www.thunderroadswv.

com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 1

 Dragon Tales
It seems as though the winter weather is already pouncing upon
our usual best riding month of the year like my dog on left-over
food. In order to keep my sanity I like to think back to the rides
of fall seasons past. The beautiful fall colors, the crisp cool air
that my ride loves to breathe, the clear empty roads and then the
bonfires lit to keep warm as the sun sets ever earlier in the day.
I love this time of year. Ok, maybe not the thought of the slow,
eventual ending of the riding season but the changes that are
apparently clear as the leaves turn colors. The changing of the
seasons reminds me of the ever changing lives we all lead and
how thankful we ought to feel for all that we have. We need to
be thankful for the opportunity we have been given to feel the
freedom of road, the wind in our faces, and closeness to nature
in ways that many will never understand or have the chance to
know.
Many have fought and died for us to have those opportunities. I
am thankful to those that have given so much, thankful for my
family and thankful for my friends, both old and new which
now includes you, the readers of Thunder Roads West Virginia.
Without you there would be no reason to write this exciting
magazine about our great state and the awesome roads hidden
here. We all share a passion that now has an outlet for each and
everyone one of us. Thank you, West Virginia, for embracing
our dream and sharing in it.
As I had mentioned before Thunder Roads West Virginia is a
magazine about anything and everything motorcycle related in
this fine state and we want to hear from you, our fellow riders,
about your rides, your favorite roads (if you will actually share
that information with all of us), and the events that mean so
much to you or your group. We would like to help riders know
where and when things are happening before they happen. Face
it, we all want to ride and if we can ride to benefit a great cause
it makes it even better. So keep us in the loop.
With the holidays fast approaching I would also like to remind
everyone that there are many who do not have the basic
comforts that most of us enjoy so please remember to give
where you can. Whether it is your time or money, we all have
something to contribute and as I have said before, the biking
community does more for those in need than most. Besides,
giving to others is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself.
You can and will make a difference in somebody’s life.
Here’s wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!
Ride safe and keep the shiny side up!
Donna
www.thunderroadswv.com
Thunder Roads West Virginia
P.O. Box 606 / Charles Town, WV 25414
www.thunderroadswv.com
Owner / Editors
Gary Westphalen, Editor-in-Chief
gary@thunderroadswv.com / 304-616-0102
Letter From The Editor…...................……..4
Passing Gas Part II……...................………6
BikesTobersFest………...................……...9
Ride For Sight….....................…………….12
Donna K. Westphalen, CFO / donna@thunderroadswv.com Bike of the Month….....................………...13
Layout & Design I Feel the Heat……….....................……….14
Barbara Laszewski Garner / Thunder Publishing
Hidden Highways……....................………16
Ad Layout
Veterans Day Remembered..................…17
Meredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics
Center Calendar…………....................…..18
Contributors
Mary Hendley / Ken Holby / James Irle Fall Colors Ride………....................……..20
Jim “Jammer” Marcum / Frank Stull
Skin Art…………..........................………...22
Advertising Sales / Distribution
Rebel Run…….....................………………23
Donna K. Westphalen - 304-261-1609 / donna@thunderroadswv.com
Greg Vernon 304-616-0249 / greg@thunderroadswv.com Dodging Raindrops…...................……….24
Moe Vetter - 304-668-9563 / moe@thunderroadswv.com
Charleston Bike Night…..................…….26
Dave Luksa - 304-268-1315 / dave.luksa@thunderroadswv.com
Seats & Saddles…......................…...…….27
Curtis Humphreys - 276-620-8965 / curtis@thunderroadswv.com
Laurie Griggs - 540-353-5695 / laurie@thunderroadswv.com Safety Survey….....................……………..28
Howard “Pops” Evans - 540-327-6588 / popsthunderroadswv@yahoo.com TNT.............................................................30
National Founders
K.I.S.S. .......................................................31
Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon Upcoming Events………….......................33
PO Box 174 / Chapmansboro, TN 37035
Office 615-792-0040 / Fax: 615-792-7580 The High Road……........................………35
email: thunderroads@charter.net
Copyright 2009. Published by Thunder Roads West Virginia, LLC under license
The Jokers Wild………........................…..36
from Thunder Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this magazines content
may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. The publisher
assumes no responsibility and is not to be held liable for errors beyond the cost ON THE COVER
of the space occupied by the error, slander of any group or individual, failure to
produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond our control, any and James Cosner takes home the hardware from the
all suits for libel, plagiarism, copyright infringement, and unauthorized use of a BikesTobersFest Bike show. His gorgeous horse won both
person’s name or photograph. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and
authors are their own, and do not necessarily represent the policy of Thunder the Custom and People’s Choice trophies. See the full story
Roads West Virginia, Thunder Roads Magazine, or Thunder Publishing. The beginning on page 9.
Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.
NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 3

I’m not one to get all squishy and emotional
about stuff. But this is November, the month in which we pause
to give thanks. So, I do have a short list of people that I would
like to thank for their help in making Thunder Roads West
Virginia a blazing success in just a few months time.
At the top of the list is Donna, my wife and partner in this
endeavor. Not only is she the greatest riding partner a biker
could ever have (she can wrench with the best of you), but she
is a brilliant business person. Her background includes years
of running companies of all sizes, including a multi-million dollar
international company. I may write and edit the magazine, but
she is the boss. Donna, thank you.
Next on the list is a tie, but I’ll start with you. Yes you, dear
reader of this magazine, thank you. Your support of Thunder
Roads West Virginia is the most crucial piece of the matrix.
We have received hundreds of letters, e-mails, phone calls, and
conversations expressing appreciation for what we are doing
here. It is extremely gratifying to be told by our brothers and
sisters on two wheels that “West Virginia needs this”, or “your
magazine is excellent”, and my favorite “when is the next issue
coming out?” In just three issues we have managed to build
a fellowship with you in every part of the state, from Harpers
Ferry to Huntington, Bluefield to Beach Bottom, and every place
in between. Your participation in keeping us up to speed on
events, as well as the many wonderful contributions of photos
and articles we have already received from you, are the heart
and soul of what we do. Thank you, dear reader.
The other half of that tie for second place is our advertisers. To
our advertisers, thank you. Places like Nan ‘N Pops, Evel Speed,
Eagle Rider, and others. Although Thunder Roads Magazine®
has been published in other states for as much as ten years,
there had never been a West Virginia edition. Yet, even without
a proven track record in The Mountain State, these biker friendly
establishments believed in us. They put their money where their
mouth is, and invested in our first few issues. We would have
failed without them. But that investment has paid off for them,
as well as us. Their belief that Thunder Roads West Virginia
would be a great way for them to put their businesses on the
map has proven to be true. And as the advertiser list grows, I
continue to be thankful for each and every one of you.
4 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009
There are other individuals who deserve a special thank you.
James Irle of Phase2Images. James captures the wonderful
images of beautiful West Virginia bikes and girls for our center
calendar every month. Bud Swiger from Clarksburg. Bud
befriended me the first time I rolled into town for the weekly
bike night downtown. He has been spreading the word, and
copies of our magazine, like a modern-day Johnny Appleseed.
Moe Vetter of Moorefield. Moe contributed articles and pictures
before we even published our first issue. He has continued to
do so, and now represents our sales division in a 5 county region
of east-central West Virginia. My old bro’, Greg Vernon. When
I told him what we were doing, Greg bagged his adopted life
in California and came back home to West Virginia to manage
our advertising sales efforts. Governor Joe Manchin III. When
I showed up at the State Capitol in August to cover the story of
his Freedom Ride to Summersville, the Governor welcomed me
with open arms. The photo of Mr. Manchin smiling and waving
as he rode by my camera that day has made our Premier Issue
cover the stuff of legend.
This list is by no means complete, but I’m out of space. Let’s put
it this way. If I know you, if I have met you, if you have read so
much as one word of this magazine, you have enriched my life.
And I give thanks for you.
Gary
www.thunderroadswv.com
Bye-Bye
“It is a very emotional time for me right now, as I have to announce
that the decision has been made that we will no longer be building
Buell Motorcycles,” said a choked-up Erik Buell on October 15, 2009
as he announced the end of the line for Harley-Davidson’s foray into
the sportbike market. The news surprised everyone in the motorcycle
industry, especially the 180 employees in East Troy, Wisconsin
who have been building the bikes. Buell has been a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Harley-Davidson since 1998. Buell was founded by Erik
Buell in 1983, and has produced over 135,000 bikes.
The company line from Harley-Davidson is that this is an effort to
strengthen the company by increasing focus on the H-D core brand.
Sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles have dropped by a third
in the past year, and the motor company has laid off over a thousand
employees. The Harley plant in York, Pennsylvania is still hanging in
the balance, and it’s fate may be decided within the next few months.
“Harley-Davidson will stand behind Buell’s full warranty,” said Erik
Buell. Bikes that have already been built will be sold, but it is expected
that the Buell factory will be shuttered before the end of the year.
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:
Thunder Roads West Virginia
P.O. Box 606
Charles Town, WV 25414
NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 5

Passing Gas
Highway 55 has long been one of our favorite roads. And now that
“Corridor H” has been built from Wardensville to Moorefield, the
stretch of what used to be Highway 55 between these two towns
is even better. The new super-slab takes all of the chicken trucks and
minivans, leaving the old highway all but deserted. Riding this 35 mile
stretch of mountain twisties without cage traffic always makes us smile.
Almost always, that is.
It was another picture postcard day as Donna and I threaded our way through
the abundant lefts, rights, ups and downs that make up this rollercoaster
of a day run. The thick canopy of trees overhanging our nearly-private
playground of “Old 55” only breaks as we crest ridge after ridge and get
quick glimpses of the next valley filled with farms and hometowns. This is
West Virginia riding at its finest.
Along the way home, Donna stopped for a fill-up. My bikes larger tank
still had more than enough gas to get home, so I passed. I didn’t know
it at the time, but that was a wise choice. About 30 miles later, I see her
reach for the fuel petcock to switch to reserve as she throws me a “low on
fuel” signal. A few miles later, we are both still trying to solve this puzzling
6 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009
Part II
scenario as we pull into another gas station. The bike had begun missing
as though it was running out of fuel, and the switch to the reserve outlet had
temporarily cleared up the problem. But it only took a gallon or so to top it
off at this second station. So clearly, the bike wasn’t lacking fuel.
For the rest of the day it was hard to start, seemed down on power, and
was running rough. A quick chat with her mechanic provided the answer:
They have been finding a lot of bikes having problems with “Bad Gas”.
By this point enough of the gas had been passed that a fill of some fresh
fuel was enough to flush away the problem. But this incident set Thunder
Roads West Virginia on a months-long journey to examine the matter.
In last month’s article, we explained the hazards of the ubiquitous 10%
Ethanol blend that we have been forced to pump into our tanks. About
how some experts say it has a shelf life of only around three months, how
it dissolves rubber and soft metals, how the alcohol can absorb water and
separate from the gasoline - sinking to the bottom of your tank, and how it
can ruin your bike’s performance and even shorten its life.
We also conducted our own test of fuels purchased at a variety of stations
around the state. Although we have heard reports of gasoline being sold
with higher amounts of ethanol than the 10 percent allowed by law, we
hadn’t found any. Over the past month we have continued to test gas from
a variety of stations across the state, and still haven’t found any illegally
high ethanol blends.
You’ll recall that we told you an ounce of water in a gallon of 10%
Ethanol gasoline could cause “phase separation”, a condition in which
the alcohol chemically bonds with the water and this mixture separates
from the gasoline and sinks to the bottom of your tank. If you believe this
has happened, you have no choice but to drain the tank and discard the
contents.
But discussing this issue with mechanics from a variety of shops across
the state has revealed some intriguing new facts. And from these facts,
some theories have formed. The first thing we’re finding out is that this is
not much of a problem for fuel injected bikes. In carbureted engines, the
smaller the bike the greater the problem becomes.
This gives rise to the theory that the phase separation isn’t necessarily
happening in the gas tank. It may very well be happening downstream – in
the float bowl of the carburetor. There is only a small quantity of gasoline in
the bowl. And the smaller the engine, the smaller the carb and the smaller
the bowl. In a float bowl that contains just a teaspoon of fuel, a couple
drops of water is all it would take to generate phase separation.
One mechanic told Thunder Roads West Virginia about a technique he
uses that adds support to the float bowl theory. He says that when a hard
to start bike is brought to him, he tips the bike on its side, which allows
the fuel in the float bowl to drain out through the overflow vent. Once the
bike is uprighted, fresh fuel refills the float bowl. This usually clears up the
problem, and the bike will start right away.
Since fuel is fed from near the bottom of the tank, and gas floats on top of
water, it’s easy to understand that if there is any water in the tank, it will
have an easy time finding its way to the float bowl. Although it may not be
www.thunderroadswv.com
enough water to cause problems in the tank, it can easily overpower the
small amount of ethanol blended gas at this point. It’s just a theory, but the
evidence does seem to lend it some credence.
In fairness to ethanol, it does have selling points. It is a clean burning fuel
that is a lot greener than the octane boosters of the past – such as lead
and its replacement, MTBE. Ethanol proponents also argue that it helps
bring down the volume of oil imported by the United States. Ethanol will be
around for a while, and we’re likely to see its use increase.
So what can you do to protect your bike? There’s no magic bullet, but we
have assembled a few suggestions from a variety of sources.
If you want to use any fuel additive or octane booster, be sure to read the
label. Most of them contain ethanol, and adding extra ethanol to your tank
isn’t going to solve any problems.
For an added level of security, consider using a fuel with an octane rating
of 90 or above. At least then, if phase separation happens in your tank,
the remaining gasoline will still have an octane rating high enough to keep
your engine running well.
Keep your engine in top condition. Follow the manufacturer’s lubrication
and maintenance schedules closely. Perform regular checks on fuel
delivery system parts that may be vulnerable to ethanol’s solvent properties.
Plastics, rubber hoses and seals are most vulnerable.
If you have any doubts about the water and alcohol content of the fuel at
your local station, test it yourself. Although getting accurate results means
accurate measuring of your samples, the test itself is not difficult.
Finally, the best advice of all that we have been able to find is to buy your
gas from stations that have a high volume of traffic. This means the gas
in their tanks is probably fresher and has less water contamination. Even
then, the ethanol blended gasoline may have a short shelf life, so – oh,
shucks - you’ll just have to keep on riding.
NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 7
BIKEwTOBERwFEST
A n early fall nip in the air all weekend presented the perfect backdrop for
BikewToberwFest, the three-day biker bash in Berkeley County put on by Nan & Pop’s
Place, with co-sponsorships by Evel Speed and Thunder Roads West Virginia. Dozens of
bikers from the Mountain State gathered for a poker run and a bike show, laced together with a
beer garden, all-you-can-eat pulled pork, music by J-Factor, karaoke, and more biker BS than
you can shake a wrench at.

POKER RUN

www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 9

 grabbed the hardware for Customs
and the People’s Choice, validating
the opinions of both the judges and
the assembled masses. That’s
James on this month’s cover.
Colby Patterson’s bike took top
honors in the Stock category. It
was a great line-up of bikes, and
Thunder Roads West Virginia
would like to thank everyone who
entered.
In all, BikewToberwFest was
a great success and a lot of fun for
all. Nan & Pops have big plans for
next year’s party, so save a little
vacation time for next October.

BIKEwTOBERwFEST BIKE SHOW

The party got started on Friday night with a karaoke

contest. On Saturday it was time to put the
kickstands up as the bikes rolled out for a poker run
to support the WV chapter of the Chief Petty Officers
Association of the U. S. Coast Guard. The CPOA
provides assistance to the families of Coast Guard
personnel who are injured or lose their lives in the line
of duty. The organization also supports other local
charity efforts.
As the bikes rolled from Nan & Pop’s the ride through
Martinsburg was non-stop, thanks to the Berkeley
County Sheriff’s department escorts. It’s probably
a good thing they didn’t see that wheelie one of
the bikers pulled downtown. Since the run started
at four in the afternoon, the sun was setting by the
time the third cards were drawn. Darkness, along
with a distinct drop in temperature had settled over
the land as bikers returned to the home base. But
Pops had the fire pit in the middle of the beer garden
blazing away, and hands and noses quickly warmed
up. Inside, music by J-Factor was bringing down the
house. “Chief” Joe Creager reports that well over
$600 was raised for the CPOA.
The main event for Sunday was the bike show. While
Pops held court around the fire pit, the judges strolled
up and down a tasty line-up of scoots just outside
the beer garden fence. Anxious bikers couldn’t help
but peer over the fence to see if they could read
the judge’s minds. The vote was close, but James
Cosner rode away with two First Place trophies. He

10 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009 www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 11
Ride for Sight
As bikers, we take our ability to see the road ahead of us as
a matter of course. But for the blind and visually impaired,
the gift of sight isn’t such a simple thing. They often have to
rely on others for help with transportation and other services
to help them live a normal life in our society. In the two western-
most counties of the state, that role is filled by the Cabell-Wayne
Association of the Blind.
When the 34-year-old organization was planning its 7th annual “5K
Walk/Run for Sight” event to raise funds, Frank Stull had another
idea. As a staff member of the Association, as well as First Officer
of the Southern Cruisers Riding Club Metro Valley Chapter 067, Stull
decided he would rather ride than walk. So, in conjunction with the
5K, he organized a 115 mile “Ride for Sight”.
31 bikes of all makes and models rolled out to, as Frank put it, “enjoy
good company, beautiful scenery, and a chance to aid a worthy
cause.” They accomplished all three goals, raising $640 for CWAB.
12 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009
BIK
EO
MO F TH
NTH
E
Rodney’s
Harley-Davidson may boast loud and long about the beautiful
styling of its modern day line-up of motorcycles, but it was
Servi-Car
one of the homeliest offerings ever made by The Motor
Company that may well have allowed H-D to survive the Great
Depression. It was 1932 when the Model G Servi-Car was
introduced for a retail price of $450. The Servi-Car became
an immediate hit as a workhorse vehicle for everyone from Ice
Cream vendors to Police Departments.
The trike is also one of the longest lasting models Harley-
Davidson has ever made, with production spanning an
amazing 42 year period. The trikes were in service for
police departments well in the 1990’s. The original 45 cubic
inch side-valve V-twin was replaced in 1937 with the 61-
inch Knucklehead. Over four decades of production, other
innovations such as reverse gear, disc brakes and shaft drive
made appearances in the Servi-car line-up as well.
With a top speed of around 60 miles per hour, the Servi-car
was easy to ride, requiring minimal training. It also had the
same 42 inch wheel track as most cars of the day, allowing it
to make use of their ruts through mud and snow.
This 1961 Police Special version is an all-original specimen
owned by Rodney McGowan of Inwood. One of the unique
features of the police special is the siren, which is mounted
atop the front fender. By engaging a lever near the left hand
controls, the rotary siren forces a drive wheel against the front
tire and things get very loud.
By the way, don’t believe the odometer. The cable is broken
and Rodney is in the process of getting a custom-built
replacement. It’s not exactly an off-the-shelf item for a 48
year old bike. But that little blemish didn’t stop Rodney’s trike
from taking first place in the recent Martinsburg Lions Club
bike show held at the Almost Home Bar & Grill.
Congrats, Rodney
www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 13
 heat…
I feel the
As we turn our calendars to the eleventh month, all but the most stubborn of
leaves have dropped off the trees. With the end of daylight savings time, the
sun gets off work before most humans do, and the temperature seems to drop
over the horizon along with it. The skies and highways are filled with snowbirds
heading south. Welcome to November.
For many bikers, these signs are Nature’s way of saying that the riding season is
fading away. While they may bravely throw on another layer or two and endure
the chill for those last couple of rides, the days in the wind are numbered. That
trusty steed will soon be stashed away in the smallest amount of garage space
possible, back in the corner with the other icons of fair weather – things like lawn
chairs, garden hoses, and citronella candles.
Now, the Diehards will suck it up, throw on those extra layers, and refuse to give
up. Cold noses. Stubborn lips forming words in slow motion. Hands and feet
losing all feeling. Body parts so cold that it takes hours to warm up. And is that
a biking grin on your face, or is it just frozen that way? The Diehards are a tough
lot of bikers, all right. I used to be one. I refused to give in to the cold of winter as
long as humanly possible. But there was always a point where, even if the roads
were clear, the temperatures would force me to call it quits.
Electric motorcycle clothes have been around since the early 1970’s. But no
self-respecting biker would wear something as sissy as that, I thought. It wasn’t
until just three November’s ago that I realized how completely wrong this was.
It turns out that keeping a rider’s body warm and comfortable is the ultimate in
self-respect.
I started with just a pair of gloves, manufactured by one of the leading electric
garment makers. For the first time, I could ride at forty degrees, and still work the
hand controls. Whoa! I swore I would never need another piece of electric gear.
14 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009
the more permanent you mount the controller, the less loose hanging wiring that
you have to deal with. The Thunder Roads West Virginia Yamaha FJR has a
permanent controller mounted in the fairing, with only a single temperature control
knob and the power cord that connects to the clothing visible. Our Harley-
For example, the charging system on the Yamaha puts out a “nominal” 490
watts at 5,000 RPM, or about half of the red line. With two high beam headlights
chewing a hundred watts each, and a half dozen turn signal and marker lights
drawing another hundred watts or so, there is somewhere around 200 watts of
Davidson Heritage Softail Classic prefers the unmounted method. power to spare. That’s enough to power the heated clothing. But that’s only at
“nominal output” at 5,000 RPM. At an idle, does the suit overtax the charging
There is one issue that you need to pay close attention to when it comes time
system? Probably, but the machine can handle a negative draw for short periods
to give in to the need for heat. You can not run more heated clothing than your
of time. And if the headlights are on low beam, that’s a few more watts to spare.
bike’s electrical system is capable of handling. Some math is involved here, and
The equation changes constantly. Most large bikes should have no trouble
even then the answer is a moving target.
handling electric gear, but smaller bikes, with correspondingly smaller charging
Let’s look at one popular national brand of high quality heated motorcycle clothing. systems, probably can’t handle the load of a full suit. A good rule of thumb is to
The jacket draws 77 watts of power from your motorcycle’s electrical system. The allow at least a 10% safety margin between power generation and power demand.
pants pull another 44 watts. Throw in the gloves at 27 watts and heated insoles 20% is even better. Our example on the FJR clears the 10% hurdle, but to keep a
The elation lasted well into December. But when the temps fell into the tiny 30’s
at another 15 watts, and you have a wonderfully warm rider, whose suit is sucking 20% margin, we would have to drop the heated insoles.
my legs, and especially knees, would get so bone-chillingly cold that I still had to
166 watts from the bikes charging system.
park the bike. Of course, the suit doesn’t continuously draw maximum power. The rider would
But that’s just the start of the equation. You have to add the draw of all of the be medium-well in no time. That’s where the control unit comes into play. Some
Long before the next spring came around, my gear closet was packed even
lights, and other juice-gobbling toys you have hanging on your scoot to the draw are simple On-Off switches. That’s cheap and it works, but you’ll find yourself
tighter by the addition of electric over pants. Warm hands, warm legs, I’m good to
from the heated clothes. The total energy used by all of these gizmos must be reaching for the switch all too often. There are more advanced controllers out
go. That’s where my story ends, because I’m afraid that if I added a heated vest
less than the output of your bike’s charging system. If they aren’t, the battery there that do the switching for you. Most controllers use a system called “pulse
or jacket, I would never stop riding…to the point where I would probably push my
has to make up the difference. You won’t get very far down the road before the width modulation”. The unit isn’t a dimmer, but rather an electronically controlled
bike’s tires beyond the adhesion point on ice or snow covered roads. Denying
system simply runs out of power. While pushing your bike back home may also on-off switch. Full power “pulses” to the garment based on where the knob is set.
myself this next piece of heated gear is a sort of a safety valve. But if you have
keep you warm, it’s certainly not the intended goal. If you have it set at half power, it will send electricity to the suit for half a second,
more self-control, dive right in.
then turn off for half a second, then back on for a half second, and so forth.
It wasn’t that long ago that there were really only two or three brands of heated
motorcycle clothing. But do a quick internet search, and you’ll find more than a
dozen brands on the market. And it’s not just gloves, pants and vests anymore.
Today’s biker can wrap the entire body in active warmth without sacrificing style.
There’s even one company that makes leather chaps with an electrically heated
lining.
The quality has gotten better, too. Early electric gear had stiff, uncomfortable
heating wires knit into the fabric. The result was hot and cold spots along with a
lot of discomfort from the wires. Today’s gear uses thinner wires and pads that
The higher you turn it the warmer you get, and the greater the drain on your
distribute the heat more evenly. It is easy to stay comfortable in ridiculously low
charging system. For me, it takes a very cold day to be past the 50% point on the
temperatures.
controller, and the total power being drawn is quite a bit less than the full rating.
Installation of the wiring harness for heated clothing is as easy or as difficult as So while the maximum draw of the suit cannot exceed the margin of extra power
you want to make it. In most cases, power is fed by way of a couple of leads that your bike generates, in practice you will almost never draw the full rating of your
get attached to your bike’s battery terminals. The controllers for most brands heated gear. And your bike isn’t always generating the stated amount, either.
can be permanently mounted on the bike, temporarily mounted on a hook-and- Chose your gear carefully, install it on your bike properly, and laugh at the cold
loop patch, or stuffed in a pocket and not mounted to the bike at all. Naturally, temperatures as you cruise the winter highways.
www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 15

Hidden Highways
The Other Route 66
“Get your kicks on Route 66…” So goes the oft-covered song about America’s
most famous highway. In its hay day, the legendary road was the primary route
from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. The 2,448 mile road was commissioned
in 1926, and over the years it carried millions on an odyssey of Americana through
eight states and three time zones. It fulfilled dreams, it inspired artists, it claimed
lives. No longer a contiguous well-marked route from America’s Heartland to the
Golden Coast of dreams, Route 66 - THE Route 66 – has become a part of folklore.
But in West Virginia, 66 lives on. Though never even remotely connected with the
legendary route, the Mountain State version is a mere 17 miles in length. Frankly,
some of it isn’t even that much fun as a bike road. Although it rolls through some
pretty countryside, the western few miles of State Road 66 is kind of flat and
boring. But as the road rises up the western edge of a mountain ridge, the edges
of your tires get a workout.
At roughly the halfway point of 66, you drop down into the Greenbrier River Valley
and the town of Cass. Famous as the “Cass Scenic Railroad State Park”, this
quaint little town provides a step back in time to the early 1900’s. Cass was home
to the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Mill. It once employed nearly 3,000 men
and cut as much as 1.5-million board feet of lumber per week. The railroad lines
through here connected the vast stretches of virgin timber on Cheat Mountain to
16 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009
the mill at Cass, and then on to market.
The mill is gone now, having burned to the ground in two major fires about three
decades ago. But the rails remain, and people come from far and wide to ride the
old steam powered trains that take them back in time to the scenic vistas of this
incomparable area. Ride the train, stop for lunch, or just cruise on through…it’s
your call.
Heading east from Cass takes you up and over another ridge, winding through
pristine forest until you find the other end of the road, where it T-bones into
Highway 92/28. The fun isn’t over, because this is a great road no matter which
way you choose to go. But even if you want to go south, do yourself a favor and
go a mile up the road towards Green Bank.
Here you will find the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The 100-meter
radio telescope is the world’s largest steerable antenna. Rising above a seemingly
impenetrable forest, the juxtaposition of this gigantic dish with the unspoiled
territory surrounding it is a sight to behold. Stop in and take the tour. It’s time
well spent.
West Virginia’s 66 may not be as famous as the asphalt ribbon of song, but that’s
okay. It can be our little secret.
Veterans Day
Remembered
Now more than ever our soldiers and our veterans need our help
as they return home to a less than ideal situation back in the
By Joe Brinn,
Thunder Roads Michigan
Time to laugh out loud. The time to sleep quietly and comfortably
in their own beds in their own homes.
US. Many have lost their homes, their jobs and their livelihoods
But they had plenty of time to worry about their loved ones. Time
upon returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Sure many
to be alone and scared. Time to see their comrades bleeding and
Americans have lost much of the same during the past couple
dying in a far off land. And time to feel the pain as their own body
years as our economy has tumbled and our lives have been
is decimated by IED’s and terrorist gunfire. And they had the time
turned upside down by greedy corporations and unscrupulous
to pray, that they might come home safe and sound as they fight
CEO’s.
for our freedoms.
But many of our veterans have lost more than just material
So I think they deserve a little bit of our time, of your time. And
things. They have suffered physically as well as mentally.
now is the time to help our veterans. You can help by providing
Our government and the Veterans Administration have been
your time to assist wherever you can. Maybe it is only helping
overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of veterans needing support
to pack care packages to send to our veterans overseas. Or
physically, financially and with medical attention. It’s time, we as
driving a veteran to his doctor’s appointment. Or serving meals
a nation stepped up to the plate and do what we promised when
at a Veterans Hospital or his/her home. Maybe it is just being
these military men and women took their oath to defend our
there when they need to talk. Is that too much to give for
freedoms. Almost daily I receive reports and e-mails detailing
someone who has given so much? They do not ask. They do not
how our government, their government, looks at ways to cut
beg. And many attempt to do for themselves even though they
their benefits to fit our politician’s ideas for a balanced federal
need our help. Veterans are a proud lot, as they should be. But
budget. Our elected officials have no qualms about cutting into
is it not us who should be proud of them and what they did for
the benefits and programs that many of our veterans need just
our country? Volunteer, give money, give time, give assistance
to survive or to rebuild their lives. Many of these veterans are
so that our veterans can feel and receive the humble honors they
left alone to fend for themselves as they fight for the rights they
so richly deserve. Be proud America, of our veterans and for all
were promised. Paperwork and BS block their path as they seek
they do and sacrifice for us on a day to day basis. But be proud
what is rightfully theirs. We can not trust our elected officials and
in a way that counts. Show your support with either money or
the government to take care of their needs anymore since many
with your time and let them know you care in a way that they can
of these same politicians worry more about what they can do for
see and feel. Give a little and but gain a LOT. You will forever be
themselves and their popularity and not about taking care of our
rewarded with the satisfaction that can only come from helping
veterans and their needs.
those who need your help.
So in this time of need, we the American people need to step
As we honor our Veterans on Veterans Day on November 11th,
up and do what we can to provide the much needed support for
please take a moment and pray that they come home safe and
our veterans whenever and wherever we can. How you might
sound to their families. Pray but remember that as long as we
ask? Look around you. There are plenty of organizations who
have to protect our freedoms from the terrorists and the evil they
need your help as they go about taking care of our veterans
do, we will have to send our sons and daughters to defend our
and their needs. And help may not necessarily be in the form of
rights and the rights of our future generations.
money either although that is surely what they need most. But
And if you see a veteran, whether it be WWII, Korean, Iraq or
sometimes all they need is your time.
Afghanistan or Viet Nam, or just someone in the military who is
Maybe you think your time is too important to give. Well, our
serving this great country of ours, walk up to them and shake
soldiers had the time to give. Time that they had to give up is
their hand, give them a big hug, and say “Thank You” so they
more like it. The time with their wife, their kids, their families.
will know firsthand that a grateful nation does care that they
The time to laugh. The time to shop. The time to be with friends.
sacrificed so much for so many.
www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 17
 Hendricks Benefit Ride

Wilson Benefit Run

Turkey Bowling in
South Charleston

Thanksgiving
 Fall Colors Ride
“Rally for one, Please…”
October is my favorite time of the year to go riding. The cool, crisp air of early fall
keeps me comfortable in my riding gear, makes the bike run smoother, and the
pictures of the fall colors just that much sharper. So it is with great anticipation
that I walk out to the Thunder Roads West Virginia stable early on Friday morning
to saddle up for a weekend run to a brand new rally called the “Fall Foliage
Mountain Ride”, to be based in Webster Springs.
Let’s see. What should I ride? A Valkyrie? Tempting. The Heritage Softail
Classic? Also tempting. But it’s a long ride, there may be some weather along
the way, and I’m in a mood. The FJR, a super-sport touring bike, is just the thing
to face down a mountain rainstorm and to take liberties with the recommended
speeds through the mountain twisties. Oh, this is going to be fun.
There are blue holes in an otherwise cloudy sky as I roll out of the garage, and the
weather forecast says the day should get nicer. But the longer I ride, the heavier
the clouds become. The right turn at Seneca Rocks to head uphill on Highway
33 towards Elkins also marks the first rain splat on my faceshield. Within minutes
the rain has settled into a steady, but moderate pace. It’s nothing my riding gear
hasn’t handled a thousand times before. Raise the electric windshield a few
inches, tuck into the dry bubble it provides, and press on.
For the next three hours I ride through this light rain. Two things make the
weather mildly annoying. First, a day this wet doesn’t make for good picture
taking. Second, I’m on some fabulous roads that would be s-o-o-o-o much fun if
the pavement weren’t slimy. But tomorrow should be awesome, so this is really
no big deal.
It’s pushing six o’clock as I roll through Webster Springs and make the left turn
down Hoover Street to the Mineral Springs Motel that is to serve as the home Randy has done one other thing for this rally of one. He has copied a state map
camp for the weekend’s rides. Funny thing. I don’t see any other bikes in the and highlighted three circuitous routes for bikers to make the most out of the
parking lot. phenomenal roads of the Webster Springs area. The map includes notes about
places to visit, or to grab a bite along the way. All the elements are in place for a
As I check in, proprietor C. Randy White tells me that I’m the only one at his rally.
weekend of great fall colors riding. And you missed it.
But the man with a perpetual smile is undaunted by this lack of success. You see,
he’s been here before. So, okay. There’s no rally here. But being a solitary rider has never bothered me
in the least. A lazy evening of strolling around Webster Springs is followed the
The motel is situated along side the Elk River. Some years ago, Mr. White got the
next morning by an enormous pile of eggs, hash browns, fried onions, cheese,
idea to start a canoe rally in spring when the river is running high. His first year
ham, bacon, and sausage all blended together and mounded on a plate simply
had exactly two canoes. This year he was turning them away. So he knows that
referred to by the Main Street Café as “Garbage”. I am having a culinary blast at
it takes persistence to turn an idea for a rally into a successful showing.
the smallest rally in the world. And you missed it.
Randy has prepared a packet of brochures highlighting the fun things to do and
By now the morning fog has burned off and the day has already warmed to the
places to visit in and around Webster County. There’s the Kumbrabow State
point where I pack my warm gear instead of wearing it. The sun has risen in a
Forest, Holly River State Park, State Wildlife Center, Cranberry Wilderness, and
beautiful azure blue sky dotted with white puffys, and the roads have dried off.
on and on. Here’s a brochure that says I’m one week too early for the “Burgoo
The rally of one goes kickstand-up at 9:30am and the rest of the day is filled with
International Cook-Off”, which is held in Webster Springs each year. It describes
fantastic roads, blazing fall colors, fabulous mountain vistas, and a riding pace
Burgoo as “a highly seasoned stew made of any combination of fowl, game, other
that perfectly matched my personal mood of the day.
meats and vegetables.” There’s a lot of latitude in this recipe, and I’m betting the
results cover quite a range as well. And you missed it.

20 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009 www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 21
S Rebel Run

K
I 48

N
riders signed up for the 3rd annual “Rebel Run”, hosted by the American Legion Post
13 in Clarksburg. The hardy riders started in the Legion’s parking lot and headed off - first to Pine
Grove, then Hundred, Shinnston and finally back to where they started, visiting different American
Legion Posts at each stop.
The morning’s weather started out just like an average fall day with the temperature in the mid
50’s. By the time the last rider made it back, it was close to 70 degrees, which made for perfect
party weather. The ride was a tough, long one, but, as far as I know, we didn’t lose any riders
during the run. There’s nothing like West Virginia back roads to put dedicated riders to the test.
Fee Webb was the winner of the Slowest Bike contest and celebrated by standing on his bike
seat with trophy in hand. The food was great and the refreshments offered to wash it all down with
weren’t bad either. Mike Layne started the afternoon’s music off with some real nice solo tunes

A
and the DBI band came on a bit later to carry on until it was time to go. I can honestly say I think
everybody who attended the event had a good time.
The Rebel Run was started 3 years ago to
help out a local Legion member, John “Rebel”
Lawson. John had developed cancer and
needed a little help with his medical bills, so
the run was created in his honor. Last year
the run was dedicated equally between

R
two needy children, Dalton Dodd and
Grace Meek. This year it was held for little
Cambria Jozwick, who nearly lost a foot in
a lawnmower accident. She was brought
to the event and with her small foot all
bandaged, It was clearly evident she was
in need of a little assistance.
Some of the officers of the Legion who

T
helped in this year’s event were: Dale
Grimes Jr., Richard “Dick” Fowler, Dede
Kelly, Mary Beth Oliverio and Mary
McNair and many more members I’m
sure I didn’t mention. Our thanks go out
to these dedicated people - they sure
know how to put on an event! I can’t
wait to see what they are going to put
on for us on next year’s run.

Story & photos by Ken Holby

22 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009 www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 23
Dodging Raindrops

It’s raining. But a friend is in need and a ride has been

organized to help him. So put on the rain gear, along with that
maniacal grin that seems to be synonymous with biking in a
downpour, and hit the road.
That’s what a group of riders from the Grafton, WV area did
as they took part in a benefit run for John Jones, a native of
Berryburg. It was 45 years ago when John was diagnosed
with Hepatitis, but it wasn’t until last year that the disease
damaged his liver to the point where he needs a transplant.
Umbrellas and rain gear were already out before the ride.
Drops were falling hard by the time the bikes rolled out
from Grafton, and they wouldn’t stop all day. But the rain
didn’t stop the diehards who made the run to Cool Springs,
Parsons, Elkins, Philippi, and finally ending at the birthplace
of Anna Jarvis in Webster.
John and the rest of the bikers were greeted there by a large
crowd of dry folks. Food, friendship and Bluegrass rounded
out the day. The event raised $3,500 to help John as he
awaits a transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

24 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009

Charleston Bike Night Seats & SADDLES
And the Winner Is…

Tammy Abbott. And all Tammy had to do to win this 2008

Yamaha 1900 Raider was show up at the final bike night of the 26 week season at Quaker
Steak and Lube in Charleston. The bike, supplied by Hidden Trails, was outfitted with a
chunky 210 rear tire and a few extra goodies like Cobra swept exhaust pipes.
Five contestants were chosen from the bike night crowd each week. Then, at the summer’s
last gathering, those almost-lucky bikers picked a compact disc at random and put it in
the players provided by radio station “Rock 105”. All but one CD contained a musical
fanfare signifying, “nice try, but it’s not your night.” The crowd was treated to the sound of a
motorcycle starting when Tammy played her CD, and the Raider was hers. Congratulations,
Tammy!

Counting Pumpkins
The great pumpkin count in last month’s issue
was a raging success. Thank you to everyone
who entered the doo-rag give away. There were
a lot of wrong guesses, which just shows how
well Mr. Shearon, our layout artist for the October
issue, did in hiding those grinning gourds. It
wasn’t surprising that many readers missed
a few pumpkins, but what scared us was how
many counted more pumpkins than were in the
magazine. It might be time for some new glasses.
The correct count was 13. What other number
would we use for a Halloween contest? Just in
case you want to go back through your October
Thunder Roads West Virginia and see which ones
you missed, here’s where they are: The Front TO ALL OUR BRAVE, PROUD TROOPS... YOU’RE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS DAILY. God Speed You Home.
Cover, the Inside Front Cover, page 3, two on page
4, 8, 15, 16, 17, 21, 25, 34, & 36.

26 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009 www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 27
SAFETY GEAR – THE SURVEY
SCREECH!!! BANG!!! THUMP!!! EARTH!!! SKY!!! EARTH!!! SKY!!!
...Ambulance.
Describe Yourself 9. I don’t like a three-quarter helmet because: Pants
A) It is too confining
1. I have been a motorcyclist: B) It restricts my vision 15. The pants I usually wear are:
A) Less than one year C) It doesn’t fit my sense of style A) Motorcycle leather
B) Less than five years D) I don’t believe it is safe B) Ordinary leather
C) Less than ten years E) It is too expensive C) Motorcycle textile
Too many times every day, someone’s ride ends with those sounds and sights. As D) More than ten years F) Other:___________________________________ D) Motorcycle jeans with sewn-in abrasion pads
much as we like to shake this off and tell ourselves that it’s not our number getting E) Ordinary textile
called today, we can never be sure. There’s an old saying that goes, “You dress 2. My preferred bike is a: 10. I don’t like a half helmet because: F) Shorts
A) Cruiser A) It is too confining G) Other:____________________________________
for the crash, not for the ride.” That couldn’t be more true. If we didn’t have to think B) Tourer B) It restricts my vision
about crashing, most of us would ride naked, or very close to it. C) Sporty C) It doesn’t fit my sense of style
D) Dirt D) I don’t believe it is safe Boots
E) It is too expensive
Alas, THE CRASH is a very real part of motorcycling. Ride long enough, and you’ll F) Other:____________________________________
3. I have crashed: 16. The footwear I usually choose is:
know. Start looking at safety gear for bikers and you’ll find that there are enough A) Once A) Leather motorcycle boots
choices to make you dizzy. Thousands of options appeal to a range of forms, B) Twice B) Ordinary leather boots
functions, and styles. C) Three or more times Jacket C) Textile motorcycle boots
D) Not Yet D) Ordinary textile boots
11. When the weather is nice, the jacket I usually wear is: E) Dress shoes or loafers
Thunder Roads West Virginia is preparing a series of articles about how to sort 4. I have been injured enough to require medical treatment: A) Motorcycle leather F) Sneakers
through the choices. To get there, we want to know what you have and haven’t A) Once B) Ordinary leather G) Sandals
B) Twice C) Motorcycle textile H) Other:____________________________________
chosen, and why. For the purpose of this survey, let’s ignore the fact that our state C) Three or more times D) Ordinary textile
mandates helmet use. Tell us what you would chose, if you had the option. D) Not Yet E) None (skip #12 and answer #13)
F) Other:____________________________________ On Being Seen
Whether you are a rider, or a back-seater, please take a few minutes to fill out 5. I am a resident of the state of: ______________________
12. The elbows and shoulders of my favorite jacket have: 17. What do you do to make yourself noticed by cagers?
this questionnaire and mail it back to us at the address listed on our masthead A) Hard armor A) I wear an orange or yellow safety vest.
page – or better still, go to our website and fill it out online. You’ll find it at: www. Helmet B) Soft padding B) My riding gear is bright colors.
thunderroadswv.com and clicking on the “Safety Survey” link. For questions C) Both hard and soft protection C) I add extra lights and/or reflectors to my bike.
6. My helmet preference is: D) No extra protection D) I hang loud pipes on my bike.
where more than one answer applies to you, mark all correct responses. To make A) Full Face (skip #8) E) Nothing. If they can’t see me, they can go screw themselves.
this a valid survey, please fill it out just one time per person. B) Three-Quarter (skip #9) 13. I don’t wear a jacket because they are (skip this if you wear a jacket): F) Other:____________________________________
C) Half or Shorty (skip #10) A) Too hot
D) None B) Not comfortable in other ways
THUNDER ROADS WEST VIRGINIA - SAFETY EQUIPMENT SURVEY C) Not my style
7. My helmet preference is based on: D) Other:____________________________________
A) Crash protection See? That was easy. You didn’t even have to cheat. We will be compiling
B) Protection from noise and environmental elements your answers and examining the issues related to safety gear with some
C) Style Gloves
D) Comfort
experts for upcoming issues of Thunder Roads West Virginia.
E) Price 14. When the weather is nice, the gloves I usually wear are:
(Editor’s Note: If you have been a Thunder Roads West Virginia reader from the A) Motorcycle leather By the time next spring rolls around and you start thinking about replacing that
start, yes, you have seen this before. We ran this Safety Survey in our September 8. I don’t like a full face helmet because: B) Ordinary leather
C) Motorcycle textile
ratty old gear of yours with some new duds, you’ll at least be armed with the
2009 Premier issue. At the time, we believed our website would be functional A) It is too confining
B) It restricts my vision D) Ordinary textile knowledge you need to make the right decisions.
enough for you to complete the survey online. WRONG! But, we’re there now, so E) Half gloves (textile or leather)
C) It doesn’t fit my sense of style
let’s try this again. Our series of safety gear stories will begin next month.) D) I don’t believe it is safe F) None
E) It is too expensive G) Other:____________________________________
F) Other:___________________________________
28 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009 www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 29
 TNT PORK CHOPS STUFFED W/ A SUN-DRIED
TOMATOES, SPINACH, GOAT & CREAM CHEESE
Virgin Olive Oil (Keep in pour bottle next to stove)
2 Cloves of Garlic; Minced (You can also buy pre-minced garlic in bottle in
produce refrigeration aisle)
8 Sun-Dried Tomatoes - Diced (Again, in the dried fruit section of your
grocer’s)
1 (10 oz.) Bag of Frozen Spinach; Thawed & Excess Water Wrung Out
Into A Clean Kitchen Towel)
SUPER EASY, CREAMY PASTA w/ BACON
1 Pkg. of Linguine
1 Med. Onion; Chopped (can buy pre-chopped)
1 Tbls. Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves; Minced (can buy pre-minced)
2 Tbls. All-Purpose Flour
1-1/2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
3 Eggs; Beaten
8 Strips of Crisply Cooked Bacon
1 Full Palmful of Dried Thyme
1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan (buy in tub in cheese section at grocer’s)
1 Block of Goat Cheese; Leave Out On Counter for At Least Half Hour to
Cook linguine pasta. In a large skillet saute’ your onion in olive oil until
Obtain Room Temp.)
tender. Cook your bacon on your broiler pan like I told you before, 350
1 Block of Cream Cheese; Room Temp
degree oven, 15 mins. and it comes out perfect! Add garlic to your skillet,
8 Center-Cut, Boneless Pork Chops
cook another minute. In small bowl, whisk flour & cream until smooth; stir
1 Box of Chicken Broth
gradually into skillet. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Reduce heat down
1 Full Lemon for Zesting & Juicing
to med-low and let go for another minute until it thickens up. Remove from
4 tsps. of Dijon Mustard
heat. Stir in a small amount of hot mixture into bowl w/ eggs to incorporate
Over medium heat, do a few laps around the pan with olive oil spout. it so you won’t end up w/ scrambled eggs; return all to the skillet. Bring
Add your garlic and cook out for just a minute. Add the sun-dried diced to a gentle boil & cook apprx. 2 mins. longer. Add your drained linguine
tomatoes, wrung-out spinach, salt & pepper to taste and thyme. Cook until to skillet. Stir in crumbled bacon & cheese. Mix thoroughly. This is an
well combined; another couple minutes. Transfer to med. bowl and add authentic skillet supper and is meant for (4) but with two healthy appetites
both kinds of cheese and well blended. Set aside. Next, use a sharp knife it is gone, baby gone! Slurp!!
and cut a pocket onto the thickest portion of pork chops. Do not cut all
the way through to back. Just make a pocket. Stuff each pocket with your TOFFEE POKE CAKE
mixture. Do not overstuff. Pinch pocket closed.
1 Pkg. Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
Add a few more turns of the olive oil, let warm and place chops back
1 Jar Butterscotch-Caramel Ice Cream Topping
in same medium-hot skillet. Cook apprx. 4 mins. each side until golden
1 Large Tub of Cool Whip
brown. Remove to a platter and tent w/ alum. foil. Now, in a small bowl mix
3 Large Size “Heath” Candy Bars; Chopped
up box of chicken broth, entire lemon zest, 2 Tbls. of fresh lemon juice &
Dijon mustard. Add broth mixture to skillet. Scrape up all those bottom-of- Make cake according to directions. Cool, then place on serving plate.
skillet bits as tons of flavor there. Let cook down only about 5 mins. Spoon Using the handle of a wooden spoon, “POKE” holes all over cake top.
some sauce over chops on platter, but also put excess sauce into a gravy Pour 3/4 cup of warmed caramel topping down into holes. Pour rest all
boat for people wanting additional........and they will! This is such an easy over top of cake. Top generously with Cool Whip. Sprinkle entire cake
dish to make and even people who swear they don’t like spinach will love with chopped Heath Bar candy. Refrigerate 2 hours before serving. How
it prepared this way....wait and see. Phenom! simple is this? and this is such a perfectly blended taste. Enjoy.

30 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009 www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 31
 UpComing Events

NOVEMBER
November 7 – Inwood, WV
Benefit Ride for “Crazy Larry” Hendricks
Starting at Iffie’s Sport Bar 7113 Winchester Avenue, Inwood,
WV the cost is $15.00 per rider, $20.00 for two-up. Registration
starts at 11:00 a.m. with kick stands up at 12:00 p.m. This scenic
benefit ride ends at 2:00 p.m. at Evel Speed Custom Machine &
Motor Sick’l Shop where riders can register for a bike show and
enter biker games. For more information contact Mike M. at (304)
261-8397 or Dwain at (304) 229-0987.

November 7 – Needmore, WV
The Christian Wilson Benefit Run and Auction
Christian is a 13 year old boy who is about to undergo his fourth
operation for a spinal disorder. The run will begin and end at
Steve’s Broken Spoke on Old Route 55 in Needmore, WV with
kickstands up at Noon. Following the run there will be an auction
of donated items, as well as food and drinks. To make donations
of cash or items for the auction contact Steve Bosley at (304)
897-7706 or by email at sbosley@hardynet.com

November 21 – S. Charleston, WV
Turkey Bowling
The Turkey Bowling will be held on November 21, 2009 at the
Harley Davidson of West Virginia in South Charleston, West
Virginia (WV) Don’t miss an exciting and interesting time of
bowling with Turkeys!! For more information about this event
contact 304-768-1600, or visit http://www.wvharley.com

www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 33

 BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY
BARS & RESTAURANTS
Iron Horse Bar & Grill
HC 84 Box 33 (Cutoff Road)
Keyser, WV 26726
(304) 788-7522
Nan & Pops Place
3485 Winchester Avenue
Martinsburg, WV 25405
(304) 267-2007
www.main.NanandPopsPlace.com
Petie’s Pub & Grill
304 Morgantown Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 363-0698
Owner - Beverly Opas
Steve’s Broken Spoke
14977 SR 55
Needmore, WV 26801
(304) 897-7706
email: sbosley@hardynet.com
BIKER ACCESSORIES
APPAREL • LEATHERS & GIFTS
DFM Special Tee House “The Biker Shack”
Helmets, Shirts, Chaps, Jewelry
2 Locations: 162 Nancy Jack Road,
Gerrardstown, WV 25420
& Barnwell Mini Shops 874 Chesire Road
(Rt. 51) Bunker Hill, WV 25413
(304) 229-7609
email: dfmdbikershack@aol.com
East View Variety Shop
We have everything from A - Z, old and new
715 Philippi Pike
East View, WV 26301
(304) 622-6701
Insane Leather Apparel
37 Eastship Road
Dundalk, MD 21222
(410) 491-0020
Email: insaneleather22@yahoo.com
www.insaneleather.org
The Smoking Head
835 E. Washington Street
Charles Town, WV 25414
(304) 724-3033
email: smokinghead@yahoo.com
34 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009
William Nighthawk Hull
FREE CELL PHONES & FREE SHIPPING
www.nighthawkswireless.com
Native American Tribal design artist/tattoos
Native American Artist & Craftsman
(304) 702-5805
or email: nighthawk_hull@yahoo.com
CUSTOM ART
Art by Weeze
Custom art on bikes, leathers, helmets, auto,
canvas & murals
Martinsburg, WV
(304) 264-4604
Email: sheila@artbyweeze.com
www.ArtByWeeze.com
DEALERS & SERVICES
Evel Speed
Custom Machine & Motor Sick’l Shop
7323 Winchester Avenue
Inwood, WV 25428
(304) 229-0987
www.EvelSpeed.net
O.B.’s Motorsports
1019 7th Street
Parkersburg, WV 26101
(304) 420-0910
Motorcycles Shipped FREE
www.obsmotorsports.com
Romney Cycle Center
51 Industrial Park
Romney, WV 25757
(304) 822-3933
Email: romneysales@frontiernet.net
www.romneycycles.com
Skip’s Honda
580 South Mineral Street
Keyser, WV 26726
(304) 788-1615
The Little Shop of Harleys
Service & Accessories
HD Certified Mechanic
44 Bay Berry Lane
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
(304) 258-3909
TRS Fabrication
Custom Painting & Collision Repair
109 Rainbow Hill Road
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
(304) 258-0816 or 240-674-2985
email: trsfabrication@aol.com
Tri-County Honda
135 South Main Street
By Jim “Jammer” Marcum
Petersburg, WV 26847
(304) 257-4420 THANKS AND GIVING: Thanksgiving is approaching, but what is the true meaning of “thanks” and “giving?” We
www.tri-countyhonda.com should give thanks for our food, but there are those who forget about the second part, “giving.”
PHOTOGRAPHY For example, when the tires on our bike start to wear and have little tread remaining we get new tires. Should
we dispose of the old ones or give them to someone who’s tires are bald and can’t afford new tires? They’ll be
Vetter Photo
thankful for tires that have at least some tread left on them that will carry them a few more miles.
Most of us will have a feast on Thanksgiving which usually results in an overabundance of food. We’ll eat
1675 Cold Spring Road
Moorefield, WV 26836 leftovers for several days and then dispose of it after we get tired of eating the same food. Here’s a thought. Just
like the old tires, why don’t we take our leftovers to a needy family? They may not have any food and will be
(304) 530-6855
www.vetterphoto.com thankful they at least have some food. Better yet, why not stick an extra turkey in the oven and give it to them?
Want to truly bless them? Why not invite them to your house for Thanksgiving dinner? In Isaiah 58:7 it says, “Is it
SPORTING GOODS not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring to your house the poor who are cast out?”
Here’s the important part. You should give from your heart, not out of guilt or obligation. As stated in Matthew
Doug’s Sport Shop 14:18, Jesus fed five-thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish. This was truly a miracle that could only
New and Used Guns, Sporting Apparel and come from God, but if Jesus was able to do so much with so little, then so can we! Be a blessing and be blessed.
Aigner Products
220 North Main Street; 743B Hawse Plaza Happy Thanksgiving.
Moorefield, WV 26836 Jim “Jammer” Marcum resides in Charleston and has been involved in motorcycle ministry for
(304) 538-6496
nearly 15 years and serves as Clergy within Highways and Hedges Motorcycle Ministry.
email: dougssoprtshop@frontiernet.net
VEHICLE SERVICES
Bob’s Tire Service Inc.
812 East Moler Avenue
Martinsburg, WV 25401
www.thunderroadswv.com
(304) 267-2797
www.bobstireservice.net
WEB DESIGN
Meridian Development
55 Meridian Parkway, Suite 101 Our website is getting better and better every day! After a herky-jerky and months ahead, including videos, blogs, forums, and an online
Martinsburg, WV 25401 store where you will be able to order all kinds of Thunder Roads West
start to getting the Thunder Roads West Virginia website up and
(304) 263-1000 running, we are very happy to say that it’s now coming along nicely. Virginia goodies.
www.meridianwebsites.com
We have been able to obtain the services of a brilliant webmaster
who is working diligently to make our site the best on the web. By
Clubs & Organizations somewhere around the middle of the month, he’s going to be rolling
out a stimulating site that you will want to bookmark, or even make
C.E.’s Helping Hands (Old Fields, WV) your homepage.
is a non-profit organization enlisting the help Here’s where it stands at the beginning of the month. You can see
of other good hearted people wanting to
the online version of the current issue of our magazine. You can fill
contribute to the cause of helping others in
out the safety survey online, of which the printed version is elsewhere
need. Recent donations have gone to local
in this issue. Our online collection of photos is also being streamed.
families with serious health and financial
challenges. The organization holds monthly Ultimately, you will be able to view photos of specific stories and
meetings and several fundraising rides every events as separate collections. The events calendar is working nicely
year. Donations are always appreciated. For and is continually updated. E-mail the info about your events to
more information visit our website at us, and we’ll get them up on the calendar. Links to our advertiser’s
www.cehelpinghands.com. website are also working. These are the people who make it possible
to bring you this free magazine each month, so please support them.
Highways and Hedges Motorcycle
Many more improvements will be made to the website in the weeks
Ministry (South Charleston, WV)
For more information email Jim “Jammer”
Marcum at: harley4me2@verizon.net
www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 35
 A man asked an American Indian what his wife’s name was.
He replied, “She called Four Horse”. The man said, “That’s an
unusual name for your wife. What does it mean?”
The Indian answered, “It old Indian name. It mean, NAG, NAG,
NAG, NAG!”
A sheriff stops at a ranch and talks with an old farmer. He
tells the farmer, ‘I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown
drugs.’ The old farmer says, ‘Okay, but don’t go in that field
over there.’ The sheriff verbally explodes saying, ‘Mister, I have
the authority of the Sheriff’s Department with me.’ Reaching
into his rear pants pocket and removing his badge. The officer
proudly displays it to the farmer. ‘See this badge? This badge
means I am allowed to go wherever I wish on any land. No
questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear?
Do you understand?’
The old farmer nods politely and goes about his chores. Later,
the old farmer hears loud screams and spies the sheriff running
for his life and close behind is the farmer’s bull. With every step
the bull is gaining ground on the officer. The sheriff is clearly
terrified.
The old farmer immediately sets down his tools, walks to the
fence and yells at the top of his lungs.........’Your badge!......
Show him your badge”!
We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the ‘seniors’ special’
was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $2.99.
‘Sounds good,’ my wife said. ‘But I don’t want the eggs.’
‘Then, I’ll have to charge you three dollars and forty-nine cents
because you’re ordering a la carte,’ the waitress warned her.
‘You mean I’d have to pay more for not taking the eggs?’ my
wife asked incredulously. ‘Yes, exactly’ stated the waitress.
‘I’ll take the special then,’ my wife said.
‘How do you want your eggs?’ the waitress asked.
‘Raw and in the shell,’ my wife replied.
She took the two eggs home and baked a cake.
* DON’T MESS WITH SENIORS!!!
They’ve been around the block more than once!
A blonde was shopping at Target and came across a shiny
silver thermos.
She was quite fascinated by it, so she picked it up and took it
to the clerk To ask what it was. The clerk said, ‘Why, that’s a
thermos..... it
keeps hot things hot, and cold things cold.’ ‘Wow, said the
blonde, ‘that’s amazing...I’m going to buy it!’ She took it to work
the next day. Her boss saw it on her desk. ‘What ya’ got in your
thermos?”
The blonde proudly proclaimed, “two popsicles and some
cocoa.”
36 Thunder Roads West Virginia NOVEMBER 2009
Note * (You have to read this joke with a full-on Forrest Gump
accent) The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes
to Heaven. He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself.
However, the gates are closed, and Forrest approaches the
gatekeeper. St. Peter said, ‘Well, Forrest, it is certainly good to
see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though,
that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering
an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but
you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven.’ Forrest
responds, ‘It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody
ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the
test is not too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was.’ St.
Peter continued, ‘Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three
questions.
First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second: How many seconds are there in a year? Third: What
is God’s first name?’
Forrest leaves to think the questions over. He returns the next
day and sees St. Peter, who waves him up, and says, ‘Now that
you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your
answers.’ Forrest replied, ‘Well, the first one -- which two days
in the week begins with
the letter ‘T’? Shucks, that one is easy.
That would be Today and Tomorrow.’
The Saint’s eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, ‘Forrest, that
is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess
I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer. How
about the next one?’ asked St.. Peter. How many seconds in
a year? Now that one is harder,’ replied Forrest, ‘but I thought
extra hard about that, and I guess the only answer can be
twelve.’ Astounded, St.. Peter said, ‘Twelve? Twelve? Forrest,
how in Heaven’s name could you come up with twelve seconds
in a year?’ Forrest replied, ‘I counted, there’s got to be twelve:
January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... ‘ Hold it,’ interrupts St.
Peter. ‘I see where you are going with this, and I see your point,
though that was not quite what I had in mind....but I will have
to give you credit for that one, too. Let us go on with the third
and final question. Can you tell me God’s first name’? ‘Sure,’
Forrest replied, it’s Andy.’ Andy?’ exclaimed an exasperated
and frustrated St. Peter. ‘Ok, I can understand how you came
up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how
in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first
name of God?’ ‘Shucks, that was the easiest one of all,’ Forrest
replied. ‘I learnt it from the song, ANDY WALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.’ St.
Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: Run, Forrest, Run.’
www.thunderroadswv.com NOVEMBER 2009 Thunder Roads West Virginia 37