Cycle Connections

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.

Mecum Motorcycle Auction held a Motorcycle Auction on June 2 & 3, 2017. The auction was held at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where more than 600 motorcycles rolled across the auction block.

Every summer bikers come from all directions to get together at Sparks America Campground near the tiny town of Sparks for Oklahoma Bike Week. The dates for this year’s event were June 15 through 25. 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 lots of bike and people games. There are fun themes for most nights of the rally.

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

Saturday, June 10, was a busy day for me. After participating in the annual Bikers With a Mission (BWAM) ride for the homeless that concluded at Gail’s Harley-Davidson in Grandview, Missouri, I headed for Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, for the flat track races on the 4/10-mile dirt oval. I arrived in time to spend some time hanging around the pit area.

It was a beautiful day as we got up on Saturday morning April 22, 2017 to head over to the Veterans Brotherhood where they were hosting the “Bond Slaves” annual Blessing of the Bikes.

The 23rd Annual Fly Your Flags over Hoover Dam Run was held on May 28, 2017. The staging/meet-up area was on the Arizona side of Hoover Dam. 2,500 bikes showed up for this historic run, and Vietnam Vets/Legacy Vets MC (VVLVMC) President Arrow was very pleased with the turnout of so many patriotic Americans!

On Memorial weekend, May 27-28, 2017, 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.).