Hey there,
folks! I hope all of you are doing well during Harvest Time
in Oklahoma. I'm sure lots of you are finding plenty of
things to occupy yourselves with as the chill winds of late
Autumn continue to cool down the state and get us to bundle
up more and snuggle more tightly with those we love. I've
spent the last couple of weeks setting up my leathers for
cool weather riding, and dragging out the long-sleeved
shirts, sweaters, scarves, and especially warm hats for my
cleanly shaved noggin! I've never forgotten my dear
mother's words, and they weren't "Give up that dangerous
motorcycle"! She said: "when your feet are cold, cover your
head". That's because in cold weather, 80 percent of your
body heat is released through the top of your gourd. So,
it's well worth your while to keep your top insulated
against the wind chill associated with blasting down the
highway that makes the cold even colder! One thing I love
about late Fall is that it's perfect weather to putt
somewhere and warm up with some nice hot food I don't care
to deal with in Summer: dishes like Red Beans with Rice,
Chicken and Dumplings, Beef Stew-hearty, stick to your ribs
stuff. It's also time for lots of good Chili, too, although
that can be a little tough on the ol' digestive tract, and
on the friends around you, if you know what I mean!
November's what I like to call Iron Barrel Weather, so I've
changed out Moby Dick's oil to a thinner viscosity and
installed the oil cooler blanket to help regulate the
temperature, since it's not a good idea to risk moisture
from condensation that could shorten engine life. I've had
the beast on the road for over 19 years, so I must be doing
something right! I have to get the bikes washed and waxed,
too, since they usually just get a sponge-bath during the
Winter unless there's some serious dirt involved. I don't
like to use high-pressure sprays on the bike since they tend
to displace grease from the fittings and joints where it
belongs. The furnace is pre-flighted so the crib will stay
warm, so I guess I'm as ready for Jack Frost as I can be.
I hope
all of you had an enjoyable Halloween last month. Halloween
always seems to be an especially festive time for bikers,
with fun parties and, shall I say, interesting costumes
abounding! Halloween concluded an active month for me,
which started with my riding down to Lawton to Ride the
Range and dance with the buffalo at the Oklahoma State H.O.G.
Rally. It wasn't well attended this year due to a number of
large scale events in adjoining states, but it was
enjoyable, with a lot of scenic riding, good food, and a
fantastic evening of music featuring Michael Martin Murphey.
I even won the Chapter Challenge by coming up with a bunch
of Western Movie and TV trivia-my mom would be so proud!
Now that it's November, and we're gearing up for Veterans
Day and Thanksgiving, I also need to reflect on the fact
that this month marks FIVE YEARS that I've served as your
State Coordinator in ABATE of Oklahoma. It's been quite a
ride, and one I wouldn't trade for anything! I've learned a
lot about motorcycling, about politics, but most importantly
I've learned a lot about people, friendship, character and
Brotherhood that makes being a Biker a lot more than someone
that just rides two wheels to get from place to place. I
don't know where the road will take me from here, but I'm
confident that my life will continue to be far from boring,
thanks to the extra dimension being part of ABATE has added
to it. I hope each of you in ABATE will feel the same as
you continue in your motorcycling adventure. As we take
pause to consider what to be thankful for this Holiday
Season, I'm very thankful to be able to associate with folks
so dedicated to defending the Freedom that makes us as
American Bikers unique in the entire world!
Hopefully, all of my Brothers and Sisters out there were
prepared to exercise on November 2 one of the most precious
rights we enjoy as American Citizens-the Right to Vote!
This year's General Elections will undoubtedly prove to be
some of the momentous in American History, so all of us
really needed to stand up and be counted. Oklahoma's
Motorcycling Community has a solid reputation for being
well-informed and knowledgeable of the issues, as well as
having a significantly high percentage of riders being
registered to vote. That greatly helps to increase our
political effectiveness and our ability to interface with
elected officials on all levels of government. A number of
important questions were presented this year to consider on
the ballot, which will graphically affect our future in
Oklahoma, so remember-when you vote, the choice is yours; if
you don't, the choice is theirs!
I was
able to roll up to Wichita, KS last month for a very
enjoyable, informative, educational and inspiring 2004 Mid
South M.I.L.E., featuring attendees from all over the
country, Europe, and the member MROs of Kansas, Oklahoma,
Texas, Arkansas and Missouri. ABATE folks from Sunset,
Muskogee, and COD Chapters showed up. The annual
Motorcyclists Improving Legislative Effectiveness seminars
covered a wide range of topics, from threats to our
Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties, to enactment of
Failure To Yield legislation, which three of our neighbor
states are trying to accomplish as well as Oklahoma. I
represented ABATE of Oklahoma on panel discussions dealing
with legislative efforts and membership and organizational
logistics issues. The seminars went very well, and the
banquet, auctions and party Saturday night were a blast!
Sunset Chapter promised an awesome basket to represent ABATE
of Oklahoma, and they sure delivered! It was a metal oil
derrick, almost eight feet tall, covered with white lights
and crammed full of Made in Oklahoma products. It was a
fantastic piece of work which brought over five hundred
dollars at auction. Thanks much to Sunset Chapter ABATE for
all your efforts and dedication in supporting our State
Organization. Congratulations are also in order for
everybody in the five-state area that worked so hard to make
the M.I.L.E. a success, and to the different organizations,
including the AMA, NCOM, and the MRF, coming together in
unity to provide expertise and knowledge to benefit us
individual Motorcyclist Rights Organization members. I did
a lot of networking with other states which I know will
benefit us as we pursue Failure To Yield legislation next
year. Thanks loads to our Kansas Brothers and Sisters for
their hospitality! Next year's M.I.L.E. will be held in
Denton, Texas, and I hope more folks from the Sooner State
will be able to attend.
Speaking
of coming together, I had to leave Wichita early, without
attending the M.I.L.E.'s wrap-up meeting, so that I could
attend the Jaggers Law Poker Run in Oklahoma City October
17. A number of organizations representing a broad cross
section of Oklahoma's motorcycling community put together
this event to raise money for ABATE of Oklahoma in its
pursuit of Failure To Yield legislation in the 2005
Legislative Session. I got on the bike and headed to the
starting point at Scooters and Hooters in time to see all
surrounding parking lots completely filled with motorcycles
and trikes. There were over 750 registered for the Poker
Run, with a number of tag-alongs, riders headed to the
Capitol for the photo-op, and folks showing up at the end
point thrown in for good measure, so I figure the number of
attendees to have been at around a thousand. We cruised
together to the State Capitol for a group photo on the
Capitol steps, and the sight was VERY impressive! I
estimate there were around 800 people camped out in front of
Oklahoma's seat of government-too bad the Legislature wasn't
in session!
The
parking lot at Charley's Last Stand at the end of the Run
was completely filled with vehicles, and we enjoyed some
great rock and blues from the Zen Okies, enhanced by the
smoky voice of Miss Amy. The American Legion Riders Post
#1340 hosted a cookout, and ABATE of Oklahoma set up a booth
selling merchandise and signing up members. A number of
attendees joined ABATE, including my dear friend Denise
Jaggers. Quite a few ABATE members thought it important to
attend an event designed to raise money for our
Organization, and folks from COD, Sunset, Muskogee, Lawton,
Great Plains of Altus, Rogers County, and NW #69 Chapters
showed up. Many thanks for being good ambassadors of Biker
Freedom, my ABATE Brothers and Sisters! A bunch of cool
door prizes were given away, including autographed rock and
roll memorabilia, and when activities started winding down,
the Downed Bikers Association, one of the principal
organizing groups, presented ABATE of Oklahoma with a check
for TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS! Can I say that again please? TEN
THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! I'm still in a state of shock! This
was all the result of a number of motorcyclists in our state
from different backgrounds wanting to help ABATE in its
efforts to improve the quality of life for Oklahoma's
motorcyclists, and took it upon themselves to organize a
benefit event. ABATE of Oklahoma is very grateful to the
event organizers, contributory sponsors, and most
importantly the members of Oklahoma's Riding Community that
turned out in force to enjoy the event, support ABATE, and
pay tribute to the memory and honor the life of David
Jaggers. David is smiling down on us, I'm sure, seeing all
that's being accomplished in his name!
So, all
in all, this has been a pretty good Fall Season so far, and
I feel privileged to be in league with such special folks
that share a passion for the road, and for Freedom. That
feeling certainly makes this Thanksgiving season extra
important for me. I hope to see a number of you special
people joining with ABATE as we once again honor America's
Veterans with our annual Central OK District Veterans Day
Bike Parade to the State House on November 11. It'll be
leaving the Skyline Restaurant parking lot, S.E. 15th
St., ¼ mi. east of I-35 promptly at 10:30AM. Since Election
Day will be over, this event will provide us with an
excellent opportunity to put partisan politics aside and
focus on honoring the sacrifices of our Nation's Veterans.
Veterans Day also enables us to focus on the need to
preserve and increase Veterans rights and benefits
guaranteed them by the Country they served. We'll ride to
the State Capitol, do a turn around the building, and park
in the Capitol South Parking Lot, across from Oklahoma
Veterans Memorial Park where Veterans Day ceremonies will
begin at 11:00AM SHARP. After the event is concluded, the
American Legion Riders Post #1340 has graciously offered to
host a cookout, with build 'em yourself hot dogs and chili
dogs. We had over 500 riders attend our Bike Parade on
Memorial Day, and it would be terrific if we could exceed
that number this November, especially after seeing so many
Bikers together in front of the State House during the
Jaggers Law Run! So, polish your chrome, fly your flags and
I look forward to seeing all of you November 11. Come out
early, have breakfast, and enjoy the company of Brothers and
Sisters that are Veterans and love Veterans! Well, have a
very happy Thanksgiving Season, guard against the late
Fall's colder temperatures, and revel in the Biker Spirit
that makes our upcoming Toy Runs and Holiday-oriented events
such fun to participate in. I'll be hoping for us to bump
into each other sometime during the Holidays for a bit of
cheer!
Keep It On
The Black Strip Between The Trees,
Tiger Mike