1 R7 Grub N Suds 9.12.15 R9 Pickaway Co Anniversary Run 9.19
Transcription
1 R7 Grub N Suds 9.12.15 R9 Pickaway Co Anniversary Run 9.19
R7 Grub N Suds 9.12.15 R9 Pickaway Co Anniversary Run 9.19.15 R0 Veterans Outreach 9.19.15 R14 TnT Run 9.19.15 1 D? E R u j In n E E B u o y E V A H 40% Why pay a lawyer 33% or of yOUR MOnEy? At ABATE Legal Services, ABATE members: • PAy OnLy 28.5%* • Are not charged for recovery of damage to your motorcycle • Have access to a 24-hour toll-free phone number 24 Hours a Day • 7 Days a Week 800-25-RIDER 800-257-4337 AV™ Rated (Highest Rating in Martindale-Hubbell™ • Listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers • Attorney for ABATE of Indiana, ABATE of Ohio, and ABATE of Illinois • Counsel to Motorcycle Riders Foundation Inc. • Proud Creator and Sponsor of the Miracle Ride for Riley Hospital for Children • Charter Sponsor of Indiana Motorcycle Safety Program *Percent of total recovery. Expenses as approved by client. Visit our websites at www.ABATElegal.com and www.roadhazard.org 2 ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Region Directors and County Coordinators **State Deputy Directors: A: Tim “TJ” Johnson 330-360-7752 (**Legend is beside Map below) C: Kolman Fuzy 614-332-0198 *Region Zero Barbara Tittle 330-677-1845 DD-Tim ”TJ” Johnson 330-360-7752 Columbiana County Sam Sacconi 330-227-9900 Mahoning County Jeff Beatty 330-647-8420 Portage/Summit Counties P.*SHIRLEY* Stokes 330-644-4572 Stark County Robert Fedor 330-546-7450 Trumbull County Jeff Beatty 330-647-8420 Region 01 Larry Dobbins, Jr. DD-David T Mitchell Belmont County Lee Irwin Harrison County Jefferson County Larry Dobbins, Sr. Monroe County 740-219-2716 330-383-0592 740-310-0992 OPEN 740-765-4825 OPEN *Region 02 Jim ‘Goofy’ Bown 740-704-4322 DD ‘Smoke’ James 740-819-0645 DD Bret Rexroad 740-849-0338 Coshocton County OPEN Guernsey County Brenda Foraker 740-679-2494 Licking County Bo Essig 614-984-1062 Holmes County Knox County OPEN Muskingum County Adam Trembley 740-868-7611 Region 03 Mark Davis Allen County Dana Frost Auglaize County David Rostorfer Logan County Jack Linet Mercer County Paulding County Daniel Bustos Putnam County Donna Schimmoller Shelby County Van Wert County Andy Riley 419-235-7581 419-229-0982 419-738-8895 937-539-0941 419-399-5291 419-453-3890 419-303-3229 *Region 04 Ruby Worchuck 419-256-2560 Defiance County OPEN Fulton County Art “Rabbi” Miller Jr. 419-335-1185 Henry County Don Buehrer 419-579-4878 Williams County Wendell Humphrey 419-459-4752 www.abate.com *Region 05 Tim Kaelin 513-561-4745 DD Denny Wichert 513-410-1930 Adams/Brown County Open Cler/Butler/Ham/War Co’s. Tim Kaelin 513-561-4745 Clinton County Dwight Meeker 937-728-6565 Fayette County Open Highland County Open *Region 06 Dave Griffin 937-381-7483 DD-Marilyn Griffin 937-381-7386 Champaign/Clark Counties Lawrence Taylor 937-626-6958 Darke County Open Greene County Lawrence Taylor 937-626-6958 Miami County Mike Wendel 937-564-5005 Montgomery County Open Preble County Open *Region 07 Larry Morgan 567-201-3062 DD– Ron Sears 419-463-8464 Erie & Huron Counties “Bushman” Sprague 419680-8584 Lucas County Larry Morgan 567-201-3062 Ottawa County ‘Nate Monday 567-219-1269 Sandusky County Bill “Grease” Willer 419-665-2068 Seneca County Claude Schindorff 419-619-2834 Wood County Mike Stock 419-654-5446 B: Paul Rayl 417-737-1314 D: Brian Jordan 419-307-3506 Hocking County Fairfield County Perry County Vinton County Morgan County Noble County Open Open Open Open Open Open Region 11 Call State office 800-25-BIKER Athens County Open Lawrence County Open Gallia County Open Jackson County Open Meigs County Open Washington County Open *Region 12 Charles ‘Jason’ Jones 440-261-1122 Ashtabula County Charles ‘Jason’ Jones 440-261-1122 Cuyahoga County Open Geauga County Open Lake County Open *Region 14 Pete Barnes DD-Jason Smith Crawford County Craig Gubernath Hancock County Lonnie Ritter Hardin County Jeremy Billenstein Marion County Mandy Smith Morrow County Guy Campo Wyandot County Lisa Barnes 419-722-9941 740-802-8702 419-563-4861 Open 419-619-6603 740-360-0760 740-361-4964 419-512-4270 Region 16 Cowboy Whitman DD– Chuck Austin Ashland County Rick McClure Holmes County Cowboy Whitman Lorain County Wayne Snyder Medina County Garret Robison Richland County Deborah Stephens Wayne County Milan Sigler 330-567-3127 330-234-8483 419-869-7025 330-567-3127 440-774-2566 330-278-2714 419-689-9459 330-262-3991 STATE OFFICE 800-25-BIKER / 614-319-3644 www.abate.com State Board Members are Listed on Page 5 Region Directors and County Coordinators NOTE: Updates should be sent to: outspokin@abate.com ~ AND ~ stateoffice@abate.com 419-294-8066 Region 08 Tim Cordray 740-269-1213 DD: Rusty Pierce 330-340-8882 Carroll County Ike Hennebert Sr. 330-324-2981 Stark County Terry West 330-455-8287 Tuscarawas County Dave Antonelli 330-343-5374 *Region 09 Kolman Fuzy 614-332-0198 DD Kathy Gantner 614-231-5143 Delaware County Open Franklin County Open Madison County Open Pickaway County Jeff Bowersock 614-306-2570 Pike, Ross & Scioto Counties Open Union County Open Region 10 Chris Weil DD-Chris Long 614-975-1901 614-206-1742 OutSpokin' See List Above **St. Deputy Director Areas: A: R’s Zero, 8, 12 & 16 B: R’s 1, 2, 10 &11 C: R’s 9,5 & 6 D: R’s 3, 4, 7, & 14 3 State Officer Reports: COB Corner, Jim Elgin Executive Director, Ed Schetter Government Relations, Scott 'Woody' Wood Safety & Ed Director, Mike Stock ABATE MRF Rep, Robin Pickens Featured Articles: MRF Reports AMA News Ask Our Lawyer‐Rod Taylor Shootin' the Breeze, Bummer Flyers: MOTM Flyer R7 Grub N Suds 9.12.15 R9 Pickaway Co Anniversary Run 9.19.15 R0 Veterans Outreach 9.19.15 R14 TnT Run 9.19.15 R3 Toy Run 9.27.15 R5 Criswell Memorial 10.10.15 R0 Zip It Up 10.11.15 R8 Halloween Spooktaculat 10.17.15 ABATE State Seminar 2016 GOTL Thunder on the Strip 9.10‐13. 15 Oregonia Hillclimbs 10.12.15 5 6 7 8 34 9 13 14 24 11 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 20 21 30 Advertisers/Services ABATE of Ohio Legal Services Rider Insurance Business Card Ads Law Offices of Ralph Buss Thunder Roads Mag Ad 2 10 26 31 37 Forms: Look Twice Sign Order Form Sustaining Supporter Information Advertising Form BADATO Order Form Region News: Regions Zero ‐ 5 Regions 6‐8 Region 9‐11 Region 12‐16 Miscellaneous: Region Map : Region Officers Business Information Cleaning Out the Corral ‐ Classifieds Membership Application 8 35 36 38 27 28 29 32 3 5 34 40 Watch for our billboards around the state. Let us know where you see them at outspokin@abate.com Ride safe out there so you can ride for many years! Gotta love those ‘grayhairs’! We want you to get there! www.abate.com OutSpokin' 4 September is here and we are drawing to a close the wettest summer I can remember, seems like every time we had an event scheduled it would rain and rain ABATE and rain. When I was preparing for our annual trip to Wetzelland, you guessed it, of Ohio, Inc. it rained of and on for days as the much COB Corner anticipated Wetzel M.C. Swap Meet was approaching and when I got there Jim “SNAFU” Elgin Wednesday evening to set up camp and Chairman of the Board get the State Trailer ready for the Grand Opening, I had to use my 4 Wheel Drive option to get back to our campsite that is right in the middle of the camping complex, well it was not raining and did not rain at all for the entire event, dried up nicely and turned out to be a most excellent weekend Event. AND! This signaled the start of a dry spell with little or no rain right up to the time I write this article. The dry spell has allowed our remaining Events to prosper with good hard work publicizing our Events and the great teamwork and camaraderie we offer at our Events, shows the Riders in attendance what it takes to make us all a success. Job Well Done! Again, the September State Board of Directors Meeting is our annual Event Sanctioning Meeting, all Regions and the State Board must submit the Event Schedule for the upcoming year. This allows us to publicize our Event Schedule and get a jump start on promoting ourselves throughout the Motorcycle Community. Also, this is the SBOD Meeting where we open nominations for ½ of the departments on the State Board of Directors and being an odd number year, the election process cover the following Officers; Executive Director, State Deputy Directors B&D, Corporate Secretary, State Treasurer, State Events Director, State Technology Director, NCOM Regional Co‐Director and ABATE of Ohio Foundation Seat B. Nominations will be closed and votes taken to decide all races @ the November State Board of Directors Meeting, all Officer will commence their new terms January 1, 2016. As always, all Members in Good Standing (Dues Current) are eligible to run for any Office on the State Board of Directors. United We Stand, Jim “SNAFU” Elgin ABATE of Ohio: www.abate.com State of Ohio: www.ohio.gov AMA: www.ama-cycle.org/ www.abatelegal.com www.abate.com MRF: www.mrf.org/ NCOM: www.ON-A-BIKE.com OMTA: www.ohiotrails.org/ www.roadhazard.org OutSpokin' ABATE of Ohio, Inc. ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) of Ohio, Inc. is a 501 (c)(4) "Not for Profit" organization. Dues, donations/contributions, event funds and ABATE products are NOT tax deductible as a charitable contribution. ABATE is dedicated to preserving the rights, improving the image and promoting the safe operating practices of Ohio motorcyclists. ABATE of Ohio, Inc. events are subject to a thirty percent administration fee. Membership in ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is open to all persons 18 years and older, having an interest in preserving personal freedoms and sharing our goals. Owning a motorcycle is not necessary. Annual dues are $30 single, $50 couple. ======================================== STATE OFFICE INFO Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1658, Hilliard, Ohio 43026 Street Address: 3999 Parkway Lane #11, Hilliard, Ohio 43026 1-800-25-BIKER or 614-319-3644. (local) Fax: 614-319-4715 (call ahead) Office Hours: Monday Thru Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm email: stateoffice@abate.com The ABATE of Ohio, Inc. newsletter, OutSpokin’, is published monthly. Deadline is the first of each month preceding the issue month. Guidelines for material publication: You may submit letters, photos, articles about ABATE related events. Stories and articles about motorcycling are also welcome. Each are accepted on a case by case basis. We will not accept slanderous or accusing letters, profanities, or non-ABATE related letters. Advertising Information: 800-25-BIKER, e-mail: outspokin@abate.com ABATE of Ohio, Inc., reserves the right to refuse any advertising or display that we deem to be inappropriate, obscene, or otherwise unsuitable for publication. Display of business names, advertisements or supporters is not and shall not be construed as an endorsement by ABATE of Ohio, Inc. of any business listed. Ad form pg 36 or request one by email to outspokin@abate.com ======================================== STATE BOARD MEMBERS Chairman of the Board: Jim Elgin Ohio ABATE PAC Chairman: Ed Schetter ABATE Foundation Chair: Jim Sprague Ex Officio Officer: Jim “Goofy” Bown Executive Director: Ed Schetter Treasurer: Kim Chafin, Interim Secretary: Cindy Balach Deputy Directors: A: TJ Johnson - B: Paul Rayl C: Kolman Fuzy - D: Brian Jordan State Security Dir.: John Shankster State Products: OPEN State News Dir.: Diane Thompson/Lisa Barnes Government Relations Dir.: Scott “Woody” Wood Safety & Ed. Director: Mike Stock State Events Director: Bill Balach Technical Director: Tim “TJ” Johnson Office Staff: Chris Winchester Ohio MRF Rep: Robin Biltz Pickens NCOM Rep: Haskel Combs 5 Wow, where did this summer go. Here it is Septem‐ ber already, the ABATE kids are back in of Ohio, Inc. school and soon we will be packing Executive Director for Meeting of the Ed Minds. It only “Enjoying the Ride” seems like yester‐ Schetter day when we were riding to Columbus to proclaim “Motorcycle Awareness Month.” Some might argue that this summer wash washed away by all the rain we fought, like 5+ inches over June Jam weekend. I would like to thank all of the volunteers (sometimes wet and weary volunteers) that have helped put on a summer full of great events. From the county, to the regional events, to the Awareness Rally, Ohio Bike Week and June Jam, without help from all of you none of these would be possible. You know I’ve been writing this article for coming up on seven years now and sometimes it’s kinda hard to find something to rant, I mean talk, about. The Legislature is com‐ ing back from summer vacation where you had a chance to talk to your legislator as they were in their home territory for fairs, festivals or just to get the feel for what their home con‐ stituents want. They haven’t been full time in Columbus or Washington doing thing that I approve or in many cases disap‐ prove of. This limits my material and this publication, either the printed newsletter or the online version doesn’t create news just to have something to talk about like some media outlets seem to do. No need to rant on this it’s not Motorcy‐ cle, Rights, Safety or Education. A good thing that has happened this summer is that the Federal Highway Bill has passed the US Senate with a bi‐ partisan majority. It has the language in it prohibiting federal funding on motorcycle only checkpoints. We already have assurances here in Ohio that any grant money received would be sent back but many of us do leave this great state. To this www.abate.com point Ohio has received none. Let’s put an end to this unfair practice. The highway bill also maintains funding for the Rec‐ reational Trails Program. Think of all the learning and practice that happens while enjoying a little 2 wheel off road time. I hope the bill can be passed through the House with very few changes. It would be grate to have a long term bill in place so local municipalities can plan to improve the road sys‐ tem we ride on everyday. Let your Representative know that 34 extensions is enough. I don’t know how to feel about this state of calm. I’m sure something get my blood flowing soon enough. Enjoying the Ride, Ed Schetter Executive Director ABATE of Ohio Inc. enjoyingtheride1@aol.com OutSpokin' 6 September is here. It's time to prepare for the cold weather. ABATE ABATE begins of Ohio, Inc. nominations for Government Relations officers for 2016. Director If you're inter‐ Scott “Woody” Wood ested in becom‐ ing an officer let someone know. I'm writing this article on August 10. The first Republican presiden‐ tial debate was just a few days ago. My reaction is, like him or not, Donald Trump has heated things up. The other candidates are more passionate and appear more determined than previous elections. Considering at this point his poll numbers are blowing everyone else away, he has to be taken seriously. I see conviction in the other candidates. That is good to see. I hope it spreads to other elected offices. Get some riding in while you can. The season is quickly ending. Regards, Scott "Woody" Wood State Government Relations Director ABATE of Ohio, Inc. woody702001@yahoo.com www.abate.com OutSpokin' 7 Hi Friends, At this time we have had two ABATE weeks of very nice of Ohio, Inc. weather, great sunny days, warm nights and Safety & Education very little rain. By the Director time you get this article we will be thinking Mike Stock about colder weather setting in. With the change of weather we need to be aware of changing road surfaces, the changes in the road construction areas and the added clothing that we will be wearing. This all brings us to awareness of riding safe. At this time, we have been doing a great job. In 2014 we had 2170 crashes and 75 fatalities and in 2015 we are at 1315 crashes and 46 fatalities. Keep up the great riding and keep putting out the “Look Out for Motorcycles” magnets and “Look Twice and Save a Life” signs. These reminders are working. As Motorcyclists, we need to more than ever push awareness of Distracted Driving. It is the cause of many accidents and we need to talk about it with our friends and make sure that everyone knows the dangers. People have been doing it for so long that it is normal and it is getting worse. To text and drive is illegal, but it is a secondary offence so you have to do something else to get caught. Many times it’s after an accident has already occurred. I have been doing fatal reviews with the State and if more people would have been paying more attention, some accidents could have been avoided. We all use hand signals to help fellow riders know what we are going to do or want to do. We use our turn signals and brake lights to warn others what is going to happen. And then on the Internet I saw a picture of the international sign for a biker in distress, a bike sitting alongside the road with a helmet on the ground behind it. Well number one, I’m from a helmet free state so I don’t have a helmet with me. Then I thought, that is not the way it works. If you see a bike alongside the road, you should slow down and see if everything looks okay. If everything is under control, they will give you a thumbs up or wave you on. If not, you stop and see if they need help. I www.abate.com have never just rode by a bike of any make or model and I have donated nuts and bolts, wire ties, duct tape and a lot of information to people who need help. Don’t ever pass up a fellow biker. Check on them and it will make you feel good. If you are stopped alongside of the road and you’re ok, give the wave on. The motorcycle world is changing or trying to change all the time. If politicians are not looking at making a new sound law, they are trying to put ethanol gas in our bikes. Then they are trying to take public lands away so our kids can’t start the way we did. In Ohio we have around 500,000 +orregistered motorcycles, but we don’t have anywhere close to even half that number that are members of any type of Rights Organization. We need the membership power of ABATE or AMA to stop these laws that could put a stop to the way your motorcycle sounds or performs. If we can stop a bill before it becomes a law, it is so much easier than after it is a law. If you are not a member of ABATE of Ohio Inc. call 800-25-BIKER or email me mikestock419@gmail.com or call 419-654-5446. You can make a difference. Winter is on its ugly way and we need to get all the riding in that we can. So ride safe and with ABATE’s help, RIDE FREE. And remember if you have friend that rode all this summer on a temporary permit, help him get into a class and get his endorsement. Motorcycle Ohio now has a one day course to get your endorsement called the BRC-2. Mike Stock Safety and Education Director Mikestock419@gmail.com 419‐654‐5446 OutSpokin' 8 imminent. House Ways and Means Chairman, Paul Ryan (R-WI) has vowed to fund a long-term bill but has yet to announce any formal plans to do so. MRF NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation 236 Massachusetts Ave. NE | Suite 510 Washington, DC 20002-4980 202-546-0983 (voice) | 202-546-0986 (fax) Possible Interstate Tolling Expansion – June 16, 2015 – 15NR19 As a member of the Alliance for Toll-Free Interstates (ATFI), the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) works with the ATFI on a regular basis to ensure that your right to Washington Weekly Update – July 24th ride is not infringed upon with heavy 2015 – 15NR16 interstate tolling. Please take a few minutes to review this and respond. Senate Highway Bill Would End The MRF has learned that the U.S. Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints Senate Environment and Public Works This week the Senate Commerce Committee (EPW), which has jurisdiction Science Transportation Committee passed over the Interstate Highway System, is a six-year highway bill. The bill, slated to go considering expanding interstate tolling at its June 24th bill to the Senate floor next week, was voted out of committee by a markup. party line vote of 13-11. The best part is that the language to Please take action by sending an email to your Senator if they end federal funding of motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints is sit on the EPW Committee. Add a sentence urging them to in the bill, and it’s because of the joint work of the Motorcycle contact Chairman Inhofe directly about rejecting tolls! Riders Foundation membership and of state motorcycle rights Over the past seventeen years, the Interstate Reconstruction organizations that the language is included. This issue was the and Rehabilitation Pilot Program (ISRRPP) has served its number-one priority at this year’s “Bikers Inside the Beltway,” purpose and demonstrated the unviability of tolling existing and the hard work has paid off. The Motorcycle Riders interstates. Six states have pursued tolls via the ISRRPP, and all Foundation and I personally thank every one who attended failed primarily due to the widespread public outcry over tolling’s “Bikers Inside the Beltway,” made a separate lobby trip, or contacted their elected officials in one way or another about this negative consequences, which in some cases even triggered legislative action to protect interstates from tolls. Pilot programs important issue to the motorcyclists of this country. are meant to be temporary. Now approaching twenty years, the The specific language reads: ISRRPP has run its course and should be repealed, not expanded or made more flexible. SEC. 4121. SHORT TITLE. We all know that tolling existing interstates would have serious negative consequences. Businesses would face higher This part may be cited as the ``Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint operating expenses and be forced to pass those costs on to Funding Act''. consumers. Commuters and travelers would face steep cost increases, and hourly employees might have to work an extra SEC. 4122. GRANT RESTRICTION. hour per day just to pay the toll to and from work. Traffic diversion around tolls onto secondary routes would cause Notwithstanding section 153 of title 23, United States Code, congestion, increased accidents, higher road wear and repair the Secretary may not provide a grant or any funds to a State, costs for local governments, and slower first response times. county, town, township, Indian tribe, municipality, or other local The cost to ride will be dramatically higher. government that may be used for any program— Additionally, our Founding Fathers gave Congress the (1) to check helmet usage; or responsibility to regulate commerce; this now includes funding (2) to create checkpoints that specifically target motorcycle and maintaining the Interstate Highway System, and passing the operators or motorcycle passengers. It’s terrific that the Senate is working towards a long term, six- buck to the states is an abdication of duty and violates the spirit of the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause. It may be politically year highway bill, but the funding portion of the bill remains stymied. With over $90 billion left to come up with, progress has expedient to frame it as a “states’ rights” issue, but this ignores the safety, equity, and interstate commerce implications. Most been slow. The obvious solution of a small increase in the road user fee, or of gas tax, has been a non-starter for most members importantly, it will not solve the highway funding problem. of Congress. The House of Representatives has yet to unveil its intentions for a long-term bill. Current funding expires at the end (Continued on Page 12 - MRF Reports) of July, and with no real solutions, another extension is www.abate.com OutSpokin' 9 (Continued from page 9 - MRF Reports) als were adopted, they would already be obsolete. To compound that problem, if such a situation did arise—and it almost certainly will—the process of amending the safety standard is so long and complicated that it is not feasible to make periodic Please join the MRF in urging the EPW Committee and its changes in order to include technological advancements in Chairman, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), to protect interstates motorcycle helmet construction. FMVSS No. 218 should remain from the burden of new tolls. primarily a performance standard, not a construction standard. To learn more about ATFI and join the Alliance please visit NHTSA's answer to this problem is to create a list of motorwww.tollfreeinterstates.com cycle helmets that will be exempt from the proposed construcHighway Bill Advances in Senate – June 15, 2015 – 15NR20 tion requirements. The helmets on this list will comply with the performance requirements of FMVSS No. 218, but while they Wednesday, June 24th the U.S. Senate Environment and Pub- fail to meet its proposed construction requirements, they will lic Works (EPW) passes their version of a long-term highway bill nonetheless be deemed to have met the proposed safety standard. This confusing strategy ignores the fact that the law enreports the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF). The forcement officer on the street will not have immediate access to six-year bill easily passed with bipartisan support. The such a list. At best, the officer would not know that the motorcy“Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy” clist's helmet meets FMVSS No. 218 until after the motorcyclist Act or DRIVE Act would increase funding levels from a 2012 transportation law at an average of 3% annually to come up with has been deprived of his or her liberty by being detained and subjected to an inspection of their helmet. At worst, the fact that $260 billion for highway infrastructure programs. The measure the motorcyclist's helmet meets the standard would not come to was voted out of the committee with a vote of 20-0. light until after the motorcyclist was forced to come to court. The issue of allowing for more states to the pilot program of Finally, NHTSA has not fully taken into consideration the new tolling of existing interstate highway was removed from the very nature of motorcycle helmet enforcement in the United final version of the bill. The pilot program to test tolling existing States. Such enforcement is not done federally; it is done at the interstate roads still exists, keeping the number of states that may participate at three. However, EPW did include a “use it or state and local level according to state laws which may or may not have adopted FMVSS No. 218. Not every state has lose it” clause that would force a state participating in the proadopted the federal safety standard. Many that have done so gram to abandon the pilot after a number of years if they are have also adopted alternative safety standards, while others unable to get the program started. This is significant because require only that a helmet meet the performance requirements this pilot program has been in existence for 17 years and none of the states have ever been able to put a tolling pilot program in set out in FMVSS No. 218 and not the labeling requirements. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation believes that motorcycle place due to massive public outcry. In short, it allows the feds to helmet enforcement is a state issue and not a federal issue. pick an area of the country that may be more friendly to (or just This is evidenced by the fact that motorcycle helmet laws vary more used to) increased tolling. greatly from state to state. If a particular state is having an issue Another disturbing provision of the DRIVE act would allow enforcing its own motorcycle helmet law, that problem is best states to divert tolls collected away from the tolled road to fund addressed by that state's elected officials. It does not make other government programs—the very definition of the proversense to address the enforcement of a state statute on the fedbial “Stealing from Peter to pay Paul.” eral level, but that is what the proposed amendments to FMVSS There is no mention of motorcycles in this portion of the NO. 218 attempt to do. highway bill. Issue of motorcycle-only checkpoints will be addressed in a forthcoming bill from another committee. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation urges all riders and rider Thank you to everyone who made calls and sent emails to organizations to comment upon this proposal and to point out the EPW committee members. Your voice was integral to the the legitimate concerns raised by it. You may submit comments non-expansion of the tolling program. to the proposal by any of the following methods: NHTSA issues a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking --- June 8, You may utilize the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: 2015 – 15NR18 Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for submitting comments. has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend Federal You may mail comments to the Docket Management FacilMotor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218, which conity: cerns motorcycle safety helmets. NHTSA proposes to modify U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue the existing performance requirements of the standard by addSE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, ing construction requirements. The reasoning behind this is to DC 20590-0001. aid state and local law enforcement officers in enforcing FMVSS You may also fax comments to the Docket Management No. 218, allowing an officer to visually determine whether a Facility: helmet meets the safety standard. NHTSA is currently accepting U.S. Department of Transportation at (202) 493-2251 public comments on this proposal, and will continue to do so When submitting comments, make sure to reference Docket until July 20, 2015. No. NHTSA–2015–0045. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation opposes NHTSA’s proIf you wish to view the entire proposal you may do so at the posal. The proposal fails to take into consideration the rapid following link: pace of technological change in this area. By adopting arbitrary http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-05-21/pdf/2015dimension and compression requirements, NHTSA will effec11756.pdf tively be shutting out manufacturers who utilize technology to construct helmets which, while failing to meet NHTSA's construction requirements, may very well exceed their performance (Continued on Page 25 - MRF Reports) requirements. It is conceivable that, by the time the new propos- www.abate.com OutSpokin' 12 National and Regional News WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Motorcyclist Association delivered 29,379 signatures to the U.S. Environmental Protec‐ tion Agency on July 27, along with a message in opposition to the agency’s proposal to increase the amount of ethanol in the nation’s fuel. The EPA proposed setting the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2014 at the levels that were actually produced and used, which totaled 15.93 billion gallons. But for 2015, the standard rises to 16.3 billion gallons. And for 2016, the total increases again, to 17.4 billion gallons. “By increasing the amounts of ethanol into America’s gasoline marketplace, the EPA will force the fuel marketplace to ex‐ ceed the blend wall by hundreds of millions of gallons,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. The blend wall is the point at which no more ethanol can be blended without creating higher blends like E15 and above. None of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and all‐terrain vehicles currently in use in the United States are certified by the EPA to use fuels containing more than 10 percent ethanol. Inadvertent misfueling may cause engine or fuel system dam‐ age and void the manufacturer’s warranty. During the EPA’s comment period on the proposed rule, the AMA collected 29,379 signatures on an online petition oppos‐ ing the higher ethanol mandate and asking the EPA to lower, rather than increase, the standard. The EPA’s comment period on the proposed rule ended July 27 and the AMA forwarded those signatures, along with its comments, to the EPA. The EPA intends to take final action on this proposal by Nov. 30, which would return the agency to the program's statutory timeline for issuing RFS annual rules. WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new poll sponsored by the AMA shows that 45 percent of Americans oppose the federal man‐ dates that require increasing amounts of corn ethanol in our nation’s fuel supply. Just 31 percent favored the mandate. After learning about the potential engine and fuel system damage caused by ethanol, 78 percent of respondents said they had “very serious concerns” about E15 use. The poll also shows that 67 percent of people favor the agency setting ethanol volumes below what is currently re‐ quired by law, with 68 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Republicans supporting volumes lower than the statute. The poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners and Bellwether Research & Consulting, included responses from 1,000 likely 2016 voters. Pollsters contacted voters via phone with profes‐ sional interviewers using both landline and cell phones from July 6 through July 10. Interviewers reached 1000 likely na‐ tional likely 2016 voters who self‐identified as follows: 400 Democrats, 340 Republicans and 226 Independents. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The AMA contacted the U.S. Depart‐ ment of Transportation in July to voice its support for the existing requirement that every motorcycle helmet sold in the United States be certified by its manufacturer to meet the DOT standard. PICKERINGTON, Ohio ‐‐ Wayne Rainey, three‐time Fédéra‐ tion Internationale de Motocyclisme 500cc Grand Prix World Champion and two‐time American Motorcyclist Association Superbike Champion, will be honored as an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday, Oct. 17, in Orlando, Fla. The induction ceremony is taking place in conjunction with the American International Motorcycle Expo at the Orange County Convention Center. Tickets to the induction ceremony are available now at www.motorcyclemuseum.org. Regular entry is $25 per person. VIP tickets that include an exclusive reception, reserved seating and AIMExpo admission are $90 per person. Rainey, who himself was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, will be honored along with the current class of inductees. The Class of 2015 includes road racing champion John Kocinski, former Harley‐Davidson CEO Richard Teerlink, off‐road racing champion Rodney Smith, entrepre‐ neur and industry patron John Parham, dirt tracker Alex Jorgensen and longtime Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A. race team manager Keith McCarty. AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends are previous inductees into the Hall of Fame whose lifetime accomplishments are showcased as part of the annual induction ceremony of new Hall of Famers. Rainey was the top World Championship 500cc Grand Prix rider of the early 1990s, winning three consecutive World (Continued on Page 23 - AMA News ) www.abate.com OutSpokin' 13 cottages just outside of the old city, surrounded by centuries‐ old pines and firs. From there, they visited the respective museums of vodka, prison art, and unusual children’s toys in the very old city of Uglich (it was founded in 937); checked out Req Square, Andre Lacy is the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the Novodevichy Ceme‐ checking off an item on his bucket tery in Moscow where they also took a ride on the metro and list: A cyclopedic visited one of the fabled Stalin‐era “Seven Sisters” skyscrapers; and in Suzdal they tasted some horseradish vodka that was so ((ba‐dum‐tsh) foray across Eura‐ horrible it may have very well led to the collapse of the Soviet sia encompassing Union (not really, of course) and took in some Russian folk music performed in traditional garb. the southern Sounds like an incredible trip so far, but it does sort of coast of the Gulf of Finland, Siberia, remind me of an old Russian proverb: “В гостя́х хорошо́ , а and everything in до́ ма лу́чше” or “It is good to be visiting, but it is better at home.” To be continued as the trip progresses... between! Paved roads, not‐so‐paved roads, horseradish vodka, and goat what‐ ever. While many in the motorcycle industry merely co‐opt the AN ALLERGY TO SOME OFFICERS OF THE LAW IS NOT GET‐ biker image, Andre (founder of LDI, Tucker‐Rocky, Biker’s TING BETTER Choice) is the real deal on two wheels. If I may, let me tell you My ‘96 bagger has thousands of traffic ticket free miles ‐ about this epic journey—the good, bad, and the ugly but none ‐ zip ‐ zero. That is until I ran into one of our finest on the mostly the wonderful—and I’ll promise to be succinct. Or at Friday of the Boogie. The exit off I‐465 to State Road 37, the least as succinct as one can be when trying to convey the road to Bloomington and the Boogie is convoluted. You get off scope of a 2 month expedition covering nearly half of the the multi‐laned exit and if you catch a red light ‐ you line up on globe! the on the North side of 465 with 3 or 4 rows of trucks, semi, The trip began at the end of July on a bit of a cold start, and dump. Problem is when you get a green on your side of both figuratively and literally. The temperature was a modest 465 and start the turn left there is another light just on the 58 degrees when they started their journey in Estonia. After a South side of 465 that is ‐ if you are trailing three semis as I pleasant albeit chilly cruise along the Gulf of Finland, Andre was ‐ impossible to see, so you follow the semi in front of you and co. were delayed at the Estonia/Russian border for 8 1/2 and you go when he goes. My problem was the light appar‐ hours due to a recent change in export procedure, outmoded ently turned red just as the semi was entering the intersection, computer networks, and general bureaucratic inefficiencies! but I could not see because of that semi and the other trucks Somehow, the gang managed to remain calm and were even‐ blocking all my line of sight to the traffic signals. An officer of tually allowed to cross the Narva River, past the Hermann the law was in another lane behind a car several back. He saw Castle (on the Estonia side) and Ivangorod Fortress (on the that I had followed the truck and entered the intersection on a Russian side) into Russia. They arrived in St. Petersburg just in red and pulled me over to cite me. Despite my protest, he time to hit some hellish traffic, of which the city is known for, claimed he could see the traffic signal. An argument that the before landing at the Grand Hotel Emerald for the evening only relevant line of sight was mine ‐ not his ‐ fell on deaf ears. where they were greeted with a late dinner, drink, and The conversation with the officer went as follows. Me: wooden eggs. “Officer, it is impossible to view the light if three semis are The next day, Andre and company were able to check out lined up in front of you, traveling through that intersection.” the Hermitage Museum while their guide was shaken down by Officer: “I could see the light.” Me: “Of course you could as a police officer for “appearing drunk.” Luckily, the situation there were no semis blocking your view.” Officer: “Why didn’t could be quickly remedied by some good old‐fashioned palm you hold back and let the semis go further down 37 so you greasing! Afterward, the group left the Westernized, cosmo‐ could see the light.” Me (doing my best to ignore the semi on politan streets of St. Petersburg for the more quaint and pro‐ my tail shifting gears): “If you wait and let the trucks get ahead, vincial roads of Tikhvin, located on both banks of the Tikhvinka I‐465 (overhead) still blocks your view of the traffic River, where they took in the old medieval town, its ancient (Continued on Page 17 - Ask Our Lawyer) monastery, and old wooden houses. They slept in wooden HALFWAY ROUND THE WORLD ON A MOTORCYCLE? www.abate.com OutSpokin' 14 THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A -BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com. NEVADA AMENDS HANDLEBAR HEIGHT LAW After passing the state Assembly unanimously, AB422 was signed into law by Governor Brian Sandoval on May 21, 2015 to amend the state’s handlebar height law. Effective October 1, 2015, Section 1 of this bill prohibits a local authority from enacting an ordinance governing the operation and equipment of a motorcycle or a moped which is in conflict with any existing state laws. Under existing law, a person is prohibited from driving a motorcycle or a moped equipped with handlebars which extend above the driver’s shoulders. Section 2 of this bill provides that handlebars may extend not more than 6 inches above the driver’s shoulders. MOTORCYCLE LICENSE BILL PASSES IN ALABAMA Alabamians will need to have a motorcycle classification on their license, and take a written exam or safety course, under a bill that has passed the state Legislature and awaits the governor’s signature. Alabama is the only state that doesn’t require a specific motorcycle license, and this measure “will make sure that those who are riding motorcycles are qualified and know enough about motorcycle safety,” said the bill’s sponsor State Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Greenhill). Pettus’ House Bill 212 now goes to the governor for his signature. Currently, only motorcyclists age 14 and 15 have to take a written test and get the M classification. Those older than that may get the classification, but don’t have to. Motorcyclists who already have the M classification will be grandfathered in. Upon Governor Robert J. Bentley’s approval, the new licensure law will become effective January 1, 2016, and law enforcement will then be able to issue tickets to motorcyclists who don’t have the M classification. The bill also allows drivers to complete a safety course instead of the written test. There’s a $5 fee for the written test. www.abate.com TEXAS LAW LEGALIZES SLINGSHOT THREEWHEELER A new law now legalizes the three-wheel Polaris Slingshot in Texas. Polaris’ Slingshot reverse-trike ended up in legal limbo last year after it was determined that it didn’t fit the letter of any of Texas motor vehicle laws. It didn’t have the safety equipment required to define it as a car, but since it had seats, and not a saddle, it couldn’t be considered a motorcycle, either. That changed last week when Governor Greg Abbot signed an amendment to the law that essentially removed the saddle requirement, allowing three-wheel “autocycles” to be registered as motorcycles, as they are in many states. A motorcycle license is still required to drive one, but you can take the test in a three-wheeler if you only plan to drive that type of vehicle. The laws that govern vehicles like the Slingshot vary from state to state, and it’s still not street legal in a few. That includes Connecticut, Hawaii and Maryland, while Indiana recently passed its own “autocycle” law authorizing its use. In most states it follows the same helmet rules as a motorcycle, but in California can be driven without one and only requires an automobile license to operate. MOTORCYCLIST FATALITIES DROP FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR Riding a motorcycle in the U.S. is continuing to get a little safer. Based on a preliminary survey of 2014 fatality data, the Governors Highway Safety Association is predicting a second consecutive year-over-year drop in deaths for the first time on record since 1997. The GHSA is predicting 4,584 motorcyclist deaths in 2014, a 1.8-percent drop. The organization bases its forecasts on motorcycle fatality data for January through September in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. From this raw info, deaths fell in 27 states in 2014, increased in 19 and remained the same in four, plus DC. While good in the short term, the GHSA still thinks there's a lot to do to reduce rider deaths; 28% of fatal crashes in 2013 involved riders with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08, 34% of those killed were speeding, and 25% didn't have a valid motorcycle license. Of course the GHSA recommends that all states adopt universal helmet laws, noting that currently only 19 states and D.C. require all riders be helmeted. NEW STUDY REPORTS LANE-SPLITTING CAN BE SAFE California drivers often see motorcyclists zip by between the narrow space between two lanes of cars, known as lanesplitting, and a new report by UC Berkeley transportation researchers finds that such maneuvering does not necessarily pose a greater risk for injury. (Continued on Page 33, NCOM Biker Newsbytes ) OutSpokin' 15 When registering, please have your drivers license and credit card ready. Contact Email: MOGen@dps.state.oh.us Website: http://www.motorcycle.ohio.gov/index.stm Training courses are available in select counties of the state. Please refer to the list below to see which counties offer the course you are interested in attending. BRC=Basic Rider Course | BRRC=Basic Returning Rider Course | ERC/BRC2=Experienced/BRC2 | ARC=Advanced Rider Course www.abate.com OutSpokin' 16 (Continued from Page 14, Ask Our Lawyer, Taylor) signal.” Officer: “You are still getting a ticket.” Me: So officer, your mind is closed, and you do not care about the facts of this intersection.” Officer: “That is correct.” Somebody remind me: why is it that we need the State Police as we have police officers in every county, city, village and town? More on this later. SOUTH‐SIDE HARLEY AND BOB SCHULTETI TO THE RESCUE ‐ RELATED TO THE ABOVE STORY Having just made a mighty fine but very unsuccessful argument as to why a traffic citation should not be given, I dejectedly returned to my Harley turned on switch; I hit the starter. Nothing. Now I am one of those farm boys that believes that you should always get 4 years on a battery, and I’ve always refused to believe that a battery dies completely, so you should have a little warning that the battery is going South. Nothing doing. That puppy completely died on me in front of the ticket writing cop. Having noticed that I was having trouble starting my motorcycle, the officer of the law and provider of safety assistance, decided it was time for him to leave me on the side of the road. No worry, as I called South‐Side and explained my dilemma. They were at my roadside location within 12 minutes ‐ now that is biker service. That was the only good ending for the day, other than getting to the Boogie of course. A.B.A.T.E. OF ILLINOIS MEMBER (Listen up ABATE of INDIANA AND OHIO MEMBERS as this concept probably applies in your state as well. We will write about the particulars of those states in a future column) A: ABATE lawyer George Tinkham provided us with an explanation for this one. On 8/11/09, the Governor of Illinois signed Public Act 96‐0279 (former HB 2455) into law. This Act did not amend §7‐601 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (IVC) (625 ILCS 5/7‐601) which excludes vehicles not designed for use on public highways from the mandatory liability insurance requirement. It did, however, amend §11‐1426.1 of the IVC by adding subsection (g), which reads: (g) Any person who operates a non‐highway vehicle on a street, highway, or roadway shall be subject to the mandatory insurance requirements under Article VI of Chapter 7 of this Code. PA 96‐0279 also requires the operator of such vehicle to have a driver’s license. Whether that license has to have the proper motorcycle endorsement is unclear. Even though the Vehicle Code now has contradictory language, the language in §11‐1426.1 which requires insurance (and a driver’s license) will prevail. This means that off‐road vehicles must be covered by liability insurance when on the right‐of‐way of a public highway. It is not uncommon to see a twelve year old riding a dirtbike or ATV along the right‐of‐way fence on the public FROM ABATE OF ALASKA AND EDITOR BOBBE REILLY highway side traveling between his home and a favorite off‐ Rod: Thought you might enjoy this!!! I hope so!!! road riding area. This new change to the IVC means that his off ‐road vehicle must now be insured. A more absurd Your “Freedom of Information Act: How To” was a consequence of PA 96‐0279 is what happens when a smashing success!!! Thank you for all you do! You make a huge landowner uses a riding mower to cut grass on the right‐of‐ positive difference! way by his home or farm? Bobbe Reilly, Editor Ride Safe & Free, ABATE of Alaska, Inc. Rod Taylor ABATE Legal Services (From Rod ‐ the article referred to by Bobbe was in the July abatelegal.com 2015 issue) GOLF CART COMMUNITY INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT ABOUT MY JOHN DEERE MOWER AND ATV? Q: I live in a golf cart community, which works great for us, and I have been told that my homeowner’s insurance policy covers my golf cart when I am on the street. However, I got a letter from my insurance company that stated that due to a law, a motor vehicle which is operated in a highway right‐ of‐way must be covered by liability insurance. A highway right‐ of–way is 25 feet from the center of the lane on “most” rural roads. This means no dirt bikes, ATV or snowmobile riding down property lines or fence rows along roads. It also means checking my mail on my ATV and parking at the edge of my drive could result in a ticket. Even mowing grass along the road in my front yard could get a ticket on my mower. I don’t recall hearing of this proposal before. www.abate.com All questions from ABATE members are answered confidentially unless otherwise authorized and only after the matter is concluded, except when authorization for publication anonymously or otherwise is given for pending matters. Remember, injured ABATE members pay only 28 ½% of total recovery and expenses as approved by client, consistent with and conforming to applicable state law. Elsewhere, you may pay 33 ⅓%, 40% or even 50% of your recovery. ABATE members are not charged for recovery of damage to your motorcycle, and have access to a 24‐hour toll‐free telephone number. Call us at 1‐(800)‐25‐RIDER. Questions? Submit them to: RodTaylor@abatelegal.com © 2015. OutSpokin' 17 www.abate.com OutSpokin' 18 www.abate.com OutSpokin' 19 Friday Night: Meet ‘n Greet & Games 4 PAC Fund Fundraiser Sunday Morning: See you at breakfast! Have a safe trip home & see you next year! Main Event March 18, 2016 Doors Open @ 8:30am Seminar Starts @ 9am 00 IO N AUCT S ITEM ED NEED 000HI0 000 000HI Saturday: Breakfast Available All Day Seminar Awards Banquet Dinner Silent & Live Auctions Mohican Lodge and Conference Center 1098 Ashland Co. Rd #3006 Perrysville, Ohio 44864 Room Res: 419-938-5411 Deadline for Block Rooms: Feb 17 Tell them you’re with ABATE! Deadline Monday, March 14th Name: ________________________________________ Credit Cards accepted, call: Phone: 800-25-BIKER or 614-319-3644 Address: ______________________________________ Pre-Registered MRO Member: $30 each X __ = $______ City: __________________ State: _____ Zip: ________ (with current MRO ID) Pre-Registered Non-Member: $35 each X __ = $ ______ Phone: _______________________________________ Saturday Dinner Buffet included with Seminar cost. Checks or Money Orders payable to: ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Mail to: ABATE of Ohio, Inc., State Treasurer, P.O. Box 1658, Hilliard, Ohio 43026 614-319-3644 *** Day-of-Seminar Prices are an additional $5 per person on the above listed rates. *** Additional Donations Accepted www.abate.com 800-25-BIKER ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) "Not for Profit" organization. Dues, donations/contributions, event funds and ABATE products are NOT tax deductible as a charitable contribution. 20 21 Visit this website for more info: http://www.motorcycle‐usa.com/530/Motorcycles/Motorcycle‐Recalls.aspx www.abate.com OutSpokin' 22 Championships riding for Yamaha in 1990, 1991 and 1992. In addition to his accomplishments on the world level, Rainey was also a star of AMA Superbike racing during the 1980s, winning that title in 1983 with Kawasaki and again for Honda in 1987. The AMA letter to the U.S. DOT came in response to a pro‐ posal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to set new federal standards for helmet construction. The AMA believes the proposed standards would stifle manufacturers’ ability to provide motorcyclists with helmets that use ad‐ vanced technology. The law also would include a testing pro‐ cedure for law enforcement officers to use in the field to check helmet liner thickness. The AMA believes that move would be imprudent. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Forest Service is seeking nomi‐ nations for its Recreation Resource Advisory Committees, which provide advice and recommendations on recreation fees to the Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Man‐ agement. RRACs are structured to help ensure motorized users are well represented, so it is important that the motorized community steps forward to fill any vacancies that occur. Additional information concerning the Recreation RACs, in‐ cluding current openings, can be found by visiting the Recrea‐ tion RACs website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/ rrac‐org‐links.shtml. State News COLUMBUS, Ohio – H.B. 154, the state’s “dead red” bill, has been reported out of the House Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety committee. The bill would permit motorcyclists to proceed through a malfunctioning red light and to treat it as a stop sign, proceeding through the intersec‐ tion after stopping and checking for approaching traffic. Industry News ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan has opened a 32‐acre outdoor research lab for testing automotive tech‐ nology, such as vehicle‐to‐vehicle and vehicle‐to‐ infrastructure communications. The facility allows researchers to test the technology in a simulated urban setting that in‐ cludes a variety of roads and streets, a small section of free‐ way, an underpass, gravel and brick pavement, roundabouts, traffic signals and sensors. International News PARIS, France – The French government has banned all ear‐ phones for motorists, including motorcycle and scooter riders. The ban is intended to prevent drivers and riders from using earphones with a microphone to make and receive telephone calls while the vehicle is in operation. There is no ban on Blue‐ tooth headsets, but earphones are not permitted. BERLIN, Germany – The European Commission is considering a legal challenge against Germany over proposed road tolls www.abate.com that some believe violate the European Union’s anti‐ discrimination laws by targeting foreign motorists. Germany’s Parliament approved the tolls in March, but Ger‐ man President Joachim Gauck has not signed them into law. The tolls would force foreign drivers to pay as much as $143 a year to drive on German roads. The AMA remains concerned that U.S. military personnel stationed in Europe would be directly and unfairly affected by this toll. In a letter to U.S. ambassador to Germany, John B. Emerson, the AMA pointed out that the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) governs the treatment of military personnel. In an April 22 response, liaison officer Glendon Pitts stated that the lower house of the German parliament passed an amended draft of the bill that exempts U.S. forces covered under SOFA from the toll obligations. AMA News PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Wayne Rainey, three‐time Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme 500cc Grand Prix World Champion and two‐time American Motorcyclist Association Superbike Champion, will be honored as an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday, Oct. 17, in Orlando, Fla. The winner of AMA’s 2015 Hall of Fame Raffle Bike: 1965 Harley-Davidson FLH Pete Gabrail from Minneapolis, Minn., was drawn as the winner of the fully restored 1965 HarleyDavidson FLH Electra Glide -- the 2015 AMA raffle bike benefitting the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The drawing was July 12, 2015, at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days in Lexington, Ohio. OutSpokin' 23 Yowza yowza, I was on another local run today and I ran into lotsa people (and no, I didn’t literally run into anyone). Anyway, I was talking with a pair of fellow ABATE members at one of the stops, one of them a really cool older dude named George, and the other, a really cool younger dude named Jeff (he’s our county coordinator). When George mentioned that he knew someone who by coincidence had the same first and last name as Jeff, I spoke up and said that I knew someone who did too. It turned out that we were both thinking about the same guy who was from the neighborhood where I grew up. The freaky thing was it turns out that George, who I’ve known for the past five or ten years, also happens to be from that very same neighborhood and I didn’t even know it! In fact, I remember often feeding apples from my back yard trees to the two horses he kept in a paddock and small barn in his back yard a block away (and a few houses behind mine) and I never realized they belonged to the guy I know now. George is 86 years young (twenty three years older than me). He started owning scoots in 1946 and was riding years before that. Now he rides the hell out of a Harley trike since he sold the last of a long line of two wheelers when he started to have some minor health problems recently. This means that back when I was foolin’ with his horses, George was probably about 33 and I was about 10. I went to school with his daughter and I musta rode my American Flyer sled named “Rosebud” down the same local road as she did (the road in front of my house). I know I rode my bicycle past his house many times to go to the little “Mom and Pop” store a few blocks away to buy bread for my mom, soda‐pop for me, or whatever (we didn’t call ‘em “convenient” stores back then, we called ’em “corner stores”). In fact, I was probably his paperboy though I really don’t remember him or even seeing or hearing his bike!! What a trip! Who woulda thunk that 50 years later I would often be riding with the same guy who owned those horses? Okay, now there’s this..... When I started 5th grade I was ten years old due to my Sept. birthday (I started school at five). In 5th grade I had a really nice, great teacher named Mr. Higgins. He was interest‐ ing and fun... great qualities for a teacher. I lost touch with www.abate.com him because he moved after that school year. But while he was still there, I remember him telling the class toward the end of that school‐year that he was soon moving with his wife to Pennsylvania. Over twenty years later, I had long since moved from my parent’s house and was living in a little town called Kins‐ man, Ohio which is very close to the Pennsylvania state line and 40 miles to the northeast. A buddy of mine, a local dude whom I had only known for the year or so since I moved there, was buying a house from his uncle who lived just over the border and HE turned out to be that very same Mr. Higgins (who didn’t recognize me of course, but that’s okay because he turned into a grouchy old bastard). Okay, now there’s this...... In about 1989 I was incarcerated in our tiny local two‐ cell jail here in Newton Falls because of an incident in a bar. I was locked up late that first night and had a very short conver‐ sation with the guy who was in the other cell. We couldn’t see each other due to the cement block wall separating us, but his voice sure sounded vaguely familiar somehow. The next morning when our cells were opened and we both had to come out to the common area (or stay in our cells all day), it turned out he was someone who (with his woman) generously shared their campsite and fire with me and my friends, com‐ plete strangers to them, at Woodstock twenty years before! He was from the Bronx, NY, spent his whole life there, and had never been to Ohio. Back in 1969 I spent most of a very memorable week‐ end with this couple (and 450,000 others) and believe me, it was definitely him. I spent the next three days in jail with him and the detailed memories we shared about specific things from our campsite proved it. Hell, he still even looked the same! He told me he was busted while just passing through my town on his way out West somewhere. He had gotten off the Ohio turnpike at our exit to eat a real meal at a restaurant, after which he was noticed smoking a doobie in his car by a cop. Okay, now let me ask you this..... What can this possibly mean?? Is our world really THAT small? I bet some of you have similar stories that are even stranger. But my point is that there is currently about 7 billion people on this Earth! With all those people, do we somehow just bounce around and often run into the same folks repeat‐ edly like we were some kind of strangely magnetic billiard balls seeking out those whom we have bumped into before? Is it some kind of mysterious individual “Law of Attraction”? I used to go to a giant swap‐meet and party every year put on by a club called the “Pack‐Rats” just outside of a little town called Orville, in mid‐Ohio west of Akron (the home of Smucker’s Jam and about two hours from where I live). For one crazy weekend of every year it pulled in tens of thousands of people for over a decade beginning in the late 1970’s. I would always end up camping right next to the same person, a great big guy named “Hoss”, year after year even OutSpokin' 24 though the swap was held in a 100 acre, wide‐open, former cornfield with no landmarks to look for even if we HAD previously agreed to camp next to each other. We’d come without planning in advance, or even knowing after settling in that we’d be neighbors, since whoever arrived first would usually be out walking around checking out parts, babes, bikes, food, or whatever for the first few hours after they got there. The second time that happened it was strange.....but after a few more times it was freaky! He was from Cincinnati (located in the complete oppo‐ site corner of the state from me) and that swap was the only way I ever knew him. I wonder how he’s doing since the event was closed down due to bad behavior. We used to fit right in. My people and his people ALWAYS had a good time. But how weird is that? I mean without exaggeration there musta been 20,000 people there usually (or more)! For a while it was WAY bigger than Chillicothe. Not sure if Chilli‐ cothe was even happening then. It seems that as one gets older, we should know more answers to life’s questions. Sure, you might become a bit wiser about managing your affairs, about knowing what you should do under most circumstances. But to and for me it seems that the older I get, the more questions about life I have. Some things that used to really bother me I NOW don’t really give a flying f%$& about. I think I’ve achieved SOME sense of being able to prioritize most things, to know what’s important. But then other things I never used to really think or care about have become significant to me. Things like: fate, karma, purpose, and destiny. Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite authors, once wrote, “The purpose of life is to be the eyes, ears, and con‐ science of the creator of the universe...whoever or whatever that may be.” So okay, I can dig that. I may not live up to doing and being all that, but at least it clears up why we might be here....and I do agree with Vonnegut. It seems most religions agree with that too in one form or another. But why do things have to be so weird, so unpredict‐ able and downright surprising? I mean, what’s it all about? Maybe I’ll find out some day. Until then, at least I’m finding that life is a cool kick in the pants sometimes LOL! See ya next month, Bummer tions and the lack of non‐corn renewable fuel sources like plant waste from being developed on any sort of commercial scale. A 2007 law, known as the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), requires refiners to blend in an increasing amount of biofuels into the United States gasoline supply each year. According to the proposal, the levels of ethanol will still continue to in‐ crease, but less than it would have, preventing the Obama administration from achieving the goals of the 2007 law. “The EPA has missed several deadlines to lay out the pro‐ duction levels for 2014 and 2015, and this announcement is the reason why,” said Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Govern‐ ment Relations and Public Affairs for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. “They know that the RFS amounts were going to be unattainable, and now we know too.” Hennie also testified at an EPA hearing on the RFS in favor of a study that would examine the lasting effects of E15 on internal combustion engines. With today’s domestic oil boom, and the fact that we are consuming less gasoline than we were in 2007, a void for biofuels was created. Add in the fact that the US is only im‐ porting about a third of its oil, and the need for biofuel all but disappears. In its proposal the EPA would increase the levels of blended in 2015 to 16.3 billion gallons, four less than what the RFS requires. In 2016 the EPA would require about five billion less gallons than the law requires. This is obviously a blow to the affected industries around ethanol and a boom for big oil. Whatever side of this equa‐ tion you end up on, one thing is certain: raising levels of etha‐ nol in fuel from 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15) over‐ night has been hard on motorcycles. This is why the MRF is supporting H.R. 21 in the United States House of Representa‐ tives. H.R. 21, a bill authored by James Sensenbrenner (R‐WI), would require a full examination of what effects the higher blends of ethanol have on motors. Contact your member in the U.S. House of Representatives to cosponsor this impor‐ tant legislation. you end up on, one thing is certain: raising levels of ethanol in fuel from 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15) overnight has been hard on motorcycles. This is why the MRF is sup‐ porting H.R. 21 in the United States House of Representatives. H.R. 21, a bill authored by James Sensenbrenner (R‐WI), would require a full examination of what effects the higher blends of ethanol have on motors. Contact your member in the U.S. House of Representatives to cosponsor this impor‐ tant legislation. (Continued from Page 13, AMA News) President Obama Slashes Ethanol Production – May 29, 2015 – 15NR15 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces Fri‐ day, May 29th that it would reduce the amount of ethanol requirements for gasoline, reports the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF). This proposal would cut ethanol produc‐ tion for 2014, 2015 and 2016. The EPA cites market condi‐ www.abate.com OutSpokin' 25 12 issues - ending 0216 Only $16.67/month With 12 month Purchase See Page 36 for details! Email to: outspokin@abate.com 0315 0415 Run thru 0316 www.abate.com Run thru 0515 OutSpokin' 26 Deputy Director ‐ Smoke James ‐ 740‐819‐0645 REGION ZERO Region Director: Barbara Tittle 330-677-1845 Deputy Director: Tim “TJ” Johnson 330-360-7752 Region Zero Meetings: Contact your County Coordinators for time and location. Columbiana: Sam Sacconi 330-227-9900 meetings on 4th Sunday of Month, 2:00 pm. Mahoning & Trumbull: Jeff Beatty, 330-647-8420 Portage & Summit County: Paul ‘Shirley’ Stokes 330-6444572 Stark: Robert Fedor - 330-546-7450 Website: http://regionzero.abate.com Let's celebrate some more Region Zero Heroes!! Here in Northeast Ohio we have some truly heroic supporters without whom we could not carry out our mission. The first are the owners/operators of the Sail Inn in Lake Milton. Mike and Jess have been running this MC friendly establishment for umpteen years and have hosted our Region meetings for the last several years opening on Sunday mornings to provide a great place for us. They also host many regular events for us, providing , GRATIS, great amounts of food and a friendly atmosphere to draw in large numbers of attendees. Both of them will help with whatever we need at practically the drop of a hat. Mike originally owned a couple of bait shops in the area and then bought the Inn which they have updated. It is a wonderful venue for us and we cannot thank them enough. The Sail Inn also sponsors other benefit MC rides through the year to support riders and the local community. Mike was a rider for a LONG time and understands the riding community. Jess always makes sure we have whatever we need when we come in, especially for our February Meltdown party which tends to be a well attended affair, even in bitter blizzard weather. If you ride up around Lake Milton, just off State Rt 534, please stop in and patronize this great barwith Region Zero Heroes Mike and Jess!! Barb Tittle, Region 0 Director REGION ONE Region Director: Larry Dobbins, Jr. 740-544-6458 DD-David Mitchell, 330-383-0542 Region One Meetings: Region Meetings 2nd Friday every month, 7:30pm @ Hopedale American Legion. Dep. Director: David Mitchell 330-383-0542 Belmont County: Lee Irwin 740-310-0992 Harrison County: OPEN Jefferson County: Larry Dobbins Sr. 740-765-4825 Monroe County: OPEN Website: www.region1.abate.com NO REPORT REGION TWO Region Director ‐ Jim ‘Goofy’ Bown ‐ 740‐704‐4322 www.abate.com Deputy Director2 - Brent Rexroad - 740-849-0338 Region 2 meetings will be held at Capt’n Morgan’s, 5815 East Pike, Zanesville, Ohio 43701 740-872-9860 at 2:00 p.m., always on the first Sunday, except Sept. on the 2nd Sunday. Coshocton County: OPEN Guernsey County: Brenda Foraker 740-679-2494 Knox County: OPEN Licking County: Bo Essig - 614-984-1062 Muskingum County: Adam Trembley - 740-868-7611 Please contact your County Coordinator for more information and directions. Website: http://region2.abate.com NO REPORT REGION THREE Region Director: Mark Davis 419-235-7581 For Region 3 meetings, please contact your County Coordinator or your Region Director, Mark Davis for all information. Allen County: Dana Frost 419-229-0928 Logan County: Jack Linet 937-585-4155 Paulding County: Daniel Bustos 419-399-5291 Putnam County: Lynda Schnipke 419-453-3834 Van Wert County: Andy Riley 419-303-3229 Region Website: http://region3.abate.com NO REPORT REGION FOUR Region Director: Ruby Worchuck, rworchuck@aol.com 419-256-2560 ~ 419-966-9131 Region 4 meetings are held the Second Sunday of every month. Board meetings are at 1:30pm and General Membership meetings are at 2:00 pm unless otherwise noted. Meetings are held between the four county areas. Please contact your County Coordinator for more info. Defiance County, OPEN Fulton County, Art “Rabbi” Miller Jr. 419-335-1185 Henry County, Don Buehrer, 419-579-4878 Williams County, Wendell Humphrey, 419-459-4752 Website: http://region4.abate.com NO REPORT REGION FIVE Region Director: Tim Kaelin - 513-561-4745 Deputy Director: Dennis Wichert 513-410-1930 Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren Counties - Tim Kaelin, 513-561-4745 - First Sunday of the month, 11am @ The Train Stop Inn, 7837 Old 3C Highway, Maineville, OHIO 45039-8712. Phone: 513-683-0207 Clinton County Meeting – Dwight Meeker - 937-728-6565 Second Sunday of month, 11am @ American Legion Post 49, 140 E. Locust St., in Wilmington. Website: http://region5.abate.com OutSpokin' NO REPORT 27 started out of Toledo H‐D , Big place! Didn't have a very big turn‐out though, there were 4 other bike events that same week‐end. It only had 20 bikes and 2 trikes, and the Lucas Co. Region Director: Dave Griffin - 937-381-7483 Sheriffs on their H‐D's didn't show. I think someone said that Deputy Director: Marilyn Griffin - 937-381-7386 Champaign, Clark & Greene Counties: Lawrence S. Taylor, they didn't do runs anymore. At least it didn't rain. 937-626-6958, Meetings: 4th Saturday of the month @ The Shriners did their own road blocking. A LITTLE ILLEGAL, 4:00pm @ “Region 6 Meeting House” 10926 Haddix Road, but with their uniforms and Cop‐like helmets they pulled it Fairborn, Ohio 45324. off with much professionalism. It was a 78 mile ride with one Darke County, OPEN Miami County: Mike Wendel, 937-564-5005 - Meetings: Last stop at the Browning Masonic Assisted Living Home. Hell, Nate even video‐taped the whole ride with his helmet ‐cam, Saturday @ 10:00am, Heck Yeahs in Piqua Montgomery County: OPEN how cool is that! Then at the end of the ride, I announced Preble County, OPEN that Reg. 7 was donating 73‐plus pounds of beverage tabs to Website: www.region6.abate.com help haul the kids and their parents to and from the Shriner Hospitals. NO REPORT They know of HB115, the road guarding bill, and they support it. Many are ABATE members, themselves. Speaking of HB115, That is the same HB# as the repeal of the *REGION SEVEN mandatory helmet law for everyone in 1977! If we beat it once, we can beat again! HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF! Region Director: Larry Morgan, 567-201-3062 Then last week‐end we helped at the Schiets Bike Show and Deputy Director: Ron Sears 419-463-8464 ABATE Reg.7 Toy Run, with the proceeds benefiting Region meeting: Call Director Community Christmas of Sandusky Co. Around 1,000 dollars See Region 7 News Report for other meeting times. Erie County/Huron County: Jim Sprague , 419-680-8584 and several toys was collected. Had 25 bikes in the show, :Lucas County: Larry Morgan, 567-201-3062 about half what they usually have, too many things going on Ottawa County: Nate Monday, 567-219-1269 the same week‐ends. Had music and entertainment by Sandusky County: Bill “Grease” Willer, 419-665-2068 "Crazy‐Bob" Turner of the Haunted Hydro fame. Then we did Seneca County: Claude Schindorff - 419-619-2834 the ABATE Toy Run. It was an Alcohol‐Free Fun Run with Wood County: Mike Stock, 419-654-5446 stops at Elmore and Gibsonburg, to show where upcoming Website: http://region7.abate.com events will be. It was about one and quarter hours long ride, ABATE Riders, 70 miles long. Lottsa fun! Gotta Go! Kudos/Big thanks to Nate "getsu" Monday for his photo/ Thanks , Ride Free, layout skills on the ABATE Website. You have to get on‐line Bill "Grease" Willer and check out his work! Also, he has done a great job of Reg.7, Sandusky Co. Coordinator taking over as Ottawa Co. Coordinator. It's guys like this that ABATE of Ohio needs! Let's give him a hand at the Grub REGION EIGHT & Suds this year [need help]. I ran into a couple of helmet issues in July. On the 4th, our Region Director: Tim Cordray - 740-269-1213 nations B‐Day, a couple of guys came out of Sandi's, Lindsey's Email: Region8@abate.com little restaurant. They both got on their hogs, and one had an Deputy Director: Rusty Pierce 330-364-6175 Carroll County: Ike Hennebert Sr. - 330-324-2981 8‐10 year old girl as a passenger. I asked "where is her Stark County: Terry West - 330-455-8287 helmet?" They said that she didn't have to wear one. I said Tuscarawas County: Dave Antonelli, 330-343-5374 Ohio's law states that a minor has to wear one. They said no Website: www.region8.abate.com she doesn't, I said what‐ever, Bud. Then the following day I was delivering Outspokins to Hello Region 8, Signature H‐D. They had some kind of an open‐house with Well the final results of the Freedom Rally were good but burgers and lemonade. I sat down to enjoy a quick meal. I it could have been better, mother nature actually kept the started to shoot the shit with this guy who said that he had rain away long enough to dry most of the place up and get just bought a 2015 Tri‐Glide for his wife. Took him out to the weekend in but there was plenty of room for more show him my trike, shook his hand and said our bye's. He people. Thank you to everybody that helped out from getting said do me a favor. I said what is that? He said put on a G‐D us sponsors to working a shift over the weekend and to helmet! I said hey buddy, I fought for my freedom of choice Hillbilly Jim for being the top sales person of the cash back in 1976/1977. What's your excuse? drawdown tickets. The committee, for the next 2 years for On July 11th, the Shriners out of Perrysburg had their the Freedom Rally are Rusty Pierce, Sherri Hill, Ed Korns, Bob annual Fun Run to help support the Transportation Fund. It Barth, and myself, details coming soon. *REGION SIX www.abate.com OutSpokin' 28 October meeting is at the Elm Inn on the 4th at 1:00 pm and don't forget the Halloween Party at Lew's on the 17th. Gotta run. Be Safe, Tim Cordray Region 8 Director We would just like to thank everyone that attended or helped in any way for the return of the Freedom Rally. A special thank you to Mike, from Region 16, for helping Becky at the gate and Larry, from Region 1, who put on our bike games. What a great job you both did in helping make our event a success along with all our members that helped keep things going. We have already started working on next year’s Freedom Rally and with the cooperation of the weather and our members we know that it will be even bigger and better. Those of you who missed this year’s rally, you missed some great bands, wonderful weather (except for a few drops of that wet stuff) and some awesome food from the Carrollton Vets club. Upcoming events for Region 8 is the Halloween Spooktacular on October 17th at Lews in Massillon with Electric Mud playing and in December we have our annual Christmas party at Sommerdale Inn on December 12th with Double Duce playing. We will start a raffle in September to help with Freedom Rally expenses and let me tell you we have some great items to win. If you are interested, please contact any officer or member of Region 8. Always ride hard but ride safe! Rusty Pierce , Region #8 Deputy Director REGION NINE Region Director: Kolman Fuzy, 614-332-0198 directorregion9@wowway.com Deputy Director: Kathy Gantner - 614-231-5143 Delaware: OPEN Franklin County: OPEN Franklin County meeting will be held at: Oak Grove Tavern, 8340 Alkire Road, Columbus, OH 43227-1311 on the first Sunday of the month, at noon. Pickaway and Madison Co’s: Jeff Bowersock, 614-306-2570 Combined meetings are now combined with Franklin County listed in their county report or Kolman’s article. Madison County: OPEN, contact Kolman Fuzy (info above) Pike, Ross & Scioto Counties: OPEN contact Kolman Fuzy Hello, Region Nine: I would like to thank the seventeen people who came to the Covered Bridge Run on August 8. The weather was gorgeous, the route was great (thanks Kathy G.), and the bridges were covered. LOL! Seriously, the bridges were really cool. Tom Bloomer took home the award for the best hand, with a full boat, and every one seemed to enjoy the ride and the fellowship. So, thanks again to all who showed up. As far as September is concerned, there is a lot going on. The MRF meeting of the Minds will be at the end of the www.abate.com month in Wisconsin and here in Region 9, the Pickaway County Anniversary Run will be on the 19th. A full report on both events will be forthcoming in next month's article. Also, in September, we start taking nominations for the winter meeting location and also for Region 9 officers. Also, at the State Board meeting, event sanctions are to be turned in. So there is a lot happening. As of this writing, the ABATE Foundation Bike Raffle has not happened yet, but by the time you read this, it will be in the past. The winner's name will be revealed next month, along with a recap The Franklin County Toy Run is rapidly approaching‐ always on the second Saturday in November. Planning has already begun, so start thinking about getting those donations for the auction. More info will be available at the September meeting, so please plan on attending. There is plenty of great riding weather ahead, just remember that Autumn brings it's own unique set of hazards, such as slick roads and slick leaves in the roadway, so ramp up your alertness, and as always, watch out for butthead drivers. At the August meeting, no pins were awarded, so any that were due will be caught up in September's meeting. We are still at QFM's Bike Nights at Scioto Downs every Thursday, up until September 17th, when the motorcycle will ge given away, so come on out and join us at the info table.. Thanks to Kristie Kemper for making our presence possible. Well, that's about it for now‐short and sweet. Till next month, see ya. Ride Hard, Ride Smart, Ride Free Kolman directorregion9@wowway.com 614‐332‐0198 REGION TEN Region Director: Chris Weil - 614-975-1901 Deputy Director: Chris Long - 614-206-1742 Region 10 Website: http://region10.abate.com Hocking, Fairfield, Perry, Vinton, Morgan & Noble Counties Meetings: Please check Region 10 website or FB page for information. ALIVE AND WELL! REGION ELEVEN INACTIVE Contact: Call State Office 800-25-BIKER or 614-319-3644 Lawrence, Athens, Meigs, Gallia, Jackson, & Washington Counties - All Open Website: http://region11.abate.com/ OutSpokin' (Continued on Page 32, Region News) 29 30 31 (Continued from Page 29, Region News) REGION SIXTEEN REGION TWELVE Region Director: Charles “Jason” Jones - 440-261-1122, charlesjones577@aol.com Ashtabula County Cuyahoga County Geauga County Lake County Website: www.region12.abate.com ~ Join us every Thursday @ 6pm for Bike Games at the Iron Horse Saloon Bike Nites! ~ Come join Region 12, ABATE of Ohio, Inc. for Thunder on the Strip at Geneva‐on‐the‐Lake September 10,11,12,13. We will have new and old style products for sale, along with tak‐ ing new memberships. If, you know anyone who is interested in joining ABATE or finding out what we are all about, please, come join the fun. There will be live bands and lots of vendors and good food. Jessica McCormick, Region 12 Secretary Region Director, Cowboy Whitman - 330-567-3127 Deputy Director: Chuck Austin 330-234-8483 Meetings: Region 16 / Wayne County --Sunday, 12 noon East of Chicago Pizza, 801 W. Old Lincoln Way, Wooster, Ohio 44691.Cowboy for details. Ashland County: Cowboy Whitman 30-567-3127 Holmes County: Cowboy Whitman, 330-567-3127 Lorain County: Wayne ‘Pops’ Snyder, 440-774-2566 Medina County: Garret Robison, 330-278-2714 Richland County: Deborah Stephens, 419-689-9459 Wayne County: Chuck Austin 330-234-8483 Website: http://region16.abate.com NO REPORT REGION FOURTEEN Region Director: Pete Barnes - 419-722-9941 Deputy Director: Jason Smith 740-802-8702 Secretary: Kate Helge 567-232-0420 Crawford County - Craig Gubernath 419-563-4861 Hancock County - Lonnie Ritter 419-619-6603 Hardin County - Jeremy Billenstein 740-360-0760 Marion County - Mandy Smith 740-361-4964 Morrow County - Guy Campo 419-512-4270 Wyandot County - Lisa Barnes 419-294-8066 Website: http://region14.abate.com ABATE’s 2015 Region 14 Toy Run is September 19; let’s keep it the biggest run around, get even more people involved, and exceed last year’s estimated number of bikes (300) and people (417). * Run leaves Reineke Ford, Findlay, Ohio, at noon. * Pre‐registration planned for area bike nights and possibly roving registrars to cut down on lines. * As always, camping at the last stop—the Findlay Eagles in Mortimer—after all the festivities and games have ended. Next Meeting‐ The Eagles in Mortimer/North Findlay, on CR 220. 1 p.m. September 6. Hungry? Noonish at the Dark Horse on North Main, just south of the Eagles (formerly The Huddle). www.abate.com OutSpokin' 32 (Continued from page 15 - NCOM Biker Newsbytes) An analysis conducted by researchers from UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) found that lane-splitting is relatively safe if done in traffic moving at 50 mph or less, and if motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of other vehicles by more than 15 mph. “Surprisingly, we found that the difference in speed between the motorcycle and the surrounding traffic was a bigger predictor of injury than speed alone,” said study lead author Thomas Rice, epidemiologist at SafeTREC, which is based at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. “Above a 15-mile-per-hour speed differential, the risk of injury rose significantly.” California is the only state in the country where motorcycle lane-splitting is not illegal; and the researchers analyzed data on motorcycle-involved traffic collisions in California from June 2012 through August 2013. Of the nearly 6,000 accidents reported by the California Highway Patrol, 997 involved lane-splitting at the time of collision. “We have learned that when lane-splitting motorcycle riders are involved in collisions, the most common scenario is a rider traveling too fast when a motorist attempts to change lanes,” said Rice. mained engaged throughout the speeches of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Dr. Ben Carson, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Now that former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has officially launched his presidential bid, Sen. Ernst invited him to the first -in-the-nation caucus state for a ride; “I’d love to see him on a Harley” and she offered to “hook him up” with a motorcycle. Motorcyclists possess some of the traits she would like to see in a future president: “I think you have to be a leader and you have to make decisive determinations of what path you take,” Ernst said. “Whatever that path is, you have to follow it.” WEIRD NEWS: COPS CREATE TRAFFIC JAM TO CATCH BIKERS SPLITTING LANES New York police officers were recently caught on camera intentionally causing a traffic jam on the highway to catch motorcyclists splitting lanes through the stopped vehicles. The YouTube video has gone viral on the Internet, and was picked up by www.filmingcops.com, a conglomerative blogging service documenting police abuse otherwise ignored by traditional media outlets. The narrator of the YouTube clip claims that the police actually shut down the entire highway for the sole purpose of The data used in the UC Berkeley SafeTREC report included details about the manner in which lane-splitting occurred, such catching bikers driving in between lanes. Several unsuspecting bikers can be seen in the video being pulled over as cops as speed of vehicles, time of day and the kinds of helmets demand their license and registration, while the video shows used. Reports also included information about any injuries the rest of the traffic on the highway at a complete stop for sustained. some time so that the cops can generate ticket revenues; “This appears to be one of the most epic parasitic wealth-extractions Compared with other motorcyclists, lane-splitting motorcyin recent memory.” clists were more likely to ride on weekdays and during commute hours, use better helmets, and travel at lower QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Knowledge is power [Nam et ipsa speeds. Lane-splitting motorcyclists were also less likely to have been using alcohol and less likely to have been carrying a scientia potestas est].” ~ Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English Renaissance theorist passenger. Also compared with other motorcyclists involved in a collision, lane-splitting riders were less likely to suffer head injury (9 percent versus 17 percent), torso injury (19 percent versus 29 percent) and fatal injury (1.2 percent versus 3 percent). PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS RIDE HIGH ON THE HOG Demonstrating the political capital of motorcycles, seven of the Republican candidates running for President in 2016 descended on Iowa on June 6 to participate in freshman Senator Jodi Ernst’s inaugural “Roast and Ride” fundraiser. Sen. Ernst hopped on her Harley-Davidson Softail alongside Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on his Road King along with more than 300 motorcyclists in tow for a 38-mile ride from Des Moines to the Central Iowa Expo in Boone for the pig roast, which Ernst hopes will become an electoral tradition. Former Governor Rick Perry, R-Texas, took a different route to the roast, riding in with a group of veterans from the town of Perry, and was the only other 2016 contender to arrive on two wheels. Carly Fiorina rode a tractor in a local parade and renewed her attacks on Hillary Clinton, and the audience re- www.abate.com OutSpokin' 33 CLASSIFIEDS ARE FREE TO MEMBERS. NO BUSINESSES PLEASE FOR SALE: 0314 2 – 2006 Fatboy/Soft tail seats. New. $300 for both or $150 each. R1 area. Call Kent @ 740-457-7022 braided cables; windshield; + extras. $8500.00 or trade for truck or car of equal value. Jeff @ 419.947.9214 R9 area. FOR SALE: 0313 2009 Rims for FLHX. Jeff @ 330-3400104 R8 area FOR SALE: 0615 FOR SALE: 40mm CV Carburetor + air cleaner - fits 1999 Harley-Davidson FXDX Dyna Super HD. R9 area. $200.00. Call Jeff Glide Sport. 9900 miles. If you like the 419.947.9214 night train look this bike is for you. New Tires, New Battery. Det. W/S, Quick Release backrest, New Lockable & Det. Saddlebags. GREAT condition with plenty of extras. Asking $6500, O.B.O, NO TRADES. Located in Region 7, Call or Text Jeff @ 419-512-9875. FOR SALE: 0313 Mark Patrick HD Collectible Sculptures, $100 - $700, approximately 30 available, Region Zero Area. Call George 440.293.4575 WANTED: 1949 OH Motorcycle Plates. Good Condition or better. Leave msg: Bob 440-779-0316 - R12 area. FOR SALE: 1213 Men’s black leather chaps, XL, uncut and never worn. $120 OBO. Diane 937-4775193. R6 FOR SALE: 1989 Low Rider Ultima, 96 cu. in., 110 HP, 1550cc. Blk powder-coated frame; (See page 37) Classifieds run for a maximum of 6 issues, unless you tell us otherwise. Send changes to: outspokin@abate.com or call 419-294-8066 ROBIN BILTZ PICKENS — ABATE OF OHIO — MRF REP Meeting of the Minds is coming up, you need to reserve your room at the hotel, if you want to stay there. Many times the block of rooms is sold out early, please see the MRF’s flyer for MOTM elsewhere in the newsletter for details. I’m sure there will be quite a few groups riding to MOTM this year, many of us are planning on leaving Wednesday morning to ride up. We will meet at Burnzie’s Old Trail Saloon on Gender Road in Columbus at 8am for breakfast and leave there at 9am to start our ride to Wisconsin. Congratulations to Nate Monday of Region 7, he was selected at the last board meeting to attend the MOTM on ABATE of Ohio. He has never been to a MOTM before and every year ABATE of Ohio likes to send someone that has never been. Nate has been a great asset to Region 7 and really enjoyed the ABATE of Ohio Seminar back in March. It will be great traveling to Milwaukee with him and intro‐ ducing him to all the MRF members. Congratulations again to Nate! I would like to thank Dan Hacker (hope I have that right) of region 5 who called and left a message on my voice mail, about having some MRF applications printed up and was willing to cart them around with him to all the events. I have not had a chance to return his phone call, I apologize. The last couple weeks have been pretty nerve racking for me, my father was rushed to the hospital and is now in a rehab center, trying to get his lungs in shape so maybe someday he can come home. I spent the last week and ½ in Indiana helping my mother get all this set up. Damn us Biltz’s are stubborn, dad threatened to break out windows to escape. LOL it’s funny now, but at the time www.abate.com having to sit up all night with him in the hospital to make sure he was ‘good’ sure takes a toll on a person. Thanks to everyone for all the prayers, we are not out of hot water yet, but the flame under‐ neath the pot, sure has been turned down. Please see the MRF report elsewhere in the OutSpokin’, I have compiled information on what is happening at the federal level for all of you. The summer is 2/3 of the way over, get out and ride…….goes for me too! OutSpokin' Robin Biltz Pickens MRF Representative Ohio (614)554‐4325 mrfrep@abate.com 34 Sustaining Supporter Form ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is not a motorcycle club. We are a State Motorcyclist’s Rights Organization dedicated to the preservation of motorcycling. Our creed follows: ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is dedicated to preserving the rights, improving the image and promoting the safe operating practices of Ohio motorcyclists. Membership in ABATE of Ohio Inc. is open to all persons 18 and older, having an interest in preserving personal freedoms and sharing our goals. Ownership of a motorcycle is not a requirement. Clubs, businesses and generally any group of people greater than or equal to one person may become a Sustaining Supporter, a means to participate, be involved, be informed and be a part of Ohio’s best State Motorcyclist’s Rights Organization (SMRO) without having to enroll each person within the group, club or organization as a full member. With an annual contribution of $100, Sustaining Supporters receive from ABATE of Ohio, Inc.: 1 copy per month of the OutSpokin’ News‐ letter to the organization’s address; Monthly recognition in the OutSpokin’ for the organization’s commitment to ABATE of Ohio; Recognition on our website, www.abate.com. Sustaining Supporter groups do NOT have voting rights, but all regional, county and state meetings are open for attendance and participation in discussions regarding Our Right to Ride It Our Way. Group Information: Name of Group as desired for display in the OutSpokin’: ___________________________________________________________ Return Completed Form with Payment to: Mailing Address: ____________________________________________ ABATE of Ohio, Inc. City, State, Zip: _____________________________________________ P.O. Box 1658 Hilliard, Ohio 43026 Contact Person: ____________________________________________ www.abate.com Phone: ____________________________________________________ 1-800-25-BIKER 1-614-319-3644 Number of People in Group: ____________________ Date: _______________________________ Enclose $100 with application so that we may fully process your request. ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is a 501 (c)(4) "Not for Profit" organization. As a Sustaining Supporter, your contribution is deductible as a business expense for advertising, but is not tax deductible as a charitable contribution. Rev. 4.2015 Thank You for Supporting Us in Supporting Your Rights! Journeymen M.C. - Haskel Combs Jr. 0215 Barbarians Motorcycle Club, North 0215 Chuck & Eiko Calvert 0215 Eagle Riders Grp Westside FOE 3986 0415 Marion Area Harley Riders 0215 ABATE of Ohio Foundation 0215 In Memory: Barb “Penny” (Elgin) Carpenter 0215 Joe & Robin Pickins 0215 ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Region 9 0215 ABATE of Ohio, Region 6 0215 Amer. Legion Riders, Post 49, Wilm. 0215 Independent Riders Association, Toledo 0415 www.abate.com OutSpokin' 35 ABATE Advertising Form ABATE of Ohio, Inc. P.O. Box 1658 Hilliard, Ohio 43026 www.abate.com 1-800-25-BIKER 1-614-319-3644 ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is dedicated to preserving the rights, improving the image and promoting the safe operating practices of Ohio motorcyclists. Membership in ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is open to all persons 18 and older, having an interest in preserving personal freedoms and sharing our goals. Ownership of a motorcycle is not a requirement. ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) "Not for Profit" organization. As an advertiser, your contribution is deductible as a business expense for advertising, but is not tax deductible as a charitable contribution. Long Term Business Advertising Information All Long Term Advertisers receive as a thank-you for their support of ABATE of Ohio, Inc. and our mission: 12 issues (1year) subscription to our monthly newsletter “OutSpokin’” 1 advertising space in each issue of “OutSpokin” - Advertising levels are noted below. 1 advertising space on the www.abate.com website 1 supporter certificate suitable for display at your business Business advertisers are encouraged to offer ABATE members discounts for those who present their valid ABATE membership cards Short Term Business Advertising Information Businesses may choose to advertise in the OutSpokin’, for a limited number of months of the calendar year, up to 11 months. If you wish to advertise for 12 consecutive issues, please use the Long Term Form above. This form is also available on our website, www.abate.com/outspokin on page 36. Check the months in which you desire your ad to be published: ___Jan ___ Feb ___ Mar ___ Apr ___ May ___ Jun ___ Jul ___ Aug ___ Sep ___ Oct ___ Nov ___ Dec Levels of Advertising: Long Term : (per year) Short Term : (per issue) Street Level: business card ad in grayscale (3”x 2” area) $200 $20.00 Cruiser Level: 1/4 page ad in grayscale (3-3/4” x 4-1/2” area) $450 $45.00 Touring Level: 1/2 page ad in grayscale (7-1/2” x 9” area) $850 $85.00 Custom Level: full page ad in grayscale (7-1/2” x 9” area) $1,400 $140.00 Custom Color Level: full page ad in color (7-1/2” x 9” area) $2,800 $280.00 Business Information: Business Name: _______________________________________ Date: ___________________ Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________________ City, State & Zip: ________________________________________________________________ Contact Person: ______________________________________ Phone: ______________________ Advertising Level: _____________________________ Amount Enclosed: ________________ (check/credit) Pay by Credit Card Info: Check one - MC ______ VISA ______ Name on Card: (exactly) ______________________________ 16 digit card #: ________________________________________ Expiration Date: ____________________ 3 digit code _______ Signature: ____________________________________________ Payment must be received with your application to publish your ad in the next available issue. Return completed form with payment to: ABATE of Ohio, Inc., PO Box 1658, Hilliard, OH 43026 or Email to stateoffice@abate.com. Questions: call 614-319-3644 or 800-25-BIKER.** **Send artwork in .jpg, .tif, .png (preferred), .bmp or .pdf format. Use high resolution when possible to reduce the possibility of distortion when we size your artwork. Send to: outspokin@abate.com. We reserve the right to return for revision any artwork that we deem to be inappropriate, discriminatory or obscene. 03/2012 www.abate.com OutSpokin' 36 ABATE OF OHIO, INC. MEMBER-TO-MEMBER Program The Member-to-Member Program is provided as a service to our membership from members who are business owners. Please support your fellow members/business owners when possible as they support us in our endeavors. If you are a member that has a business not listed in our directory, please notify the state office to have your information added here. This is a free service to you for being an ABATE Member. Offering a discount to ABATE Members is at the sole discretion of the business owner. For more information on the Member-to-Member Program contact the State Office: 800-25-BIKER or 614-319-3644. ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) "Not for Profit" organization. As a supporter or a sustaining supporter, your contribution is deductible as a business expense for advertising, but is not tax deductible as a charitable contribution. RESTAURANTS & TAVERNS Crazy Fox Saloon Blue Room Restaurant & Bar 112 W Mansfield 129 S Main MOTORCYCLES & AUTOMOBILES DJ’s Cycles (Repair) 6310 Columbia Rd, NW CLOTHES, ACCESSORIES & TATTOOS Backroads Riding Apparel 69871 Sunset Heights www.abate.com Bucyrus Kirby 419-562-1256 419-273-2125 Dover 330-878-0105 Quaker City MISCELLANEOUS Puckett’s Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical Adult Day Care Massages by Maggie Cleveland Mortgage Service Cowtown Photography Columbus Rehab & Renovation Leave a Mark Church Red Knights Int. Firefighters MC OutSpokin' 10956 Haddix 729 W 130th 870 Oakwood 11221 Pearl 740 Sugar 611 Erikson 4819 Parson Ave 1677 Jackson Road Fairborn Hinckley Painesville Strongsville Westerville Whitehall Columbus Columbus 37 937-879-7657 330-220-9500 440-655-3927 800-886-4901 614-707-1471 614-783-6414 614-491-5262 614-271-8577 HELP KEEP OUR STATE OFFICE RUNNING AND SUPPORT ABATE of OHIO, INC.! “We’re in the Freedom Business” Karen Bolin, Past President of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation We, every dues paying member of ABATE, have an office The Office needs your HELP! The office in Columbus, the Capitol City of our State. Because of it’s existence, operates approximately 240 days per year, not including and having a full time staff, we have been able to get the following the days when it is used for the BOD Meetings or laws and amendments to laws passed over the last few years: A Veterans Licenses Plate Bill A Handicapped Licenses Plate Bill An Amendment to the Motorcycle Ohio Program allowing those that complete and pass the course to get their Motorcycle Endorsement without having to take the OSHP oncycle test Allow Motorcycles to back into parking spaces & 2 bikes to share parallel parking spot, metered or unmetered Handle bar height changed to 15” above the saddle Instrumental in saving the “Motorcycle Safety Fund” Purple Heart Motorcycle Plates - **NOW AVAILABLE!** Also, several bills (still) currently in the works: A Search & Seizure Bill for Motorcycles A Right of Way Violations Bill for Motorcycles special committee meetings. Just counting the utilities (electric, gas, water & sewage, trash & etc.) and the rent it costs $50.00, a day to put the key in the door! For your donation of $50.00 you can “Buy-a-Day-at-the-Office!” Or give it as a gift or in memory of someone. Pick a day and it will be put on the Office Calendar and on the Web Page that it’s “Your Day” at the Office. It will be there for everyone to see that you supported “Your Office” for that day. Can’t afford the whole day? Go together with another couple or individual member, or pass the hat at a meeting and show your support by keeping “Your Office” open. (A complete annual list is on page 39) ABATE of Ohio, Inc. THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is a 501 (C) 4 "Not for Profit" organization. Dues, donations, event funds and ABATE products are NOT tax deductible as a charitable contribution. Complete this form and mail to the address below: 5.2013 I want to buy ____ day(s) at the office. If more than one day, please continue on another sheet of paper. Include the following information: Assigned Tribute Date: ____________ Tribute or quote on YOUR day (15 words or less): ________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Amount enclosed: $50.00 x ____ days = $ ________ Check # ___________ -OR- Credit Card information: Exact Name on Card ____________________________________________ Check one MC _ VISA _ Credit Card #______________________ _______ (3 digits) Expiration Date: __________ Signature: _____________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________ City_____________________________ State______ Zip___________ Return form to: ABATE of Ohio, Inc. PO Box 1658 Hilliard, OH 43026 Phone: 800-25-BIKER 614-319-3644 ~OR~ If using a Credit Card attach to an email and send to: stateoffice@abate.com Your Name(s): ___________________________ Your Region and/or County: ______________________ Daytime phone in case we have questions: ________________________ Today’s Date _______________ www.abate.com OutSpokin' 38 ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) is a "Not for Profit" organization. Dues, donations, event funds and ABATE products are NOT tax deductible as a charitable contribution. DATE 1/2 1/7 1/9 1/14 1/16 1/17 1/20 2/5 2/11 2/17 2/19 3/2 3/17 4/9 4/20 4/17 5/1 5/2 5/10 5/17 5/30 6/7 6/17 7/17 7/18 8/8 8/17 9/5 9/12 9/17 9/19 10/12 10/17 11/14 11/17 12/17 12/27 REG 9 0 9 0 9 0 9 9 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 2 2 9 9 9 9 9 FIRST LAST DEDICATION ABATE Foundation ‘Buy a Ticket on the Raffle Bike’ ABATE Foundation ABATE David David ABATE Foundation Burgio Burgio Foundation ABATE Foundation ABATE ABATE Foundation Foundation ABATE Foundation ABATE Foundation ABATE Foundation ABATE ABATE Foundation Foundation In memory of Dancer, Brillo, and Hump In memory of Crystal Young ‘Buy a Ticket on the Raffle Bike’ In Support of ABATE of Ohio, Inc. In Memory of Eric Kirkbride ‘Buy a Ticket on the Raffle Bike’ In Memory of Kevin Robert Brouillette In Memory of Kevin Robert Brouillette 'Buy a Ticket on the Raffle Bike' In Memory of Brian Lucas Foundation Board - Thanks for your hard work! Robin Biltz-Pickens - Thanks for all you do! 'Buy a Ticket on the Raffle Bike' In Memory of All R9 Fallen Riders In Memory of Brian Nissley 'Buy a Ticket on the Raffle Bike' 'Buy a Ticket on the Raffle Bike' "Ozzie" says support the R2 RFTT Run "Ozzie" says enjoy the DBFI Poker Run 'Buy a Ticket on the Raffle Bike' The HEART of it all The HEART of it all 'THANK YOU for buying a Ticket on the Raffle Bike' Pickaway County Anniversary Run In Memory of Dave O'Herron 'THANK YOU for buying a Ticket on the Raffle Bike' Region 9 Toy Run THANK YOU for buying a Ticket on the Raffle Bike' 'THANK YOU for buying a Ticket on the Raffle Bike' Good friend "Ozzie" gone but not forgotten! 2 Section 14: Qualifications for the State Products Director. The minimum qualifications for the State Products Director are: A.) Ability to control, distribute, market and maintain the state product inventory. B.) Ability to monitor product sales and inventory at the region and county levels. C.) Ability to legally transport the state product trailer as needed. D.) Ability to develop new products. www.abate.com E.) Ability to recognize proper inventory levels based on sales history. F.) Ability to develop and maintain a list of recommended product suppliers. G.) Ability to record, maintain, organize and distribute accurate product records. H.) Ability to handle all methods of payment in a responsible manner. I.) Ability to safeguard the product inventory against theft, damage or loss. OutSpokin' 39 of Ohio, Inc. Change Service Requested Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 811 Toledo, OH 43623 Newsletter Office P.O. Box 1658 Hilliard, Ohio 43026 Is your time running out ? ? ? Check your mailing Label For your expiration date to keep your membership current! We thank you for your continued support! 1-800-25-BIKER www.abate.com PLEASE: Print Clearly DATE: ____-____-____ __ Single Member Dues $30/year __ Couple Member Dues $50/year Printed Newsletter? Yes _____/ No _____ NAME ___________________________________ First time member? __ yes / __ no Date of Birth ____-____-____ (mm-dd-yy) Registered Voter? __ yes / __ no Motorcycle Endorsed? __ yes / __ no Motorcycle Ohio or Safety Course? __ yes / __ no Opt: Skills/Contacts ________________________ NAME ___________________________________ First time member? __ yes / __ no Date of Birth ____-____-____ (mm-dd-yy) Registered Voter? __ yes / __ no Motorcycle Endorsed? __ yes / __ no Motorcycle Ohio or Safety Course? __ yes / __ no Opt: Skills/Contacts _________________________ ADDRESS ________________________ Apt ____ City ___________________ State ___ Zip _______ Select one ABATE County in Ohio _____________ TELEPHONE (_____) _____-_______ (important) E-MAIL __________________________________ Donations (tax deductible -separate check required): ABATE of Ohio Foundation $ ________ Donations (not tax deductible): ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Motorcycle Riders Foundation $ ________ $ ________ Make checks or money orders payable to: ABATE of Ohio, Inc. Mail this whole page to: P.O. Box 1658 Hilliard, Ohio 43026 Taken by __________________________________ ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) Not-for-Profit organization. Dues and donations are NOT tax deductible as a charitable contribution. 40