Cycle Connections

Editor’s Note: I first met Eric Finney on Tuesday evening June 4, 2013 during a bike night at Joe’s Crab Shack in Olathe, Kansas. Eric and several members of the Kansas City Vulcan Riders were participating in one of Shawnee Cycle Plaza’s Mystery Dinner Rides, which the dealership sponsors on the first Tuesday of each month. Eric showed me his custom painted bike and gave me some information about his group. We like to feature as many motorcycle clubs and organizations as possible in our magazine, so I asked Eric if he could write something up about his group for…

When Editor Mike and I visited Shawnee Cycle Plaza to attend the unveiling of the Victory 15th Anniversary Cross Country Tour motorcycle, we had the pleasure of visiting with Rick Fortner, president of the Great Plains Victory Riders Chapter. CC: Rick, please talk about your chapter’s affiliation. Rick: We’re a chapter of the Victory Motorcycle Club that began in 1998 with a group of Victory owners who got together as a Yahoo online chat group. Back then, there were only about 500 Victory motorcycles on the road. Now it’s an international club with 50 chapters.CC: Is the club associated with…

While attending the Open House event at Shawnee Cycle Plaza on March 6, I had the opportunity to visit with John Wehr, director of Eastern Kansas Tour Riders-Kansas Chapter B of the Gold Wing Touring Association. CC: Are members required to own a Gold Wing? John: That’s not a requirement. We welcome riders of all motorcycle brands. We have members who ride BMW, Victory, Harley, and others. It’s not all touring bikes, and some ride three-wheelers. It’s a good mix.CC: Does your chapter have membership dues in addition to the national GWTA dues?John: No, there is no charge for chapter…

One of our founding members began this journey back in early 2004. She joined Women on Wheels (WOW), but the social riding group seemed to lack the camaraderie that she was looking for. Moving on, she and another founding member came across Chics 'N Chaps M/C, an all female club based in Kingsport, Tennessee with an additional chapter in Indiana. They formed a chapter in Kentucky in early 2005, and it seemed from all outward appearances they had found what they had been looking for. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to them, there was turmoil with the Indiana chapter, and one month after…

Every year at Sturgis, I make it a priority to arrange my schedule to include one or more events put on by the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club. Anyone who enjoys attending the Sturgis Rally should thank the Gypsies for getting the whole thing started. The club, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, was founded by Sturgis Indian Motorcycle dealer John Clarence “Pappy” Hoel with seven original members. The club was originally known as the Jackpines because the seven original members enjoyed racing among the 'jackpines' or Ponderosa pines. One day, after they returned from a day of riding, someone told…

I was invited by my friend Darrell Curfman to attend a recent meeting of a motorcycle organization of which he is a charter member. The meeting, combined with the group’s winter party, was held at Paul and Jack’s in North Kansas City. I enjoyed meeting the organization’s President, Tom Norris, and several of the chapter’s members and guests. During the meeting, Tom conducted a “tour” of the organization’s website which seems very user-friendly and should provide members with plenty of useful information and opportunity to communicate. The following information was obtained from the Liberty Touring and Riding Association website:The LIBERTY…

Romans Road Riders is a community life group of Indian Creek Community Church . They are a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who love finding an open road and riding! Any licensed rider regardless of the size or make of his or her motorcycle will be welcomed by Romans Road Riders.The group meets on the first Saturday of each month during the riding season. Rides depart from the church parking lot at 8:30 a.m. sharp. Riders should arrive with fueled motorcycles, helmets, and lunch money no later than 8:15 for pre-ride instructions. Rides include a meal stop and are usually completed…

Hello Divas. I know a lot of you are busy making plans for spring bike trips and rallies, while some of you are enjoying the winter months of catching up on motorcycle reading, adding accessories to your bike, or chomping’ at the bit to get out and ride. Here in Kansas City we experienced a couple 60 degree days in January! Wow, did I see a ton of bikes out on those days, and then the next day, it was 13 degrees! Back into hibernation for a few more months I guess. This month I want to introduce you to…

The Heart of America Motorcycle Enthusiasts Club was founded in the late 1980’s by a small group of riders as a way to promote the sport of motorcycling and enjoy the fellowship of those who love to ride. Membership has grown to 175 individuals and 10 dealerships. Most of the members live in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Members pay $15 dues annually and must sign a membership/waiver form. According to club President Jim Van Eman, the only membership requirement is, “enthusiasm for motorbikes.” The group takes pride in its diversity. Members ride a wide variety of motorcycle makes, both…

I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but Kansas City has a wonderful organization that does some great things for motorcyclists and their families called the American Biker Relief Fund (ABRF). The ABRF provides assistance to riders and their families during times of financial and emotional stress. The organization was founded in 2004 and is staffed totally by volunteers who want to help riders lead productive lives in time of need. Their motto is, “No matter what you ride, no matter who you are, we are here to help.” Bikers helping bikers is the concept. During the year they…

The Kansas Bikers Emergency Fund (KBEF) is a non-profit organization of bikers helping bikers. The objective of the organization is to get immediate cash in the hands of a downed biker. The cash can be used for insurance deductible, medical expenses or funeral expenses. The KBEF started July 9, 2005, after Chuck Tapp’s wife Syd died in a motorcycle accident. The organization is modeled after a program that started in Colorado. According to Rich Riggs there two kinds of bikers; those that have gone down and those that will go down. Saturday, July 15, 2006 was a very hot day…

Every year Cycle Connections asks our readers to participate in a survey to vote for their favorite bike motorcycle club or organization and Star Riders Group Chapter 227 was voted best motorcycle organization for 2004 and 2005 in the Kansas City area. So with that thought in mind, I had the privilege of attending a meeting, riding with the Star Riders to Lexington, Missouri for lunch, and talking with some of the members as well as president Bob Jeffress.CC: How long have you been involved with Star Riders Chapter 227, Bob? Bob: I caught up with them in June 2003…

The Widows Sons Masonic Motorcycle Association is an internationally based association of Master Masons who have joined together to share the sport of motorcycling and to introduce Freemasonry to the public and the motorcyclist community. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Cecil Searcy, President of the Missouri chapter of Widows Sons Masonic Motorcycle Association to find out more about their unique organization. CC: So, the Widows Sons is an international organization? Cecil: Yes, we have chapters in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. CC: When was the Widows Sons established? Cecil: The Widows Sons was established in…

As I waited for Big Pete, chairman of the Northern Chapter of the Illinois Confederation of Clubs (ILCOC), I began to formulate in my mind a few of the questions I was going to ask concerning the confederation. I was waiting to meet Pete at Grandaddy’s Subs, a good place for a sandwich, and biker friendly. It’s located on Taylor Street near the west side of Chitown. It wasn’t but a few minutes and Pete came in the shop and we got down with our sandwiches for a time of eating and talking. Before we get to the interview, let’s…

The national Freedom Cruisers Riding Club got its start in California in 1999. Motorcyclists in the Auburn, Forest Hill, and Sacramento vicinity had been getting together for group rides organized by Jeff (Big Dog) Davey. The idea of bonding as a riding club was suggested by Ray (Ryder) Snyder, a former member of the Sacramento Cruiser Riding Club. The concept was to promote riding freedom in every form--freedom from major commitments, freedom from initiation fees, freedom from dues, and freedom from club politics. Many members of the newly formed club were veterans, and a patriotic spirit was very much in…

During a visit to Gail’s Harley-Davidson in Grandview, Missouri, some time ago I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Sylva who works at Gail's and is also the Director of the local chapter of Buell Riders Adventure Group (B.R.A.G.). Chris invited me to attend the December, 2005, chapter meeting and meet some of the members. Due to unexpected circumstances the meeting was postponed to the Thursday immediately preceding Christmas, resulting in attendance being somewhat less than normal. The members in attendance made me feel very welcome, and some great chili was served. A couple of new Buell motorcycles were on…

I recently received an e-mail from the president of this new motorcycle group and wanted to let all our readers know about them.Missy “Dakota” Brady started the group because she couldn’t find a motorcycle club in the Houston area that was fighting for women and children. This cause hits very close to home for Dakota. Being a rape survivor she knew what it was like to feel like you can’t go on living! She began riding in 1997 as a passenger and now rides her own bike! Congrats to you! Dakota was not too sure on how to go about…

The Tribe of Judah is also known as the 'Tribe' to many. It came into being in 1987. The founder is Ben Priest who was saved while being active in a motorcycle club, as many of the ministers of the local chapters are. This ministry has been around for many years and was one of the first, if not the first, Christian-based motorcycle ministry that ministered to 1% clubs. The main audience or group of people the Tribe hangs with is the 1% that was deemed 'outlaw” by the AMA. Many years ago the AMA made a statement that only…

Last summer at Oklahoma Bike Week at Sparks America, I became aware of a club made up of military veterans and active duty members of America’s Armed Forces. This club unites members who share not only the common bond of military service but also the love of their special rides, both the two-wheeled and the four-wheeled kind. During the bike games at Sparks, I became acquainted with J.W. Wallace who is the President of the South Central Chapter of the U.S. Veterans Motorcycle and Street Rod Association. Members of J.W.’s Tulsa Chapter and the Van Buren, Arkansas Chapter, headed by…

Editor's Note: Those of you who have been following our magazine for at least a year may have already read this article on the Jackpine Gypsies. We originally published it in our September 2004 issue, but since a good portion of this month's issue is centered around Sturgis, we thought it would be appropriate to run it again for those of you who may not be familiar with how Sturgis began. Enjoy!If you’ve been around motorcycles for any length of time, you’ve probably heard of the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, which was founded by John Clarence “Pappy” Hoel. Pappy is…