The Christian Motorcyclist Association (CMA) will be conducting a Biker Sunday service. at 10:00 a.m., Sunday, April 26th at Bath United Methodist Church, Bath, SC. (Rev. Wade Everett, Pastor)
The church is located on Maple Street, which runs parallel to Hwy 421 and ia about a block from the Horse Creek-Midland Valley Veterans Park.
All bikers are invited to attend
Amy and I attended the Dixie Thunder of Aiken County Down Riders fund raising event. I thought I would start this entry off with some video of me applying my sunscreen, looking for PR, the chairman of the Down Rider committee, and the interview with PR. Nothing really explains it better than hearing and seeing the event.
Sunscreen applied, hat given back to Amy (I hate hats, even when they are door prizes) and now I’m off to look for PR…he’s a very quiet man and not easy to find in a crowd.
Finally found PR and twisted his arm a bit to get him to sit down and say a few words while staring straight into a digicam. Oh..I’m kidding PR will take any opportunity he can to jump into a picture or video!
PR is a man of little words because he is a survivor of throat cancer. Most of his larynx was removed and he breathes with a stoma. He worked very hard at learning to use his voice and though he is often difficult to hear, he never really has a problem getting his point across.
PR is the chairman of the Down Rider Fund program. Due to health reasons he is stepping down. This last event under his lead was one of the best ones I have been to. I’m proud of what PR has done and will proudly assist whoever steps up into his position.
Transcript:
I’m PR and I’m the Chairman of Dixie Thunder ABATE Down riders fund, and I do this event every year to help our brothers and sisters who have the misfortune of dropping their scoots. We are very fortunate to have a place like this to go to have the enjoyment and contribute to our brotherhood. If you look around you will see there is a lot of us here and everyone went out of their way to be here today to support the brotherhood of freedom and to support our brothers and sisters in the community and I thank all for your support. I thank you all for being in ABATE. Ride hard or stay home!
The day’s events started with bikes coming in off from a run. The guys and gals pay an entry fee for the ride and they stop at various locations around the town as set up by the events team. These locations are all supporters of Dixie Thunder. When they visit a location they get a signature on the ride sheet. The riders then return after visiting all the locations on the run. At the end there is some kind of game played to decide who is the winner of the run. The winner receives a portion of the entry fee money and they have the choice to keep the funds or donate it to the benefit. Most donate the funds to the benefit.
Here are some bikes coming off the run
After the run winner is determined, it’s time for them to eat then get ready for some field games. The field games are trophy games and they are set up by the events team. Most of these are races, not to see who can ride the fastest, but who can ride the slowest… without dropping their feet, or their bike. Sound pointless? These are important skills for a rider to master before encountering traffic stops, turns, parking lots, and school zones. Sound boring? No way! It takes skill and teamwork to balance a few hundred pounds of chrome and steel on two wheels without momentum holding you and your passenger up.
Here are bikes rolling into the field for the first game.
This is the slow race game. The object is for the rider to ride across the field, between the lines, at slow speed and not lay their foot down on the ground and of course to not drop their bike.
LOL…ummm, you are not suppose to drop your bike before the race even starts! It’s ok, the race hadn’t started yet and he was not disqualified, here they go…
Before round two of the slow race someone rolled me across the field so I could get some video from another angle.
Next game, the ring toss. This is a couples game. The rider has to ride at slow speed, can’t put the foot down, can’t drop the bike and the passenger has to toss inflated rings onto cones. LOL..not as easy as it sounds!
Next game was the weenie bite game. This is another couples game. The rider rides under a suspended hot dog covered heavily in either mayo or mustard. The rider rolls under the bar and the passenger has to reach up and bite the weenie. Biggest bite wins.
After the Weenie bite there was a short break as we were getting ready for some bikeless games. Not everyone who attends rides a motorcycle. Amy and I have never been motorcyclists or passenger riders. We simply support the motorcyclists fight for their rights to ride equally and safely upon our public highways and to have the right to decide when and where to use personal safety gear. Since bikers rights are not just supported by bikers many benefit events held by Dixie Thunder include games for those who do not ride.
This game is the toilet paper game. One person on one side holds a roll of TP between their legs, on the other side one holds a plunger between theirs. The one with the plunger has to use the plunger to pick up the roll from his partners legs…no hands involved. Then must carry the plunger with TP roll on it to the other side. LOL…it’s a funny game! Amy and I wanted to do it, but there was an unfair advantage to me being seated.
After the TP game was the goat chase game. No goats were harmed or frightened in any way These goats are tame goats, very friendly, used to humans and are used to being herded. In this game the participant had to find, capture and crate a billy goat plus a goat with a special mark on it. The winner won a $50 bar tab from the host bar.
Last bikerless game was the bottle toss…this one you just toss a bottle into a barrel. Sounds kinda boring till you find out just how hard it is!
After the bottle toss game, I think someone forgot about another bike game, cuz they held the straw in the bottle game. This one is another couples game, the rider again goes slow speed, can’t drop the foot or the bike and the passenger must drop a straw into a 2 liter plastic bottle. Not an easy game!
Finally the winners were announced and the trophies were handed out. It was a great day!
Third place trophy winners for all events
A HUGE THANK YOU goes to
For their hosting of the event, all the advertisement fliers and radio ads…radio ads! Wow! I don’t know if anyone else has done that for a Down Rider event. Thank you to Woodys and to all the employees and club members who helped to make this year’s Down Riders Fund Benefit Event a huge success.
For more photos of the 2009 Down Rider Fund Benefit Event…Go Here
For more Videos of the event…Go Here
SCDMV has been authorized to issue a Veteran Specialty Plate for use on private passenger motor vehicles and motorcycles registered to SC residents who have served in the United States Armed Forces, active or reserve components, and have been honorably discharged from service.
The Department must receive 400 prepaid applications for each type of plate prior to producing the plate. Qualified individuals may submit their application and deposit through the mail or at their local field office.
Passenger Motorcycle The Department will hold the application and the deposit until 400 applications have been received. Once the Department has received the required number of applications for a particular plate type, the applicant will be contacted for any additional fees that may be due. At that time, the applicant may also be required to submit proof of payment of property tax. Note: If the Department has not received the required 400 prepaid applications by July 1, 2009, all applications and deposit checks or money orders will be returned to the applicant.
The video clips and photos are in the their albums.
Thank you Mick for the contribution of a large amount of photos and getting them to me so quickly! As I understand Mick has a way to now transport his photo equipment on his bike so he will be taking lots more photos in the future and with his cooperation our event photo albums will be nice and full. That means I can concentrate on getting video clips rather than using my crappy camera to get shots.
So…come on and check out the newest video clips and pics
Videos are here: Video Archive
Pics are here: Down Rider 2009 Pictures
Here is a personal thank you from Rick Cooper the Dixie Thunder Chapter Coordinator and a video thank you from PR the Down Rider Fund Committee Chairman.
I want to personally thank EVERYONE that made the Down Rider Fund Raiser event the Outstanding Success that it was. There are too many individuals to name, who gave so much, time, energy, effort, and loyalty to make it happen. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
The bikers and public that showed up got their money’s worth, but without them, we would not be what we are today. We are one of the largest and most active ABATE chapter’s in the State of South Carolina. With the continued support we will grow stronger. Our voice at the State Capitol on Biker Issues is loud and clear. Dixie Thunder Aiken and ABATE of SC.is a voice to be listened to.
We need Their continued support. So if you see anyone that was there tell them “THANK YOU”. If you see someone who wasn’t, tell them about us and ask them to join us, so their voice can be Heard.
Again, THANK YOU
Rick (RebellTroll) Cooper
Dixie Thunder Aiken
ABATE Of SC.
This is the meeting agenda for the upcoming Dixie Thunder Business meeting. Please do try to attend if possible. We hold two meetings a month. The last Sunday of every month at Hozes 1:00 PM and the second Tuesday of every month at Thunder Vally 7:00 PM. Please check out the calendar for more information about meetings.
DIXIE THUNDER AIKEN, ABATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
MEETING AGENDA—March 29, 2009
HOZES
I CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (Rick Cooper) II. READING OF THE MINUTES—MAIL ( Judy Hamilton)
III. SECRETARIES REPORT (Judy Hamilton) IV TREASURES REPORT (Richard Farr)
A). DTA $____________ B). DR $____________
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR REPORT (Karen Barnes) #________
A) Recruitment Coordinator (Richard Farr)
AREA COORDINATOR REPORT (Floyd/MikeBryce)
WEB MISTRESS REPORT (Becky Raymond)
A) New Items; Photo’s “DOG”, Web Site.
SEARGEANT OF ARMS/ROAD CAPTAIN (George Conger)
A) Road Guards B) Road Safety Tips
COMMITTEE REPORTS
A) PRODUCTS COORDINATOR (Angie Green)
1) Patches (state) ordered 10. (Check?) 2) Embroidery N. Augusta
B) LEGISLATIVE COORDINATOR (Dan Randall)
1. SC Legislative
a. Mandatory Helmet Bill
b. No smoking in Auto, 3 versions.
c. ATV. Bill
d. Other Legislative Issues (Trike Issue, Report)
2. Local Legislative Issues — County Council meeting, Tues, A April 7-,21,- 7 PM.,( 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month.)
a. Bar Closings (Passed)
b. Other local issues
C), DOWNRIDER (PR Rera) Hozes Boot_____, New Boxes?
D) BREAVEMENT (MIKE BRYCE) (Walter “DOG” Wilson)
E) Reporter (Gerry Lynn Murtha). Printing- TRI-FOLDS, Mem Forms
F) Historian (Donna Randall)
G) RUNS/EVENTS/ACTIVIES (Calendar of Events- Go To-www.
Dixie Thunder Aiken.com
a. County Council Tuesday April 7, Richland Ave, Aiken 7 PM. . b. Events Meeting Wednesday April 22, 7 PM. Thunder Valley
c. S.C. BOD Meet, May 2, 1 P.M. Cola. S.C. Nature’s Deli
d. S.C. Legis-Meeting, April 4, 1PM., Taylor Street. Nat Deli
e. Dixie Thunder Fund Raiser, POKER RUN. March 21. $____
f. Cripple Critter Ramp ??.
g. 3rd Annual “Down Rider Benefit”, April 4. Woodies Hwy 25 N.
X. Old Business: Raffle- Karen Barnes- April 26 Tickers, Bull Horn
XI New Business: Motions; Dixie Thunder Updated By-Laws.(Approved)
XII General Discussion: ABATE SIGN ?
XIII Moment of Silence for those no longer with us. Chaplin Wayne Cheselka
Adjournment: Next Business Meeting, Tuesday April 14. 7 PM. Thunder Valley, 323 Day Rd. Aiken SC.
If anyone has photos of Dog you wish to have included in the Dog Wilson Memorial Slideshow please send them to rayhawk@comcast.net with a description of the Where, When so I can add them in some kind or order.
Thank You
Becky Raymond (Rayhawk)
Dixie Thunder Webmistress
Dixie Thunder will meet at Mama Bears in New Ellenton this Saturday, March 28.2009 for the ride to the Memorial Service for Walter “Dog” Wilson.
We will leave 2:30 PM, SHARP to Ronnie’s “Stretch” house from Mama Bears
The weather is uncertain at this time. We will go regardless of the weather. Cars, Trucks, Bikes or Boats.
“Dog” was longtime and faithful member of Dixie Thunder Aiken and ABATE of South Carolina. He will be missed by all of us who knew him.
Rick (Rebeltroll) Cooper DTA
|
||||
Click here to visit Dog’s obituary page on the Folk Funeral Home Website
Our Brother, Walter (DOG) Wilson, passed away this morning March 24 2009.
As soon as the announcements and arrangement are available they will be posted here and on the E-groups.
Dog has being suffering with cancer, he was long time member of Dixie Thunder Aiken and ABATE of South Carolina. He will be missed by many of his brothers and sisters.
He truly FELT THE WIND.
If anyone has photos or cell/digicam video clips of Dog that you wish to include in a memorial slide show please send them to rayhawk@comcast.net and please include Dixie Thunder or ABATE in the subject line so that your photos do not wind up lost in my email filtering system. It would be a good idea if you included a brief summary of the photo such as event, location, year etc. If you have any farewell quotes you wish to add as text slides send them along by email and I’ll add them in.
Becky/Rayhawk
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) is accepting deposits for license plates that honor this country’s veterans.
“But they are not yet available,” said department spokeswoman Jean Smolen. “We are not making them until we receive 400 deposits.”
A person must make a deposit and fill out an application for either a passenger vehicle or a motorcycle.
To apply for a passenger plate, the person must submit a completed MV-37A form, submit a copy of a DD-214 form showing honorable discharge and make a deposit of $12 by either check or money order.
To apply for a motorcycle plate, the person must submit a completed MV-37B application for military plate, submit a copy of a DD-214 form showing honorable discharge and make a deposit of $5 by either check or money order.
According to the SCDMV, once it has received 400 prepaid applications, the applicant will be contacted for any additional fees that may be due. At that time, the applicant may also be required to submit proof of payment of property tax.
All applications must be received by July 1.
However, if SCDMV does not receive 400 applications by that date, then all money will be refunded by mail.
“So far, 13 applications have come in for motorcycle plates and 16 for passenger plates,” Smolen said.
The application forms are available at www.scdmvonline.com.
For more information, call (803) 896-5000.
Contact Haley Hughes at hhughes@aikenstandard.com.
