On Saturday, April 6, the “Harley of Hope,” a 2013 Switchback, was unveiled at Harley-Davidson of Jamestown in Falconer, New York. The Switchback was supplied by H-D of Jamestown and custom painted by Chris Maida of CM Designz in North Java, New York, to raise funds for kids with cancer. The bike will be raffled off following the 16th annual Kids and Cancer Benefit Run just over the New York border in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, on July 20. Other raffle prizes include two tickets to the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen and $250 each, as well as a $250 H-D of Jamestown gift card. Tickets are $20 each or six for $100. Over the past 15 years, the Kids and Cancer Committee has donated more than $200K to benefit kids with cancer and their families. For more information, go to kidsandcancerbenefitrun.com… In response to my complaint that none of the consignment shops in my area are interested in taking in “gently used” biker gear, THUNDER PRESS contributor Dom Mazza clued me in to Motorcyclegear.com, a family-owned business that offers consignment services for used motorcycle gear and apparel. Just click on “Customer’s Closet” to browse what’s for sale. I haven’t yet used them myself, but they’ve got five-star ratings on various review sites… An illegal alien from Ecuador hit and killed motorcyclist Matthew Denice of Milford, Massachusetts, dragging him under his truck for a quarter-mile after the collision. The offender was later charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence. Although the evidence against the driver was overwhelming, in April of this year he was judged incompetent to stand trial because of his “unique cultural background” that prevented him from understanding the U.S. legal process. That didn’t seem to matter with his past charges of assault and battery, as well as traffic charges, but maybe we’re not as smart as the judge who issued the ruling. Later in April, the perp’s attorney received permission to hire a Boston University law professor to instruct him on the American legal system, after which he will be evaluated again by a forensic psychologist to determine whether this time he is competent to stand trial. Stay tuned for further outrages… I mean updates… on this case… The borough of Brooklyn, New York, is notoriously short on parking spots, especially those secure enough to leave a motorcycle. Vax Moto is a garage in Gowanus, near Park Slope, Brooklyn, where motorcyclists can securely store their bikes, do some wrenching with garage-supplied tools and equipment, and just hang out with other like-minded folks. Everything from vintage cycles to race bikes to choppers reside in the 5,000-square-foot space. Gowanus is a happening neighborhood, home to artists, rockers and all sorts of creative types, and owner Justin Walters has been known to hold art shows and full-moon rides. Sounds perfect, right? Except for one thing—the landlord is selling the building and, on short notice, told Walters he had to be out by the end of May. He got a reprieve through July, and has his eye on a space in Boerum Hill, just 10 blocks north. Hopefully, by the time this issue hits the streets, a new lease will have been signed. Stay tuned for future happenings once the deal is done… American Legion Riders #567, Southern Tier Chapter, held their 8th annual Motorcycle Dice Run to raise money for homeless veterans. About 100 bikers participated in the 190-mile ride, which left the American Legion post in Orchard Park, New York, and returned to partake in a pulled pork dinner… The Yarmouth, Massachusetts, police department held the inaugural First Responder Appreciation Motorcycle Ride, with 190 bikes leaving from the department’s headquarters, riding across Cape Cod and ending on a beach in South Yarmouth. The money raised benefits The One Fund Boston, a charitable organization formed to assist the families and victims most seriously affected by the bombings at the Boston Marathon… It appears that the New York Police Department bungled a 17-month case on a suspected motorcycle theft ring. Two surveillance videos were lost and two cameras did not record. Additionally, seven high-end bikes being held as part of a 63-motorcycle evidence lot were “lost” when the thieves re-stole them out of a box truck in a NYPD impound lot in the Bronx. A Manhattan judge slammed the cops for their sloppy police work, but refused to toss the case… On May 18, Woodstock Harley-Davidson celebrated its first anniversary under new owner Bill Nugent by having a party and inviting the entire motorcycle community. THUNDER PRESS contributor Dom Mazza tells me that there was a band, bike show, free pig roast, frozen T-shirt contest and food and merchandise vendors. Prizes were given out every 15 minutes, and there was a chance to win a 2013 Softail Slim. Former owner Jan Dordick and her daughter, Kim Rose, now the dealership’s general manager, joined in the celebration by cutting a one-year-opened celebration ribbon. Bill’s wife Leslie said, “This has been a fabulous adventure that we have embarked on.”… On Sunday, June 2, I attended a swap meet and bike show hosted by Scott Avery, owner of North Jersey Customs in Denville, New Jersey. Admission was free, as were the food, beverages and musical entertainment. Bike show entries were $5 each, and trophies were awarded for first, second and third places, best paint, best fabrication and people’s choice… Here’s my entry for dumbest criminal of the month: Jeffrey Nash, 41, was arrested by Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, police on 55 counts including burglary, theft, conspiracy and reckless endangerment. In one instance, he stole over $18,000 worth of leather jackets from Three Rivers Harley-Davidson in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. After the theft, police said he sent text messages saying, “Yo I got brand new Harley Davidson leather coats 50 % off various styles and sizes” and he even offered payment plans. Nice try, genius.
