Vintage Rider News: Rench's Rap for August 19, 2017

[renchinrider]

Hi, Everyone!

First of all, thanks to all who ignored the heat and rode out to Blue Plate II this morning!  We had a great turnout, and it was another morning of great camaraderie and tall tales!  If you weren't able to join this morning, come on back as soon as you're able!

Here are our upcoming activities

We don't have any more formally-scheduled activities this month, but Scott Paulson has an open invitation to anyone who wants to join him (tomorrow) Aug 20th for a swap meet in Cullman.  The swap meet runs from noon til 6 pm at 230 US Highway 278 West.  If you wish to join him, PM Scott on Facebook.

Additionally, each Saturday remaining in this month presents a great opportunity for a "Let's Ride!" ride.  In other words, Let's Ride!

September is jam-packed with events, one after another, with several occurring simultaneously!

Sep 1 - 4:  Nostalgia Weekend at Two Wheels of Suches.  The event is focused on "celebrating Japanese and European 2 and 4 stroke superbikes of the 70s, 80s and 90s..."  TWoS is definitely the place to be over the Labor Day weekend!  http://twowheelsofsuches.com/event/vintage-2-stroke-bike-weekend/?instance_id=90

Sep 8 - 10--Three concurrent activities:

AHRMA Series Vintage Road Racing at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway ("Little Talladega") in Munford, AL.  This event is all the more exciting because our own Frank Costeglia will be racing aboard an RJ Reynolds-built vintage bike that weekend.  NOTE THAT RJ RECOMMENDS SATURDAY AS THE OPTIMAL DAY TO TRAVEL TO LITTLE TALLADEGA TO WATCH FRANK COMPETE!  http://www.roadracingworld.com/2017calendar/

Sammy Stetler suggested making this event an after-breakfast road trip.  If you're interested in riding down, please PM either Sammy or me so we can start building the plan for all who wish to ride down and watch Frank smoke the competition on the track!

The Lynchburg Motorcycle Rally occurs the same weekend as well.  Pat and Spring, owners of Lynchburg Outdoors, have emphasized that this year's rally will contain multiple events featuring vintage motorcycles, including this year's bike show.  http://www.lightningcustoms.com/events/event_47737.html

On Sep 9, Barber Motorsports Park is hosting "Tag Day" for all motorcycles bearing Barber license plates.

Sep 15 - 17:  Barber Motorsports Park is hosting the Moto America AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship.  http://www.motoamerica.com/barber-motorsports-park

Sep 16:  Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride.  Please refer to the following link for detailed information.  The ride will depart from Redstone Harley Davidson on I-565 vic Mooresville Rd at 12 noon.  http://www.al-tn-trailoftears.net/rideschedule.php

Sep 16-17:  Guntersville Air Show.  For those not participating in the Trail of Tears, this is another After-Breakfast riding opportunity.  Or, we can make it a Sunday special event, with details to follow.  We'll just need a ride leader, in either case.  The Guntersville Air Show is a great opportunity to watch pilots perform aerobatics in vintage planes, and proceeds go to Wounded Warriors organizations.  http://www.wsfa.com/story/35882664/guntersvilles-wings-over-the-valley-air-festival-seeks-volunteers

Sep 24:  This year's Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, with our own Charles Quillen heading up local event coordination, and fellow NAVMC member Scott Paulson participating in memory of his father, who passed away from prostate cancer earlier this year.  Charles shared important information for those interested in participating:

1. Potential riders can view the style guide https://www.gentlemansride.com/about/style-guide and register at gentlemansride.com

2.  There is also an event page for the Huntsville Ride https://www.facebook.com/events/763304603877833/?ti=icl.

If you're not participating but want to sponsor and contribute, please consider the following solicitation from Scott:

Please consider pledging as generously as you can to this worthwhile cause.  If you don't sponsor me, please consider sponsoring someone else.  Or, you can donate directly to the Movember Foundation, or any charity of your choice which supports prostate cancer research and/or mental health.   Of course I'd be thrilled to the gills if you chose to be one of my sponsors!  Anything that you're willing to pledge would make me so proud.  Please head to my personal DGR page and sign up to be on my team.  I'll carry your names in my breast pocket as I ride.

And now, on to October's activities!

Oct 6 - 8:  Barber Vintage Festival.  I'll be doing a couple of special editions of Rench's Rap to address our activities at this year's Vintage Festival.  For now, please note that Friday night (Oct 6) is a calendar pinnacle for our year, featuring our evening BBQ Binge, and the kind of camaraderie that makes the NAVMC the great association that it is!  So, make plans at least to be at Barber the evening of October 6.  http://www.barbermuseum.org/events/barber-vintage-festival/

Oct 21:  Flat Track Racing in Shelbyville, TN.  This promises to be another great opportunity to travel to Shelbyville and watch Frank, Tom and others we know as they compete in various classes of the racing.  Last spring's event was exciting from start to finish, and event organizers say they've taken experience from the spring race to make this fall's race even more exciting.

Next, November:

Nov 11:  We have a placeholder on our activities calendar to travel from breakfast to the Tut Fann Veterans Home (corner of Meridian St and Mastin Lake in Huntsville) to spend some time with the 250 residents there, and, if schedules permit, help serve the residents' noon meal.  Several NAVMC members at last Saturday's breakfast expressed interest in this event.  Unless anyone indicates otherwise, I'll continue to coordinate our participation in Veterans Day activities at Tut Fann.

And finally, December:

If you haven't already, please mark your calendars for December 9th at 11:30 am, when we'll have our annual Christmas Feast at Blue Plate II.

I'm also polling for others interested in riding down to the Stagecoach Cafe in Stockton, AL for the Last Ride of the Year on December 30th.  Please let me know if you're interested in bundling up and riding down for lunch.  Here's a web entry from last year's RTE:  http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?155591-2016-12-30-AL-Stockton-Stagecoach-The-Annual-Last-Ride-of-the-Year-XX

On the recurring events side, please monitor our Facebook page for Gordon's announcements of Sunday rides originating out of Decatur.  I've heard a number of positive reviews of his rides, and I anticipate they'll just keep getting even better.  Gordon usually posts around Thursday or Friday, and I anticipate he can confirm plans and rally point information at any of the Sam's Bike Night gatherings on Thursday evenings.

As always, please send me info on anything I've missed.

LET'S RIDE!!!