Dragon Tales
I finally had the chance to travel across our beautiful state for last
month’s distribution run. Yes, we do actually hand deliver most
of the magazines to all our wonderful reps across the state, which
usually requires doing the trip on four wheels. Not a good thing when
the weather was in the 80s and absolutely beautiful. Oh, and did I
mention that we travelled across the state on some of the best roads I
have ever seen, and in a truck? Yuck! I have to tell you how jealous
I am of the roads some of you get to ride everyday. Yeah, bad traffic
and the occasional threat on our existence by cagers aside, the roads
throughout the state of West Virginia are unbelievable. Up, down,
left, right. You don’t see much straight road out there, which makes
West Virginia a motorcyclist’s dream. You have to read this month’s
Hidden Highway and find out about West Virginia’s own Dragon’s
Lair that beats the well known namesakes length by miles.
The chance to travel across the state enabled me to finally meet face-
to-face with the great people we work with to get Thunder Roads
West Virginia out to all of you readers. We have been very fortunate
to meet some of the best people around. All of us as a team will be
making our way across the state to attend events that range from
big rallies to Thursday Bike Nights at the local haunts. If you see us
there, be sure to stop by the booth and say “Hi”. We’d love to meet
you.
2 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
Getting to meet some of the wonderful advertisers while on our trip
was really enjoyable. They see what the magazine can do and they
support us any way they can, so make sure you try to help take care
of them too. Every one of the biker friendly establishments listed
in the magazine is a business that opens their doors to bikers of any
size and shape. Heck, most of them are or have been riders and love
having good, honest folks come visit their establishments. Do us a
favor and let them know where you saw their ad.
Hey, in this day and age where we are all watching every penny,
we need to keep it local because the only way to help our own local
economy is to support businesses in our own state. I can’t afford the
money or the time to travel all the way to South Dakota or Florida.
But I can make an overnighter to Charleston or to Marlinton. I’ll have
a great ride getting there, and know where to go to have a good time
while I’m there.
We are here for you West Virginia and we don’t plan on leaving. In
fact, anyone have a nice chunk of land in the middle of the state for
sale? Real cheap?
Ride safe and keep the shiny side up!
Donna
 Thunder Roads West Virginia From The Editor…..............……………..…...4
P.O. Box 606 / Charles Town, WV 25414
www.thunderroadswv.com Letters...…………….............…………….….6
Owner / Editors Bikers Unite for Fallen Miners…..................8
Gary Westphalen, Editor-in-Chief
gary@thunderroadswv.com / 304-616-0102 Spring Fling Raises a Grand......................10
Donna K. Westphalen, CFO
donna@thunderroadswv.com / 304-261-1609 Bike of the Month........................................13

Layout & Design Hidden Highway – State Route 20............14

Barbara Laszewski Garner / Thunder Publishing
Skin Art……………...............……………….16
Ad Layout
Meredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics
Blending Bikes and Family…............……..18
K.I.S.S..…………………..............……….…20
Contributors
Ken Holby, Bob Hyre, Jim “Jammer” Marcum, Earl Nuzum, Moe Vetter Center Calendar.…................………………22
Advertising Sales / Distribution Why the FJR?……….............………………24
National Accounts
Donna K. Westphalen - 304-261-1609 / donna@thunderroadswv.com TNT….……….……..............……………….26
Harrison, Marion, Taylor The Jokers Wild………….............……........28
Earl Nuzum – 304-816-2863 / earl@thunderroadswv.com
Northwest WV Seats & Saddles…..…….............…….…….29
Greg Vernon 304-616-0249 / greg@thunderroadswv.com
The High Road.…….....................…………33
Hardy, Grant, Mineral, Hampshire, Pendleton
Moe Vetter - 304-668-9563 / moe@thunderroadswv.com Bike Nites Begin…….....................………..34
Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson
Dave Luksa - 304-268-1315 / dave.luksa@thunderroadswv.com
A Collection of Parts...................................36
Summers, Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, Greenbrier Hoka Hey Happenings……............…….….38
Jeff Davis – 304-673-7321 / jeff@thunderroadswv.com
Jefferson
Two Wheels Too Many….............……..…..39
Howard “Pops” Evans - 540-327-6588 / popsthunderroadswv@yahoo.com
Dave Michel - 703-517-2890 / dave.michel@thunderroadswv.com
Biker Friendly Directory………..............…..40
Readers Rides – A Survey…...........……...43
National Founders Upcoming Events……..................…………44
Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon
PO Box 174 / Chapmansboro, TN 37035
Office 615-792-0040 / Fax: 615-792-7580 ON THE COVER
email: thunderroads@charter.net
Copyright 2010. Published by Thunder Roads West Virginia, LLC under license from Thunder
Deep in the heart of the Potomac Highlands region of West Virginia,
Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this magazines content may be reproduced without a lone Valkyrie carries her riders past an instantly recognizable
the written permission of the Publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility and is not landmark. Seneca Rocks draws hikers, climbers, picnickers,
to be held liable for errors beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error, slander of any campers, photographers, fishers and every other kind of “ers”
group or individual, failure to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond our you can think of. But no one enjoys this gorgeous area more
control, any and all suits for libel, plagiarism, copyright infringement, and unauthorized use
of a person’s name or photograph. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and authors than bikers. Whether your passion is mountain twisties or valley
are their own, and do not necessarily represent the policy of Thunder Roads West Virginia, sweepers, endless biker friendly roads or great biker friendly places
Thunder Roads Magazine, or Thunder Publishing. The Publisher does not promote the abuse to stop, this area has it all. We spend some time there on Page 18.
of alcohol or other drugs.

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 3

 This month’s issue is packed with
so many exciting stories that I have to consider it our best one
yet. This month we are showcasing everything that biker’s are,
and why West Virginia is the best place to be a biker.
Our lead story this month is about bikers coming together to
support the families of the 29 fallen miners. Raising money to
help the families cope with their losses and face the future drew
riders from across the entire state. They opened their wallets
and hearts to do what they could. It was a moving display of
support and we are proud to bring you the story.
Speaking of family, Donna and I had a chance to take our family
on a bike trip to one of the state’s most iconic attractions. The
story of our little camping trip is designed to inspire you to
include motorcycles in your own family experience. Bikes are
a part of my fondest childhood memories, and I believe it’s a
passion that we are obligated to pass on to the next generation.
That generation wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for moms. To
celebrate this month’s Mother’s Day, our Bike of the Month is
a bouquet of roses proudly owned by a West Virginia mom.
Consider it a reminder to make Mother’s Day wonderful for the
moms in your life.
Speaking of wonderful moments, if you roll your scoot onto
this month’s Hidden Highway you’re in for more than 40 miles
their only source. So the next time you visit the biker friendly
full of them. This excellent road slices north to south through
establishment where you picked up this magazine, be sure
the middle of the state. We picked out a stretch of it right in
to thank them for it. And if your shop, hangout, or favorite
the center to highlight. Turns out that it’s such a cool piece of
destination doesn’t carry Thunder Roads West Virginia, bring a
road that we almost want to keep it for ourselves. But sharing
copy in to them and tell them they need to become part of the
information is the reason we’re here, so we’re spilling the beans.
growing family of advertisers who support your right to ride in
That’s just a sampling of the great line-up of stories we have this great state.
for you this month. There’s a whole lot more to this issue, and
it’s all in your hands because of the advertisers who support
us. They are our only source of income and you, in turn, are Gary

4 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010

West Virginia
One year subscription to Thunder Roads is only $35 a year.
The nation’s largest FREE biker publication
can be delivered right to your door.
Name___________________________________
Address_________________________________
City____________________________________

State_________________ Zip_______________

Make Check payable to:

Thunder Roads West Virginia

Mail check and this form to:

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Charles Town, WV 25414

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 5

 Letters To The Editor
Gary,
A good friend and fellow biker just introduced me to your magazine and I think it is
great. I love the pics and especially the Seats & Saddles section.
I want to make a comment about the story on trying to repeal the helmet law. From
my personal point of view, bad idea. Here is why. I work for a local funeral home. On
occasion I am called out on death calls, some involving fatal motorcycle accidents.
I have seen, up close and personal, the horrible affect that blunt-force-trauma does
to the human head, even when wearing an approved helmet. I shudder to think
what they would have looked like had they NOT been wearing a helmet.
I certainly cannot speak for our Governor, but I trust he will come down on the side
of good sound common sense. The good Lord only gives one head to a customer.
You can bet your motorcycle boots when I straddle my Harley and head down the
roads in this great state, I will have my head in my helmet.
Thanks.
Ride on & be SAFE
Richard G. Warner
Richard,
I understand your point of view. As I have always said, I ride with
a helmet regardless of the law. My objection isn’t to the use of a
helmet. I’m opposed to the government MANDATING that I wear it.
If we don’t challenge this law, it opens the door to more and more
government control of our lives. There is nothing to stop some
uninformed politician from taking this one step further, and then
another step, and then another step, etc. Why not mandate full-body
armored clothing, motorcycle seat belts and bumpers, and a host of
other bad ideas? Why not outlaw motorcycles all together? Then,
let’s outlaw other “dangerous” leisure activities like hunting, skiing,
and rock climbing. In fact, let’s outlaw ALL leisure travel of any kind.
Wouldn’t this “save lives”?
I know that many believe helmets are a bad idea, and that’s why they
want this law repealed. I don’t personally agree with this reasoning,
but we don’t have to agree. That’s the very basis of a free society. I
don’t think this is an issue of public safety. In my mind, this debate
is a fundamental question about just how far the government has
the right to control your personal freedoms. If we allow this law to
stand without challenge, we may find ourselves riding down a very
slippery slope.
Gary
Hi Gary,
Hey I was wondering about the whole ethanol thing. Do all gasoline grades have
it or just regular? Is anyone producing fuels that don’t have ethanol? Is high-test
fuel our only easy recourse without other additives? Hey thanks for your time and
attention.
Best to All,
Joff Rolland
Hey Joff,
It’s in all grades of gas. There may be some stations around that are
6 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
still selling non-ethanol blends, but as part of the Federal “Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007” all gas will soon include
ethanol. One of the biggest questions about ethanol blended fuel
is its shelf life. Some sources say it loses potency within weeks of
blending, a claim the petroleum industry says isn’t true. Ethanol
accounts for about three points of the octane rating, so by running
a higher octane fuel you are essentially discounting the value of the
ethanol. The best advice we’ve been able to find is to keep your
engine well-tuned and the tank filled with fresh, high quality gas. You
can also look into use of an additive made specifically for use with
ethanol blended fuel. Do these additives work? Again, some sources
we’ve talked to say yes, some say no. You may have to experiment
a bit to find out what works best for your bike.
Gary
Great mag read them from cover to cover and wish you great success. But a friend
and I are both missing the first issue and both of us would really, really like to have
one! Is there any way to get them? Thank you.
Gary Booth
Gary,
Cool first name. Check out the “Gear Bag” on our website at www.
thunderroadswv.com. Back issues are available there for a few
bucks apiece. That basically covers shipping and production costs
for each mag.
Gary
Hey folks,
I just caught your mag at Quaker Steak and Lube in Charleston. You have a great
thing here. I’m glad to see someone out there supporting bikers in print. You have
some good writers there too. Being from the Kenna end of route 34 I really found that
piece interesting. I’ll be looking for the next installment of this wonderful magazine.
Sincerely
Russ “Bones” Kennedy
President
Warrior Souls Military Motorcycle Club
Bones,
Thanks for the slap on the back. It’s nice to know we’re being read.
I hope you liked the 34 piece. When I saw the “winding road” sign,
I couldn’t resist, even though I knew I was going to get dumped on.
I rode from the Kanawha all the way up to Parkersburg in a driving
rain that afternoon. It was my wettest riding day of the season last
year.
We’ll be stopping in at the bike nights at Quaker Steak and at other
spots all over the state from time to time through the summer. We’ll
also be at all of the major bike events throughout the state. If you
see us there, say hi.
Gary
www.thunderroadswv.com
You’re holding a hard copy of Thunder Roads West Virginia in your hands right now, and we thank you
for that. This magazine is the flagship of our efforts to bring you “Anything and Everything Motorcycle in
West Virginia”. But you can get interactive with us all month long on the internet.
For starters, check out our website at www.thunderroadswv.com. Stories are updated all month long on
the website, and you’ll also find stories there that you won’t find in the magazine. Our events calendar will
keep you updated on the latest schedule of biker events throughout the state.
We have a couple of new items on the website this month. Our library of pictures of events, Hidden
Highways and other features are now available under the “Photos” tab. More pictures are being added all
the time, so check back often. You never know when a really cool shot of you and your scoot is going to
show up!
Just in time for the riding season, we have introduced our awesome T-shirts. Emblazoned with the Thunder
Roads West Virginia wings on the front and back, these T’s come in sizes from small to 4X. They’re 15
bucks plus 5 for shipping. Buy as many as you want, the shipping is still just 5 bucks per order. That’s
pretty darn cool! You’ll find them in the “Gear Bag” at www.thunderroadswv.com. Get yours today and
ride in style!
When you’ve finished surfing our website, join in the chatter on our Facebook page. You’ll get daily
updates on where the Thunder Roads crew is heading to cover motorcycle events across the state.
There are instant updates on breaking motorcycle news. You can get previews and hints about the
stories in the next issue of the magazine. And you can chat back and forth with the Thunder Roads
West Virginia staff and other readers about any motorcycle related subject. This past month alone, our Facebook fans read about the Coal Miners Benefit Run as it
was happening, complete with pictures. And they got the first look at our magazine cover before it was even released in print.
Online or on paper, Thunder Roads West Virginia is your riding partner.

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 7

 Bikers Unite for
Fallen Miners

It was an explosion a thousand feet

underground in Raleigh County, but
the event rocked the entire state of
West Virginia this past month. When
the horrible blast occurred at Massey
Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine on
April 5, it was known almost immediately that 25
miners had lost their lives. Four miners remained unaccounted for, and it would be
four more days before we knew they had been lost as well.
“First there was talk about it,” Manny Froehlich tells Thunder Roads West Virginia.
Manny is one of the partners of Tomahawks Smokehouse and Saloon in Saint
Albans. “And then one by one, you start putting faces and names to the guys that
were lost because a lot of our patrons either know them or are actually family to
them…You’ve already made friends with your customers, and just to see how it
affected them really set the tone.”
With the loss hitting so close to home, Manny felt the need to do something. In less
than three days, the crew at Tomahawks put together a Coal Miners Benefit Run to
provide financial assistance for the families of the 29 fallen miners.
Hundreds of riders went kickstands up at 2 PM under a beautiful blue sky with a
police escort. The 20 mile ride to the first of two stops wound its way along the
Kanawha River to Winfield. Although the bikers were enjoying the ride, thoughts of
the fallen brethren weighed heavy on everyone’s minds. The ride then went on to
Hurricane and finally back to St. Albans.
“It was such an overwhelming positive response, a positive turnout,” Manny says.
The Coal Miners Benefit Run, which occurred less than a week after the explosion,
drew more than 300 bikes from all over the region. The riders opened their wallets
and generated a washtub full of cash donations. The bar also donated half a buck
from every drink served, and more than $8,000 was raised. Donations were still
being accepted at press time and a local radio station was also raising money with
expectations of some matching corporate funds.
Coal mining, just like biking, is a way of life in West Virginia. The show of support
bikers put forward for the lost miners and their loved ones was a clear statement of
what this family of riders is all about.

8 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 9
 Spring
Fling
Raises
a Grand
There’s no better way to mark the first day of Spring
than to go for a ride. Add a good cause and a mass
of motorcycles to the story, and you have the Spring
Fling Poker Run sponsored by Nan and Pop’s Place in
Martinsburg. With temperatures holding nicely in the
70’s and a sky full of bright sunshine, the day couldn’t
have been any nicer.
Six dozen bikes rolled out of the parking lot at 1PM,
and spent the next few hours meandering a hundred
miles or so through the beautiful back roads of the
eastern panhandle. The trees had just begun to think
about sprouting leaves and the grass wasn’t growing
yet, but most of the snow was gone and the sun was
making a clear statement about the direction these
things were going to go. Even the smiles on all those
biker faces were clean and white because the bugs
weren’t out yet.
The ride first headed southwest of Martinsburg and
then along Back Creek and up towards Hedgesville,
where cards were drawn at Byrd’s Tavern. Stops in
Martinsburg and Shepherdstown followed, with the
ride ending at Nan and Pop’s.
Proceeds totaling One Thousand Dollars were hand-
ed to Berkeley County Sheriff Kenneth LeMaster. The
sheriff says the money will be used to help erect a
memorial to fallen police officers of the eastern pan-
handle.

10 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 11
 Kim’s Rose BIKE
MON OF T
HE
TH
Kim Davis of Parsons loves hummingbirds,
butterflies, and roses. So much so, that she has a
gorgeous scene of a hummingbird and a butterfly
visiting a multi-colored rose bush tattooed on her
left forearm and hand. She also loves Harleys.
You know where this story is going, don’t you?
Back in 2007 Kim’s husband Jeff bought an ’03
Super Glide. Kim, not a wilting flower to be sure,
wasn’t going to be content on the passenger pad.
So she promptly picked out an ‘02 1200 Sportster
for herself, and they both signed up for a safety
training course.
“We have both been riders since we were
children,” says Kim. “But dirt bikes and street are
different.” The course went well, and Kim took to
the roads alongside Jeff. After some good miles,
Jeff started thinking that Kim needed a bigger
bike. They were getting interested in doing some
distance, and he was wondering if she might be
better off with a softail or touring bike.
Kim had other ideas. “I wanted to customize
my Sportster.” Over the next year, with the help
of a lot of caring expert advice, the bike was
transformed into the rolling work of art that it
is now. It was fitted with a Fat Bob tank and a
Brawler seat. Some LED lighting found a spot in
the project.
And here’s the part of the story you already
figured out. “The paint scheme is my tattoo.
My husband designed the bike’s look.” Wesley
Blevins at Cruiz painted the elaborate Rose
Garden.
These roses will soon have more miles on them
than most flower delivery trucks. “We love to
ride!” she says. We’ve planned two long trips
this year. Texas on Memorial Day weekend and
California on Labor Day for two weeks.”
Things are looking rosy for Kim and her “Dream
come true” bike.

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 13

 Hidden Highways
State Route 20

“That’s a helluva biker road, isn’t it?”

The grin on Moe Vetter’s face is spread cheekpad to
cheekpad in his three-quarter helmet. As he says this, I’m
realizing that my neck is sore from an hour’s worth of con-
tinuous pivoting as I looked my way through an endless
parade of switchbacks. We’re sitting at our first stoplight
on the outskirts of Buckhannon after just completing a 44
mile run on State Route 20 south of here.
We jumped onto 20 at Diana from Highway 15, and the fun
started instantly. Climbing the first of an awesome collec-
tion of mountains that lie in wait, we already know we have
found a gem. A series of serpentine curves is just getting
us warmed up for what’s ahead. Before long, the climb
becomes steeper and the curves give way to switchbacks
so tight that second gear often comes into play. Aw, yeah,
this road was made for bikes.
The sun is pouring down on us through a maze of unfet-
tered branches. The forest blanketing these mountains
isn’t yet convinced that this gorgeous low-70’s day really
signals the start of the growing season. But the Redbud trees are willing to take that chance, and their bright
color stands out against the hesitant hardwoods. When that canopy of leaves does arrive, it’s pretty clear
that it will stretch right over this road in many places.
Reaching the top of our first mountain, we squiggle around the summit for a few seconds and then drop down
the other side. None of this happens in a straight line, and the edges of our tires are getting quite a workout.
A few seconds of twisting our way along a small valley floor, and up we go again to be challenged by the next In West Virginia, it’s not at all unusual to traverse a few
mountain. This pattern will repeat itself many times, but it never gets boring. The pavement is a little rough mountains in a row before most roads find a kindler, gen-
in spots, and the markings sprayed on the bad spots suggest that help is on the way. None of the winter’s tler way. But Route 20 doesn’t believe in taking the easy
damage is very severe, and we really don’t have to focus on it. There is very little traffic, and a surprising lack way out. It boldly winds its way up and down and up and
of gravel in the curves allows us to attack the road with confidence. down. These aren’t the biggest mountains in the state –
This is beautiful, unspoiled territory. There are a few towns along the way - places like Hacker Valley, Cleve- not by a long shot. But there’s more than enough eleva-
land and Kanawha Head. With sawmills and other businesses that draw their existence from the surrounding tion change to keep things interesting every second of the
mountains, the towns seem to fit perfectly into the landscape. We cross the Left Fork of the Holly River at way. This is a long stretch of lightly traveled roadway that
Hacker Valley and the Holly River State Park whooshes through our peripheral vision just as we begin to should be on every biker’s “To Do” list.
climb the next mountain.
14 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010

We’re heading northbound, and just before we
get to French Creek we come upon the West
Virginia Wildlife Center. It’s a zoological facility
run by the state Department of Natural Resourc-
es. Along its trails are exhibits and large animal
enclosures nestled right into the forest that tell
the story of our state’s natural inhabitants. It’s
www.thunderroadswv.com
a perfect place to take a break, eat your lunch, and learn what this
state was like before human intervention.
From French Creek north to Buckhannon, the character of the road
abruptly changes. The surrounding environs level out quite a bit and
State Highway 20 responds by becoming a lot tamer than the previ-
ous miles. Wilderness gives way to farmland and traffic picks up
a bit. It’s still a nice ride but the adrenaline rush wears down to a
euphoric recall of the miles just logged.
Moe has never been to the “Tail of the Dragon” in North Carolina,
but he remarks that he can’t imagine it has anything that could be
better than the road we just took. He doesn’t realize what an under-
statement that is. I have been to the Dragon several times and I can
tell you that it’s crowded with crazy people riding beyond their skills,
but Route 20 is an empty road. The Dragon is also only eleven miles
long, yet Route 20 provides more than 40 miles of thrills. Run the
dragon if you want the t-shirt. But if you want to take a “helluva biker
road”, you can’t do better than West Virginia State Highway 20.
MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 15
S
K
I
N
A
R
T
16 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 17

Blending Bikes and Family
When people that I meet find out what I do for a
living, they always tell me their personal motorcycle
history. I love it. There is no greater instant bond
than between fellow riders as they share their
experiences.
“I used to have a bike. Then I got married and had
kids…and sold the bike.”
But that painful story is the most frequent one I hear.
As a two-wheel lifer, it kills me when I have to park
the bikes because there is snow on the roads. I can’t
imagine how much a decision like that would hurt.
Particularly because, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Enter the little ones. Taylor and Tim. Yes, the early
years dramatically cut into riding time. But suck it up
for a while, and hang in there. Eventually their feet
can reach the passenger pegs, and a whole new
dimension in motorcycling opens up for you.
The story of this third generation of bikers (Grandpas
Tom and Bill both have biker histories) actually
begins a few years ago, when they each got 50CC
motorcycles with outrigger style training wheels.
Hundreds of laps around a wide, oval shaped grade
school bus driveway later, and they both had a pretty
good idea of what it was like to ride a bike. But they
still couldn’t reach the pegs on our street bikes, so
the thrill ended there.
Then, late last summer, it happened. Little soles on
shoes that are too expensive, don’t last long, and
wouldn’t fit for long even if they did, made contact
with the rubber on those passenger pegs. Barely.
But it was enough to introduce them to minutes-long
jaunts up and down our rarely travelled road. I’m
pretty sure that Donna held her breath the entire
time. But only good came of it, and the trips got a
little longer. One time, all the way to our favorite ice
cream shop about 30 miles away.
It wasn’t enough. With motorcycling already in
their blood, they took to this biker thing like rabid
road dawgs. They wanted more, and in a case of
the mouth acting ahead of the brain, I blurted out
something like, “Hey, we should go motorcycle
camping!” Now, I can tell them to make their beds a
million times and they don’t hear me, but mention an
idea like that once and it is carved in stone. Timing
and weather prevented us from implementing the
plan last fall. But when grade school spring break
coincided with the first 90 degree days of the year a
couple weeks ago, we were ready.
A tent, sleeping bags, more clothes than we need for
an overnight trip, some spare riding gear, and camera
equipment (Hey, I’m working here!) are strapped to
18 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
two of our cruisers. Now 10 and 8 respectively, Taylor
and Tim eagerly climb aboard…boys against the girls
style. Firing up the scooters gets my juices flowing,
and I’m pretty sure I see that flicker of adrenaline
flash through three other sets of eyes peering out
of helmets. With a round of “Thumbs Up” signals,
Tim and I roll out first, with Donna and Taylor in hot
pursuit.
We’re heading for Seneca Shadows, the newest
U.S. Forest Service campground in the Spruce
Knob-Seneca Rocks Recreation Area. It’s just a
mile south of the iconic Seneca Rocks, a blade-like
formation that stabs 900 feet into the sky above the
surrounding river basin. This is one of those places
that, if you haven’t seen it, you haven’t finished
seeing West Virginia.
This is a 130 mile trip each way. It’s much longer than
any ride the kids have been on. But we verse them
on the things they will face as they spend a few hours
in the saddle. We talk about the dangers, and have
developed ways to stay in communication with each
other through hand and physical signals. “If I tap you
on the leg three times, I’m asking if you are okay. If
you are fine, tap back three times.” The training from
last year’s short trips is paying off.
Our first stop comes only about 30 miles from home.
Everyone is fine, but we need to gas up and drink
some water. It’s hot out here, but no one seems to
mind. This may be the first time ever that we have
travelled this far without one of them asking, “Are we
there yet?”
The next 60 miles, mostly on Highway 55 and “Old
55”, take us over mountain passes and through the
gorgeous valleys along the Lost River as we wind
our way to Moorefield. Just west of Wardensville,
right where the new 4-lane version of the highway
splits from the “Old”, we spy a large plume of smoke
coming from the top of the next ridge. Climbing
By Gary Westphalen
towards it on the aging route, Donna and Taylor catch
a glimpse of orange beneath the billowing smoke.
The forest fire is a mile or so north of the road, so it
poses no threat to us. But it’s a scary sight.
This highway used to be full of traffic. It was a major
roadway for people travelling east to west, and for
the many trucks loaded with raw logs, live chickens
and turkeys, and the finished products made from
them. They can make the trip in half the time on
the new highway now. So this twisted old ribbon is
only followed by those who live on it, and those who
remember it.
Two more bikers remember it now. Each in their
own way. Taylor is swiveling her attention from
side to side, pointing out horses, cows, lambs, and
dogs. Tim is making sure that I see each glimpse
of a river, and every “awesome” rock formation that
rolls through his field of view. I have ridden this road
hundreds of times before. Today I get to ride it for the
first time, again.
It’s been about twenty minutes since we passed
that mountaintop wildfire. Suddenly a couple of fire
trucks come into view in the oncoming lane. With
lights and sirens ablaze as they scream by, we can
only assume they are on their way to curb the fire’s
advance.
By the time we reach Moorefield, I can tell by his
weak responses to my tapped queries that Tim’s
getting drowsy. As we break for another round of
fluids, we calculate that we are only about 45 miles
from the campgrounds. A poll of the crew shows
that everyone is feeling much more lively after this
break, and we’re ready to go. The final push takes
us through Petersburg and the Smoke Hole area into
the Potomac Highlands. As Seneca Rocks comes
into view, I swear I can hear Tim say “Woah” over the
rumble of my Heritage.
It’s a Tuesday, so the campground is nearly deserted,
save for a couple of trout fishermen and rock
climbers. There are so many sites here that our 19
bucks gets us a spot that’s a one minute walk away
from an exquisitely clean bathroom with free hot
showers. We can just barely see the flickering of a
campfire through the trees at the nearest occupied
campsite hundreds of yards away.
Camp is set up with military precision - gosh, I wish
they were this helpful at home – and in no time at all
we’re ready to get back on the bikes and head out in
search of food. Less than two miles down the road
we settle into a dinner of fried chicken, chicken strips,
and a couple of steaks. Everyone’s mind is going to practice singing for her upcoming
60 miles an hour replaying the day’s trip, but actual school talent show, with Tim providing the
conversation is slight because the mouths are busy. background choreography. The audience of
Nothing stimulates the appetite like a day of riding. two is moved.
As the bill for the now-licked clean plates is being After breakfast at the same restaurant
handled inside, Taylor and Tim step out the door – they were hoping to see Kevin again,
where they are greeted by an overtly friendly pooch. but didn’t – our first stop is at the Welton
She is so happy to see them that she just can’t stop Park near Petersburg. Wading into the
a full-body wiggling fest that makes us all laugh. South Branch of the Potomac River, Tim
For reasons I will never understand, they name her pronounces the water “warm” but my feet go
“Kevin”. numb from the cold in less than a minute.
Back at camp, it’s dark now. Time has come to start After an hour or so of playing in the water
the fire and get the marshmallows roasting. The old and on the playground equipment in this
man does a – ahem – masterful job of creating the fine park, we hit the road again. A gorgeous
perfect fire and the roasting commences. Family blue-sky day watches over us all the way
chit-chat intersperses with episodes of burning back home.
marshmallows and chomping on S’mores. At one It’s only a one-night run. In fact, Donna and I
point, I look over at the fantastic machines that usually take this ride in an afternoon just as
brought us here. In the glow of the fire, all I can see is a break. But this particular 260-mile round
the reflections of shiny chrome and glass headlights. trip excursion is something we have been
But I swear they are smiling. Tim just can’t resist looking forward to for years.
throwing hands full of leaves into the fire as Taylor’s
“I’m going to remember this trip for the rest
eyes begin the transition to sleep mode. She’s the
of my life,” Taylor says to her mommy.
first to call it a day. He won’t be far behind.
So will we, Sweetheart. So will we.
In the quiet of the late night, Donna and I challenge
each other at roasting the perfect marshmallow over
the last of our campfire. Carmelized to a golden
brown on the outside, and so warm and gooey on
the inside that it literally falls off the end of the stick
and into your mouth. We both win. The light of the
fire slowly gives way and, as the embers darken, our
vision opens up to reveal the countless stars shining
over us. The hooting of a lone owl is the only sound
stirring the night air. Or is it 2 owls conversing? I don’t
know for sure because I don’t speak “owl”. Crawling
into our spots in the cozy tent, I think to myself, “I
don’t know how it gets any better than this.”
Waking with reinvigorated anticipation of the day
ahead, we pack up our gear and don’t even leave
the campgrounds before we make our first stop. I
spot an amphitheater in the woods that seems to
be designed for giving nature presentations. But
on this morning the rough-hewn stage with seating
for a hundred or so serves as the stage for Taylor

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 19

 The EASIEST, CORN PUDDING CASSEROLE bagged Parmesan. Serve with super crispy & crunchy, hot French bread
RECIPE EVER WRITTEN! loaf. Heaven!
I found my Mom’s old, well-worn, all-time favorite recipe book, which
WHITE BARBEQUE SAUCE
seriously, still smells like her famous Spice Cake. One of last months’
recipes were from it, and here’s another. Too easy for words. (Perfect for Chicken)
1 Box of Jiffy Brand Corn Muffin Mix 1-1/2 Cups Premium Mayonnaise
1 Can of Whole Kernel Corn 1/4 Cup Cider Vinegar
1 Can of Creamed Corn 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
1 8 oz. Tub of Sour Cream 2 Tbls. Sugar or *Splenda for Cooking
1/4 Stick of Melted Butter 2 Tbls. Freshly Ground Pepper
1 Bag of Finely Shredded Medium Shredded Cheese 2 Tbls. White Wine
Couple Dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
Mix it all up in a small bowl, transfer to a well sprayed glass casserole
Salt to Taste
dish and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Remove and cover the top
Whisk it all together in a small bowl until well blended, then store in a
generously with shredded cheese, put back in oven for 5 minutes and it’s
glass bottle with tight lid.
done. Now....I do remember my Mom always shredded the cheese herself
and she got the sour cream from the restaurant where she worked.
SMOOTH AS SILK, EASY AS COTTON...
But, with today’s pre-packaged goodies, this is literally a snap to make.
VANILLA MOUSSE CHESECAKE
And....you can jazz it up with chopped sweet Vidalia onion, green chilies,
pimentos, black olives.....put your own stomp on it. 1 Pre-Made *Nilla Wafer or Graham Crack Pie Crust
4 Pkgs. *Philly Cream Cheese; Softened
FETTUCCINE WITH FRESH MINT & 1 Cup of Sugar or Splenda; Divided
BABY GREEN PEAS 1 Tbls. plus 1 tsp. of Real Vanilla; Divided
3 Large Eggs
1 Box of Your Favorite Brand Fettuccine Pasta
1 8 oz. Tub *Cool Whip; Thawed to Fridge Temp., not Freezer
1/2 Stick Butter (or use *I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter...tastes like butter
w/ no trans fats or cholesterol) Preheat oven to 325
1 Cup Frozen, Baby Sweet Peas Beat 3 packages of cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 Tbls. vanilla with
2/3 Cup Half & Half mixer until well blended. Add eggs.....1 at a time, mixing on low speed
1/2 Cup Ricotta Cheese after each added, just until blended.
1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Mint Remove your pre-made pie crust from it’s aluminum pie plate (that it
1/2 Cup Finely Grated Parmesan Bag Cheese comes in from store) and place it down into a springform pan.
1 Garlic Clove; Minced (you can buy skinned garlic cloves in a glass Pour mixture over crust. Bake 55 minutes or until center is almost set.
bottle in your produce section, that literally stay fresh forever in the fridge) Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake. Cool completely in pan.
1 full rounded tsp. Lemon Zest Beat up remaining cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with mixer in large
Salt & Cracked Pepper to Taste bowl until well blended. Whisk in Cool Whip, spread over cheesecake.
Garnish: You can now buy freshly shaved, any kind? of your favorite Refrigerate for 4 hours. Remove rim of pan before serving cheesecake.
cheeses in bottles in your cheese aisle, again, that you can store in fridge Spread fresh blueberries or strawberries or both all over the top of
and use as needed. mousse cheesecake. You are truly going to love the silky-smooth texture
of this dessert, but you’ll really love how easy it is to make. The only
Prepare your pasta as you always do. Remember to salt the water
problem is having to wait 4 hours to eat it! Really.....stay out of the damn
generously. Melt your butter in a skillet over medium heat, add all the
pan!
rest of the ingredients. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring continually
until cheese is totally melted. Stir in your hot, drained pasta. Serve HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
immediately and garnish generously with shaved Parmesan or use your RELAX, REJUVENATE & REFRESH YOUR SPIRIT

TO ALL OUR BRAVE, PROUD TROOPS... YOU’RE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS DAILY. God Speed You Home.

20 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 21
Mother’s Day ARMED FORCES DAY

MEMORIAL DAY
 Why the FJR?
The Thunder Roads West Virginia stable currently houses ten
motorcycles of many makes and styles. This is an all-brands magazine and the
bikes in our garage at the moment represent Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki,
and Yamaha. They are all capable machines and most are high-mileage road
warriors. Their odometer readings total hundreds of thousands of miles. Each
of the street bikes has the ability to haul us around as we gather the stories for
this magazine each month. And we use them all. But one bike in particular has
demonstrated the right stuff when it comes to being a “motojournalist”.
The Yamaha FJR1300 is a “Supersport Touring” machine whose lineage traces
directly back to the race track, with many engine and chassis components derived
from the venerable R-1. It is not a bike for novice riders. The engine is a 1298cc
liquid cooled, fuel injected, 16 valve, in-line 4 cylinder powerhouse that harnesses
145 ponies with the stock setup. This 2005 model has been fitted with a Power
Commander and has been dialed into to make the most of the free breathing Leo
Vince exhaust that we have also added. So what’s the top end? If we told you we
would be admitting to extraordinary speeding charges worthy of jail time. So let’s
just keep that number unpublished.
Even though the power this bike produces is a lot of fun, that’s only part of what
makes it the perfect motojournalist mount. The bike has tremendous capabilities
everywhere you look. For starters, its liquid cooled. That means that it can sit
by the side of the road idling indefinitely while we wait for the perfect photo
opportunity of the event we are covering. With a dry weight of just over 500
pounds the bike is much lighter than most cruisers, yet the 440 pound load
capacity means we can haul a lot of camera gear, hundreds of magazines, and
maybe a change of clothes. With large, weatherproof saddlebags and plenty of
attachment points this bike is our office on wheels.
Quick stops are an everyday part of what we do when covering stories. Fitted
with anti-lock brakes on dual front and single rear discs, this bike halts on a dime.
Just grab a handful of brake lever and squeeze with all you have. It won’t let you
go down. When we took this bike to an experienced rider course, our braking
distance was so short that it wasn’t even listed on the charts.
24 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
The 6.6 gallon steel fuel tank gives us a nonstop range of more than 300 miles
on a fill and allows us to use a magnetic-mount tank bag for quick, one-handed
access to our cameras, even while riding. The virtually maintenance-free shaft
drive is bullet proof and smooth as glass. The razor-sharp handling is absolutely
sweet. Riding this bike is like flying inches above the ground. It’s even fun when
you’re going really slow, and that’s saying something.
One more nifty feature on the FJR makes it a stand-out for this job. While we
are not fans of windshields on bikes, covering the state of motorcycling in West
Virginia means we often have to ride regardless of the weather. They can also be
very long days in the saddle. There are times when a windshield is a necessity.
This bike gives us both options. The windshield in this picture is tucked down so
low that it is really just a part of the fairing. But push a button with your left thumb
and the shield is electrically raised to a standing position that creates a bubble of
still air around the rider. If conditions aren’t that bad, it can be positioned at any
height in between the two extremes.
Riders of shorter stature may not be as pleased with one thing about this bike.
With a 32” seat height, the bike’s ergonomics fit my six foot frame just fine, but at
5”4” Donna has to reach for the ground at stops a bit more than she would like.
But seats can be customized, so this isn’t a deal breaker.
We have logged over 76-thousand miles on the FJR, and we expect to hit six
figures before this season is out. To date, the only mechanical issue in its history
is a build-up of gunk in the pivot bushing for the rear brake pedal. We were even
rear-ended at a stoplight by a cage two years ago and suffered only cosmetic
damage, although the cager’s insurance paid a hefty price for some new fairing
pieces.
Like most of you, we love our cruisers. There is a stirring of the soul that
accompanies every touch of the starter button. The heartbeat of a V-Twin is the
rhythmic sound of life itself. But being a motojournalist’s mount is a job. It requires
a specialized set of skills that place emphasis on performance, comfort, and
practicality. This Yamaha FJR1300 is hired.
 TNT

26 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010

 May 1st - Mike Mack & the Attack
May 8th - Dixie Moon
May 15th - Regie Wayne Morris
May 22nd - Blue Ridge Rain $5
May 29th - Suffer No Guilt Cover
May 1st – Red Knights Poker Run
Kick stands up at 8:30 am
Home Cooked Meals - Daily Lunch Specials
Friday Night DJ with Justin
www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 27
 A guy is walking down the street and sees Little Johnny smoking a
cigarette.
He says, “Kid, you’re too young to smoke.” Johnny looks up but
doesn’t say anything.
The man asks, “Son, how old are you?” Little Johnny says, “Seven.”
Stunned, the man says, “Seven!? When did you start smoking?”
Johnny replies, “Right after the first time I had sex.”
“Right after the first time you had sex!? the man exclaims. When was
that?”
Little Johnny ponders, “Gotta’ say I honestly don’t remember….I was
drunk”.
Malcolm O’Reilly hoisted his beer and said,
‘Here’s to spending the rest of me life!, between the legs of me wife!’
That won him the top prize at the pub for the best toast of the night!
He went home and told his wife, Mary, ‘I won the prize for the Best toast
of the night.’ She said, ‘Aye, did ye now. And what was your toast?’
Malcolm said, ‘Here’s to spending the rest of me life, sitting in church
beside me wife. ‘Oh, that is very nice indeed, Malcolm!’ Mary said.
The next day, Mary ran into one of Malcolm’s drinking
buddies on the street corner. The man chuckled leeringly and said, ‘
Mal won the prize the other night at the pub with a toast about you,
Mary.’ She said, ‘Aye, he told me, and I was a bit surprised myself. You
know, he’s only been there twice in the last four years. Once he fell
asleep, and the other time I had to pull him by the ears to make him
come.’
A truck driver had to deliver 100 penguins to the state zoo. As he was
driving his truck through the desert, the truck broke down.
After waiting by the side of the road for about three hours, he waved
another truck down and offered a good ole’ boy named Bubba $500 to
take the penguins to the State Zoo for him.
The next day, the first truck driver arrived in town and saw Bubba
crossing the road with the 100 penguins walking in pairs of two,
directly behind him.
The first truck driver jumped out of his truck and said, “What’s going
on? I gave you $500 to take these penguins to the damn Zoo!”
Bubba boastfully replied, “I did take them to the Zoo, but I had alot of
money left over, so now we’re going to see a Disney movie.”
Ever wonder what a man’s ultimate embarrassment might be? I’d have
to say it would be running into a brick wall with a good stiff erection......
and breaking his nose.
And turn about is fair play...A woman’s would have to be standing on
the scales and literally having to reach down and separate her sagging
boobs, just so she can read the numbers.
28 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
A new Priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak.
After mass he asked the Monsignor how he had done.
The Monsignor replied, ‘When I am worried about getting nervous on
the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I start to
get too nervous, I take a sip.’ So next Sunday he took the monsignor’s
advice. At the beginning of the sermon, he got very nervous and so,
took a drink.
He proceeded to talk up a storm, jitters free.
Upon his return to his office after the mass, he found the following
note on the door:
1) Sip the vodka, don’t gulp it down, while sweating profusely.
2) There are 10 commandments, not 12.
3) There are 12 disciples, not 10.
4) Jesus was consecrated, not “constipated”.
5) Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not “bet his ass”.
6) We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the “Late, Great J.C”.
7) The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as “Daddy,
Junior and the Spook”.
8) David slew Goliath; he did not “kick the crap out of him”.
9) When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey,
don’t say he was “stoned off his ass”.
10) We do not refer to the cross as the ‘Big T.’
11) When Jesus broke the bread at the last supper he said, ‘Take this
and eat it for it is my body.’ He did not say ‘Eat me’.
12) The Virgin Mary is not called ‘Mary with the Cherry’.
13) The recommended grace before a meal is not: “Rub-A-Dub-Dub
thanks for the grub, Yay God! Dig In”.
14) Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at St. Peter’s, not
a “Peter Pulling Contest at St. Taffy’s”.
A flat-chested young lady read an article in a magazine that stated Dr.
Bumbutu in Africa could enlarge your breast without surgery.
So she decided to go to Dr. Bumbutu to see if he could help her.
Dr. Bumbutu advised her, ‘Every day after your shower, rub your chest
and say, ‘Scooby doobie doobies, I want bigger boobies!’ She did this
faithfully for several months, and to her utter amazement she grew a
terrific D-cup rack!
One morning she was running late, got on the bus, and in a panic
realized she had forgotten her morning ritual. Frightened she might
lose her lovely boobs if she didn’t recite the ritualistic rhyme, she
stood right there in the middle aisle of the bus, closed her eyes and
said, ‘Scooby doobie doobies, I want bigger boobies.’
A guy sitting nearby looked at her and asked ‘Oh! Are you a patient of
Dr. Bumbutu’s?’
‘Yes I am.. How did you know?’
He winked and whispered, ‘Hickory dickory dock...’
 Seats & SADDLES

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 29

 By Jim “Jammer” Marcum
It’s finally Spring and a time of picnics, barbecues, family reunions and of course, getting on the bike and putting
our face in the wind! However, we need harmony and balance in our lives between our personal, physical and
spiritual wants and needs.
For example, one day I was polishing on my bike. It was already clean and didn’t need any additional attention,
but I enjoy tinkering with my bike and found myself devoting hours to detailing it and adding accessories that
weren’t really necessary. I began to think about my devotion to my bike and my devotion to God and a thought
came upon me. I wondered how much closer I could be to the Lord if I spend as much time with Him as I
do with my bike. With every swipe of the cloth across the gleaming chrome I realized that I better get some
priorities straight and acquire harmony and balance in my life.
If we neglect our family we will lose our family. If we neglect our friends we will lose our friends and if we
neglect God then how can we expect Him to bless us?
If we devote a small amount of time to God then we can expect a small amount of blessings, but if we devote a
large amount of time praying and reading the Bible then we can expect a large amount of blessings!
Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the Word of God. The more we study His Word, the more our faith is
increased. The more time we spend communicating with Him, the more He listens to us. This is a simple
message, but yet a sobering thought. Let’s enjoy the riding season and our passion for our machines, but let’s
never forget our passion and love for God. Be Blessed!
Jim “Jammer” Marcum resides in Charleston and has been involved in motorcycle ministry for
nearly 15 years and serves as Clergy within Highways and Hedges Motorcycle Ministry.

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 33

Bike Quaker Steak & Lube

Nites
Begin
Conventional Wisdom holds that
spotting the first Robin in your yard
is a sure sign of spring. That may
be true, but for Bikers the rule of
thumb has more to do with spotting
the first Bike Nite of the season.
They came in bunches this year…
three of them on April Fool’s Day.
There were a lot of smiles, but it
was not a joke at Quaker Steak
and Lube in Charleston when
their summer-long giveaway bike
was unveiled. The 110 cubic inch
Victory Vegas 8 Ball gleamed
in the early evening sun as the
assembled bikers got their first
glimpse of it. Weekly contest
registration will be held at their Bike
Nites all summer long, and the
winner of the bike is drawn at the
end of the riding season.
Across town at Tomahawks,
a bikini bike wash was one of
the highlights. 125 miles to the
northeast, in Clarksburg, the first
Bike Nite of the season also got
underway. All 3 events occur
weekly all summer long. When the
season gets into full swing, expect
to see hundreds of bikes at each of
these events every week.

34 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010

Clarksburg

Tomahawks

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 35

 A Collection of Parts
“I collect used parts,” says Bruce Meadows. As an
owner of Hoodlum Garage, an independent bike shop
in Beckley, Bruce’s experience isn’t unusual. The
interesting part is what he’s done with them, and why.
“I came up with a frame and some parts three years
ago, a front end and some wheels and, at the time,
half a motor.” The kind of stuff you would expect to see
in a box at a swap meet.
But to Bruce, it looked like a Christmas present for
his father-in-law. He told the lucky recipient, “I don’t
know when this is ever going to happen.” “This” was
the promise of a custom built bike for a man whose life
and giving nature impresses Bruce.
36 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
the parts, and the bike was continually being upgraded
even before it was assembled. A friend gave him the
forward controls and another tossed in a unique pair
of upswept pipes. Bruce built a seat for this softail that
gives it a rigid look, and stitched the cover himself.
“90 percent of that bike is used parts,” says Bruce.
“I just used take-off parts. There’s some new stuff,
cables and things like that…With the help of some
of my friends, it was like, ‘Man I’ve got enough parts
finally.’ So this year we actually gave it to him for
Christmas and surprised him that it got done.”
But a bike isn’t “done” without paint. Bruce reached
back to another memory that Ken had of a car he
used to own. “He told me about a ’69 Plymouth
Satellite, and that was always going to be the color
of the bike.” It took a bit of searching, but Bruce finally
found the color. “Like three years they had that color.
It’s called Turbine Bronze. It’s pretty neat. But then we
got talking about doing the frame and everything that
particular color. It’s a beautiful color, but it looked like
it was going to be too much.” His painter agreed and
they settled on cream accent panels, reminiscent of
paint jobs from the late 60’s.
Bruce Meadows is proud of the bike he built for his
father-in-law. It may be built of a lot of used and
swapped parts, but this singular machine is an
awesome example of how hard work and dedication
to family can add up to a lot more than the some of
its parts.
“He’s taken me in like a son,” Bruce says of his Father-
in-Law, Ken Ford. “There’s stuff that he’s done for me
that nobody knows but me and him...He’s always
willing to give to his family.” Bruce wanted to give back,
and he knew that nothing could be more heartfelt by a
life-long biker than the gift of a custom built bike. Ford,
a Viet Nam vet, had a Triumph back in the ‘60’s and is
currently riding a Honda VTX.
The collecting of parts went on for a couple of years,
and Ken largely forgot about the project bike. Bruce
ended up with an 82 inch Evo motor in a crate that he
figured would be better than that half a motor he was
holding on to. The same thing happened with a lot of
www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 37
 Hoka Hey Happenings

It was Easter Sunday, and a healthy collection of bikers made a day of it at

Longshots Billiards in Charles Town. They were there to attend Mountain Thunder,
an event put on by Mitchell and Sara Matzek to support his participation in the Hoka
Hey Challenge. Mitch is one of four West Virginia bikers who plan to make the Key
West, Florida to Homer, Alaska run this summer (see our story in the March, 2010
issue of Thunder Roads West Virginia).
The event, which included a 108 mile poker run and a bike show, was also designed
to support the American Diabetes Association. Mitch was diagnosed with diabetes
last year, and is dedicating his participation in the Hoka Hey Challenge to raising
awareness of the disease.
Bill Pixler, another West Virginian who is entered in the Hoka Hey Challenge, is also
holding a fund raising spaghetti dinner at the Elks Lodge in Morgantown on May 15.

38 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010

 Two Wheels Too Many

Participants in this Petersburg area Poker Run may

be using a couple of more wheels than we usually
write about in Thunder Roads West Virginia, but their
cause was just as sincere and their smiles just as big
as on most two-wheeled runs. 41 participants rolled
off 32 miles on their ATVs to raise money for two area
residents who are battling cancer.
Erica Regester of Moorefield and Chris Hedrick of
Petersburg have found friendship and support from
each other as they each fight their own afflictions.
Erica is in need of a bone marrow transplant and a
donor has now been found. Chris is undergoing a cell
transplant procedure.
“They are both in college and are wanting to return
this fall, providing everything goes well for them,” says
Barbara George of Tri-County Honda, a sponsor of the
ATV event. “They are both very nice and considerate
young people. I do ask everyone keep them and their
families in prayer.”
The event generated more than $1,200 for Erica and
Chris.

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 39

 BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY
ATTORNEYS
Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson
Attorneys at Law
84 Aikens Center
Martinsburg, WV 25402
(304) 263-0900
www.burkeandschultz.com
Colombo & Stuhr, Attorneys at Law
1054 Maple Drive
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 599-4229
www.colombostuhr.com
BAIL BONDS
Weatherholtz Bonding
306 West Stephen Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
(304) 267-5888 or (304) 728-6889
tweatherholtz@verizon.net
BARS & RESTAURANTS
3rd Base Sports Bar & Grille
22 Virginia Avenue; US Rt. 220
Petersburg, WV 26847 Up from the stop light
(304) 257-2273 Email:
3rdbasesportsbarandgrille@gmail.com
Bee Hive Tavern
463 Morgantown Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 282-8196
One block from Thinkin Ink Tattoo
The Brickhouse Bar & Grill
214 Mid Atlantic Parkway
Martinsburg, WV 25404
(304) 264-2304
www.thebrickhousesportsbar.com
Bucket Heads Pub
81 N. Dents Run Road
Granville, WV 26534
(304) 284-0661 bucketheadspub@yahoo.com
Award Winning Wings and Drink Specials
Byrd’s Tavern
7699 Hedgesville Rd.
Hedgesville, WV 25427
(304) 754-6980
www.byrdstavernllc.webs.com
Chicken Lizards
7306 Husky Highway
Mannington, WV 26582
(304) 986-1158
2 mi. North of Mannington on Rt. 250
40 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
Cindy’s Bar & Grill
Route 3 (End of Speedway)
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 363-0058
Across from K&T Truck Stop
Classic’s 3 Hot Spot Lounge Restaurant
1384 Greenbag Rd. Sabraton
Morgantown WV 26505 (304) 292-8368
Affordable Place to Eat! Where Good Friends Meet!
www.Classics3.com
Colt’s Restaurant and Pizza Park Inc.
425 S. Main St.
Moorefield, WV 26836
(304) 538-2523
Dakota Tavern
Route 19 North of Fairmont
(304) 288-4893
Friendly Atmosphere and Good Food
Est. 1964
The Dawg House Bar & Grill
Pool, Darts & Music Entertainment
1387 Fairmont Road
Morgantown, WV 26501
1 mile past Morgantown Mall on 19 South
Desperado’s Bar & Grill
35 Potomac Street
Ridgeley, WV 26753
Food – Games – Cold Beer
(304) 738-0010
Dirty Dawg Saloon
1017 S. Queen Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
(304) 596-6200
www.dirtydawgwv.com
Donna Jean’s Family Restaurant
23480 George Washington Hwy.
Aurora, WV 26705 (304) 735-3260
Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Mon-Fri 5:30 - 7 Sat & Sun 7:00 - 7
Doodles Place
Rt. 50 Augusta, WV
(304) 496-9481
Fireside Cafe
927 North Main St.
Franklin, WV 26807
(304) 358-3733
www.fireside-cafe.com
Flying W Farms
U.S. Route 50
Burlington, WV 26710
(304) 289-3005
Sun-Thurs 10am-7pm Fri & Sat 10am–9pm
Four Corners Club
72 Pedal Car Drive
Inwood, WV 25428
(304) 229-3443
www.the4cornersclub.com
Fox’s Pizza Den
646 North Main Street
Franklin, WV 26807
(304) 358-2118
Pizza – Salads – Subs – Chicken
Hide Away Tavern
Rt. 50 Burlington, WV
Near WVDOH District 5 Shed
(304) 289-5396
Iron Horse Bar & Grill
HC 84 Box 33 (Cutoff Road)
Keyser, WV 26726
(304) 788-7533
K&T Diner
Rte. 73 N Meadowdale Road
Fairmont, WV 26554, I79 Exit 139
24 Hr Takeout Service (304) 363-7113
Attn. Truckers: Certified Cat Scales On-Site
Longshots Billiards
76 Wolfcraft Way
Charles Town, WV 25414
(304) 724-1975
www.longshotsbilliards.com
Lost River Brewing
155 West Main Street
Wardensville, WV 26851
(304) 874-3448
www.lostriverbrewing.com
Melanie’s Family Restaurant
25164 George Washington Hwy.
Aurora, WV 26705
(304) 735-3219
Good Food, Friendly Smiles, Low Prices
The Millstone Barbeque Restaurant
Rt. 50 West Burlington, WV
Great Pork-Ribs-Steak & Shrimp and Cold Beer
(304) 289-3693
Mom’s Place
Full menu served 24 hours a day
The end of Hoult Road by the Phillips Plant
Fairmont, WV
(304) 368-9223
Mountaineer All Star Cafe
U.S. Rt. 220 South / 2 mi. from Keyser
A Family Restaurant with a Sports Atmosphere
(304) 788-6433
 BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY
Nan & Pops Place
3485 Winchester Avenue
Martinsburg, WV 25405
(304) 267-2007
www.nanandpopsplace.com
Petie’s Pub & Grill
304 Morgantown Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 363-0698
Owner – Beverly Opas
Poor Dave’s Restaurant and Lounge
Rt. 55 – American Legion
Petersburg, WV 26847
(304) 257-4322
PoorDavesRestaurantandLounge@hotmail.com
Quaker Steak & Lube
Thursday Bike Night starting April 29th
2931 Mountaineer Blvd.
Charleston, WV (304) 267-2007
www.quakersteak.com
Road Hogs Saloon
415 Clayton Street
Rivesville, WV 26588
The Rock
Located on Rt. 11 North of Martinsburg
2573 Williamsport Pike
Martinsburg, WV
(304) 263-5558
Rock Forge Inn/Haught Diggity Dogz
Serving WV’s #1 Rated Chili Dog
Off I-68 at Sabraton Exit #4
Turn left .2 mile – Red Roof on right
Rt. 7 East (304) 291-DOGZ (3649)
Star Mercantile, LLC
80 W. Main Street
Wardensville, WV 26851
(304) 874-FOOD (3663)
star.wardensville@gmail.com
Steve’s Broken Spoke Bar & Grill
14977 SR 55
Needmore, WV 26801
(304) 897-7706
www.oldroute55.com
The Largest Leather Dealer in the Tri-State Area
Stray Cat Café
Rt. 50 E. Hampshire Square
(304) 822-TACO Closed Sunday
Good Food – Good Music – Good Times
Email: straycatcafe@frontiernet.net
Stray Cat Wing Shack
Bike Parking – Outside Dining - Horseshoes
“Nacho Ordinary Mex Restaurant”
Open 7 Days a Week at Noon Time
Keyser, WV (304) 788-0760
www.thunderroadswv.com
Uncle Joe’s Wood Pile Mickalina’s – A Mermaids Curiousity Shoppe
Rt. 1, Box 400 Accessories, Custom Scenting and Denim
Ridgeley, WV 26753 223 Fayette Street Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 726-8505 Between Spruce and High Street, Downtown
Hours: 11 to 7 Tues - Sat
White Front Tavern
Pool & Darts CUSTOM APPAREL
Happy Hour Monday & Tuesday
(304) 265-2280 Fairmont Graphics
Rt. 50 West of Grafton, WV 408 Morgantown Ave.
Fairmont, WV 26554
Winston’s Bar & Grill (304) 367-1379
2201 Pleasant Valley Road fmtgraph@fairmontgraphics.com
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 844-6872 CUSTOM ART
www.winstonsbarandgrill.com
Art by Weeze
BIKER ACCESSORIES, APPAREL, Custom art on bikes, leathers, helmets,
LEATHERS & GIFTS auto, canvas & murals
Martinsburg, WV (304) 264-4604
Anthony’s Specialty www.artbyweeze.com
Biker Apparel – Leather – H-D Boots & More
112 Davis Avenue CUSTOM DESIGN & FABRICATION
Glen Lyn, VA 24093
(540) 726-3080 Atomic Iron
Rt. 1, Box 1
Cool Ridge New Milton, WV 26411
329 High St. Morgantown, WV 26505 (304) 745-3062
(304) 296-5757
Mon - Sat 11 to 7 / Sun 12 to 5 Wiskybilt
“Take It Easy” It’s all about the ride.
Custom crafted parts made in WV
DFM Special Tee House “The Biker Shack” (304) 329-1214
Helmets – Shirts – Chaps - Jewelry www.wiskybilt.com
162 Nancy Jack Road
Gerrardstown, WV 25420 DEALERS & SERVICE
(304) 229-7609 dfmthebikershack@aol.com
Amsoil Store
East View Variety Shop Wholesale and Retail
We have everything from A – Z, Old and New Mount Clare, WV
715 Philippi Pike- East View Community (304) 745-5522 or Cell (304) 709-1038
Clarksburg, WV 26301 “Best Prices in Town”
(304) 622-6710 www.lubedealer.com/frankmanojr
Evel Speed Bombshell Cycles
Custom Machine & Motor Sick’l Shop French Creek, WV
7323 Winchester Avenue (304) 300-5133
Inwood, WV 25428 www.bombshellcycleswv.com
(304) 229-0987 www.evelspeed.net Servicing Street Bikes and ATV’s
Hawkins Leather Evel Speed
Custom Machine & Motor Sick’l Shop
800 Foxcroft Ave. - Martinsburg Mall 7323 Winchester Avenue
Martinsburg, WV 25401 Inwood, WV 25428
(304) 263-4193 (304) 229-0987 www.evelspeed.net
Johnny’s Shiny Hogs JT Cycle & Hoodlum Motorcycle Garage
Motorcycle Detail & Accessories Shop Aftermarket & Custom Parts & Accessories
532 W. Main St. 486 Ragland Road, Beckley, WV 25801
Clarksburg, WV 26301 (304) 255-2468
(304) 841-1437 www.jtcycleparts.com
continued on next page
MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 41
 BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY
Leesons Import Motors Inc.
320 W Main St.
Bridgeport, WV 26330
304-842-5469
www.leesonsmotors.com
The Little Shop of Harleys
Service & Accessories – HD Certified Mechanic
44 Bay Berry Lane
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
(304) 258-3909
M&J Motor Company
Lehman Trike Conversions
1000 S. Queen Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
(304) 262-6200 www.mjtrikes.com
O.B.’s Motorsports
1019 7th Street
Parkersburg, WV 26101
(304) 420-0910 www.obsmotorsports.com
Motorcycles Shipped FREE
Ruff Road Cycle L.L.C.
Authorized Drag Specialty Dealer
Tires & Service – Fast Turn Around
2050 Burke Rd. Masontown, WV 26542
(304) 980-2005
Shenandoah Harley-Davidson
213 Rolling Thunder Lane
Staunton, VA 24401
(540) 213-7433
www.shenhd.com
Skip’s Honda
580 South Mineral Street
Keyser, WV 26726
(304) 788-1615
Smitty’s Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha
Rt. 33 E. Corridor H
Buckhannon, WV 26201
(304) 472-4824
www.supersmittys.com
Triple S Harley-Davidson
308 Cheat Road
Morgantown, WV 26508
(304) 284-8244
www.tripleshd.com
The Twisted Spoke
Custom Builds, Motorcycle & ATV Repair
97 Milford Street Clarksburg, WV 26301
(304) 326-HOGG (4644)
www.thetwistedspoke.com
42 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
INSURANCE
Mathias & Associates Insurance
Farm – Home – Auto – Life - Health
Motorcycle – Boat – RV Insurance
and Retirement Planning
(800) 628-3064 mathiasins@hardynet.com
LODGING
Smoke Hole Resort
Open All Year Round
HC 59, Box 39
Seneca Rocks, WV 26884
(800) 828-8478 www.smokehole.com
MOTORCYCLE PARTS
CycleMart - Your Motorcycle Parts Store
All Makes All Models
202 Elkins Street
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 366-8119 www.cyclemart.net
PHOTOGRAPHY
Vetter Photo
1675 Cold Spring Road
Moorefield, WV 26836
(304) 530-6855 www.vetterphoto.com
SPORTING GOODS
Doug’s Sport Shop
New and Used Guns, Sporting Apparel,
Aigner Products and Reloading Supplies
220 North Main Street; 743B Hawse Plaza
Moorefield, WV 26836 (304) 538-6496
TATTOO STUDIOS
Modernday Primative Tattoos and Body Piercings
1320 1/2 Locust Ave, Fairmont, WV
(304) 333-INKD (4653)
www.moderndayprimative.com
myspace.com/moderndayprimative
VEHICLE SERVICES
Bob’s Tire Service Inc.
812 East Moler Avenue
Martinsburg, WV 25401
(304) 267-2797
www.bobstireservice.net
Hot Rods Roll Back and Towing
Specializing in Motorcycle Towing
274 Bedington Road
Martinsburg, WV 25401
(304) 267-5586 Visa & MC Accepted
WEB DESIGN
Meridian Websites
55 Meridian Parkway, Suite 101
Martinsburg, WV 25401
(304) 263-1000
www.meridianwebsites.com
HOME SERVICES
B & B Appliance Repair
Most Brands Serviced - 25 Years Experience
(443) 605-6367 – Bill / Frederick County MD
(443) 605-6368 – Brian / Jefferson County WV
B.L Builders
All types of Home Improvement
Specializing in water problems
Rt 3 Box 8, Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 685-2511
JD’s Painting
Interior and Exterior Residential Painting
10+ Years servicing Marion, Mon & Harrison Co’s
Contact: Jeff Davis
(304) 657-0087 davisjep@aol.com
Clubs & Organizations
BACA - Bikers Against Child Abuse (Inwood, WV)
Hot Line (304) 839-7809
bacaworld.org
Email: bacaofwv@yahoo.com
C.E.’s Helping Hands (Old Fields, WV)
a non-profit organization enlisting the help of
other good hearted people wanting to contribute
to the cause of helping others in need. The
organization holds monthly meetings and several
fundraising rides every year. Donations are
always appreciated. For more information visit our
website at www.cehelpinghands.com.
GWRRA WV-A (Martinsburg, WV)
(Gold Wing Road Riders Assoc.)
‘Mountaineer Wings’
Meets the 1st Sunday of the month - 8am at
Ryan’s Restaurant, Martinsburg, WV
Chapter Directors: JJ & Becky Jones
JJ: (301) 667-4040 johnjonesjgj@aol.com
Becky: (301) 667-0121 Rpepgirl@aol.com
Highways and Hedges Motorcycle Ministry
(South Charleston, WV)
For more information email Jim “Jammer”
Marcum at: harley4me2@verizon.net
 Reader Rides
with Thunder Roads West Virginia

“How do I get to join you all on a ride?”

This particular question was submitted by avid reader Ricky P. through our
website a few weeks ago. It’s a question we’ve been hearing a lot lately. We travel
the state extensively all summer long, and having some company would be a lot
of fun. The bad news is that there’s not a single answer to that question. The good
news is that there’s not a single answer to that question. There are, however, a
number of possibilities.
Much of our travel isn’t planned. We will be aiming for a story or event in one part
of the state, and some twisty little side road catches our eye. The next thing you
know, we’re 100 miles away from where we planned to be. Along the way we may
find a Hidden Highway or Biker Friendly stop that we knew nothing about. Such
is the wonderful nature of being a biker. How will you find us on a ride like that?
Good luck. Half the time we don’t even know where we are. But if you can find us,
by all means, fall into formation and let’s go!
We’re road dawgs, and we can be baited. We are always looking for a new
Hidden Highway to ride, a Bike of the Month to photograph, or an unknown
event or destination to write about. Use our contact page on the website at www.
thunderroadswv.com to entice us. Convince us that your favorite road would
make a good Hidden Highway, and we’ll be thrilled to ride it with you. Tell us why
to consider your ride as a Bike of the Month, and we’ll be happy to photograph
you out on your scooter. Give us a reason to actually stop riding long enough to
enjoy a particular destination and we’ll meet you there. Get involved with Thunder
Roads West Virginia, and we’ll get involved with you.
We maintain a Facebook page that we update continuously. If we’re heading to an
event or going on a ride, we always let our Facebook brothers and sisters know
about it with as much advance notice as possible. Sometimes there are only a few
hours of lead time, and sometimes there will be a few days. Keep an eye on the
page and your bike gassed up, and you can join us at a moment’s notice.
Then, there’s the formal approach. We are looking at a variety of opportunities
for formal, organized rides around the state. But it’s a big state with many
possibilities. We could organize rides to major events, like Mountainfest in
Morgantown, or the Governor’s ride from the State Capitol to the Summersville
Freedom Rally, or any of the dozens of weekend events held around the state
each summer.
For this last option, we need your input. Where would you like to meet? How
far do you want to ride every day? How many days would you like to ride in a
trip? What kind of overnight accommodations do you prefer? Are there specific
activities, such as rafting or rock climbing, that you would like to include? The
possibilities in West Virginia are endless, and we need your help to sort through
them all.
So, help us figure it out. Surf over to www.thunderroadswv.com and follow the
front page link to our Reader’s Rides Survey. Here you’ll have a chance to help us
formulate the plans for a great riding season.

www.thunderroadswv.com MAY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 43

MAY
UpComing Events
May 1 – Morgantown, WV
Relay for Life Monongalia County Poker Run The American
Cancer Society Relay for Life of Monongalia County West
Virginia will be holding a Poker Run on May 1, 2010.
Registration begins at 11am and run begins at noon from
Triple S Harley Davidson 308 Cheat Road in Morgantown,
WV. Run ends at 5pm with a BBQ at Archies in Sabraton,
WV. Donation is $10 and all proceeds benefit the American
Cancer Society Relay for Life of Monongalia County. For
more information call (304) 296-8155.
May 2 – Bruceton Mills, WV
Blessing of the Bikers
At the Little Sandy Church of the Nazarene. Worship Service
at 11:00 am Blessing to Follow. Lunch provided at Noon
with a ride following lunch. Located 2 miles south of I-68 off
Bruceton Mill Exit on Rt. 26. Turn right on the Little Sandy
Creek Road. For more information contact Chad Harvey
(304) 379-8611 or Email: C_Harv@frontiernet.net.
May 2 – Huntington, WV
10th Annual Big Ed’s Burrito Ride
This annual ride begins and ends at Charlie’s H-D.
Registration begins at 11:30 am, Ride leaves at 1:00 pm.$25
Fee with all proceeds benefiting the MDA. Free t-shirt and
Mexican buffet. For more information contact (304) 523-1340
or charlieshd.com
May 2 – Martinsburg, WV
Red Knights Poker Run
The Red Knights will be attempting a world record poker run
and all riders are welcome. Local chapter leaving out of Nan
& Pops 3485 Winchester Ave. Martinsburg, WV at 8:30 am.
For more information contact Willie Witmer – Road Captain
(304) 283-2442
May 15 – Elkins, WV
Ride for the Troops
The first annual “RIDE FOR THE TROOPS” will be held at the
Armory in Elkins, WV, with a rain date of May 22, 2010. First
bike out at 10:00 am. The ride benefits the Family Readiness
Group. The proceeds will be used for deployed military
personnel should a family crisis occur while out of the country.
For more information call Becky Ball (304) 269-5180
May 15 – Martinsburg, WV
Tri-State Fast Trackers Poker Run
Leaving the new Hideaway Club in Martinsburg, WV at noon
to support Tri-State Fast Trackers Relay for Life team, poker
run with food at the last stop along with 2 bands and lots of
door prizes cost is $25 per couple and $15 single.
May 15 – Martinsburg, WV
‘Mountaineer Wings’ 2nd Annual Poker Run
Benefiting Special Olympics and Chapter A of Martinsburg
Where: 54 GM Access Rd. Suite K Martinsburg, WV
Registration 8am - 10am
Last Bike Out 10am Last Bike In 3pm
$10 per hand and 50/50 Food and Beverages will be
available at the end of the ride (Donations accepted)
ALL BIKES WELCOME!
For more information contact Brian McClure at (304) 229-
7778
44 Thunder Roads West Virginia MAY 2010
May 22 – Blacksville, WV
Chad Ross Clay Battele Scholarship Benefit Run
Sponsored by ABATE Mountaineer Chapter. Registration
from 10:00 am – Noon at Just One More Pizza. 5 hour ride
with stops. Last bike in at 5:00 pm for food and fun at Just
One More Pizza. Call Rusty Seaman at (304) 798-3310 for
more information.
May 23 – Parkersburg, WV
2nd Annual Poker Run for Toys for Tots
$10 per person, registration starts at 10:30am First bike out
at 11am last out at 1pm Last bike in 4:00 pm At the Sixpence
1956 7th St. Parkersburg, WV
JUNE
June 5 – Woodsboro, MD
4th Annual 1Lt. Rob Seidel Benefit Poker Run
1Lt. Robert A. Seidel III is a fallen hero from Emmitsburg, MD
who was killed in action in Iraq, May 2006 during the War on
Terrorism. This ride is in honor of Rob’s memory. All proceeds
benefit: 1Lt. Rob Seidel Wounded Soldiers Fund http://
www.cffredco.org/lw_people/seidel.htm Registration starts
at 11:00 am American Legion Post 282 101 E. Elizabeth St.
Woodsboro, MD 21798 Registration: $10.00 inc. first hand
$5.00 each additional hand First Bike/Car out at 11:30am Last
Bike/Car out at 12:00pm Sponsored by US Military Vets MC
North Central Maryland For more info or to make a donation
northcentral@usmvmcnc.org or Muttley120@usmvmc.ning.
com.
June 5 – Granville, WV
Buzzo Benefit Ride
Sponsored by Bucket Heads Pub, 81 N Dents Run Rd,
Granville, WV 26534. This is to benefit the Buzzo family who
lost their home and belongs in a house fire.
Registration from 11:00am-noon at Bucket Heads Pub. 5 hour
ride with stops. Last bike in at 5:00pm for food and fun at
Bucket Heads Pub. Call (304) 284-0661 for more information.
June 6 – Greencastle, PA - Martinsburg, WV
Operation God Bless America 2010
The ride starts at Travel Center Truck Stop on John Wayne
Drive, I-81 and Rt. 16 in Greencastle. Registration is form
9:30 am to 11:30 am and the ride leaves at 12:00 pm. The
ride fee is $15.00 per person. The first 2500 to register will
receive a ride pin. The ride will go to Martinsburg, WV where
the riders will meet with veterans for a picnic. The ride will
be held rain or shine. The ride will go through some states
where helmets are required. For more information call (717)
328-9238
June 10 – Clarksburg, WV
Hogs for Dogs Bike Nite
Being held at Ritzy’s Lunch. Free food, DJ and Prizes
donated by B&B Harley-Davidson. Rain date June 17th.
June 11 - 13 – Franklin, WV
C.E.’s Helping Hands Fun Fest
C.E.’s Helping Hands is having their annual Fun Fest Bike
Rally at Thorn Spring Park in Franklin, WV. There will
be music and food available all weekend. For up-to-date
information please keep checking www.cehelpinghands.com.
June 12 – Belington, WV
Mikey Hart Memorial Poker Run
Registration starts at 10am and goes to 12pm at the
Belington Vol. Fire Dept. in Belington, WV. The cost per
player is $10.00 which includes your poker hand, prizes,
great food and beverages. There will also be a bike show. All
proceeds go to the Mikey Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund,
which was developed to help provide students that wish
to pursue an education in fire science and/or paramedic,
or firefighter’s children no matter their field of study, with
monetary assistance. For more information contact Judy
Weese at judyhartmywish@yahoo.com.
June 17 - 19 – Summersville, WV
Down Home WV Rally
The GWRRA Down Home West Virginia Rally will be held at
the Summersville Conference Center in Summersville, West
Virginia. There will be Table Decorating, Chapter Shirt and
Jacket, Best Dressed, Accident Re-Enactment, and more.
Don’t miss it!
June 18 - 20 – Tazewell, VA
5th Annual Iron Titans Motorcycle Rally/Swap Meet
This 3 day event takes place at the Tazewell County
Fairgrounds in Tazewell, VA. Tent and RV Camping/Public
Showers. For complete details visit
www.irontitansmororcyclerally.com or
Email: bikerbill@irontitans.com
June 19 – Nutterfort, WV
Hogs for Dogs
The Harrison County Humane Society and B&B Harley
Davidson Present Hogs For Dogs. Sign-up from 10 – 12 at
B&B Harley-Davidson. Cost is $20.00 per bike. After ride
street party donated by the Shinnston Moose Club featuring
music by the Road Dawgs. For more information contact
Traci (304) 592-1600 or TLSN12@aol.com.
June 26 – Granville, WV
4th Annual Cerebral Palsey Benefit Ride
Sponsored by Bucket Heads Pub, 81 N Dents Run Rd,
Granville, WV 26534.
All proceeds go to Cerebral Palsey Foundation. Registration
from 11:00am-noon at Bucket Heads Pub. 5 hour ride with
stops. Last bike in at 5:00pm for food and fun at Bucket
Heads Pub. Call (304) 284-0661 for more information.
June 26 - 27 – Martinsburg, WV
The Second Annual Norwalk Festival
The Second Annual Norwalk Festival is a family event held
at the Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds with proceeds
going to the Friends of the Norwalk Foundation. $10.00
Adults Children 12 and Under Free. Saturday: Team FMX ,
a high aerial motorcycle stunt team and Music with J Factor.
Sunday: Music with The Original Cruiser Band and an 8 class
Mini-Rod Pull. Both days will feature a variety of vendors and
food, bike show, car show. Raffle for a 1966 Ford Mustang
and more. For more information contact Chris Breeze at (304)
267-3140 or Email: roadrhino@aol.com
June 26 – Martinsburg, WV
Benefit Poker Run for Ziggy
All proceeds to benefit Ziggy’s children. $20.00 a couple
$15.00 Single
Starts at 10:00 am from Full House Cycle, Winchester, VA
Ends at Doodles Place in Augusta, WV.
First Bike Out at 10:00 am Last Bike In at 12:00 pm
Auction, Raffle, 50/50 Raffle, Food, Drinks and Door Prizes