Hello, Everybody! Well, it
sure hasn't started to cool down yet. After an
unseasonably cool August, the heat's come back with a
vengeance! Of course, Murphy's Law took advantage of
the opportunity to kick in, and my home's air
conditioner fried right at the beginning of the Autumn
heat spell. It took over a week to get a replacement
unit, and believe me, I was sure glad when it arrived!
I felt like Capt. Willard at the beginning of the
movie Apocalypse Now, where he was laying on his back,
sweating bullets and thinking about still being in
Saigon. Fortunately, you just have to throw a leg over
the bike and get in the wind, and you can leave those
troubles behind you, at least temporarily.
As we progress through the
Fall Riding Season, everybody is taking advantage of the
Indian Summer temperatures to get out to weekend riding
events, as well as Bike Nights during the week.
Enjoying these activities is a direct outgrowth of the
Riding Freedom we possess in our state, and far too
often take for granted. But, as our Veterans know full
well, Freedom Isn't Free, and there are still threats to
our Freedom out there we riders need to safeguard
against. We have the power to achieve the goal of
defending Biker Freedom by first making sure we're all
registered to vote, and then exercising that power at
the polls. Many thanks to all of you that were able to
vote in the August State Primaries. We actually had a
couple of ABATE members that were featured in the Runoff
Elections, and ABATE was keeping its fingers crossed for
their success. Unfortunately, some news wasn't good,
but we do have several riders that are likely to be part
of the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2005. It's nice to
have Biker-Friendly legislators in office, but it's even
better when we can interact with legislators that ride
their own and can identify with the challenges facing
Oklahoma's Motorcycling Community. General Elections
are coming up the first Tuesday in November, so make
sure you're able to vote, ensure you're aware of the
issues and what candidates stand for, then get out there
and make your vote count! With so many legislators
stepping down due to Term Limits, elections this year
can completely change the makeup of our State
Legislature for the next few years, so the choices you
make will be very critical for the survivability of our
lifestyle. We need to make sure to get Biker-Friendly
legislators elected to office, and especially back those
candidates that ride motorcycles themselves. ABATE as a
Non-Profit Organization without a Political Action
Committee can't officially recommend, endorse or back
political candidates, but we as individuals can get the
word out as to which of those running will stand up for
Biker Freedom. That good old Biker Grapevine works
great during political campaigns! Remember, if you
don't vote, then you have no standing to complain about
what the government is doing to you!
ABATE is starting to
formulate legislative strategy for the 2005 Session, and
our primary point of focus will be to get Jaggers' Law
passed. For those not aware, Oklahoma Bikers were
unsuccessful last year in our first attempt to get
Failure To Yield legislation passed, designed to
increase penalties for irresponsible, negligent
motorists that are getting away with hurting and killing
motorcyclists. Last year, ABATE attempted to get the
Legislature to approve an additional $1,000 fine and one
year license suspension for negligent drivers that cause
fatality wrecks, and we designated the effort "Jaggers'
Law" in honor of our dear friend David Jaggers,
Sgt-at-Arms of the Downed Bikers Association, who was
killed by a reckless driver in October, 2003. This
year, ABATE of Oklahoma is a supporter of the American
Motorcyclist Association's Justice For All campaign,
formed after South Dakota Congressman Janklow got off
with a wrist-slap for killing a biker. This
campaign, which seeks to increase penalties for
irresponsible motorists that hurt or kill ANYONE they
share the road with, is perfectly in tune with what
we're trying to do with Jaggers' Law. I'll keep you
updated as to further developments. While I'm on the
subject, the Downed Bikers Association is recruiting
sponsors and supporters for a fund-raising Biker Event
designed to raise money to support ABATE in the push for
passage of Jaggers' Law in 2005. The event will take
place on October 17, 2004, and is currently being
organized. Look for an event flyer at your local
hangout, come on out and support Biker Freedom, and make
the commitment to get others to join ABATE while you're
at it--we need YOU!
A couple of items ABATE is
watching very closely that impact all of us
directly. In September in the Tulsa area a rider,
wearing a helmet and safety equipment, was killed by a
truck driver that dragged the motorcyclist down the
street. The irresponsible motorist was arrested on
multiple charges, but Law Enforcement
representatives announced to the media their intention
to lobby for a Helmet Law in Oklahoma. This is a threat
we can't take lightly and must meet head-on! Also,
we've recently experienced a couple of incidents
involving unprofessional behavior on the part of police
officers acting on their negative opinion of
motorcyclists. That both saddens and angers me, because
the vast majority of Law Enforcement officers, a number
of whom are my friends, are dedicated and
hard-working guardians of the public trust. One of our
ABATE members from Rogers County laid his bike down on
some gravel near Claremore and sustained a head injury.
While lying unconscious in the street, with his friend
trying to keep his airway clear, the officer that
arrived, after refusing to retrieve his first-aid kit,
stepped over the body of the injured biker and proceeded
to search the bags of the wrecked motorcycle without
probable cause or consent while asking the riding
companion if they'd been drinking, where the drugs/guns
were, etc. Folks, if something like this happens to
you, CONTACT AN ATTORNEY! Then, get the media
involved--incidents like these need to be publicized.
Also, contact your elected Representative and State
Senator to consider an investigation. We Bikers pay
taxes and are every bit the equal of any other
contributors to the community, and we deserve equal
treatment under the Law. I'll provide further
information regarding this incident as I receive it.
Our ABATE Family has gone
through some tough times in the past month. In addition
to the unfortunate experience involving our Brother from
Rogers County, Ripper Bailey, my dear friend and
a Charter Member of both ABATE's Central OK District and
the State Organization, wrecked his bike while up at the
Hawg Holler Bike Rally in Rose, OK. He had to lay his
bike down on a curve when an oncoming motorist crossed
the center line. Fortunately, Ripper escaped with a
broken fibula (smaller bone) in his right leg, and
multiple bruises and abrasions on his arms and face.
Doctors found absolutely NOTHING in his head when they
scanned it (just kidding, bro). He's stumping around in
a walking cast, and is fast getting back to being his
ornery self. I'm very thankful that his experience
wasn't worse, since Ripper and Michelle are two truly
righteous people, always going out of their way to help
Bikers in need. However, I was deeply saddened to learn
about the loss of Marty (Hendricks) Danks, wife of "Sgt
Ted" Danks. They were on the way back from a meeting of
the American Veterans M/C in Nebraska when they wrecked
their bike near Sand Springs, OK. Sgt Ted sustained a
broken thumb and some road rash, but Marty was killed.
Both of them were active with ABATE's Tulsa Chapter, as
well as with numerous other Biker-oriented activities,
and are loved and respected by all. Several hundred
motorcycles attended her funeral in Bixby, OK. This was
a supremely tragic event, and I urge everybody to
remember the Hendricks and Danks Families in thought and
prayer.
On the national scene, we
lost both bike builder Indian Larry and artist and
painter David Mann. Indian Larry, who died in a bike
wreck when he lost control while performing his
signature stunt of standing up on the seat, was a true
Artist in Steel. He produced some of the finest custom
motorcycles around, "Old School" choppers that really
captured the imagination. Some of you might have seen
his creations on his website,
www.indianlarry.com or saw his chopper tribute to Ed
"Big Daddy" Roth, which was the winner at Laconia NH
Bike Week on the Discovery Channel's Great Biker
Build-Off Episode #3. David Mann, of Easyriders
Magazine centerfold fame, passed away in mid-September
after a long illness. David Mann was known worldwide
for his true-to-life paintings depicting the Biker
Lifestyle he loved so much and was a major part of for
so many years. Both David Mann's website and the
Easyriders.com website have many examples of Mann's
unique work. Indian Larry and David Mann were
passionate about motorcycles, and were ardent supporters
of Riding Freedom, and that passion and love of Freedom
was evident in their work and in the lives they lived.
They both lived the Biker Lifestyle they loved until the
very end. They'll be deeply missed, and their passing
leaves an ache in the hearts of True Bikers everywhere.
Ride Free Forever, Indian Larry and David Mann!
Well, that'll do it for
now. I sure miss not having a State Party this year,
but I look forward to our Tulsa Chapter providing some
coverage of their Silver Anniversary Celebration for our
next issue, so folks not being able to attend will have
an idea of how much fun it was. I'd also like to remind
folks about the Mid-South M.I.L.E., taking place this
month at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Wichita, KS Oct.
15, 16, and 17. This is going to be a terrific event
(if it's anything like the M.I.L.E. we hosted last year
in Oklahoma City--O.K., I'm biased!), with Motorcyclists
Rights Activists from the U.S. and Europe speaking on
issues vital to preserving our right to ride. There'll
also be a fun banquet and party on Saturday night, and
Sunset Chapter ABATE has stepped up to the plate
to construct this year's basket of goodies to sell at
the banquet auction. We still need Made-in-Oklahoma
products to stock it with, however, so PLEASE submit
your contributions to Sunset ABATE, or bring them to the
October State board Meeting. Admission to the M.I.L.E.
Seminars is $20 or $25, depending on when you register,
but if your Chapter pays $100, as many as possible can
attend. I'd recommend taking advantage of this savings,
and that way we can have a bunch of folks from our
Organization take part. Please contact Bernie Williams
at 918-683-5733 with any inquiries. I'll be looking for
you there!
Tiger's Tip O' The Month:
Everything that can be said for your bike's performance
comes down to two four-inch patches where the tires come
in contact with the road. We don't have mandatory
vehicle inspection in Oklahoma anymore, so it's
additionally important for you to check your tires for
wear and condition. Check inflation often, gauge wear
with a Lincoln-head penny (if you can see the top of
Honest Abe's head, your tread's too low), and look for
dry rot on the sidewalls. Personally, I don't feel
comfortable using a patched tire without a tube, and I
won't use a plugged tire at all! You have to trust your
equipment when you ride, and that trust comes from
knowing the condition of what you have. Not to do so
increases the risk of you being distracted or
preoccupied while riding, setting you up for big
trouble. O.K.--I'm done. Remember, ABATE of Oklahoma
needs all our support, so please recruit members, and
you that have ties to organizations out there, PLEASE
consider taking out a 2005 Sustaining Membership, like
the Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs and several of our
ABATE Chapters did. Everyone that believes in Biker
Freedom should be part of ABATE. Contact me if you have
any questions. Take care of each other, Ride Safely,
everybody, and keep your jugs cool! I'll be looking
forward to our paths crossing soon!
Keep It On The Black Strip
Between The Trees,
Tiger Mike