In The Wind - BMWMCC.org

In The Wind
Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Monthly meetings are held at Red & Jerry’s, located at 1840 W
Oxford Avenue, Sheridan, CO 80110. Dinner and socializing at
5:00 p.m., meeting and speaker at 7:00 p.m.
March 14, 2012
Speaker(s): Karst Postma and Paul “Shu” Shushan
See Page 3 for details.
Every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. (rain, shine, or snow), members meet
for breakfast at Red Rocks Grill in Morrison.
If weather permits, we ride afterwards.
Most rides are spontaneous, with destinations
determined that morning. Come with ride suggestions!
2012 BMWMCC Ride Book
Don’t miss receiving your copy Renew Today!
Club Membership
$25 Single Membership
$35 Couple Membership
Monthly Meeting Speakers
April 11, 2912 - Speaker, Steve Farson
May 9, 2012 - Speaker, Bob Kelly
Membership Form - Page 12 or
Visit: www.coloradobeemers.org
June 13, 2012 - Speaker, Greg Cocks
Monthly Scheduled Rides
Mar 17 71st Daytona 200 Superbike Race
Mar 31 Ameche Internment Camp
Apr 01-06 Death Valley, California Trip
Apr 14 Bull’s Eye & Beemers Ride
Apr 28 Bishop Castle
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
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President’s Letter
Waiting for Spring Break...
You may ask yourself, why would Carl be writing about spring break? I’m
certain he’s older than most of those colleges that the “spring breakers” attend
and have even been in existence - ha!
This story isn’t about the time honored tradition of beaches and bikinis, parties
and a week at the beach in the warm sunshine. It’s more about the break I could
use from winter right about now.
For most of my adult life I have considered the time between the Superbowl
(the last party), and the start of daylight savings time (the unofficial start of the
fun season), to be the most restless time of the year.
I find myself pacing around the house, pouting and whining - oh it’s too muddy
to hike, it’s too cold and wet, we can’t ride west, all the dirt roads are covered
with snow, it gets dark too soon and I can ride 105 to Palmer Lake with my
eyes closed. There’s nothing to do, oh poor me; it’s truly sad to see a grown man
in such despair!
But I’ll wait, and I’ll watch, and from years of beekeeping, I’ll notice the crocus
and the daffodils popping up, and the fruit trees blooming. I’ll feel the sun and
warmth on my face, see the longer days, and I’ll know the riding season is upon
us once again, and I’ll get my break from the dark days of winter. I’ll get my
“Spring Break!”
The 2012 ride book arrives this month. The club has put together an incredible
ride and event season - so get out and ride!
See you all real soon,
Carl Thomte
President
BMWMCC
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
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March Speaker
Karst Postma and Paul “Shu” Shushan
After six months of preparations, Tom McKinnon, Shu Shushan and Karst Postma shipped their bikes to Germany with the intent of riding
from Europe, thru Central Asia, to Mongolia and back during the summer of 2010. As it worked out, they did not make it all the way
due to a bike that
tried to burn itself
down, but they had
a great adventure
nevertheless.
The three made
their way thru ten
countries before the
trip ended for Karst
and the other two
made their way back
thru another ten
countries...or so.
They rode thru snow
and searing heat,
low hills and high
mountains, four lane
highways and bike
wide dirt roads, got
lost a few times in
the mountains and
in a potato field,
and met the most
hospitable
people
you would ever want
to run into.
Please join us for
Karst and Shu’s presentation March 14th at Red and Jerry’s. They hope to give you a “flavor” of their experiences and to inspire you to set
out on your own riding adventure!
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
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Scheduled E v e n t s & R i de s
March 17, 2012
71st Daytona 200 Superbike Race
G.I. Jodi’s Bar and Grill
The time has come once again for the start of the American Superbike race
season! The Daytona 200 AMA Pro Racing will feature the Daytona Sportbike
Class this year.
The race takes place on the 3.5 mile road course at Daytona International
Speedway. We kick off the riding season watching this classic race.
Join us for snacks, drinks, camaraderie and race action! Time will be
announced.
Meet 1:00 PM - Race Start Time 1:30 PM
G.I. Jodi’s Bar and Grill
11550 W. Meadows Drive-#B
Littleton, CO 80127
Scheduled for Saturday
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The historic 71st Daytona 200 AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike motorcycle classic will once again serve as
the finale for 2012 Daytona 200 Week on Saturday afternoon, March 17, Daytona International Speedway officials announced today.
The Daytona 200, America’s most historic motorcycle race, is a grueling and demanding 200-mile race staged on the twists and turns of
Daytona International’s Speedway’s 3.51-mile road course.
Motorcycle legends that have captured the Daytona 200 include Scott Russell, Miguel Duhamel, Kenny Roberts, Dick Klamforth, Brad
Andres, Roger Reiman, Mat Mladin and most recently riders Ben Bostrom, Josh Herrin and Jason DiSalvo.
Daytona 200 Week motorcycle racing will begin on Saturday night, March 10 with the prestigious Daytona Supercross – the only AMA
Supercross event in Florida in 2012.
Top riders such as two-time defending Daytona Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart, Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey and
Trey Canard will
battle for victory
on the tough and
challenging course,
which
will
be
designed for the
fifth straight year by
five-time Daytona
Supercross winner
Ricky Carmichael.
The rest of the
Daytona 200 Week
schedule including
the AMA Pro Flat
Track dates and
remaining dates for
AMA Pro Racing
road racing schedule
will be announced at
a later date.
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
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March - A p r i l 2 0 1 2
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Ameche Internment Camp
Departure 8:00 AM Red Rocks Grill, Morrison
Carl Thomte | 303-753- 6652 | rcarloski@msn.com
Greg Cocks | 303-828-7576 | membership@coloradobeemers.org
April 01-06, 2012
Death Valley, California Trip
Departure 8:00 AM Red Rocks Grill, Morrison
Dennis O’Neil | 303-810-4910 | dboneil@me.com
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Bull’s Eye & Beemers Ride
9:00 AM Meet - 9:30 AM Depart Dick’s Sporting Goods Parking Lot
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park | 6000 Victory Way | Commerce City 80022
Roy Cherry | 720-273-6772 | vicepresident@coloradobeemers.org
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Bishop Castle
9:00 AM Red Rocks Grill, Morrison
Greg Cocks | 303-828-7576 | membership@coloradobeemers.org
Bull’s Eye & Beemers Ride 2011
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
5
Unsaf e H e l m e t s
It’s clear ... Motorcycle helmets save lives. To help protect the lives of motorcycle riders, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
requires that all motorcycle helmets sold in the United States meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. This standard
defines minimum levels of performance that helmets must meet to protect the head and brain in the event of a crash. Each year, DOT
conducts compliance testing of a variety of motorcycle helmets to determine whether helmets being sold in the United States meet the
Federal safety standard. Because helmets add such a critical margin of safety for motorcycle riders, many States now have laws requiring
use of helmets that meet FMVSS 218 requirements. Some motorcycle riders are violating these State laws by wearing unsafe helmets that
do not meet FMVSS 218. Most of these helmets are sold as novelty items and circumvent FMVSS 218’s requirements. In some cases,
some motorcyclists purchase these helmets in the mistaken belief that they offer protection. However, many people who wear these novelty
helmets know that they are unsafe – but wear them anyway.
DOT Sticker
Helmets that meet FMVSS 218 must have a sticker on the outside
back of the helmet with the letters “DOT,” which certifies that the
helmet meets or exceeds FMVSS 218. It is important to note that
some novelty helmet sellers provide DOT stickers separately for
motorcyclists to place on non-complying helmets. In this case, the
DOT sticker is invalid and does not certify compliance.
Snell or ANSI Label
In addition to the DOT sticker, labels located inside the helmet
showing that a helmet meets the standards of private, non-profit
organizations such as Snell or the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) are good indicators that the helmet also meets the
Federal safety standard. To date, we have never seen a novelty helmet
that has a phony DOT sticker in addition to a phony Snell or ANSI
label.
Manufacturer’s Labeling
Manufacturers are required under FMVSS 218 to place a label on
or inside the helmet stating the manufacturer’s name, model, size,
month and year of manufacture, construction materials, and owner’s
information. A helmet that does not meet the Federal safety standard
usually does not have such labeling.
Provided by U.S. Department of Transportation
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
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New Helmet Evedence
Motorcycle Helmets Reduce Spine Injuries After Collisions; Helmet
Weight As Risk To Neck Called A ‘Myth’
Motorcycle helmets, long known to dramatically reduce the number of brain injuries
and deaths from crashes, appear to also be associated with a lower risk of cervical spine
injury, new research from Johns Hopkins suggests.
“We are debunking a popular myth that wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle
can be detrimental during a motorcycle crash,” says study leader Adil H. Haider, M.D.,
M.P.H., an assistant professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine. “Using this new evidence, legislators should revisit the need for mandatory
helmet laws. There is no doubt that helmets save lives and reduce head injury. And now
we know they are also associated with a decreased risk of cervical spine injury.”
For more than two decades, the researchers say, activists lobbying against universal
helmet laws have cited a small study suggesting that, in the event of a crash, the weight
of a helmet could cause significant torque on the neck that would be devastating to the
spine. But results of the new study, published online in the Journal of the American
College of Surgeons, shows that helmeted riders were 22 percent less likely to suffer
cervical spine injury than those without helmets. The study reviewed and mined
the National Trauma Databank, looking through information on more than 40,000
motorcycle collisions between 2002 and 2006.
Even with what researchers say are mountains of evidence that helmets reduce mortality
and traumatic brain injury after a collision, many states, including Florida, Pennsylvania
and Texas, have over the past 15 years repealed their mandatory helmet use laws after
lobbying from motorcycle riders, Haider says. Anti-helmet lobbyists often cite a
25-year-old study which found more spine injuries in helmet wearers. That study, has
been criticized by many, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
because of flawed statistical reasoning. “Additionally, helmet technology has significantly
improved since that time - now helmets are much lighter but even sturdier and more
protective” Haider says.
Forty years ago, Haider says, nearly all states required helmets for motorcyclists of any
age in the United States. Today, helmets are mandatory for all riders in only 20 states,
Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Motorcycle use has risen sharply over the past 10 years in the United States. Since
1997, motorcycle injuries in the U.S. have increased by roughly 5,000 per year and
motorcycle fatalities have nearly doubled, according to the new journal article.
Continued on Page 9
ColoradoBeemers.org
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Fu n i n C o l o r a d o
2012 Historic Royal Gorge Route Schedule
March 17th - April 30th - Daily Departures at: 12:30pm
Classes of Service available: Coach, Vista Dome and Sunshine Falls Bar and
Parlor Car.
Lunch and Lunch in the Dome classes of service are available on March 31st.
Easter Day Brunch and Brunch in the Dome are available on April 7th and 8th.
Ride the rails through the Royal Gorge on Colorado’s oldest scenic train, the Historic
Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad offers a class of service for every budget and taste. Choose from comfortable, justrenovated Coach Class with big views, or First Class options like Vista Dome for a classic dining experience or Sunshine
Falls Bar and Parlor Car - where you can relax in a private, well-appointed railcar. Excursions and special events include
Gourmet Lunch and Dinner aboard the Colorado Wine Train, Murder Mystery Dinners, Easter Bunny Train, Mother’s
Day Brunch, Oktoberfest and Santa Express Train.
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad has the largest
fleet of Vista Dome cars in the lower 48, offering
panoramic views of the gorge in fully restored 1950’s
glass topped dome cars. These cars are in service
daily for Vista Dome service and gourmet lunch,
dinner and wine trains.
Purchase tickets at the Historic Santa Fe Depot in
Cañon City which is located directly off Highway
50 (Royal Gorge Boulevard). Turn south on 3rd
Street at the traffic light and cross the track to the
train depot. The train operates year-round except for
the months of January and February and is closed
Thanksgiving and Christmas day.
For additional
information & schedule
call (888) 724-5748 or
visit: www.RoyalGorgeRoute.com
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
8
Colora d o B y w a y s
Scenic and Historic Byways
Continued From Page 7
Few states in the nation boast more nationally designated scenic byways
than Colorado. But while you may think this has to do solely with the
immaculate scenery of Colorado, think again. These byways trace timeless
routes of historic and cultural significance, and their status as America’s
Byways is a testament to the interlinked
communities that have worked so hard to
preserve their heritage.
In addition to the 11 nationally designated
byways, Colorado also boasts 14 Scenic and
Historic Byways recognized by the state for
their historic, cultural and scenic value. All
told, the byways make Colorado the ultimate
road-trip destination in America. Colorado’s
most scenic road trips have been designated by
the Colorado Department of Transportation and marked by special signs
depicting a columbine, Colorado’s state flower. Only one other state has
as many nationally designated byways as Colorado. For more information
on each of these byways, visit The Official Site of Colorado Tourism at: www.
New Helmet Evidence
Haider’s study, like many others before, found
a reduction in risk of traumatic brain injury in
helmet wearers (65 percent) and decreased odds
of death (37 percent). But the new paper, Haider
says, is the strongest evidence yet that helmets
significantly reduce cervical spine injury, which
can result in paralysis.
Other Johns Hopkins researchers who contributed
to this study include Curt Bone; Keshia M.
Pollack, Ph.D., M.P.H.; Cassandra Villegas,
M.P.H.; Kent Stevens, M.D., M.P.H.; David T.
Efron, M.D.; and Elliott R. Haut, M.D.
Source:
Johns Hopkins Medicine
colorado.com/Articles.aspx?aid=42235
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
9
Let’s Ride!
A K1200LT modified to a K1200SP [Snow Plow].
Nothing quite like mixing work with pleasure - can’t say
Beemer riders aren’t innovative!
Let’s Ride --- Let’s Plow!!!
Chuck Ferrari
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
10
2012
Officers & Board Members
President: Carl Thomte - 303.753.6652 - President@coloradobeemers.org
Vice President: Roy Cherry - 720.273.6772 - Vicepresident@coloradobeemers.org
Treasurer: Frank Ricci - 720.536.5841 - Treasurer@coloradobeemers.org
Secretary: Larry Eckstrom - 303.666.9084 - Secretary@coloradobeemers.org
Membership: Greg Cocks - 303.828.7576 - Membership@coloradobeemers.org
Webmaster: Ken Off - 303.933.4225 - Webmaster@coloradobeemers.org
Club Store: Paul “Shu” Shushan - 303.697.8904 - pshushan@gmail.com
Safety Director: Mark Konopka - 303.345.1672 - Safety@coloradobeemers.org
Ride Chair: Dennis O’Neil - 303.810.4912 - dboneil@me.com
Social Director: Siggi Pflumm - 303.671.1425 - siggip@msn.com
ITW Editor: Cathy Catrell - 720.981.8985 - InTheWind@coloradobeemers.org
Ride Book Chair: Cathy Catrell - 720.981.8985 - InTheWind@coloradobeemers.org
TOR Rally Chair: David Adair - 303.565.0679 - RT109_4@msn.com
100K Foot Ride Chair: Ken Off - 303.933.4225 - 100Kftride@coloradobeemers.org
Canyon Mixer Chair: Ken Off - 303.933.4225 - CanyonMixer@coloradobeemers.org
Forum Administrator: Bob Odenweller - Forum@coloradobeemers.org
Board Trustee: Ken Slough - 303.550-4619 - K7UGT@comcast.net
Board Trustee: Siggi Pflumm - 303.674.1425 - siggip@msn.com
Board Trustee: Jeff Kelley - 303.710.7500 - jeffkelley@comcast.net
Join the BMWMCC
Facebook page.
All are welcome to become
“friends” and post
news, photos, or whatever else
you think would be
interesting to other riders.
ColoradoBeemers.org
In the Wind
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Club Membership
Colorado Beemers––the premier motorcycle club of North America! Join like-minded motorcycle fans for club rides, breakfast meetings,
social get-togethers, and safety meetings. Enjoy the great roads of Colorado and beyond with other adventurous motorcycle riders with weekly
rides, weekend overnights and rides to rallies. Whether dual sport or touring, you are sure to find someone to ride with and enjoy our beautiful
state. Colorado Beemers offers a monthly newsletter and an interactive website with an excellent knowledge base just for members. The club
sponsors the internationally known “Top of the Rockies Rally,” and the “100,000 Foot Ride,” plus more than two dozen other rides and
events. You will enjoy your motorcycle even more by joining this family-oriented, friendly group.
o Application for Membership o Renewal o Change of Address o MOA # _______ o RA # _______ o AMA # ______
Member & Spouse Name:
________________________________________________________________
Address:
________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip:
________________________________________________________________
Home Phone:
Cell Phone:
________________________________________________________________
Email:
________________________________________________________________
Bike Model(s):
_________________________________________________________
Annual Membership Fees
$25 Single / $250 Lifetime
$35 Couple / $350 Lifetime
Make checks payable to:
BMWMCC
P.O. Box 742
Morrison, CO 80465-5742
Sign up online at www.coloradobeemers.org
P.O. Box 742 | Morrison, CO 80465-5742
By signing I/we understand that the BMW Motorcycle Club of
Colorado cannot assume responsibility for any aspect of my/our
safety and that if I/we participate in any sanctioned event, I/we do
so voluntarily on my/our own assessment of ability, the course, and
all facilities and conditions, assuming all risks. I/we release and hold
BMWMCC harmless for any and all injuries or loss to my/our person
or property which may result therefrom.
________________________________________________________________
Signature
Spouse Signature
Volunteers Welcome!
We would like to volunteer to:
o Lead a Ride
o Help with Club Activity
o Help with Club Event o Other ____________
o Help with Club Activity
___________________