For those of you planning to attend Laconia Motorcycle Week this June, take note of the new rally headquarters location. The headquarters will be set up near the train station on Lakeside Avenue at The Weirs, and all official Motorcycle Week rides will leave from that location, as well… Also new to Motorcycle Week: Laconia Harley-Davidson kicks off things a day early with a party at the dealership on Route 3 in Meredith. They will have live music, vendors, food and more. And you are all invited to take part in the first-ever Laconia Motorcycle Week Community Appreciation Parade on Saturday, June 15. It will be a police-escorted nonstop parade from the New Hampshire Motor Speedway track to the rally. Tickets are $35 per rider and $15 per passenger. Fifty VIP tickets are for sale at $150 each, and will secure your spot behind the pace car. And 100 percent of the proceeds will support Speedway Children’s Charities, to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of New Hampshire. Tickets can be purchased at Laconia H-D June 7–14, and at the speedway starting at 7:00 a.m. the day of the parade. Check out www.laconiaharley.com for more info… One last Laconia Motorcycle Rally tip: To find out what else is going on during the rally, well, there’s an app for that! The Laconia Mobile Guide can be downloaded to your Android or iPhone. While you’re at the rally, this interactive smartphone application tells you what’s going on, when and where. Very cool… In February this year, Rose Schoch, owner of Schoch Harley-Davidson of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, turned ownership of the dealership over to Jim and Linda Schlier. The Schliers had been working with Mrs. Schoch previously, having been named, respectively, chief financial officer and chief operating officer. On February 12, the official turnover took place, and the dealership was renamed Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson. Their daughter Falon and son Jim work in the dealership, as well. Rose is celebrating her 85th birthday on April 20 during the grand opening party. Respect to Rose for an incredible 45-year run, and best of luck to the Schliers… A victory for the good guys! The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association reports that a town bylaw was overturned in Yarmouth recently. The bylaw required that an OCM EPA stamp was required on all motorcycles, but the MMA and others, including the Yarmouth Police Department, successfully argued that this bylaw was not only unenforceable, but exceeded state law… Congratulations to the 27 Harley-Davidson dealerships in the Northeast that were named 2012 Bar & Shield recipients. They include Platinum Bar & Shield awardee Cox’s Northern Tier H-D in Mansfield, PA., Gold Bar & Shield awardees Heritage H-D of Concord, NH, H-D of Ocean County in Lakewood, NJ, H-D of Nassau County of Bellmore, NY, Wilkins H-D of Barre, VT, and Z&M H-D of Greensburg, PA. Silver Bar & Shield winners were McMahon’s H-D in Beaver Falls, PA, TSI H-D in Ellington, CT, Old Glory H-D in Laurel, MD, Stan’s H-D in Batavia, NY, Miracle Mile H-D in Great Neck, NY, American H-D in North Tonawanda, NY, Suffolk County H-D in Oakdale, NY, H-D of Erie, PA, and Susquehanna Valley H-D in Harrisburg, PA. Bronze Bar & Shield awardees were H-D of Danbury, CT, H-D of Baltimore, MD, H-D of Frederick, MD, Tramontin H-D in Hope, NJ, Liberty H-D in Rahway, NJ, Mc Dermott’s H-D in Fort Ann, NY, Performance H-D in Syracuse, NY, Battlefield H-D in Gettysburg, PA, Baer H-D in Honesdale, PA, Valley Forge H-D in Norristown, PA, Keystone H-D in Parryville, PA, and Green Mountain H-D in Essex Junction, VT… Nine years ago Sam and Sue Gardy, owners of Kickstart Motorcycles in Norristown, Pennsylvania, wanted to give back to the community. They began hosting the Hogs and Honeys Valentine’s Benefit for Mission Kids, a child advocacy center in nearby Blue Bell that helps abused kids. This year’s annual event raised $24,000, which was presented to Mission Kids on March 3. Over 600 people attended; the most ever. Not bad for an event that had only 40 attendees that first year… On March 16, 2012, John “Jack” Santopietro, 21, died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in his home town of Bayonne, New Jersey. Jack was one of those rare young men who mentored younger kids and worked with a nonprofit that raised funds for children with cancer (he was a cancer survivor himself). To honor his memory and his life, Jack’s family created “Remember Me,” a nonprofit organization to educate others about motorcycle awareness. The organization awards an annual scholarship to a student majoring in Fire Science at New Jersey City University, and also offers campership awards to Bayonne Boy Scouts. To find out more about Remember Me or to donate, go to www.rememberme316.org… Here’s a twist on the wintertime chili cook-offs so popular at dealerships: Tramontin Harley-Davidson in Hope, New Jersey, held its first-ever meatball cook-off February 23. The competition was a blast, with team names such as One-Eyed Mike’s Teriyaki Meatballs, Double D’s Balls, His and Her Balls and the like. The top winner was Ken Pandorf, whose Grandma Toni’s Meatballs took first prize, People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice. Second prize in both categories was claimed by the Ladies of Harley for their Quadruple Threat Meatballs, and Larry Downey came in third in both categories for his Fiesta Balls… Happy birthday to three of my friends who celebrated their birthdays recently. Tom Vonrothinfink turned 50, Fat Bob is 48, and Indian Tom is now 57. Vonrothinfink and his wife Linda (BooBoo) hosted a big party March 23 at their New Jersey home. Sorry I couldn’t make it, my friends. I was out of town that weekend, but I heard you all tore up the town. Especially Boogie Rag Joe. I saw the photos…
