Body and Machine

Vintage Cars and Motorcycles drag racing on the beach. Do I need to say more? Of course I wanted to attend this event. I decided to bring my Dad along to The Race of Gentlemen,(TROG) I knew he would enjoy this. The smell of salt air mixed with racing fuel wafting in the air overwhelmed us both as we made our way to the pit area. We just looked at each other and gave that nod, no words needed, we each knew what the other was thinking. “Man that smells good!”.  Rhett Rotten  was tearing it up on his bally bike in front of his Wall of Death and guys were wrenching on cars and bikes all throughout the pit area. With the amusement park rides in the background, it almost felt like we had been transported back in time. To a time when things were maybe a bit slower paced, life was a little more carefree.  We made our way to the starting line and enjoyed the constant sea of Vintage Awesomeness making it’s way down the beach. Flat head fords, old sprint style cars and early american motorcycles roared down the shore in sync with the sound of the ocean waves crashing the beach. As I was in mid lens change (of course) I heard a bike rev up, and it was the sound that you know is not intentional. As I picked my head up I watched an early Harley-Davidson come flying back towards the starting line with no rider, the bike starts flipping end over end as its gaining momentum and air. It was luckily headed towards the ocean, but there was a crowd of swimmers in it’s path. I did not get a shot of this happening, but here is the immediate aftermath. Luckily no one was hurt. Rider here greeting the crowd letting them know he is ok, and attendants at the bike, trying to pry it out of the sand.  

I was excited to see the super talented Brittney Olsen, she has such a contagious smile. Her passion for the vintage racing just flows out of her and it’s always exciting to cheer her on!There was an amazing band playing in the general event area where you could grab some food, drinks and enjoy music from the 40’s. A cute couple was kicking it up on the stage performing classic dance moves of the times. We really enjoyed this music and it made this experience all the more authentic.
We made our way to the car show area and loved the mix of culture parked together. Glad I took my dad with me to this event. He enjoyed it and I enjoyed watching the smile it put on his face. Thank you TROG, well done! Article and photos by Sara Liberte 

The World Of Outlaws Sprint car Racing was coming through Pennsylvania so I new I had to call up some fellow Garage-Girls and head over to the dirt track of Williams Grove, PA to check it out. Who doesn’t enjoy dirt track racing?

There is nothing better than listening to the crowds as they cheer on the local favorites as they race tight and clean against the Outlaws.  Wooden stands, and concession stands on a friday night are pretty awesome for girls like us. We chose to sit in turn three so we could “eat dirt” as the sprints cars go speeding into the turn blasting us with dirt and rocks. Yes! We love this shit!   We spotted some little girls getting up close to the fence jumping up and cheering as their favorite racers whizzed past them. We loved seeing this, that passion in a young girl for a sport that is so much fun to watch. These girls will grow up to be race fans for life, just like our crew we had with us on Friday night!

We were surrounded by young fans, die-hard fans, new fans and the older fans. The old guys who used to race back in the 50’s and 60’s. If you ever get a chance to talk to an older racer at one of these events, do it, the stories don’t get any better than these.

We were glad to see the outpouring of support from the locals for this race, what a crowd and what a race. As the feature race was ready to start and those sprint cars got 4 wide, the crowd was on their toes screaming, as they got back into formation and the flag went down, it was on. The roaring cars, the screaming fans, this is racing! 

“Do you want to ride with us on the Why We Ride to the Quail Motorcycle Gathering?” That was one of the easiest questions I have ever had to answer in my life. “Who doesn’t want to do that?, Hell yes I’m in”. This simple question was how it all started for me to join friends on this amazing ride. We rode up along the CA-1 and were delighted to some amazing views and vistas. My first time on these roads and I can say hands down some of the prettiest roads I have ridden to date. Beautiful colorful flowers lined the roads and the smell of salt air was intoxicating, how would I ever pull myself away from this place?We were part of an amazing group of riders, some members of the AMA, and all proud to be here supporting Bryan Carroll and James Walker and the Why We Ride movement to support the pediatric brain tumor foundation. (PBTF). This was the second year for the ride and attendance had doubled, and it is expected to triple for next years ride. We took 2 days to ride up the coast and this allowed plenty of time to meet most of the riders and spend some time listening to their amazing stories. I got to share times with old friends and welcome new friends into my moto-family. Dave from the Veterans Charity Ride was in attendance and he had Tommy Montgomery with him. Tommy took part in last years Veterans Charity Ride, which takes wounded veterans on a ride form California to Sturgis, motorcycle therapy at it’s best. 2016 will be the second year for this ride. Brian Klock was cruising along on his brand new limited edition Jack Daniels Indian Springfield model motorcycle. Some of the riders thought I was crazy for jumping around in a side hack taking photo’s, but this was nothing new for Brian as we have been through this routine numerous times over the years. Actress Kristy Swanson and Her husband Former Olympic skater and World Champion Lloyd Eisler were fun to share laughs with and both are avid motorcycle riders. On Friday we stopped and admired the elephant seals bathing on the beach, this gave us more time to get to know other riders with.  We met Steve Moore, he was riding in the chase truck because he just had surgery on BOTH of his achilles tendons. He was so disappointed he was not riding.  Robert Pandya and Matt Swedlund of Indian Motorcycle were so inspired by Steve’s dedication to this event that they awarded him with the “Spirit of the Ride Award.” He also got to take my spot in the side hack Saturday morning and get a ride to the event. His first time ever in a sidecar and he loved it. Of course Pilot Robert Pandya was sure to get him up on two wheels to get the full side car experience! Smiles all the way around. 

On Saturday we rolled into the Quail event via even more amazing roads and were all smiles as we stepped onto the immaculate green sea of pristine motorcycles, some rare unrestored, and some flawless restored to mint condition. It was a joy to speak with anyone you bumped into, as you both drooled over the machines on display. Strangers became instant friends as everyone gathered around a certain bike and shared memories of having a model “just like this when I was young”. Don Emde was on hand selling copies of his book “Finding Canonballs Trail”, and fellow “Moto-Star’s Celebrities and Motorcycles” exhibiter Perry King was at the AMA booth, sure was great to run into him and recall the weekend of the grand opening of that exhibit at the AMA museum in Ohio. I was excited to see Craig Vetter take to the stage, his first appearance since a pretty serious motorcycle accident. It was great to see Craig smiling and the crowd was just as happy to see him on the stage. The day was filled with amazing motorcycles,food, music, and even better people. After the awards were handed out, the crowds made their way back to their motorcycles for more moto-adventures. We later dined at “Turn 12” in Monterey and further enjoyed vintage motorcycles and delicious food. Such an amazing weekend of riding, and friends. Life is good!

Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, is proud to announce its partnership with the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride, a cross-country group ride that celebrates the 100th anniversary of Augusta and Adeline Van Buren’s courageous and unprecedented motorcycle journey across the United States.

In 1916 the Van Buren Sisters were the first women to traverse the continental U.S., each on her own motorcycle. Their mission was to show the U.S. Army that women could serve as motorcycle messengers, and to throw light on the women’s suffrage movement of the time. Their ride was heavily reported and included riding to the summit of Pikes Peak, quite a feat on the unpaved road with their 1915 Indian “Motocycles” (as they were known at the time). The Sisters were inducted into the American Motorcyclists Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame in 2003

The ride, beginning July 3 in New York and ending July 23 in San Francisco, honors and celebrates female motorcycling heroines of the past, and promotes the continued growth of women motorcyclists and the motorcycling community. The journey will loosely follow the Van Buren sisters’ 1916 path, with the primary route being the historical Lincoln Highway.

Two charities will be funded as a result of the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride’s event efforts: Final Salute, Inc. and Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists. Final Salute is a national women’s veterans’ organization which provides temporary and permanent housing for the over 500,000 homeless female veterans in the United States. The Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists is an organization providing funding for motorcycle train-the-trainer scholarships that will help enlarge the number of female instructors and coaches for road, dirt and track.

“We are delighted that Indian Motorcycle has chosen to participate in the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride,” says event organizer Alisa Clickenger. “Indian Motorcycle left an indelible mark not only on America’s transportation industry but also the defense of our country dating all the way back to World War I. Additionally, their importance to the Van Buren sisters’ history-making transcontinental journey makes them an ideal partner for us.”

“Indian Motorcycle is proud to celebrate the increase in female ridership as led by the Van Buren Sisters a century ago,” says Pam Kermisch, Director of Integrated Marketing & Customer Experience at Indian Motorcycle. “Looking back at the long history of our brand, it’s events like this that cement our commitment to brand enthusiasts, patriotism and inclusive ridership at every opportunity.”

In addition to the group ride program, Indian Motorcycle will sponsor select riders with the loan of new 2016 models for the trip, including Robert Van Buren, the great nephew of the Van Buren Sisters, and Sarah “SeCCret” Moreau, who will be riding from Los Angeles, inspired her heroine Bessie Stringfield’s journey. Bessie Stringfield, an AMA Hall of Fame member, became famous for long distance riding in the 1930s and 40s. SeCCret’s tribute will be reported through Black Girls Ride magazine.

The Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride begins July 3 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Other stops along the route include Latrobe, Penn. (July 7), Pickerington, Ohio (July 8-9), Anamosa, Iowa (July 11), McCook, Neb. (July 13), Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 15), Pikes Peak, Colo. (July 15) and San Francisco, Calif. (July 23)

Are you ready to join the fun? The Buffalo Chip is excited to invite you all to experience the freedom of the open road next to your heroes, mentors and friends old and new on the Biker Belles Ride Tuesday, Aug. 9 2016.

For the first time ever, the ride will depart from the CrossRoads at the Buffalo Chip in the morning with registration open at 8:30 and the ride departure at 9:30 a.m. We will travel a breathtaking route through Vanocker Canyon, to Nemo Road, to Hwy 385, before ending at The Lodge at Deadwood.

There’s No Place Like Home

J&P Cycles’ annual Open House Rally customer appreciation event will return to its original location, the J&P Cycles retail center in Anamosa, Iowa off US Highway 151, on June 25th and 26th where it was founded and held for more than 20 years.  J&P Cycles continues the commitment to Anamosa and moving the Open House Rally back to Anamosa is a way to say thank you to all the loyal customer-family who continue to love and support J&P Cycles.

With a crowd of over 35,000 last year, Zach Parham, General Manager of J&P Cycles is “excited to be hosting our Open House Rally at the J&P Retail Center again.  With us signing a long term lease on the existing store, we thought it would be a good to bring the event back to the facility where we have been for over 20 years. We are excited to be hosting another great weekend for motorcycle enthusiasts across the Midwest.”   Throughout the Open House Rally weekend, we have great attractions for the motorcycle rider and enthusiast as well as family-friendly fun and events:

–       Over 100 on-site vendors

–       Hands-on demonstrations

–       On-site Installations

–       Bike shows

–       Motorcycle stunt shows

–       Free food

–       Giveaways

–       Live music

About J&P Cycles: Founded by John Parham and his wife Jill in 1979 as a hobby, J&P Cycles has grown into one of the largest mail-order catalogs and e-commerce websites in the motorcycle parts industry.  In addition, J&P Cycles operates three retail locations in Anamosa, IA, Daytona Beach, Fl, including our call center, and Sturgis, SD.  J&P Cycles attends over 30 motorcycle rallies and events throughout the US every year.

We are beyond psyched to announce the addition of Baker Drivetrain to the roster of sponsors supporting this years Ultimate Biker Makeover.

“We are now in our 8^th year and the contest just keeps growing. When Baker Drivetrain reached out to be a part of what we are doing, we had to share the news with everyone to let them know what is on the line if they are chosen as the 2016 Ultimate Biker Makeover winner.” ~Sara Liberte

The Ultimate Biker Makeover is a dream come true for one lucky winner who will be chosen by selected judges, as he or she scores prizes from some of the top companies in the motorcycle industry.

Contestants (Girls and Guys) must submit a 600 words or less essay – describing why they are most in need of a biker makeover as well as a photo (jpeg no larger than 5mb) to bikermakeover@garage-girls.com Deadline for entries is June 29^th 2016. Submissions will be narrowed down to the final four by selected judges from Garage-Girls. From there, the judges will decide who they feel most deserves the Ultimate Biker Makeover and will get to take home all the prizes which include; A wardrobe of shoes from Harley-Davidson Footwear, a case of full synthetic oil from Spectro Oils, A new Mustang Motorcycle Seat, a set of tires from AVON Tyres, Motorcycle Helmet, Jacket AND Gloves by J&P Cycles, clothing by Hijinx Apparel, exhaust from Vance and Hines, surprises from S&S Cycle, Klock Werks, Baker Drivetrain and MUCH MORE!! GEICO Motorcycle during the 76th Sturgis Rally will announce winner LIVE on the Buffalo Chip Stage Thursday August 11^th, 2016, winner will also be posted online at www.garage-girls.com.

Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, is proud to announce that accomplished English road racer and flourishing daredevil TV presenter Guy Martin used an Indian Scout motorcycle to prepare for a new world record he recently set for the fastest speed around a ‘Wall of Death’.

The feat was televised live on Channel 4 in the UK on March 28 and immediately certified as a Guinness World Record. A silo-shaped cylinder made of wooden planks, a Wall of Death installation usually ranges from 20 to 36 feet in diameter. Motorcyclists traveling along the vertical wall of the silo at a typical speed of approx. 20 mph are held in place by centrifugal force. To reach the 60 mph Martin needed to achieve, yet limit the g-force plying his body, the Wall of Death built for him in an otherwise unused hangar featured a 387-ft. circumference.
Viewers saw Martin set the overall speed record on his own custom-built motorcycle, but to prepare for the live attempt, he used an Indian Scout supplied by Krazy Horse, an Indian Motorcycle dealership in Bury St Edmunds, UK.

Riding the Indian Scout, Martin hit 60.1 mph – an instant Guinness World Record – on his first attempt and reached a confirmed 70.33 mph on his second attempt. Then he switched to his own custom-built BSA R3 powered by aviation fuel. The result: 78.15 mph, the speed logged for the official Guinness World Record.

The Indian Scout Martin rode was a standard machine lightly prepared by Krazy Horse to be ‘Wall ready’. Add-ons included Renthal handlebars, lay-back risers, modified lower frame struts to accommodate foot-plates, 18″ wheels, a shortened rear fender and a special paint job.“Seeing Guy ride the Indian Scout in preparation for the live show and initially setting a new world record was an extremely proud moment for us,” says Jim Clarke, Country Manager for Polaris UK & Ireland.  “It’s testament to the Scout that a production motorcycle with very little modification could ride around that gigantic Wall of Death and help to set a new World Record.”

Learn more about Indian Motorcycle by visiting IndianMotorcycle.com Photo Credit: Guy Martin’s Wall of Death: LIVE – ALL4

July 3-23, 2016
BMW Motorrad USA will be the title sponsor of the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride, a cross country motorcycle adventure for women, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Adeline and Augusta Van Buren’s historic motorcycle ride across the United States. BMW Motorrad USA will provide motorcycles for the ride organizer and staff, and BMW of North America will provide BMW X5 chase vehicles and a 7 Series photography-equipped vehicle along the entire route. Beginning July 3 in Brooklyn, New York (where the Van Buren sisters commenced their journey in 1916) and concluding July 23 with a group ride into San Francisco, CA, the transcontinental journey will raise awareness and funds for two women’s charities: Final Salute, Inc., a national women’s veteran’s organization, which provides temporary and permanent housing for the over 500,000 homeless female veterans in the U.S.; and the Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists, which supports scholarships to increase the number of female instructors and coaches for road, dirt and track motorcycle rider training.

“We are delighted to commemorate this historic motorcycling accomplishment by two courageous women as BMW celebrates its own 100th anniversary,” commented Sarah Schilke, National Motorcycle Manager, BMW Motorrad USA. “As BMW celebrates a century of engineering innovation and industry benchmarks, it seemed entirely fitting to partner with the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride as a tribute to the Van Buren sisters, who were the first women to climb Pikes Peak and traverse the continental United States on individual motorcycles.”

“We appreciate BMW’s commitment to the female riding community, not only through its partnership, but also through its recent model enhancements to accommodate women riders of all sizes,” said event organizer Alisa Clickenger. “By applying advanced technology and design across one of the industry’s broadest range of models, there is truly a motorcycle for every rider within the BMW lineup.

“It was a much different era for women motorcyclists in 1916,” added Clickenger. “With World War I looming, the Van Buren sisters wanted to demonstrate that women had what it took to be dispatch riders in the Army, and their transcontinental journey on a pair of motorcycles made U.S. history.

“This was quite an accomplishment for two courageous women at a time when few roads were paved, post-Victorian attitudes were in full flare and women did not yet have the right to vote,” said Clickenger. “This ride is intended to honor their achievement and promote the growth of female motorcyclists within the motorcycling community.”

More than 100 women riders, including Adeline’s great-granddaughter, Sofié Ruderman, and Sarah Van Buren, great-niece of Adeline and Augusta, will participate. Riders will follow the Van Burens’ 1916 route as closely as possible, promoting women as role models and raising funds for charities supporting women. Community events and “Meet and Greets” are planned along the way.

Women have several options for participation, including a fully supported tour, as well as self-guided tours of the entire route or individual segments.

For registration information, visit www.SistersMotorcycleRide.com .

For more information on the history-making Van Buren sisters, visit: www.sistersmotorcycleride.com/womens-motorcycle-ride-inspiration  and www.VanBurenSisters.com .

Thanks to Chris Gibbany, Ultimate Biker Makeover from a few years back, she shared this event with us.  If you are near Marshall Arkansas don’t miss these throw back Thursday events!