TIGER TALES - APRIL, 2014 Hello to all my Riding Friends! I hope youre enjoying what I hope will turn out to be consistently warmer weather, now that long-awaited Spring is here! After a cold and wet Mardi Gras, I think I have it figured out--so Ive decided to give up Moderation for Lent! All of our ABATE Chapters are planning festive events to usher in the Spring Riding Season, so be sure to log onto the State Website at abateofoklahoma.org and check out the Chapter links. Bob from Heartland took over from Tallbear as Webmaster, and hes doing a great job! Thanks, Tallbear, for your hard work as well--were fortunate to have such Computer-Smart folks in our Organization! Speaking of festive events, ABATE will be represented at the Route 66 Bike Rally in Depew April 12, and COD Is hosting a Crock-Pot Cookoff at the Tailgate Grill in OKC the same day. I mention this because thats when well draw the Winning Ticket for an INSTALLED Below-Ground Storm Shelter! You dont have to be present to win, so be sure to contact any COD Officer for information. After last years Severe Weather, winning one of these could add to your Peace of Mind! Mayor Mick Cornett was re-elected to lead Oklahoma City for another term, so I hope everyone was able to get out and vote on March 4, regardless what your political affiliation is. Remember: When you Vote, the Choice is Yours; If you Dont, the Choice is Theirs! ABATE wants to welcome Mayor Cornett to his new term by lobbying him to issue a Motorcycle Safety Proclamation for OKC. Nows the time for all of us to buttonhole our respective civic leaders to issue similar Proclamations all over the State, as our Governor has graciously done for a number of years now. Weve experienced, sadly, several motorcyclist fatalities and injuries already this year as the result of Right of Way Violators, and we need to channel our grief and anger into political mobility and action. On the heels of our 23rd Annual Biker Legislative Day which supported increased vigor regarding Uninsured Motorists and those who hurt and kill others they share the Road with, this approach is doubly important! On the National Scene, Im still fuming over the idea of the Center for Disease Control still considering Motorcycling as a Public Health Problem, with Mandatory Universal Helmet Laws as the cure! Have any of these scientists done any research into the value of emphasizing Crash Prevention over Crash Survivability? These kinds of headlines only serve to reinforce that the Price of Liberty continues to be Eternal Vigilance. Acquiring knowledge of the issues and sharing information continues to expand this vigilance, much like what the Committees of Correspondence accomplished during the American Revolution. We all need to keep up on what Congress should be doing to regulate Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints, Black-Box Vehicle Technology, and E15 Ethanol fuel usage. I strongly recommend all of us regularly check mrf.org and ama-cycle.org for updates. An Informed Electorate scares the heck out of the Government! Well also address these important issues at the 29th Annual NCOM Convention May 8-11 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dallas, TX. Please make plans to attend--you can obtain a Pre-Registration Form at aimncom Tigers Tip O The Month: Since April Showers bring May Flowers, we can expect a lot of wet-weather riding this time of year. Even though rain is welcome in Oklahoma to reduce the serious drought weve experienced, the reduced visibility and traction is an ever-present threat to motorcyclists. Delay your trip start at least fifteen minutes after the rain begins if possible, so itll wash off the built up oil and grease, and stay off the crown of the road while riding. Watch out for high-level water spray from big-rigs and oncoming traffic which can temporarily blind you. Remember also that the most dangerous part of every journey is the first and last Five Minutes, so stay aware and focused until youre home and dry! As I close this for another month, I want to pay tribute to my dear friend Glen Fengstad, who passed away recently after a long illness. Glen was my longtime colleague on the NCOM Board of Directors, having served as Vice-Chairman, and was one of the first to greet me when I came on board in 1997. A native of Alberta, Canada, he was President of ABATE of Montana for ten years, and a tireless Freedom Fighter in both Canada and the USA. He was named to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to improving Motorcycling Quality of Life. Glen especially loved Moto Guzzis (Brinker would appreciate that!), and he logged thousands of miles on his bikes defending Biker Liberty wherever he was needed. I was proud to call him my Friend and Brother, and I miss him very much--Ride Free Forever, Glen! Well, thatll do it for now--take care of each other, and Ride Safely, Sober and Aware! Ill check in with you next month as we gear up for May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month Nationwide! Keep It On The Black Strip Between The Trees, Tiger Mike
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:40:43 +0000
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