Cycle Connections

The Las Vegas Marine Riders Toys for Tots Kickoff Party was held at the Leatherneck Club on June 25, 2016. Marine Riders from California and Arizona, as well as other motorcycle clubs and individuals attended, and even the 105+ degree temperature didn’t deter anyone from attending to the event.

Competitive motorcycle events have always been a part of the annual Sturgis Rally. The man recognized as the father of the Black Hills Rally was Clarence “Pappy” Hoel who owned an Indian Motorcycle dealership in Sturgis and was one of the founding members of the Jackpine Gypsies club in 1936. The Gypsies’ first event was a motorcycle race with nine competitors and a small audience. From that humble beginning grew an annual rally with attendance ranging from 400,000 and 600,000 each year. Motorcycle competition is still featured at the rally with moto-X, drag racing, hill climbs, ½-mile flat track, short…

This year’s Sturgis trip seemed very strange due to the absence of several friends who would be staying home due to various circumstances. Included among them were Editor Mike and Nichole. They were missed by all, but we managed to have a fun trip anyway. The Road Trippin’ to Sturgis article is normally Mike’s work, but I’m doing my best to cover for him while still providing coverage of some racing events at the 76th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

 Check out this year's photos of Sturgis bikes.  Watch for more pics to be posted.  Photos by Stripe& Lonnie  

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

Check out this year's photos of Sturgis babes.  Watch for more pics to be added.  Photos by Stripe & Lonnie  

The weekend of June 11-12, 2016 saw the return of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship, Round 6 of the Honda Superbike Showdown to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

On Saturday, April 23, 2016, the Veterans Brotherhood and chapter “Prez” Charlie, in Birmingham, Alabama played host to the Blessing of the Bikes performed by and benefiting the “Bond Slaves.”

Bikes, Bikes, Bikes! Patriots, Patriots, Patriots! The 22nd Annual Flags Over the Dam Run was held at Hoover Dam on May 29, 20106, and was organized by the Vietnam Veterans/Legacy Vets MC.

Plenty of awards are handed out every year at Bike Week Oklahoma.  The lovely awards presenter was the reigning Miss Sparks America, "Breezy" Morrison.  Our apologies to any we missed with so much activity going on.  Here is a list of the bike show awards for the second weekend.

Each summer bikers from all over convene at Sparks America Campground near the small town of Sparks for Oklahoma Bike Week. The dates for this year’s event were June 16 through 26. Bike Week always features live music on stage every night, bike shows and Woody’s auction of chainsaw artworks and furniture on both Saturdays, and plenty of bike games and people games. Various nights during the week have themes such as Gangster Night, Redneck/White Trash Party, Sports Night, Cartoon Character Night, Roaring 20’s, Movie Star Night, Naughty School Girls, and Freakers’ Ball.

Following the 2016 event, the Consolver family posted the following notification that there will be one more official Ride for Ryan in 2017. “A Final Farewell: It’s been a great 14 years. A tragedy turned into a celebration, community event, and fundraiser to help so many. For those who do not know, Ryan Consolver was 24 years old when he had a tragic motorcycle accident in K.C. The dreaded knock on the door came as his family was getting ready for Church. Plans were to later that day have their annual family reunion. Plans changed. God had something different in…

Blue Springs Harley-Davidson was the location for our first cover bike & cover model search of the riding season, which took place on Thursday, June 9, 2016, and coincided with their monthly bike night.

The Southern Nevada Patriot Guard Riders had a special mission on May 27, 2016. The Nevada State Veterans Memorial was dedicated, and the Southern Nevada Patriot Guard Riders were summoned to form a flag line for the dedication, with 2000+ Patriots in attendance. Most of the audience was filled with active duty personnel and veterans. Veterans from World War II and the present were there.

The 1st Annual Kanaka Hekili MC Poker Run and Keg Party was held on May 28, 2016, where 20+ motorcycle clubs and lots of Independent riders showed up to support the Kanaka Hekili MC First Motorcycle Run! There were 250+ riders!

On Memorial weekend, May 28-29, 2016, the 4-States Event Center in Eureka Springs, Arkansas hosted a fundraising weekend to raise money for Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.).

We’ve brought you several weddings in the past, to share with those who may have missed it; none were quite as close to our hearts as this one, as it was ours!

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, the F.A.I.T.H Riders Motorcycle Ministry of Cedar Grove Baptist Church hosted the 5th Annual Lyla ride.

After an absence of many years, on Saturday, June 7 flat track motorcycle racing returned to Lakeside Speedway’s 4/10-mile dirt oval track in Kansas City, Kansas. Gates opened at noon with tickets priced at $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, students, and military, and $6 for kids age 7 through 12. Practice and qualifying occurred during the afternoon with racers ranging in age from 5 to 70-something, 155 entries in all. There were 21 classes with competitors from California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and one from as far away as Lake Wyangan,…

The 3rd Annual Radar's Run for Fallen Friends took place on Sunday May 1, 2016. This memorial ride and poker run is a celebration of life in memory of our friend Carl Brent "Radar" Estep who left us too soon at the age of 45, as well as many other friends who have passed on, with all proceeds donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.