As I put pen to paper, we’re midway through winter and the Northeast is suffering through colder days, higher winds and generally nastier conditions than we’ve seen in several years. While waiting for warmer weather to arrive, many of us have been entertaining ourselves with indoor bike shows and the like. One unique event scheduled for April 20, is the 22nd annual Copake Antique & Classic Bicycle Auction in Copake, New York. Wait a minute—bicycles? Well, a rare, original 1911 Pierce four-cylinder motorcycle will be on the auction block, along with the antique bicycles and memorabilia. The Pierce Four was the first four-cylinder motorcycle in America, and sold for $325. It was the most expensive motorcycle in the U.S., and the company still lost money on each one sold. The price was raised to $400, but by then you could buy a Model T Ford for only $525, which spelled doom for the company. The last Pierce rolled off the assembly line in 1914. Last year a 1910 Pierce Four sold for $137,000 at auction, so save your pennies for the April event!… Congratulations to John Hurd for earning first place in the 2012 Northwest Jersey H.O.G. Highest Mileage Contest. John clocked 20,738 miles in 2012, followed by second-place winner Wally Waltsak with 18,234 miles and third-place winner Dave Barrett with 13,938 miles. Hosting dealership Tramontin H-D also conducted a mileage contest between May and November, with first place earned by Husein Achtau with 14,440 miles, second place by Pete Tomory with 11,945 miles and third place by Martin Bernhardt with 11,178 miles… A year ago in March, 51-year-old Tim Sessions from Cross Roads, Pennsylvania, suffered a cardiac arrest. Doctors warned him to kick his $200-per-month cigarette habit or face another heart attack. Sessions’ wife, Walkyria, pointed out the positives of quitting—save money and buy a new toy. Sessions had his eye on a 1981 Ironhead Sportster and, by May, he was smoke-free. The bike had already been painted purple, so he decided to make it into a Baltimore Ravens-themed bike in honor of his favorite NFL team, and Signs by Sal in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, did the custom detail of the Ravens logo on the tank and Sessions’ favorite Ravens player, Ray Lewis’ number 52, on the front fender. Sessions must be in seventh heaven since the Ravens took the Lombardi trophy on February 3… Congratulations to Green Mountain Harley-Davidson in Essex Junction, Vermont, on its 5th anniversary. The dealership celebrated with a party on January 12, when customers and their kids (and grandkids) enjoyed a pancake brunch, played games, ate cake and won prizes… The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association has shared information published by the National Motorists Association concerning speed traps in the state. The top five are: the Tobin Bridge Tunnel Lane in Charlestown, Industrial Avenue near Exit 3 in Lowell, Mill Street Road near June Street in Worcester, I-291W near I-91S in Springfield and Lowell Connector Road in Lowell. More information about speed traps in Massachusetts, as well as other states, can be found at www.speedtrap.org… Popcorn, office manager of ABATE of PA, e-mails that the motorcyclists’ rights organization hosted its 28th annual Leadership & Legislative Seminar January 25–26 at the Holiday Inn in Grantville, Pennsylvania. The sold-out event attracted 350 politically active motorcyclists from Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. This year’s seminar included a presentation by MRF VP of Government Relations Jeff Hennie and MRF President Kirk Hardtail, as well as a panel discussion with state government, AMA, MRF and ABATE. Training workshops included motorcycle safety, legislative issues, women in motorcycling and other topics. If you’re interested in getting involved in motorcyclists’ rights, the seminar is a great place to learn more… THUNDER PRESS contributor Don Mazza writes: “My motorcycle group, L.I. Harley Riders, is collecting books and magazines for children from 11 to 17 years old to be donated to the Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric Center in Dix Hills, Long Island, New York, over the next few months. The Bellmore Library has been kind enough to let us put a collection box at their location. You can drop new and used books and magazines off between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. The library’s address is 2299 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, Long Island; just south of Sunrise Highway, or call 516.785.2990 for information and directions. So see what you’ve got or ask around. The kids really need these books.”… From AIM/NCOM Attorney Boyd Spencer: “Currently I am litigating a case in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey concerning a New Jersey State Police trooper who informed my clients that they must remove the colors of their club. Fortunately, due to the past harassment of black citizens, the New Jersey State Police are required to videotape all traffic stops. In this case we have an excellent recording of this constitutional violation. However, I could use some help. If you have been pulled over in New Jersey, and told that you are not allowed to wear your colors in New Jersey, or locally, or you were told to remove your colors, or you were told that you were stopped because of your colors, please contact me at your earliest convenience. We are trying to enjoin the New Jersey State Police from these tactics. However, we need witnesses that this has happened more than once in order to convince the Court that our situation is not an isolated incident. If you have been hassled, I would really appreciate if you would contact me at boyd@boydspencer.us or call 610.277.4700.”… On January 26, Seaford Harley-Davidson hosted a Chili Cook-Off at the dealership in Seaford, Delaware. Derek Ewing of Georgetown won popular vote, beating out runners-up Jessica Schultz and Ronnie Reese. Nearly $700 was raised for the Muscular Dystrophy Association… The Blue Comet Motorcycle Club out of Skippack, Pennsylvania, recently presented Hatfield Boy Scout Troop 141 with a check for $3,000. The donation was thanks for the troop’s volunteer work during the club’s annual Lansdale Bike Night. The money will go to a fund that ensures that any Scout in the General Nash District will be able to attend summer camp.
