press 000. If you have bipolar disorder, please leave a message after the beep or before the beep. Or after the beep. Please wait for the beep. If you have low self-esteem, please hang up. All our operators are too busy to talk to you. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have shortterm memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9…

Magazine

March 1954 Enthusiast

Is it as simple as “You Do You”?

While we kick back and get ready for the holiday season we always, or at least we should, sit back, with a beverage of choice and reflect on the things we are or should be thankful for over the past year. I mean, we should…but we mostly just give that shit some lip service and tell ourselves, I am happy for blah blah blah blah. If that is not how you are, you are likely more like me and over the years I have truly learned to find happiness in a much different way than I do now. Not saying I was a selfish dick, but compared to what I am like now…I was a selfish dick.

Maybe selfish isn’t the right term, but as I have put more and more highway miles under my ass the things that are meaningful to me have massively changed. Over the past few years when I look back on events in my past or what I think I wanted or needed they are nothing like what matters to me now. I really don’t have a single thing that changed my outlook on things, but there are a few events that changed how I look at things. I know I have brought this up before, and this is the time of the year that is noticeably different than it was more than a decade ago. I will not dwell on the story, but in 2009, my dad died. I have never sat back and said “Woe is me, my daddy is dead, I can’t go on, what should I do”. Look, we all grieve differently and how you deal with the death of a loved one is completely your business, but I was determined to never use that moment in my life as an excuse for me not being able to do something. I still have to be a leader in the various fields I work in, people rely and look to me for direction, I am still a father of three great children, I have to be there for them, like my dad was there for

me. Him being gone doesn’t change the fact that I must provide for them and I still had a great wife/ride or die partner for life. She still needed me to be there for her. But what I learned is this. Life if way too damn short and to be thankful for what is happening now and to go and do what you dream of.

This is a story I have told time and time again to so many people. He kicked at 62, way to goddamn young I don’t care, but he left some great years on the table. He was the perfect example of living life wrong. Yea, I said that, he did it way wrong. He was always the guy that was the ideal employee. Worked extra hours off the clock, would come in early, stay late, stop what he was doing on a Sunday, sometimes leaving a camping adventure or hunting trip early to show up off the clock to make sure things went better for everybody else. Some may think “wow that is really dedicated” Others, like me, would say, “WTF are you doing devoting YOUR life to a company that will replace you in a heartbeat?” He made them very efficient, turned great profits. For THEM. You know what he got out of it? A couple of pall bearers.

I have some connections to various things that I tried to hook him up with, great fishing trips to exotic mountain places, Canadian bear hunts and more. All stuff he dreamed about doing, talked about doing, consumed his reading time about parts he wanted to visit. I grew up in the shadows of his motorcycle riding. I barely recall a time when I was young when he didn’t have a bike, he was always helping me become a better rider, he saw my love of riding, got out of the way and let it blossom on its own. For DECADES he talked about getting another bike but never did. I even brought him to my house and offered him a free bike, similar to what he rode in the day and said to him, “HERE! TAKE THIS and let’s get to riding again!” “It’s FREE. This one is on me, Dad.”

You know what he told me? Hold on to it for after I retire. That was his dumbass excuse for everything. He would kick it down the road and say “I will, after I retire”.

He never retired. He died…and died not doin’ any of the shit he dreamed of. Oh, and the Monday after he died, the company he worked for replaced him.

He was a great man. He was super smart and loved his family, but he taught me a wickedly painful lesson. Actually, a couple of them, but a huge one is I am not waiting until “later” to do stuff that makes me or my family happy.

The reason I mention this is that I had a recent conversation with a guy I used to ride with a great deal back in the day. Because if my schedule, the time I spend doing all kinds of other things, I don’t set up big rides anymore with a bunch of bikes, hitting several towns etc. I still see some of those riders out getting after it with a group on a Saturday or Sunday and it’s awesome. From time to time, I miss it. I still get to swing a leg over and do cool stuff, my riding has just changed but I still am as passionate. I asked him if he has been hitting the highway or found any cool places to eat, something like that. He told me he has less than 400 miles on his bike this year.

What? 400?!? This guy would do a thousand a month! But he told me he doesn’t get out anymore because nobody sets up rides anymore and the group, he rode with simply doesn’t ride anymore so he spends his weekends doing yard work, watching sports. His only riding was down to a big bike night, four times over the course of the summer.

Then he told me this, “Maybe someday I will ride more again.”

We all have our own reasons, but blaming other people for taking away your joy is just, well, beyond silly. Letting others control what you love to do, what inspires you, whatever that may be, isn’t it just a lazy way out to blame someone else? If my biker friends can’t ride, I don’t sit home and wallow, I get out and ride. If our boating friends can’t make it out, you know what my wife and I do? We still go boating. If a friend can’t make a date for fishing, I still go fishing, or golfing or whatever it is we have planned. It’s bad enough when you let people control your life but it’s even worse when you let them control you doing the things you LOVE to do.

I have never actually prepared a stack of notes, rehearsed this for a speech and presented it to a group of people eager to learn, but it’s been mentioned. I really don’t have to prepare much; I could preach this message on a moment’s

notice to whomever wants to or maybe whomever needs to hear it. I believe it with all my soul. Get out and do what makes you happy and gives you joy. Life is way too damn short.

When you sit back and reflect, be thankful for the joy you have found and promise yourself to find more of that going forward. Don’t wait, start right now. Life is for living.

I had a lot of conversations with my old man on his death bed as we all knew the end was right here, not one, NOT A SINGLE ONE was him saying. “I wish I’d spent more time at work”.

Todd “Crash” Davis

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