MNO Blog – Motorcycles, News, Opinions

A big thanks to the rock band INXS for having YouTube remove the audio from my Bike Week video!  You made my day. Yea, so I get this email from the web video site YouTube with a notice of copyright infringement today. Even though I listed the music credits on the video, it looks like that was not enough for the band. Guess I should have wrote to them and asked if I could use the song Mystify in my video. Sorry about that, new music is in progress of being added with the YouTube music swap software. Maybe if I ask the band to be one of my Myspace friends, they won’t hit that one too.

I am putting together more motorcycle event movies, so if there are any bands reading this that might want to have their music used in them. Drop me a line : )

Technorati Tags: music, youtube, video, bike week

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If you took a stroll down the Daytona Beach boardwalk, the once ever popular bike week attraction, you may have noticed this huge block of etched and polished granite. The north side of the monument stone tells of the days over 70 years ago and 9 miles south when the first Daytona 200 motorcycle race was held on the hardened sands of Ormond Beach. In 1937 the running of the first Daytona 200 took place on a 4.2 mile beach and road track and was the start of bike week. Three time race winner Dick Klamfoth wanted to preserve the memory of the original motorcycle race and rider and so the idea of the Daytona 200 monument began. Today, the Daytona 200 has moved to the International Speedway and bike week attracts over a half million visitors during the first week in March of each year.

The south side of the monument has the names and faces of the first 12 men that won race on the sand and road course before the yearly event was moved to the track in 1961. Back when the race first began, most of the bike week attendees were the ones running the race that now attracts motorcycles and visitors in the hundred of thousands. Dick began the plans and development of the monument over six years ago and presented it to the city of Daytona Beach. The monument is still under development and you can get involved! Engraved granite plaques and paver bricks are available for purchase at the official monument site. Visit the Daytona 200 monument site here to learn more and get involved.

Technorati Tags: daytona 200, motorcycle racing, Daytona Beach, Florida, boardwalk, beach, race, bike week, motorcycles, monuments

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We were on the way back to our campsite at the Cabbage Patch Bar when I caught a bike in a parking lot across the road out of the corner of my eye. Cindi asked what was wrong as I quickly changed lanes and made a u-turn. “I think I see a biker broke down” I told her as we made our way back. It was late Sunday afternoon and we had been up since dawn out taking pictures of bike week happenings, so we were both pretty tired. I could tell this young man was happy to see someone pulling in to check on him as we turned into the parking lot. I make it a habit to carry tools and always pull over to see if I can be of assistance when I see someone broke down. It seemed a shame to see hundreds of motorcycles and cars passing by while no one stopped to ask if he needed any help.

The custom motorcycle that this young man was riding looked pretty new and it seemed that the transmission plug had vibrated enough to work its way out. I introduced myself and he responded that his name was Tony. I was quick to notice that he had a great deal of respect as he spoke using the word “sir”. I wanted to tell him to leave off the sir, but I sensed there was a reason for it. Tony was in trouble and had no way of getting help, so I offered to attempt to find a Harley Davidson transmission plug or at least a close resemblance to get him back on the road. We also would need to find some transmission oil for the machine as it was all drained from the case. I knew this was going to be tough late on a Sunday afternoon during bike week, but we headed out to try.

I found a auto parts store reasonably close, but they had no idea what I might be able to use for a Harley. I guessed at the size and grabbed a couple of bolts that I thought might work and then asked if there was any type of a motorcycle shop nearby. The guy told me that Carl’s Speed Shop was up the road about 2 miles, so I gave them a call to see if they were open and had the parts we would need.

Luckily, I was able to get someone in parts and they said that they had the part and the oil. We headed on up Nova Road in Holly Hill to Carl’s Speed Shop though it was right at closing time for the motorcycle shop. When we arrived, I found the guy I had spoke with outside at one of the vendor tents and we went back inside to get the parts. When he held up the bolt I knew it was definitely not what I was looking for. This drain plug was way too small. I had measured the opening to the case and found it was about one half inch.  He asked one of the mechanics to help and though he was busy, he made his way over to the parts bin to find an assortment of drain plugs. We were able to find the correct drain plug, purchase some transmission oil and get back to Tony just before dark.

When I returned, Tony was glad to see that I had brought back the exact part needed to get his bike back on the road. As he put the drain plug back in and filled the case we talked. I learned that Tony was active Army and was in fact a Captain! He was only home on leave and his parents had surprised him by booking a hotel room in Daytona Beach for Bike Week. After filling the case with oil, we found that one quart was not enough to bring the level up to the stick. He was not real sure as to the Harley specifications for the transmission either. I remembered seeing a fairly large crowd of motorcycles just up the road at a Dunkin Doughnuts, so we followed him up to the restaurant. While I was inside asking if they had WIFI to check on the transmission specs, one of the men asked me what I needed Internet for. I explained the problem and as luck would have it, he had extra transmission oil on him. This was great being as Carl’s Speed Shop had already closed and chances of finding another motorcycle shop or Harley dealer open were real thin. He had enough oil to properly fill Captain Tony’s transmission up and we got him back on the way to having a good time at Bike Week. Thanks for the help!

I followed Capt. Tony back to his hotel and it made me feel good to have helped him out. He called a few days later to thank me again.

Technorati Tags: bike week, Daytona Beach, Florida, motorcycles

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I finally found a place to get online and make a few posts, but to keep everyone up to date on what is going on in Daytona for Bike Week, please be sure to check out the live blogs and Daytona Motorcycle Rally for pictures. I hope to have some videos up too within the next few days, if possible by tomorrow. I am having some problems with Word Press, so Bike Week Blog may have to wait until I can do a software update. In the meanwhile I will be sending some picture updates to Bike Week Live for now.  We will be doing a photo shoot out on the loop one day this week, so keep an eye open for the date to be posted here. I hope to have these problems worked out by tomorrow. If you are in the Daytona and Ormond Beach area keep an eye out for us!

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It is always sad to see some of the tragic articles that come across the news wire. But it really gets to me to see a person I knew leave us. I just read the news about tattoo artist Tony Plante on Karen’s Tattoos Blog, but reading the actual news story that was published in The Salem News, it looks like the accident happened last week. Tony evidently lost control of his motorcycle and died due to injuries from the accident.

I met Tony during Biketoberfest back in 2003 at the Cabbage Patch bar where he would usually have his tattoo studio set up. He was a real friendly person and we always said hello and talked for a while during each event every year. Tony told me that he had a house here in Florida, but still operated his tattoo studios up in Massachusetts. According to the news stories, he had recently got engaged to his girlfriend of six years. Tony was only 49 and had lost his leg to a motorcycle accident, but he loved to ride.

Rest In Peace My Friend

Technorati Tags: tattoo, tony plante, motorcycle news

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Get ready to send in your pictures and reports live from Bike Week in 2008. I am getting the sites set up and ready to go for this annual Florida motorcycle event.

Daytona Bike Week Live has been set up and I am tweaking the site for mobile content and blogging. You can send me a note at my G mail account bikermobile@gmail.com and I will set you up as a contributor. Once you are set up, you will be able to send pictures directly to the blog using your cell phone. The web site address for the Bike Week live blog is www.daytonabikeweeklive.com and will be mainly for mobile photo blogging using cell phones and mobile devices.

Bike Week Blog is open, but still being constructed for multi users. This mobile blog will be set up for live blogging from Bike Week from your lap top or other mobile devices. I plan on having more content and news on this site while Daytona Bike Week Live will be mainly for pictures. Those of you who would like to participate and become a contributor on the Bike Week Blog can send me a note or reply to this post and I will set you up with an account. The web address for this site is www.bikeweekblog.com .

I will keep everyone updated on these two sites and look forward to sharing the experience of bike week live with everyone!

If you have not already made your bike week hotel reservations, it is not too late. You can still get some great deals here.

Technorati Tags: bike week, motorcycle news, blog, blogging, mobile, cell phones, photo blogs, travel, daytona beach, florida

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Adding a new photo gallery feature to the MNO Blog!

 I will be adding pictures that I have taken over the years from different motorcycle events as well as some exclusive builder galleries. Check back often for updates or subscribe to get notice of updates.

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Daytona Bike Week Women’s Activities Announced

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Harley-Davidson female enthusiasts are encouraged to enter for a chance to win a spot on the Harley-Davidson Women’s Day Ride, held March 4, 2008, and join Karen Davidson, great-granddaughter of one of the Company’s founders, as well as the six Get Down to Daytona contest winners on the last leg of their ride into Daytona.

To enter, women riders should go to http://www.harley-davidson.com/womensride by Jan. 23 and fill out a short entry form. There is no purchase necessary, but women are encouraged to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Summer Camps (a small donation of $25 or more is greatly appreciated). Women riders must ride a Harley-Davidson or Buell motorcycle and must be in Daytona on the morning of March 4.

On Jan. 25, 80 women will be randomly chosen to participate in the ride. Each rider will receive a 2008 MDA Pin, a special flag with MDA and H-D logo for their bike, and be entered in a special MDA drawing for a Harley-Davidson women’s jacket. The top three fundraisers will also receive a special gift.

Daytona Bike Week Women’s Activities

Tuesday, March 4, is Harley-Davidson Women’s Day at the Ocean Center. The Women’s Day Ride will arrive at the Ocean Center at approximately 10 a.m. Upon arrival, Karen Davidson will introduce the six winners of the Get Down to Daytona contest. Interactive seminars will be given throughout the day on how to pick up a motorcycle, customization and MotorClothes. More details will be announced in the next few weeks.

At the Daytona International Speedway Wednesday, March 5, from 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., there will be women-only demo rides on select 2008 Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycles. Demos are free, but riders will need to bring a helmet (full-face helmet and long pants for Buell demos) and a valid motorcycle license. Each woman who takes a demo ride during that time will be automatically entered into a drawing for a women’s helmet. Men who come along with the women who participate in this special demo time will have
the opportunity to attend a customization seminar and Q&A session with a Harley-Davidson factory technician.

All week at the Ocean Center, March 2-8 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., women can visit the Harley-Davidson Interactive Women’s Area featuring giveaways and prizes, motorcycle information, and a historical and informational women’s display.

About the Get Down to Daytona Contest

The six winners in the Harley-Davidson Get Down to Daytona contest were announced Dec. 12, 2007, and were chosen from more than 200 women who submitted videos about their motorcycle mentor. Each winner will receive an expense paid road trip for two from Atlanta to Daytona Bike Week ‘08 alongside Karen Davidson, great-granddaughter of one of the Company’s founders, as well as a three nights stay in Daytona.

The six winners are: Carol Dicicco from Chalfont, Pa.; Tonya Lamia from Rockford, Ill.; Kimberly Ryon from Harford, Pa.; Shelli Strand from Birch Run, Mich.; Jennifer Thorne from Mt. Pleasant, Pa.; and Teresa Weston from Hermitage, Tenn.

For more information and to watch the six winners’ videos, visit http://www.harley-davidson.com/womensride. Check back later this month for full profiles on each woman, as well as in March for coverage from their anxiously awaited trip to Daytona Bike Week ‘08.

About Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson
Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and customers.

First Call Analyst:

FCMN Contact: noverly@webershandwick.com

Source: Harley-Davidson, Inc.

CONTACT: Leslie Prevish of Harley-Davidson, Inc., +1-414-343-7272,

leslie.prevish@harley-davidson.com

Web site: http://www.harley-davidson.com/womensride

Technorati Tags: harley-davidson, bike week, motorcycles, motorcycle news, events

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Biketoberfest ended on Sunday, but was the annual Florida motorcycle event in Daytona Beach? Not by the looks of the light activity on the famed Main Street in downtown Daytona Beach. The many Daytona Beach hotels still displayed bright neon lights telling of vacancy. The mass media newspapers and television stations all ran the same headlines days before Biketoberfest began “Biketoberfest roars into town”.

But then again, if you decide to roar into town, you will get a ticket for the Daytona Beach noise violation ordinance. The city of Daytona Beach has spent a great deal of money to make sure visiting bikers know to keep quiet, while other recent laws and ordinances to remove the fun out of the event are in the making.

While topless protester Elizabeth Book of Ormond beach has battled the Daytona Beach nudity laws since bike week 2003 and won in appeal courts, Daytona Beach recently tried to add new ordinances banning nudity in establishments that sell alcohol such as Lollipops and the Pink Pony. The planned city ordinance included not only nudity, but also skimpy cover-up outfits, T backs and G strings.

 Welcome Bikers? With all the new attempts to remove the fest from Biketoberfest and other motorcycle events, the city of Daytona Beach will need to change their current signage that reads “we are glad you’re back to “please come back”!

Technorati Tags: biketoberfest, daytona beach, florida, loud pipes, motorcycle events, noise violation, nudity laws, volusia county

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Today, October 15th is Blog Action day. As a blogger I am supposed to write something about the enviroment. Bloggers get to pick there own subject to write about, but the post should be geared toward the enviroment. The choice for me was easy, finding a protected Florida wildlife species to photograph for the story was not as easy.

Meet the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), a protected wildlife species found mostly in northern and central Florida and some parts of southern Georgia but have been found to be declining in numbers.

I took a ride over to Erna Nixon Brevard County Park to see if I could find a gopher tortoise to photograph. This county park is known to have this particular form of protected wildlife roaming the area. I asked the ranger where I might find a gopher turtle, but she told me that they are usually not out until later afternoon.

I decided to walk my way up the nature trail and see if I would get lucky even though it was just after twelve noon. I walked up the path til I reached the wetland area of the park with no luck. Then took a walk up the opposite side of the trail to the wetlands and still had not spotted a turtle. As luck would have it, as I was exiting the trail just past the main pavilion I spotted this big guy chomping on some grass.

Many bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts ride the “loop” when visiting the Volusia County area including Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach during the two big Florida Motorcycle events every year. Bike Week and Biketoberfest attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to this area and most will make plans to ride the loop during these events.

Many of you readers have noticed the signs “Save the Loop” posted in homes and along the 23 mile stretch of road from Daytona to Ormond Beach. The loop is a natural habitat for the gopher tortoise and like the turtle, this land is threatened by development. One such development called Plantation Oaks brings threat to this enjoyable natural Florida scenic ride as well as the lives of over 900 gopher turtles. Read Permit to Kill to see more on how this developer bought his way through a permit loop hole.

It is sad to see more and more of the natural Florida ecosystem losing out to high dollar homes and multi-million dollar golf courses. Along with the natural beauty and surroundings of this land we are also killing off our wildlife, like the gopher tortoise.

Technorati Tags: blog action day, daytona beach, ecosystem, endangered wildlife, florida, gopher tortoise, enviroment, melbourne, ormond beach, the loop, volusia county

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