Cycle Connections

Here are photos of those winning awards at the 40th Anniversary Labor Day Rally at Perry Lake, Kansas.  Awards are for Motorcycle Olympics, Bike Show, and Dirt Drag Races.  The lovely "trophy girl" is Tamera, a.k.a. Georgia Peach.  Congrats to all the winners.

Dates for the 40th Annual Labor Day Rally hosted by A.B.A.T.E. of Kansas at scenic Perry Lake were September 4 through 7. Paradise Point, located on the east side of the lake far to the north, is a great location with an abundance of shaded camping. There were several new features this year including a vendor area, beer garden, and a day stage behind the showers, a zip line, and wrestling.

Many thoughts were running through my mind this year in anticipation of our road trip to the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Part of me was excited as usual, to hit the road again with our Sturgis crew, but another part of me was somewhat apprehensive due to all the hype and anticipated crowds, with it being the 75th anniversary. This would likely mean longer lines at the fuel stops, lots of newbies crashing, burning, and doing stupid things, and bikes overheating while trying to make it through all the traffic in and around Sturgis. As departure day approached, and…

My ride to the 75th Annual Black Hills Rally began with a short run on Friday, July 31, to rural Wathena, Kansas, spending the first night at the home of Editor Mike’s mom. The hospitality was much appreciated. On Saturday morning, we rode into town for a rendezvous with a group of friends to begin the first day’s trek to Ogalallah, Nebraska.

Motorcycle racing has been at the heart of the Sturgis Rally since its origin. The man known as the father of the Black Hills Rally was Clarence “Pappy” Hoel who owned an Indian Motorcycle franchise in Sturgis and was one of the founders of the Jackpine Gypsies club in 1936. The Gypsies’ first event was known as the Black Hills Classic, a single motorcycle race with nine racers and a few spectators. From that modest beginning, attendance at the rally experienced remarkable growth.

Nine years ago on August 10, 2006, Larry “Mad Dog” Rogers lost his battle with cancer, and the rest of us lost one of the sweetest men you’d have ever wanted to meet. It was a very sad time at Rider’s Harley-Davidson where “Dog” was the parts manager for 16 years. Everyone loved him. He made all of his customers feel like he was there just for them, and that what they wanted or needed was important to him.

The 3rd Annual Mike’s Ride began on July 18 at The Bar in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, with registration and breakfast. Ride fees were $25 per rider and $10 per passenger with proceeds going to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Raffle tickets were sold for a chance to win a beautiful customized 1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster. Poker run prizes were $100 for the best hand and $50 for the worst. There were also some nice raffle prizes.

Check out this year's photos of Sturgis bikers Photos by Stripe and Doc Lonnie Blum

Check out our photos of babes at the 75th Annual Sturgis Rally. Photos by Stripe and Doc Lonnie Blum

Every year the art works of motorcycling's Rembrandts and Picassos on canvases of metal are on display in the streets and vendor spaces of Sturgis.  Check out some that got our attention. Photos by Stripe and Doc Lonnie Blum

Check out some of our favorite antiques, customs, choppers, rats, and trikes seen at the 75th Annual Sturgis Rally. Photos by Stripe and Doc Lonnie Blum

On September 4, 2014 it became official: The KRAVE Group, led by three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey, had taken over the promotional and management rights for AMA Road Racing in North America, through it’s newly formed MotoAmerica Series. Then, just over seven months later, the series made its debut at Circuit of the Americas in conjunction with the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. Now it readies for its fifth round at Barbers Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama.

Every year, the Bikers with a Mission Ride raises funds for the City Union Mission. The contributions are used to assist Mission clients with needs over and above what the Mission typically budgets for, including utility assistance, bus tokens, baby formula, prescriptions, dental, medical care, eyeglasses and much more. Saturday, July 11, was the date for this year’s ride which began at Worth Harley-Davidson. Registration began at noon with participants contributing $35 per rider and $30 per passenger. Those who registered on line got a $5 discount. Nearly 200 riders registered. Kurzweils’ Country Meats served a delicious barbeque lunch while…

  There are so many contests and so many awards that I am sure I missed photographing a few of the presentations. Congrats to all the winners and apologies to those omitted here.  

For a week every summer Sparks America Campground near the tiny town of Sparks hosts Bike Week Oklahoma. The dates for this year’s event were June 18 through 28. Bike Week always features live music on stage every night, bike shows and Woody’s auction of chainsaw artworks and furniture for charity on both Saturdays, and lots of bike games and people games. Various nights during the week have themes such as Super Hero, Cowboys & Indians, Honor the Troops, ‘50s Sock Hop, Roaring ‘20s, College Teams, and Naughty School Girls.

May 30, 2015 was a cold and cloudy morning for the end of May, but the organizers and models were on a mission. The mission was to bring bikers and beauties together for a good cause. Although they had a bit of a late start, there was no shortage of excitement and enthusiasm as they were working together for the families that depend on St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

  The morning of Saturday, June 6 got off to a rainy start at St. Joseph Missouri. Many riders were wearing their rain gear when they arrived at St. Joseph Harley-Davidson, the starting point for the 13th Annual Ride for Ryan. Fortunately, the rain moved on in time for the opening ceremony. The event is held each year to honor the memory of Ryan Consolver whose life was cut short at the age of 24 in a motorcycle accident on August 11, 2002. Money raised by the event goes to a scholarship fund dedicated to students who, as Ryan did,…

Back in March, my good friend Stan contacted me to let me know that he and his long time ridding buddy Jeff were planning a motorcycle trip out to Washington, DC, down the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Tail of the Dragon, and back through Nashville and Memphis. Since they would be riding through Kansas City, I invited him and Jeff to stay with us like they did last year, when heading they were heading to the Natchez Trace Parkway.

The 2nd Annual Radar's Run for Fallen Friends took place on Sunday May 3, 2015. This annual memorial ride and poker run is a celebration of life in memory of our friend Carl Brent “Radar” Estep, as well as other friends who have passed, with all proceeds going to St Jude’s Research Hospital.

On Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Indian Motorcycle Kansas City hosted their 2nd annual Indian demo rides, which enabled Indian motorcycle enthusiast and wannabe Indian riders the opportunity to demo their 2015 line-up.