Posted on 08/06/2003 7:24:37 AM PDT by DPB101
Along with blue jeans, and rock and roll, one of America's cultural icons is the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The legendary bike has come to symbolize the spirit of freedom, independence and individuality. Throughout August, Harley-Davidson will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a series of events and concerts, along with a commemorative album. VOA's Bernie Bernard tells us about the festivities, and the music that has been associated with Harleys over the decades.
Born To Be Wild, a 1968 hit for John Kay and Steppenwolf, remains an anthem for motorcycle riders all over the world. The song conjures up the wild, romantic, rebellious and sometimes dangerous lifestyle associated with the gleaming and powerful machines. Steppenwolf will be performing August 28-30 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the grand finale to the year-long Harley-Davidson anniversary celebration.
More than 200,000 international Harley riders are expected to roar into the city for the three-day party, which includes bike displays and other exhibits, as well as entertainment.
On August 17, hundreds of motorcycle fans will start The Ride Home, taking one of four organized routes across the United States, where riders share the open road as they travel to the celebration in Milwaukee. Along the way, events will raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Over the past several months, Harley-Davidson has been sponsoring its Open Road Tour, with concerts and exhibits in several U.S. cities, as well as Sydney, Tokyo, Barcelona and Hamburg. Some of the performers have included Hootie and The Blowfish, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Journey, Bob Dylan, Ted Nugent, Billy Idol, Stone Temple Pilots and The Doobie Brothers.
Harley-Davidson will mark its entry into the next 100 years of motorcycle craft with a giant birthday party on August 31 at Milwaukee's Veteran's Park on the shores of Lake Michigan. The free event will feature a fireworks display and live entertainment by headliners such as Steppenwolf, Kansas, Peter Frampton and Montgomery Gentry.
Jeff Bleustein, the chairman of Harley-Davidson, comments, "Our anniversary is not just about a machine. It's truly a celebration of family and friends who have been touched by the Harley-Davidson experience and want to share it with the world. We promise that we will continue to fulfill the dreams of our customers for the next 100 years."
In a joint venture with Harley-Davidson, Capitol Records has released Roadhouse Blues, an album to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the bike, which captures the spirit and attitude of riders and enthusiasts. Artists on the CD include George Thorogood and The Destroyers, Johnny Lang, Robert Cray, Lonnie Brooks, Buddy Guy and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan.
RAPID CITY - The stock market has stumbled, layoffs have continued and the economy in general has been in the tank the last couple of years. But as thousands of people attending this week's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally can attest, people keep buying Harley-Davidsons.
The Milwaukee-based company sold 76,025 motorcycles in the second quarter of this year, more than in any other quarter in its 100-year history. Harley-Davidson has increased production for this year 10 percent - to 290,600 motorcycles.
The company reported record second-quarter revenue and earnings. Revenue was $1.2 billion, up 21.8 percent over the $1 billion for the same quarter a year ago. Earnings per share were 66 cents, up 40 percent over last year's 47 cents per share . . . .. continued
There. Flame me, there is nothing you can say to me that is more annoying than your ugly hunks of pig iron without mufflers that blast my eardrums day in, day out. If I bought a house near an airport, for example, I would expect a certain amount of noise, but there is no way you can control these roving packs of jerks that seem to love to show how "macho" they are by revving up their engines and displaying their stupidity and selfishness.
Now...the drinking and noise...that can be a problem.
I an appreciate your frustration - we've attended the bike rally in Daytona Beach (yep, hubby owns a Harley -- he's an engineer & I'm a retired teacher). But I guarantee that if you needed help with your sister or father, bikers would be the first to step in and help you. They have raised millions of dollars for various causes and do countless hours of community service.
"What kind of an (bleeping) question is that? Grow up. I'm sick of this stuff. I got more important stuff to do than deal with this (bleep). I'm not telling you again so wise up, Helen"
How unbelievably ignorant of you to paint motorcyclists with such a nice wide brush. You remind me of plenty of persons of your mindset that I have come across over the years but ONE in particular comes to mind:
I was riding with a friend across the GW bridge early one weekday. Being that we were both on AIR-COOLED bikes and the temp was in the high 90's, we decided to GINGERLY split lanes and get out of the traffic. Well, one bejeweled trophy wife in a Jag decided that she had just "had enough" of the human garbage that chose to use two wheels instead of the civilized four all REAL people drove. She opened her door in my buddy's path. He hit it, flew over the bars and landed on his back skidding to a halt under the wheels of a large pickup
We were doing 10 mph at best and he spent 6 months healing - he was very lucky - but I know of others who were not so.
Whatever this woman thought of the legality of us doing what we were doing doesn't even START to account for her actions that day. I couldn't believe what she told the police and neither could anyone else who stopped to help that day except for one imbicile who stuck around to defend what she did and wanted to swear out a complaint on us to boot.
I would like to think that your balled-up hatred would never lead to a similar act but I'm realistic. You are probably one of the accidents waiting for a place to happen that infest society.
The majority of people who choose to ride - Harley riders too - are generally the type that go out of their way to help others. Organ donors (make all the jokes you want there), charity, public works, civic involvement...you name it. There are Veterans clubs, Clubs for Clergy, groups of doctors and pretty much any "group" represented by bikers. You have probably been the beneficiary of something bikers did at some point and you don't even know it. It brings to mind a biker axiom "When we do bad, nobody forgets, when we do good, nobody remembers."
Those folks disturbing your "peace" are likely within their rights to do so. If they are violating noise ordinances, there are laws to deal with that.If you have a complaint, take it up with the proper authorities. I'll let you in on something here - open pipes, the loud crackling ones - only enhance motor performance at fully open throttle. Mufflers reduce noise and provide needed backpressure. Plenty of bikes suffer performance with no mufflers.
That you are taking care of two persons should have bestowed some humility upon you and obviously it hasn't. Imagine that either one of your relatives was disabled because they were riding a bike and someone with your attitude decided to show his special brand of appreciation to them. I've seen it happen far too often.
Don't judge all of us by the few that you see. Me tellng you to do that will probably have little effect so do us all a favor - put a BIG sign on your car that properly identifies your feelings on the matter. I for one will stay far away from you if you do and we'll both be better off for it.
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