Cycle Connections

   On October the 13th, 2017, The Barber Motorsports Park hosted the 13th annual Vintage Festival, filled with Road Racing, Cross Country Trails Motocross, Thrill Shows, Fan Zone and one of the biggest, Best Swap Meets in the country.

On Sunday, September 24, 2017, we were greeted with absolutely beautiful weather as God once again bestowed his blessings on the Ride for Kids ride at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.  

Around Halloween time every year, Sparks America Campground plays host to a huge Halloween Biker Bash. The dates for the 2017 event were October 19 through 22.  Travel weather was good on Thursday, and I arrived in time to get my tent set up before dark and head over to the playground where karaoke singers provided the evening entertainment. 

Thousands of motorcyclists gathered at Gail’s Harley-Davidson in Grandview on Saturday, September 9, to honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and to show appreciation for veterans and active military, police, and emergency services personnel. The rally started at 9:00 a.m. and featured vendors, children’s activities, and displays of Grandview emergency services vehicles.  Missing this year were the military vehicles due to their deployment to assist with hurricane relief. Visitors to Gail’s enjoyed live music from Mojo Saint. Jumpers from Skydive Kansas City parachuted into the grassy area…

Very nice plaques were awarded to the winners of all of the bike show classes and all of the games winners at the Sparks America Halloween Bash..  Lacee Smith from Kearney, Oklahoma, was selected for the honor of Miss Sparks America,  A list of bike show award winners follows:

On Saturday, September 30, 2017, Stripe, JO, Nichole, Skye, and I walked out the gate from our backyard and down the street to Dell’s Powersports (DPS) for their annual Geezers and Wheezers Classic Motorcycle Show. We normally ride to most of the bike shows we cover; however, it was kind of nice for a change to walk there from home in my shorts and sandals.

We woke up Sunday morning, August 13, to an absolutely beautiful day for a ride! That in itself was a pleasant surprise, because this summer’s weather has been like Forest Gump’s box of chocolates.

It was an absolutely beautiful day as bikes started rolling into Riders Harley-Davidson in Trussville, Alabama for registration to the Burkett Center Ride.

Every year during the Labor Day weekend, Lake Perry’s Paradise Point becomes Kansas’ center of motorcycle activities.  Rally gates opened at noon on Friday, September 1.  Admission was $30 for members of A.B.A.T.E. and other motorcycle rights organizations.  Non-member’s paid $50, and a Sunday only pass was $20.  Active and retired military discount was $10.  Bands on the schedule for Friday were Mike Powers Trio, Double Vision, and Eleven After.

The 33rd Annual A.B.A.T.E. of Iowa Freedom Rally took place at Freedom Park near Algona, Iowa, on June 29 and 30 and July 1.  Thursday was my travel day and a great day to be on a motorcycle.  I had missed this rally for the last few years due to schedule conflicts and was really excited to be back. 

Apologies for missed names and misspelling.   Contestants don’t always supply complete information, and handwriting is sometimes difficult to read.  Lists and photos follow:  Photos by Stripe and Doc Lonnie Blum.

Since we were unable to ride up with the group last year, I was really looking forward to this year’s road trip to the 77th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Oil change…check, everything packed…check (at least I think so), house sitter arranged…check, OK…time to get the hell out of Dodge…or rather Blue Springs!

The Black Hills Rally is a mecca for those freedom loving souls who use their own bodies as an art canvass. As you walk the streets of Sturgis during the rally, you see a number of colorful and intricate tattoos and paintings walking the streets with you. This year, I tried to record some of this art, both the finished product and the process of creating it. The creations run the gamete from a simple symbol or writing to epic masterpieces that cover the whole body.

It only took about six weeks, but on Friday, July 21, 2017, we finally managed to get the benefit bike show for Mark Buzbee won and done!

For my annual Sturgis trip, as with nearly other trip, there are always last minute preparations, mainly stemming from procrastination.  On the Wednesday afternoon before the trip, I noticed that there the brakes on my Durango appeared to be overheating.  No problem—this could wait until after Sturgis.

Check out this year's photos of Sturgis bikes..  Watch for more pics to be added.

Check out this year's photos of Sturgis babes..  Watch for more pics to be added.

People who attend the annual ABATE of Iowa Freedom Rally at Algona always have plenty of entertaining activities to choose from.  In fact there are so many, it’s almost impossible to take them all in.  One that is certainly worth making a priority is the tattoo contest held each year in the food court area.  Picnic tables at the south end of the area become the stage on which all kinds of amazing tats are judged in various categories, 

Check out this year's photos of Sturgis bikers.  Watch for more pics to be added.

Last year a large group of bikers were devastated by the announcement that a local Missouri motorcycle rally they had all attended together for many years would be no more. Then Robert Carr and a large group of his friends decided to put together one themselves, and Bobstock was born. Their ideas, work, and dedication led up to the 1st Bobstock Rally, which was held July 13-16, 2017.