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Hello, Motorcycling Friends--
I hope all of you are gearing up for an
enjoyable Labor Day Weekend. I'm submitting my Tiger Tales article for you
to read before you take to the highway, and I trust you'll find it
informative. While I'm visiting with you, I'd like to cordially invite
everybody to attend our upcoming Oklahoma Confederation Of Clubs Poker Run the
weekend after Labor Day in the Oklahoma City area. The Meeting and Poker Run will take place on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2008.
Bike Registration starts at 12 Noon, and the Confederation Meeting will
begin at 1:00PM. Bikes will leave out for the Poker Run between
2:30PM and 3:00PM, and the route will be made available at registration.
The event cost is: $15.00 for a single rider and $21.00 for a couple.
Many thanks to Hands With Prayer M/M, one of our Confederation member groups,
for organizing the Poker Run. Proceeds from this event will go to support
the Confederation's promoting unity and cohesiveness among ALL Oklahoma
motorcyclists and trikers as we defend your Rights, legislatively and
judicially. The American Legion Post where the Confederation Meeting and
Poker Run is being held is Post #73, located in Del City, OK. It's about 3 miles
east of I-35 and around 3 miles west of Tinker AFB. Just exit I-35 at S.E. 29th
St., and head east on 29th. After you pass through the light at SunnyLane
Rd., keep going east (1/2 mi.) until you see a traffic light with an Arby's on
the left--that's Linda Lane (if you keep going east to Sooner Rd., you've gone
too far!). Make a left at the Arby's and go north on Linda Lane to S.E. 24th St.
Make a right, and 24th ends at American Legion Park. Make another
right, and Post 73 with its parking lot is at the end of the park. The
Post address is: 5000 S.E. 24th St., and the phone number is: 405-670-9128 in
case anybody gets lost. I hope a good number of folks from our Riding
Community will be able to attend--a good time will be had by all!
In Unity and Brotherhood, Tiger Mike ABATE of Oklahoma
Liaison, Oklahoma Confederation Of Clubs 405-596-1072 (cell)
confederation website: www.oklahomacoc.com TIGER TALES - SEPTEMBER,
2007
Hello, Friends! I'm reminded of the
adage, "Be careful what you wish for!" Last month, I talked about the need
for a stretch of hot, dry weather--and sure enough, we've gotten it in
spades. Hopefully, all of you are staying cool and hydrated and
enjoying life on the Road as we wind up the 101 Critical Days Of Summer.
It's a Summer that has been characterized by joy, sorrow and challenges. I
thought the Oklahoma flooding was bad in June, but apparently, Tropical
Storm Erin moved over Central Oklahoma, and we got around 10 INCHES of rain
in twenty-four hours! My power went out for a few hours, and some oak tree
limbs came down, but with no damage. Folks in towns like Kingfisher,
Watonga, and Geary suffered widespread severe destruction, and some families
are suffering over members lost in the rising waters. Please have a
good thought and a prayer for them. I turned on the TV, and saw that I-40
was flooded out and closed in both directions east of El Reno--I've NEVER seen
that in the 19 years I've lived here! I've seen it closed due to
snowdrifts, but never for flooding--WOW! Please remember all those in
harm's way due to this thing, whether in structures or on the Road--there are
still a number of folks all over the state who are in peril, especially the
elderly and infirm. We're setting records for Oklahoma rainfall in August,
so take care, everybody, and keep your powder dry!
This being September,
I have to remind everyone that if you're looking for a really fun Bike Rally to
attend, c'mon out to our ABATE of Oklahoma State Party Sept. 28-30. It'll be
held once again at Camp McFadden on the shores of beautiful Kaw Lake, just east
of Ponca City. There's lots of comfortable acreage to camp on, and even
air-conditioned cabins and an air-conditioned Main Pavilion to beat the heat
in! We'll be featuring a Bike Show, Bike Games, a Tattoo Contest, People
Games, vendors, live music (Four Bands), the Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday
Morning, good food, a 50/50 drawing, and fun for all! The last weekend of
September doesn't conflict with either Pawhuska or Bikes Blues and BBQ in
Fayetteville, AR, so put it on your calendar and make plans to attend. This
is the third straight year we've held this event at Camp McFadden, and they love
Bikers in the Ponca City area! Proceeds from the Party go directly to fund
ABATE's legislative efforts next year, so we call it "A Party With A
Purpose". You can download and print an event flyer at the ABATE State
Website: www.abateofoklahoma.org , and I very much look forward to seeing a bunch of
you there!
As the Freedom Fight continues, some local Media Establishments have expressed their intent to assault Freedom Of Choice for adult riders, for whatever private agenda they're pushing, and Eternal Vigilance continues to be the Price of Liberty in our Riding Community. Outrageous Anti-Motorcyclist articles were published in several Oklahoma newspapers, and riders have responded in large numbers venting their anger. A particularly infuriating excerpt stated, "We've heard the argument for years from bikers who say most motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers. SO WHAT? ..." We all need to continue to work together as a UNITED Motorcycling Community to defeat whatever threats might confront our Freedom and jeopardize our Rights and Lifestyles. Should a Helmet Law threat again materialize at the State Capitol in 2008, I assure you that ABATE of Oklahoma will be there to meet it head-on, and once again with your help the threat will be crushed! Additionally, I deeply appreciate all of
you out there jumping on August's Fox 25 Opinion Poll right away and making
your vote count--if for no other purpose than to remind the Media that Bikers
have a VOICE! ABATE thanks you for stepping up and taking a stand.
The count ultimately ran 90-10 percent in favor of Freedom Of
Choice for our state. Bottom line: we need to differentiate between
the UTILITY of Helmets and the FUTILITY of Helmet Laws! Helmet Laws are
NOT about "Safety"-they're about Politics, Money and Control. Special
Interest Groups seek to protect their Profit Margins and increase their
Political Power Base, and Politicians attach themselves to Hot-Button Issues to
increase their chances of getting Re-Elected--THAT's the reason Helmet Laws
materialize! If, God Forbid, we were to pass a Mandatory Helmet Law in our
great state eliminating Freedom Of Choice, the carnage in our Riding Community
would not decrease. If we're truly concerned about reducing motorcycling
deaths and injuries in Oklahoma, we need to educate motorists to Look Out for
Motorcyclists and Share the Road; educate ourselves as Riders to Ride Safely,
Responsibly, Sober and Aware; and increase penalties for those negligent,
irresponsible motorists who just don't care, and who refuse to abide by the
rules and laws of the Road!
To underscore what I've just mentioned, consider the
tragic wrecks involving our Riding Family this Summer. For example,
three innocent victims, members of the Christian Motorcyclist
Association, were killed last month by a motorist who drove across the
center line, violated their Right-Of-Way, and hit a group of motorcyclists
head-on. A fourth victim from that ride was treated for critical
injuries at OU Medical Center. Once again, the media saw fit to mention
whether or not the riders were wearing helmets, but there was ABSOLUTELY NO
MENTION of ANY Citation being issued by Law Enforcement to the person who
caused the wreck! This brings to mind the terrible injustices of
the past involving our Riding Community, as when Flop, Bev and John got killed
in much the same manner on Hwy. 9 eight years ago. JUSTICE MUST be
served--We MUST hold the Media and the Justice System accountable,
both for more responsible reporting, and to effectively apply the Law to those
who break it and hurt and kill our loved ones in the process! In my humble
opinion, Law Enforcement Officials have more important things to do with their
time than harass motorcyclists for things like loud pipes and auxiliary
lighting, as has been happening in Tulsa and Claremore, when riders are being
killed and injured wholesale! I'll remind everyone that these are the
types of wrecks where Jaggers' Law applies, to increase penalties for negligent
drivers who cause injuries and fatalities--make sure whatever Personal Injury
Attorneys hired to secure Justice pursue this factor. For now, all of us
riders need to please focus on supporting the grieving families, visiting the
injured in-hospital, and securing Justice for those riders out for some
enjoyable Motorcycling, who were touched by the hand of Evil.
I was contacted by someone telling me I should presume
innocence until the perpetrators are proven guilty, and maybe all this
bloodletting IS making me cranky. However, I've been working on
behalf of Motorcycling Rights in Oklahoma 19 years now, and I haven't seen ONE
of these types of wrecks--NOT ONE--caused due to circumstances not under the
cage driver's control. Virtually ALL of them were caused by negligent,
irresponsible or inattentive driving resulting in either the cage directly
impacting the bikes in the other lane, or the cage crashing into another
vehicle and sending that vehicle across the line into the bikes' path.
This is the SECOND fatal head-on in the last 3 months involving multiple
bikes in Oklahoma (the other one involved a Mustang speeding and passing on a
solid line up near Adair). I'm tired of seeing these
repeated outrages perpetrated upon our Riding Community for so long, which
is why you don't see me exercising a whole lot of verbal restraint. I've
been in too many damn courtrooms watching defendants walk out and go on with
their lives as if nothing ever happened, with little penalty and no
accountability, leaving death, grief and destruction in their wake.
The victims' families receive a life sentence in having their loved ones taken
from them violently and permanently!
Before I close, I want to make mention that
ABATE is coordinating with Rep. Paul Wesselhoft (R-Moore) to advance a bill next
year which calls for penalties for drivers who hurt and kill others
while yakking on Cell Phones. The bill will be named in memory of
Brittanie Montgomery, an NBA Hornets Cheerleader from Oklahoma, but also
will include the name of Jeffery Smith. Jeff was our ABATE NW #69
Chapter Vice-President, who in 2005 was run over from behind on his Harley and
killed right in front of his house by a distracted truck driver talking on his
cell phone. We'll have opportunity to support this important bill at
our 2008 ABATE Legislative Breakfast, on Tues., Feb 19 at the State
House. We're going to talk about this and other important issues at this
year's annual Mid-South M.I.L.E. Motorcyclist Rights Seminars coming up
October 26-28 at the Ramada Inn in Fort Smith, AR. This Five-State
Regional Convention continues to be one of the premier get-together
events for Freedom Fighters in the Nation. You can get more
information by checking out the M.I.L.E Website at www.midsouthmile.org I want to give folks a heads-up that the 2008
M.I.L.E. will be taking place in Oklahoma, so ABATE will need to start preparing
early. Also, ABATE State Elections are coming up, and I intend to once
again support Motorcycling Quality Of Life legislation as your ABATE State
Coordinator for another two-year term, if the Organization's membership will
have me. Hopefully, our Riding Family is satisfied with my efforts as
one of ABATE's leaders going on eight years. Another reason to look ahead
to next year is January's scheduled ABATE General Membership meeting, which will
be held January 12 at the Quartz Mountain Resort in S.W. Oklahoma, north of
the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and long-popular in an area of
the state where Bald Eagles come to winter. The 2008 Meeting will afford
us the opportunity to celebrate Biker Liberty where the symbol of American
Freedom flies free! It'll once again be hosted by our Great Plains Of
Altus Chapter--Look for more information over the next couple of months,
and I hope to see a large number of our ABATE Membership in
attendance.
The September Tiger's Tip O' The Month comes from our
State Safety Officer, Paul Brinker. Last month, one of our Great Plains Of
Altus Chapter Members, "DR" Churchwell, wrecked his bike after hitting a
deer. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt as seriously as he could've been, and
ABATE hopes he recuperates quickly. His wife mentioned he was running
"Deer Chaser" whistles on his bike, but they had no effect. Here are
Paul's comments: "Deer Whistles have absolutely no effect on deer. I
read a study where they rode back and forth along a stretch of road where
deer were present and they had NO REACTION TO THE DEER WHISTLES !!!!! Oh,
and they made sure they were clean and that they were properly adjusted and that
they were going fast enough to get the right air flow etc, etc. Instead of
relying on these things when in deer territory slow down, scan the terrain, be
prepared to swerve, slow down or stop. This is not the first time I have
heard of someone with deer whistles getting nailed by a deer. Hope DR has
a swift recovery. Later, Paul" I'd like to add my input
here: If you're down in the Wichita Mts., it's a safe bet the BUFFALO in
the road don't listen to Deer Whistles either! Additionally, heed the same
warnings as when you're riding around Sturgis while you're in S.W. Oklahoma:
"DON'T HONK AT THE BISON"! That might keep you and your bike from getting
flattened! Thanks for listening, Ride Free and Safely, and I'll look
forward to seeing you as Fall arrives, Football Season starts, the weather
gets cooler and the leaves start to turn.
Keep It On The Black Strip Between The
Trees,
Tiger Mike |
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