Dragon Tales
Well folks, February is already here and I am sure we are all about
ready to kill for a decent riding day. In order to make it through
the long, cold days of winter I have been working diligently on the
Thunder Roads West Virginia Stars-N-Stripes All America Biker
Bash.
Ok, first things first. Why such a long name you ask. First, we want
everyone to know that Thunder Roads West Virginia is all about
motorcycling in this state and we are very excited and proud to be
sponsoring such an incredible event. Second, Stars-N-Stripes, well,
I think it says it all. And lastly, All America Biker Bash is exactly
what it says. This event is for All America and is going to be a big
time Biker Bash like no other.
If you read the January issue you already know how Thunder Roads
West Virginia came to be the sponsor of a West Virginia motorcycle
rally. It was a spark of genius of the late Bill Scott, owner of the
Summit Point Motorsports Park where the rally will be held. Bill
Scott was determined to help America find its way back to being the
strong, patriotic, self governing nation it was meant to be. Bill Scott
had a firm belief that we motorcyclists may help lead this country
back, as he found us to be the most patriotic collection of Americans
he had ever met.
2 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010
Over the past few months we have been plotting and planning from
the ground up how to make this event happen. It is amazing the
number of people who have come up to the plate to help out. I have
always said, “It is not always what you know, but who you know”,
and this kind of help is making the event grow day by day. We are
truly honored to know that you all want to help make this a West
Virginia rally to be remembered.
In that light I would like to put out a call to retail vendors and food
vendors that would be interested in becoming a part of this event. Just
send me an email letting me know a little bit about yourself and your
business and I will get an application out to you.
And for you attendees, the Pre-Registration information is slated to
be on our website at www.thunderroadswv.com by February 1st along
with some of the vendor information, so keep your eyes open.
Thanks for your enthusiasm, your support and your belief in Thunder
Roads West Virginia.
We couldn’t enjoy this ride without you.
Ride safe and keep the shiny side up!
Donna
 Thunder Roads West Virginia Letter From The Editor…...................……..4
P.O. Box 606 / Charles Town, WV 25414
www.thunderroadswv.com
Stars-N-Stripes Biker Bash...……………...7
Owner / Editors
Gary Westphalen, Editor-in-Chief S-N-S Highlight: The Hottest Bands..…...9
gary@thunderroadswv.com / 304-616-0102
Donna K. Westphalen, CFO Biohazard..……….................................10
donna@thunderroadswv.com / 304-261-1609

Layout & Design Bike of the Month…...................…………13

Barbara Laszewski Garner / Thunder Publishing
Dressing for the Crash - P art 3...................14
Ad Layout
Meredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics Hidden Highways - SH 129.......................16
Contributors
Gabrielle Aquilino, Dusty Austin, R Everhart, Ken Holby, Center Calendar.……......................……...18
Evan Hume, Jim “Jammer” Marcum
Skin Art…….....................………………….20
Advertising Sales / Distribution
National Accounts Then and Now……...……...……............…21
Donna K. Westphalen - 304-261-1609 / donna@thunderroadswv.com
Harrison, Marion, Taylor Clarksburg Bike Night………..........…..…22
Earl Nuzum – 304-816-2863 / earl@thunderroadswv.com
Northwest WV The Jokers Wild…..………............….…...24
Greg Vernon 304-616-0249 / greg@thunderroadswv.com
Hardy, Grant, Mineral, Hampshire, Pendleton Seats & Saddles…........….….......………..27
Moe Vetter - 304-668-9563 / moe@thunderroadswv.com
Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson The Creative Process.......…………..........28
Dave Luksa - 304-268-1315 / dave.luksa@thunderroadswv.com
Mercer, Monroe, Summer, McDowell The High Road……..............………..…….29
Curtis Humphreys - 276-620-8965 / curtis@thunderroadswv.com
Laurie Griggs - 540-353-5695 / laurie@thunderroadswv.com Rate the Page Survey.….........……………30
Jefferson
Howard “Pops” Evans - 540-327-6588 / popsthunderroadswv@yahoo.com TNT…………….............……………………32
National Founders
Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon K.I.S.S................................................33
PO Box 174 / Chapmansboro, TN 37035
Office 615-792-0040 / Fax: 615-792-7580
email: thunderroads@charter.net Biker Friendly Directory……….............…34
Copyright 2010. Published by Thunder Roads West Virginia, LLC under license from Thunder
Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this magazines content may be reproduced without ON THE COVER
the written permission of the Publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility and is not
to be held liable for errors beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error, slander of any Jeff Bass and his crew proudly display the fruits of eight
group or individual, failure to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond our
control, any and all suits for libel, plagiarism, copyright infringement, and unauthorized use months of their labor in this fabulous bike they built in his
of a person’s name or photograph. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and authors garage. The story of how this radical ride came to be, and
are their own, and do not necessarily represent the policy of Thunder Roads West Virginia,
Thunder Roads Magazine, or Thunder Publishing. The Publisher does not promote the abuse why it carries a toxic theme, begins on Page 10.
of alcohol or other drugs.

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 3

 I’m tooling west
from Romney on
Highway 50. At the end
of the day there will be a fund-raising bike
night in Clarksburg. I’m going there to do
a story on it for Thunder Roads West
Virginia, hang out, and jaw with some
bikers I’ve never met before. By the end
of the night they will be new friends, new
brothers and sisters. But that experience is
still half a day away
Right now, it’s just me, the steady drumbeat
of the Heritage Classic I’m riding, and the
GREEN that surrounds me. Oh sure, the
sun is playing hide and seek as it dances
playfully from one puffy cloud to the next.
to those who came before, but they aren’t here right now. I
The azure blue sky sets a gorgeous backdrop for this
am. And I’m lovin’ it!
heavenly game. Mountain streams and even the Cheat
River share the way alongside my seemingly private ribbon But wait. Reality intercedes, and my memory of that
of asphalt at times, before we part ways, leaving me to ride gorgeous day last August fades as I look out my window.
in solitude. The occasional pick-up truck passes through my The GREEN of my daydream is replaced by the steel gray
consciousness as well. But the GREEN never fades. overcast of the approaching winter storm clouds. The three
feet of snow that fell a couple of weeks ago has taken on
Looking to my left I see the treetops cascading down the
a dingy, dirty hue that will soon be replaced with a fresh
side of the mountain to the south. The enormous scale of
coat of white. Yes, it’s beautiful…in its own way. But it’s not
the view is more than I can rightly comprehend. Looking to
GREEN. It’s not biker friendly.
my right I see the slope of the wild rhododendron thicket
dropping out of sight. Soon, I will be hitting the series of The off-season. It’s a tough time for diehard bikers. We sit
switchbacks that will thrill me as I drop down the other side in our garage and lovingly polish our trusty steeds in an
of this mountain to the valley floor below. Once down there effort to keep them from becoming rusty steeds. We watch
the trees will rise overhead, forming a perfect canopy of the snow fall and the ice form. We tell ourselves that spring
GREEN. This is more fun than I have a right to experience. will come soon. But it sure doesn’t feel that way right now.
It feels like winter takes forever to go away, yielding to
As the road rises and falls over mountaintop after
summer for only a brief moment.
mountaintop I find myself marveling at how incredibly
unspoiled and beautiful much of this state is. I have ridden Excuse me. I’m going to interrupt this colorless winter scene
all over this country and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it, but and return to my memory of that perfect day last summer, to
West Virginia is unique. It’s easy to tell myself that I am my GREEN dream when I was out making Thunder on the
the first human being to ever witness this nearly pristine Roads. Ahhhh, that’s better.
wilderness. Of course the very road I’m riding is testament Gary

4 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010

 www.thunderroadswv.com
Readers who logged on to www. updates on the planning process for what
thunderroadswv.com in the past month promises to be an incredible weekend of
have had a variety of interesting stories and motorcycle fun July 2-4, 2010 at Summit
interactive activities to get involved with while Point, WV. This is where you will soon
waiting for the winter months to pass. For be able to register in advance for the
starters, the Thunder Roads West Virginia weekend, saving your spot at the rally as
hats that can be ordered at the site have been well as some good money by registering
flying off the shelf like crazy. Supplies of this early.
limited edition design are getting very low and
Have you missed an issue or two of
are destined to become collector’s items.
Thunder Roads West Virginia? The
Site surfers have also had a chance to read website is your chance to make up for lost
about the holiday volunteer activities carried reading. All issues of the printed magazine
out by Thunder Roads’ Earl Nuzum. The are available online in three different
pictures of Earl raising money and collecting ways. Option #1 is to read every issue
toys for The Salvation Army have been seen by online. Your second choice is to download
tens of thousands of web watchers. Earl raised a PDF version of the magazine. Best of all,
hundreds of dollars and bags of toys that were you can now complete your collection of
distributed to families in West Virginia. Thunder Roads West Virginia magazines
That’s just the beginning for our website. by ordering back issues through our
www.thunderroadswv.com will serve as the website.
internet portal for the Stars-N-Stripes All America Biker Online motorcycle fun during these cold winter months
Bash. Drop in on a regular basis over the next month for is just a click away at www.thunderroadswv.com!

r
24 houining
D
Family rience Mome’s
Ex pe
24
d
n u se r v
Full mhers a day
e
Plac “Her legacy lives on”
West Virginia
One year subscription to Thunder Roads is only $35 a year.
The nation’s largest FREE biker publication
can be delivered right to your door.
“ G ood The end of

H om e ”
Hoult Road by the
Phillips Plant in Name___________________________________
Cooking Fairmont, WV
Address_________________________________
City____________________________________

State_________________ Zip_______________

Make Check payable to:

Thunder Roads West Virginia

Mail check and this form to:

Thunder Roads West Virginia
P.O. Box 606
Charles Town, WV 25414

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 5

 H-D to
Build Trikes
In-House
Harley-Davidson has announced that it will begin producing it’s own
trikes, beginning with the 2011 model year. That’s good news for the York,
Pennsylvania plant where the three-wheelers will be built. But the move
comes at the expense of Lehman Trikes, Inc. of Spearfish, South Dakota.
Lehman has provided components and conversion services for H-D, but
that association will end with the close of the 2010 model year later this
summer.
“Our decision to move trike assembly is based purely on the restructuring
of Harley-Davidson’s York operations,” says Julie Chichlowski, Harley-
Davidson’s trike platform director. The future of the York plant had been in
doubt, but she says this move “provides the opportunity for us to build trikes
in house and streamline trike assembly and distribution.”
“Lehman is proud to have been a supplier to Harley-Davidson,” says
Lehman President and CEO Ken Hines. “We are pleased to have been
associated with this program, and while disappointed, we understand their
business rationale.”
Hines says the company will continue to produce conversion kits and
accessories for Harleys as well as Victory,
Honda, and Suzuki motorcycles.

6 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010

 by Gary Westphalen
The Thunder Roads West Virginia Stars-N-Stripes All America Biker Bash is
only about 5 months away, and preparations are proceeding smoothly. This
is shaping up to be not only an amazing tribute to the men and women who
stand watch over the security of our nation, but also a fantastic weekend of
motorcycle fun for every biker. All kinds of activities will be taking place on
and off the grounds of the Summit Point Motorsports Park July 2-4.
Readers from all over the state have been buzzing about the chance to
ride their own motorcycles on the exquisite Shenandoah Circuit, a 2.2 mile
road racing track that is such a technical challenge it would take years
to truly master it. Racers have nicknamed it the “Concrete Jungle”. The
track includes a dimensional replica of the Karussel from the famous Der
Nurburgring Grand Prix Circuit in Germany. This track will test rider’s skills
on 20 degree banks, camber changes (some of which go negative) and
decreasing radius corners positioned on vertical drops. If a description like
that doesn’t get you excited, check for a pulse.
The track will be fully staffed with trained corner workers and safety crews
www.thunderroadswv.com
just like it is during a professional race. Details are still being worked out,
but the most likely scenario is that we will be offering 20 minute sessions
for a limited number of bikes per session. This will give riders a chance to
truly enjoy the experience of carving a line on this world class motorsports
playground. The cost will be kept as low as possible, and is going to be
a whole lot less per minute of track time than any amusement ride at the
county fair.
This is a challenging professional race track and rolling out on it is going
to require adherence to some strict safety guidelines. Safety gear will be
mandatory, but exactly what level of gear will be required is still under review.
One thing is certain. Since there will be adult beverages sold at the Stars-N-
Stripes All America Biker Bash, all riders will be required to blow a zero on a
breathalyzer before taking to the track. Just hold off on the beer garden until
you’re done riding for the day. That’s a small sacrifice for an opportunity like
this.
When you’re done carving the Concrete Jungle, head on over to the triple
skid pad named the Washington Circuit. It’s a huge, flat slab of concrete
continued on next page
FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 7
where you can strap your tail into the cockpit of a 60-mile-per-hour go-kart
and get it on! This is the most fun you can have on four wheels.
There will be several off-site rides being organized by motorcycle clubs. Join
in for a fun time touring through the historic and scenic territory surrounding
the track, even as you help raise funds for organizations dedicated to helping
our Nation’s veterans and their families.
The infield area of the Shenandoah Circuit will serve as the hub of the
Stars-N-Stripes weekend. That building on the left will serve as our
Command Center. It will also house a VIP room on the second floor, with
views overlooking the race track, demonstration pad and vendor city. The
paved area next to the building is where demonstrations of motorcycle
expertise will be presented. For example, stunt rider Gary Harding, Jr. is
planning to set a world record “endo” here (see the story in our January,
2010 issue). The rest of the space in the picture will be the vendor area. Our
8 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010
main stage will also be a part of this scene. Music and other performances
will be presented throughout the day and evening from this main stage.
Much of the entertainment has already been lined up by JR Everhart of CLP
Entertainment. For details on this exciting element of the Star-N-Stripes
weekend, see the S-N-S Highlight story on the facing page.
The Fourth of July just wouldn’t be complete without fireworks, and Thunder
Roads West Virginia is working with the biggest name in pyrotechnics to light
up the sky Sunday evening.
Early registration for Stars-N-Stripes will soon be available on our website at
www.thunderroadswv.com, so check the site regularly to lock in terrific pre-
event pricing. And remember, admission to the Stars-N-Stripes All America
Biker Bash will include FREE camping on the grounds. So come have a
great time while showing your support for this nation and those who give
their all to keep it free and safe.
 Stars-N-Stripes

Highlight
Hello music lovers, JR
Thunder Roads
Everhart here from CLP
Entertainment. After reading
the Thunders Roads article Brings The
Area’s Hottest
about Mr. Bill Scott’s passing
in last month’s issue I was
moved remembering all that
Mr. Scott was to our community. Being a commercial truck driver and racing

Bands To
fan myself, I can remember back a few years ago going through BSR’s
Accident Avoidance course as part of a training program I was in with the
company I was working for at the time. I saw first hand the level of excellence
Mr. Scott put into everything he did. I am very honored to be a part of the

Stars Stripes
Stars-N-Stripes All America Biker Bash, to bring our community together. So
following in his footsteps, we have pulled together the area’s best bands to -N-
celebrate Independence Day, and pay respect to our veterans. While we bring
together our biker community throughout the weekend’s events, we will also
be gathering together the area’s hottest and most talented musicians to the
Martinsburg, West Virginia’s very own, “The J. Factor”. Sponsored by Budweiser,
Stars-N-Stripes Main Stage.
and Evel Speed Motor Sick’l Shop, The J. Factor will be delivering their usual
Opening up the weekend’s live music events Friday evening will be “Paul dose of “Full Contact Classic R-N-R”. If you’re a fan of Led Zeppelin, The Doors,
Pfau & Smooth Cat Burglars”. Paul Pfau is one of the hottest up and coming Molly Hatchett, The Allman Brothers Band, or Stevie Ray Vaughan, you’re in for
blues guitar players in the Mid-Atlantic. Paul’s latest release “Beauty Queen” a real treat. The J. Factor has been headlining the biggest bike events in the
had over 700 downloads over night on the internet just last week. Check out Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia for almost six years now. Find them online
music and video of Paul and The Smooth Cat Burglars at www.myspace.com/ at http://jfactoronline.com.
paulpfaumusic. Headlining Friday night is “Last Chance” from just across the
Super Secret Sunday, is what we’re calling Sunday’s line up to celebrate the 4th
WV line in Winchester, Va. Last Chance will rock your brains out for 2 blistering
of July, and close the Stars & Stripes event Sunday night. I’m in very intense
sets of Contemporary Rock -N- Roll, playing music from such rock monsters as
discussions with several national booking agents to secure only the best
Audioslave, Seether, The Foo Fighters, Papa Roach, Saliva, Shine Down, and
possible headliner for this event. I’m going to save all that info for next month’s
much, much more... Find them online at http://lastchancebandva.com.
issue of Thunder Roads West Virginia. So be sure to pick up a copy at your local
Saturday’s music will start at high noon with an open mic jam session run by biker friendly establishment, and as Donna always says “...Keep The Shiny Side
our friends with Blues Gate Music Community. Dennis Wright and the gang Up!”.
will be hosting an “anything goes” jam session. All music styles are welcome,
JR Everhart
from Bluegrass to Rock-N-Roll, and with so many hot musicians already on
CLP Entertainment
the bill for this event, you just never know who’s going to grace the stage. You
can find Blues Gate online at http://bluesgate.com. Saturday evening the main
stage goes country as the guys from “Revolution” take the stage playing your
favorite contemporary country hits. Revolution wears many stylistic hats, but
will be pumping out pure country hits at this event from artists like Big and Rich,
Rascal Flats, Kenny Chesney, Lonestar, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, and
many more. Revolution’s live shows are a force to be reckoned with; their motto
is “It’s A Show...” So buckle your seat belts and hold on for the ride. Check out
Revolution’s web site at www.revolutionband.net. Headlining Saturday night is

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 9

 Then Jeff and the team got to painting the bike. He
thought he knew what he wanted. He chose the very
pricey, but equally cool, Kameleon Blue to Red from
House of Kolor to serve as his base. Intertwined lay-
ers of clear coat and intricate airbrush design work fol-
lowed. All those hours of watching DVD’s and studying
up on airbrush selections seemed to pay off. But when
the job was finished and Jeff stood back and looked at
it, he wasn’t pleased.
“It didn’t say anything,” says Jeff Bass. Although the
paint was nicely done from a technical standpoint, it
left him feeling flat. Instead of bringing out the bike’s
character, the paint merely covered it up. Frustrated
that his first vision missed the mark, Jeff stripped the
bike, and started over.
One day he looked at the design of the wheels. He
traced their curvaceous lines, and then laid the trac-
ings back to back. Suddenly, his blurry vision of what
this bike should look like fell into sharp focus. The trac-
ings had unintentionally created the “Biohazard” warn-
ing symbol, and a theme for this bike emerged. The
design now graces the oil tank. When he shaped these
tracings to fit the top of the gas tank, another “toxic”
image unfolded. “They looked like gas masks to me,”
says Jeff when he looks at the two largest designs

Biohazard
on the tank. He brought the vision home by including
a disturbingly unnatural green edge to the “masks”,
along with whispy lines suggesting toxic, green vapor.
All good things must come to an end, as the saying
goes. And this bike ends with an integrated LED tail-
light that caps off the biohazard motif with perfection.
There is a “What’s wrong with this picture?” kind of quality to the shot of the West Virginia team that built this radi- Now that the character of this 9 foot long monster of
cal custom bike. It’s just curious enough to make a great cast for a bike-building show on some obscure cable-tv a motorcycle had finally emerged, it was time to roll it
channel. On the left you have D.J. Ash. Let’s call him our up-and-coming builder who is always chomping at the out of the shop and onto the highways.
bit that things aren’t happening fast enough for him. Next in line is Jeff Bass, the never-happy leader of the crew.
“I was nervous,” Jeff says of his first ride. “It was like
Flanking him is Craig Monroe. He’s the long-haired misfit in our fantasy television bike building team. And on the
a new animal to me. I had butterflies every time I got
right end of the lineup is the offspring of the surly team leader…a 12 year-old girl? That would be Kathryn Bass.
on it for the first year.” But there wasn’t really anything
Those descriptions are all a joke, of course. The fact is, you’ll never meet a nicer bunch of friends than this team to be nervous about. The team had done their work
who hails from the Nutter Fort, WV area. And that bike? Believe it or not, it’s the only one they’ve built. So, okay. well, and the bike rides and handles beautifully. Be-
We don’t have the makings for a dysfunctional bike building TV show here. What we have is four really nice West sides having the pleasure of a one of a kind machine
Virginians and one spectacular bike that took about eight months of their lives to build. in his garage, Jeff says the experience has left him
Truth be told, there was no team in the beginning. There was only Jeff, who got this bug to build a bike simply with “a great sense of achievement.” It’s enough of an
because he felt like it. He didn’t know about metal fabrication. He didn’t know about painting. So he bought a achievement for him to have taken first place in the
couple DVD’s and learned. Then he went to the website for JSR Custom Choppers and found a bike building kit “Radical Custom” category at MountainFest in 2008.
that would dominate his life. But the story doesn’t end there. Jeff and the team are
When the shipping crate containing the rigid frame, engine and various other parts arrived in late October of currently deep into building yet another outrageous
2007, Jeff signed on his first crew member. His daughter Kathryn was only 9 at the time, but she took to this bike. “Once you do it, you understand things a bit bet-
bike building passion right along with him. Bolted onto the bare metal frame in the box was a 107 inch Ultima El ter,” he says of the building process. “After a year or
Bruto engine. When the bike was ready to roll out of the garage, this beast would deliver 115 horsepower. But so you get the itch to build another one.” Jeff has given
that wouldn’t happen for quite a while. Thunder Roads West Virginia a sneak peek at how
he’s scratching that itch. For now, let’s just say one
Let’s just say that the next few months were filled with lots of trials and tribulations as things were done, taken word – Dragons. Look for it on the byways of West
apart, and done over again. Blood, sweat and tears flowed into the process as Jeff pulled his friends into the Virginia next summer.
mix. Craig stabbed himself in the leg with an Exacto knife. D.J. was stabbed by the razor sharp point on the rear
fender. Building a bike isn’t as simple as inserting “Tab A” into “Slot B”.
But the machine began to take shape with the help of parts from numerous sources. An
air cleaner from Exotic Choppers and “Razor” exhaust pipes from Accessories Unlimited
would move the gases to and from the power plant. That engine would be paired with a
6-speed right side drive transmission, also from Ultima. All that power would get delivered
to a massive 300 Avon Venom rear skin. Front end responsibilities were assigned to an
inverted fork from American Suspension. The 21 inch front rubber, as well as that beast
in back, would get mounted on Twin Blade 5 Punisher wheels from Hammer Custom. To
keep a consistent look for all the shiny parts, Jeff also looked to Hammer for the grips and
pegs. He went back to JSR, the frame builder, for the wicked bars and gas tank. But when it
came to finding a seat, which by the way is a mere 21 inches above the ground, Jeff tapped
another local guy. Tom Snyder gets the credit.
10 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010
 THE BUILD

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 11

12 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010
 Randy’s Ride BIKE
MON OF T
HE
TH
You might expect that a guy who runs a
bike garage named “The Little Shop of
Harleys” would spend his customizing
energy on revamping a scoot that was
originally built in Milwaukee. But Randy
Traver of Berkeley County, WV likes to
start from the ground up.
“This is an example of what you can do
with just going through the catalogues.”
Randy is talking about going through
a lot of catalogues. To build this bike
from scratch he started with the Santee
catalogue. There he found this 2007
wide-tire softail frame. His next stop
was the RevTech catalogue, where their
110-inch engine caught his eye. This
beast churns out 120 ft/lbs of torque
as it registers 115 horsepower. Randy
stayed in the RevTech family when he
chose their 6-speed transmission. The
wide power band and precision gearing
have Randy shifting “fast and often” as
he plays with this gorgeous custom. All
of that get-up-and-go is transferred into
blistering forward momentum through a
pair of RC Component wheels and the
Avon skins they wear.
For the front end, Randy thumbed
through the Accutronix catalogue,
settling on a triple tree with a 3 degree
rake. A Headwinds headlight paves the
way as a LePara seat brings up the
rear. Speaking of the rear, check out
that beautifully frenched-in license plate
and taillight. That LED taillight also has
the turn signal lamps built right into it,
eliminating the need to have a couple of
extra lights hanging off the back. Very
neat and clean.
Now, Randy is a Harley guy at heart.
So he went to the H-D catalogues for
at least a few parts. “The only things on
there from Harley are actually the brake
calipers, the speedo and dash. That’s
about the only things from Harley.” That
speedo is nestled into a stretched 6
gallon gas tank that’s covered with a
rich three-dimensional flame paint job.
In between servicing other bikes in his
shop, Randy tries to build an average of
one bike a year. His next design is still
under consideration, but he’s got a few
ideas in mind.
“I’ll probably stick with the softail design.
Do a different rake. Maybe do a big tire
up front. I always kind of like that look
of the big tire, the big tank, and then a
real minimal back end. It’s like you’re
riding all motor.” That sounds like an
interesting design, but Randy doesn’t
need to worry that the motor is lost on
this one, either.

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 13

Crash
by Gary Westphalen
Part Three
The Series
Flash back to the December issue of Thunder
Roads West Virginia, and you’ll recall my story
about a cage making an abrupt and unwise left turn
in front of me and three other cages. The end result
was that while trying to avoid colliding with one of the
rolling dinosaurs, I ended up sliding down the street
14 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010
on my left side. In December this series explored
how the full coverage helmet I was wearing kept
my face intact. The January story looked at how the
leather jacket I was wearing protected me from road
rash, but probably did nothing to cushion the impact
with the road. That failure left me with a broken collar
bone. The story also looked at a similar crash in
which I was wearing an armored textile jacket that
probably prevented a second broken collar bone.
The series wraps up this month with a look at the
remaining body parts, and the motorcycle gear that
has been designed to protect them.
The Pants
Few riders seem to regard their pants as part of their
safety gear. But if you’re like me, you have things in
your pants that you would like to keep intact when
you ride. So your choice of pants is certainly a safety
factor.
Let’s look at that old crash of mine again. It was a
relatively low speed crash – maybe 30 or 35 miles
per hour at the outset. But that’s fast enough to send
rider and bike sliding down the street for a good
distance. In this case, the slide was enough to easily
tear at the denim fabric of my jeans, leaving a few
gaping holes. But there was no road rash in this
case. Although the jeans were eaten away, this was a
pair of jeans specifically made for motorcyclists, with
abrasion padding in the knees and seat.
In terms of safety, leather riding pants clearly provide
the best abrasion resistance. That’s why they are
standard equipment for motorcycle racing. But
many of us find leather motorcycle pants hot and
uncomfortable for long periods in the saddle. And
when you arrive at the destination you either have
to quickly change into “normal” pants or face certain
ridicule.
A half-way choice is chaps. They were originally worn
by cowboys for the purpose of protecting their legs
as they road through the brush, rounding up the little
doggies. I don’t know, but I’m guessing that when
the first motorcycles came around, some old cowboy
felt chaps worked well for either style of horse and a
tradition was born. Chaps are great wind protection,
modest protection against the elements and good
protection against road rash as long as the parts that
hit the road are covered by the chaps. Go sliding on
your butt and the chaps are, well, not there to save
you.
The overwhelming choice among bikers is the old
stand-by – blue jeans. While denim is a comfortable
material that wears well, it’s no match for concrete or
blacktop. So several companies have come up with
jeans that sport an extra level of protection in the
places that bikers need it most. The knees and seat
are reinforced with sewn-in patches that are designed
to handle abrasion. Most are made of aramid, which
is a fiber used to create bullet-proof vests. It’s not a
very comfortable material, so manufacturers weave
a touch of padding on the skin side of the abrasion
patches. I’ve seen a video of a guy being pulled
on his rear end behind a pick-up truck for a good
distance. When he stands up the denim is completely
gone, but the sewn-in skid pad – and his backside –
are unharmed.
I almost always ride with these jeans, but they don’t
seem to be very popular with bikers who took our
Safety Gear Survey at www.thunderroadswv.com.
Only about six percent of respondents say they wear
motorcycle-specific textile pants when they ride.
Another nine percent say they wear leather pants
designed for motorcycling. That means about 85% of
our survey respondents wear ordinary pants or even
shorts.
There is an endless variety of overpants from almost
every maker of motorcycle garments. Many models
sport CE armor, just like textile jackets, which is great
crash protection. But the pants aren’t big sellers with
the street crowd. Having worn a few pairs myself
over the years, I think I understand why. Most are hot
and uncomfortable. While that extra layer might feel
good in the cooler months, donning a pair of armored
overpants in July is less than appealing.
www.thunderroadswv.com
Gloves
Say the words “motorcycle gloves” to any group of
riders and the number of images it conjures up will be
equal to the number of bikers assembled. I personally
think that the enormous variety of motorcycle gloves
available suggests that no one has created the ideal
biker’s glove. Most of us probably have more pairs
of gloves in our gear stash than any other item. And
there’s something wrong with all of them.
I had fingerless gloves. A stone that was kicked up by
a car hit me in the bare knuckle so hard that I thought
it was broken. I got armored gloves that are about
as uncomfortable as that pair of armored overpants
that I don’t wear. I got thin leather bike gloves that
stretch out of shape in no time and turn hard as rock
when they catch a little rain. Then I got “waterproof”
leather gloves, and they are waterproof. But they
don’t breath at all and although rain doesn’t penetrate
them, the perspiration that builds up inside isn’t any
drier.
It seems that there is no single pair of gloves to
handle every situation in which bikers may find
themselves. Perhaps having an arsenal of gloves
is really the only way to go. So when you choose
your next pair of gloves, go with your gut. But there
are a few tips to keep in mind. The most important
point in choosing gloves is making sure they are
comfortable for their intended purpose. Put them on
and wrap your hands around the nearest set of bars.
Make sure they don’t pinch the ends of your fingers
or bunch up under your knuckles or palm. Check
that they are flexible enough to easily reach all the
hand controls. Be sure the wrist end cinches down
securely. Shake your hands vigorously to make sure
the gloves won’t come off in an accident.
FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 15
Boots
No, not tennis shoes. Boots. The foot is the first part
of the body to make contact in most get-offs. When
a bike gets out of shape, our first instinct is to steady
it with our foot. It needs to be protected and tennis
shoes simply don’t do the job. Motorcycle safety
programs stress the need for boots that go above the
ankle, providing support to that fragile joint in a crash.
My first pair of biker boots were army surplus, and
they were great. But the technology of motorcycle
boots has advanced significantly since then.
Manufacturers have boots specific to all forms
of motorcycling, from off-road to drag racing and
everything in between. One thing they all have in
common is over-the-ankle protection. Not only does
this safeguard the ankle, but it also helps to insure
that the boot will stay on in a crash. Loose fitting and
low-riding footwear will fly off at the very instant of
contact and there goes your protection.
Look for oil resistant soles with at least some kind of
tread. Putting your foot down at a stoplight is not the
place to find out that your boots don’t grip the road
surface. From road grime to rainwater, biker boots
take a lot of hits. There are a number of boots on the
market that bill themselves as waterproof. I can’t
attest to all of them, but I do have a pair that is truly
waterproof. After many years and over 100,000 miles
in my Cruiser Works boots, I can honestly say that I
have never had a wet foot.
The End
So now you’ve spent your winter months reading
and thinking about the various types of safety gear
available for every inch of your biker body. Go to your
closet, and take a good look at what you’ve been
wearing. Is that helmet old and smelly? Leathers a
bit past their prime? Textiles getting a bit threadbare?
The new riding season is just around the corner, and
this would be a good time to look into replacing that
ratty old gear with some fresh duds. Look over the
articles from these three issues and think about the
choices you want to make when it comes to safety,
comfort and style. Then flip through the magazine
to the ads for the fantastic shops that not only
support Thunder Roads West Virginia, but also offer
everything you need to hit the road looking good!
Ride safe.
 Hidden Highways
State Route 129
It may not be the kind of road that gets most bikers juices flowing, but
West Virginia State Route 129 boasts about one thing that no other
road in the state can touch. Bikers traveling through Nicholas County
get to ride 2,280 feet across the top of a 40 story dam as they look to
one side down on the Summersville lake, and to the other side down –
16 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010
w-a-a-a-a-y down - to the Gauley River as it exits this reservoir.
This monstrous structure is the second-largest rock-filled dam in the eastern U.S., and the lake
it creates is West Virginia’s largest body of water. The stats are hard to comprehend. Starting
in 1960, it took the Army Corps of Engineers $48-million and six years to form the dam from
12-million cubic yards of rock and dirt. It was dedicated by President Lyndon B. Johnson in
September of 1966. The reservoir of water behind the dam has a surface area of around 2,700
acres and plunges to as much as 300 feet in depth. It is a major destination for boating, fishing,
scuba diving and rock climbing. Hydroelectric generation was retrofitted in 2001, and the dam
now produces 80 Megawatts of electricity.
But here’s my favorite story about the Summersville Dam. It caused the Army Corps of
Engineers to change a long-standing tradition. Throughout history, the Corps had a policy of
naming dam projects after the nearest town, unless it was being named for a President or
other famous person. Before the reservoir was filled, there was a little village located near the
present-day marina. But not only would this village be denied the naming honor, it would also
end up at the bottom of the lake. The rising waters would not spare the village of Gad, and the
Corps would not name it the “Gad Dam”. Go figure.
So, Okay. Back to the road. As I said, not a spectacular “ride”,
but certainly a scenic one. Do it, as I did, when the fall leaves
are at their peak, and the views of the lake will blow you away.
Pull your bike up onto the pedestrian walkway that looks down
the face of the dam to the hydro plant 40 stories below you,
and take a picture. Oops. Forget I said that. It’s probably a no-no. But, park in the
lot and walk to the overlook. Then, walk across the road to the side that overlooks
the lake. Oh, man! I got away from talking about the road, and back on the scenery
again. Sorry.
The road. It’s eleven miles long, and most of it is a nice ride through the countryside.
At the northwest end, it begins at Highway 39, which is actually a more exciting bike
road. Although 129 is generally mild, watch out for some 90 degree turns along
the way. Blink at the wrong moment and you could find yourself traveling down
a different road. On the southeast end, Highway 129 ends at U.S. 19, about five
miles south of Summersville. From there, if you want to experience another of West
Virginia’s most spectacular views, head south to the New River Gorge. But that’s a
story for another day.

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 17

S
K
I
N
A
R
T
20 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010
That was Then…This is Now

Four decades have passed since Robert “Bam” Lohr donned his metallic gold
helmet and bell bottom blue jeans for this picture on the left. The year was 1979,
and Bam was astride his 1974 Sportster. The 900 had been bored and stroke to
40 over. There was no electric start on the bike and kick starting it must have been
an interesting experience. Robert lived in Rockville, Maryland at the time.
Now flip your mental calendar pages 40 years ahead to this past summer, and
look to the picture on the right. Somewhere in that calendar flipping, you should
have seen Bam move from that other place into the great state of West Virginia.
Inwood, to be exact. He’s also moved up the Harley-Davidson product line.
Beneath that enormous flag and handsome biker is his 2006 Ultra Classic.
Roll on, Bam. Roll on.

(Editor’s Note: If you have “then” and “now” pictures of yourself and your ride du jour, email them along with a little description to
gary@thunderroadswv.com and we’ll share your story.)

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 21

Clarksburg Bike Night by Ken Holby

For those of you not familiar with the city of

Clarksburg, there is an event held each Thursday
night during the riding season at a small diner located
downtown in our city - it’s called “Ritzy Lunch Bike
Night”. The owner of Ritzy Lunch, Antonio Selario,
with the help of his Dad - “Hot Dog John”, invite
everyone and anyone to “come-on-down” and enjoy
the festivities. On a nice summer night, you may see
upwards of 150-250 bikes and their owners mingling
and swapping stories of the last run, what they’ve
added to their bike, etc.
There is a large parking lot across the street where
most of the bikes park, as well as up and down the
street on the side of the diner. Once 5:00pm goes
by, car owners who use the lot during the day leave
and the bikes take over. The lot is owned by a local
church which has, so far, not hampered the riders.
Basically everyone who rides down each Thursday
is very civil and respects the property, which I think
makes a good impression.
Clarksburg is a small town with friendly people, like
many other West Virginia cities, but Bike Night sets
it apart from the rest and it’s easy to get to. Route
50 and I-79 cross just outside of Clarksburg, making
the ride downtown an easy and enjoyable one.
Plus, with Route 50 going East and West through
Clarksburg itself, it couldn’t be easier to find. Take
the Downtown exit from either direction and turn right
at the light. Two blocks and one minute later, you’re
there. It can’t be much easier.
For those of you who’d like to grab something to eat
while visiting, Ritzy Lunch has some great hotdogs,
fries and too many other things to mention. With only
about 8 booths and around 12 counter stools, it sure
isn’t a large place, but who needs a giant restaurant
to have a good time. Besides the regular diner drinks
served, can and draft beer is available, plus drafts
are allowed outside and across the street as long as
it’s in a plastic cup.

22 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010

 I’ve been taking pictures there and putting them on
my website (www.kenthepictureguy.50webs.com)
since the summer of ‘03. I will admit that when I first
started going to Bike Night, I was amazed at the
beautiful bikes many of the riders have. I’ve noticed
one thing - usually the best looking “stock, but
enhanced” Harleys are owned by the “older” crowd.
Maybe they have a bit more cash to invest in their
bikes, I’m not sure. On the nice nights, guys and girls
will ride their custom choppers down. Some of these
bikes would put magazine quality bikes to shame.
Many riders, myself included, start watching the
weather forecasts on Monday to see what the
weather will be for Thursday night. It can really be
a letdown when rain is forecast. If it’s not too bad,
many local riders still come down. Being a small
town means it usually takes only a few minutes to
get home - or just wait a little while and the weather
might change for the better. More than once we’ve
been caught there during a downpour, but it usually
clears up within an hour.
This is not set in stone, but Bike Night usually starts
the first Thursday in May. I hope to see many more
“Out-of-Towners” during Bike Night this coming riding
season. See ya’ then....
Ken Holby (1970 Triumph TR6R chopper)

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 23

 An older man approached an attractive younger woman at a
shopping mall. ‘Excuse me; I can’t seem to find my wife. Can
you talk to me for a couple of minutes?’
The woman, feeling a bit of compassion for the old fellow, said,
‘Of course, sir. Do you know where your wife might be?’
‘I have no idea, but every time I talk to a woman with hooters
like yours, she magically seems to appear out of nowhere.’
One morning 3 Alabama good ole’ boys and 3 Yankees were in
a ticket line at the Birmingham train station heading to Atlanta
for a big football game.
The 3 Yanks each bought a ticket and watched as the 3
southerners bought just one ticket among them.
“How are the 3 of you going to travel on one 1 ticket?” asked
one of the Yanks.
“Watch and learn” answered one of the boys from the south.
When the 6 travelers boarded the train, the 3 Yanks sat down,
but the 3 southerners crammed into a bathroom together and
closed the door.
Shortly after the train departed, the conductor came around to
collect tickets.
He knocked on the bathroom door and said, “tickets please.”
the door opened just a crack and a single arm emerged with a
ticket in hand. The conductor took it and moved on.
The Yanks saw this happen and agreed it was quite a clever
idea. Indeed, so clever that they decided to do the same thing
on the return trip and save some money.
That evening after the game when they got to the Atlanta train
station, they bought a single ticket for the return trip while to
their astonishment the 3 southerners didn’t buy even 1 ticket.
“How are you going to travel without a ticket?” asked one of the
perplexed Yanks.
“Watch and learn”, answered one of the southern boys.
When they boarded the train the 3 northerners crammed
themselves into a bathroom and the 3 southerners crammed
themselves into the other bathroom across from it.
Shortly after the train began to move, one of the southerners left
their bathroom and walked quietly over to the Yanks bathroom.
He knocked on the door and said “ticket please”.
Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my
lunch, grabbed the dog, and slipped quietly into the garage.
I hooked up the boat up to the truck, and proceeded to back
out into a torrential downpour. The wind was blowing 50 mph,
so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and
discovered that the weather would be bad all day. I went back
into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed.
I cuddled up to my wife’s back, now with a different anticipation,
and whispered, “The weather out there is terrible.”
24 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010
My loving wife of 15 years replied, “Can you believe my stupid-
ass husband is out fishing in that mess?”
And that’s how the fight started…
A woman is standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She
is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband, ‘I feel
horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a
compliment.’
The husband replies, ‘Well, your eyesight’s damn near perfect.’
And then the fight started ....
I took my wife to a restaurant. “I’ll have the Porterhouse steak,
rare, please.” The waiter said, “Aren’t you worried about the
mad cow?”
“Nah, she can order for herself.” And the fight started.
It is near the Spring Break of the school year. The students have
turned in all their work and there is really nothing more to do.
All the children are restless and the teacher decides to have an
early dismissal.
Teacher: “Whoever answers the questions I ask, first and
correctly can leave early today.”
Little Johnny says to himself “Good, I want to get outta’ here.
I’m smart and will answer the question.”
Teacher: “Who said ‘Four Score and Seven Years Ago’?”
Before Johnny can open his mouth, Susie says,
“Abraham Lincoln.”
Teacher: “That’s right Susie, you can go home.”
Johnny is mad that Susie answered the question first.
Teacher: “Who said ‘I Have a Dream’?”
Before Johnny can open his mouth, Mary says,
“Martin Luther King.”
Teacher: “That’s right Mary, you can go.”
Johnny is even madder than before.
Teacher: “Who said ‘Ask not, what your country can do for
you’?”
Before Johnny can open his mouth, Nancy says,
“John F. Kennedy.”
Teacher: “That’s right Nancy , you may also leave.”
Johnny is boiling mad that he has not been the first to answer
any of the questions.
When the teacher turns her back Johnny says, “I wish these
bitches would keep their mouths shut!”
The teacher, shocked, spins around: “Who said that?”
Little Johnny yells out, “TIGER WOODS. CAN I GO NOW?”
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY ALL YOU BIKER SWEETIES!
 MOTORCYCLE PERSONAL AUTO
ACCIDENTS INJURY ACCIDENTS

292-LAWYER CALL NOW FOR

(304.292.4381) FREE INITIAL
CONSULTATION
AT OUR OFFICE
...OR WE’LL
COME TO YOU.

S. J. Angotti (1924-1987) • David J. Straface • John R. Angotti

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 25
 Seats & SADDLES

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 27

 TheCreative
Process By Gabrielle Aquilino

Thinking of buying a new bike - WAIT! - Consider another option!

I have owned various motorcycles for the last 20 years. Every 2-3 years I trade
in my current bike for a newer model. I get the itch for a new model or color. I
convince myself I need more “bells and whistles”.
In 2003 I purchased my first Harley Davidson V-Rod. I told myself that I would
never own any other model from that time on. The V-Rod isn’t for everybody, but
it fit my needs perfectly. But after 3 years I got tired of the Aluminum Tank and
decided I needed a change.
That began my search. I was searching for the ultimate artist to help me recreate
my 2003 V-Rod. I wanted one of those custom paint jobs that I would always
drool over at every bike show. Well, easier said than done! I contacted artist after
artist. I went from Silver Spring, Maryland to Chambersburg, Pa. I wasn’t happy
with what I found. The problems I found ranged from unavailable and unreliable
to them telling me what I wanted. I finally gave up and traded up to a 2006 Black
V-Rod.
I had given up on the “custom” look. That is until September of 2007. I was at a
local Motorcycle show and saw an artist with a small set up. I walked over and
decided I would wait the 10 minutes in line just to talk to her. I wanted to see if I
got that urge again.
Well, the rest is history! I have recommended Weeze to several friends. They
have always been happy with not just the art work, but how they were treated as
valued customers. I have told her several times that she has the unique ability to
make every person she deals with feel like they are the only one that matters at
that time.
I have now had 3 V-Rod covers painted with 3 different images. Each time I
change them out I have a “NEW” / different bike. I have also had various parts of
the bike painted including the swing arm, front fork tubes and back rest. Ask her
what she can do for you to make yours a one of a kind.
I have also had the trunk lid of my 2001 Chrysler Prowler painted with an
incredible Panther image. I got looks in that car before. NOW!!! I just have to
worry about people almost hitting me from behind as they admire the art work.

It was my turn to meet her now. She was not like any artist I had spoken with on
my last venture. She listened to me very carefully and complimented me on my
ideas. She actually seemed to care about me as a potential customer. She said
she was looking forward to working with me to make my ideas happen. This was
the one!!! I went home and immediately told my friend that I finally met the artist I
had searched for and she was in the area all along.
I called her to set up an appointment at her studio in Martinsburg, WV. I walked
in to a warm and friendly atmosphere. She greeted me by asking if I wanted
anything to drink. Her positive attitude and friendly personality were immediately
contagious. We spent the next 1 1/2 hours designing what I wanted. She gave me
ideas that improved on my original design. She listened to me the entire time and
honestly made me feel like I was the most important customer she had.
Then she quoted me the price. I was hoping she wouldn’t see my jaw drop when
she gave me a price that was less than half of what I intended to spend. I was
ecstatic. This was CUSTOM!! art work. I know people who paid outrageous
money for just for one small design.

28 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010

 By Jim “Jammer” Marcum
A new bike comes with an owner’s manual. It contains maintenance procedures, safety precautions and
a troubleshooting guide. They usually have a statement near the front that says, “Warning! Failure to
comply with these guidelines can affect the safe operation of your motorcycle, which could result in death
or serious injury.”
We also have another manual, the Holy Bible. Everything we need to know about life is contained within
this book. The Ten Commandments can be viewed as our safety precautions. If we follow them He has
promised us the reward of Heaven. Failure to comply will subject us to the consequences!
We perform regular maintenance on our bikes to keep them running, which sometimes requires a
mechanic. Similarly, we must perform spiritual maintenance on ourselves and allow Jesus to tune us
up periodically. If not, we’ll find ourselves spending too much time troubleshooting instead of allowing
God to keep us fine tuned! He is our personal mechanic and is on duty 24/7, for He is a God that never
sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:3-4). We never need an appointment and He is never too busy for
us (Matthew 11:28). He will take us in, analyze what needs repaired in our lives and fix it. He is also
qualified to give us a complete overhaul if only we ask of Him (Romans 10:13). However, how can He fix
us unless we first bring ourselves to Him and allow Him to accomplish the work in us? (Philippians 1:6).
Does your bike need to be fixed?…then get it fixed. Do you need to be fixed?…then let God fix you!
The cool thing about it is that He doesn‘t charge for His services. Salvation is free because He has
already paid the price!
Jim “Jammer” Marcum resides in Charleston and has been involved in motorcycle ministry for
nearly 15 years and serves as Clergy within Highways and Hedges Motorcycle Ministry.

I have even had her paint a jacket as a tribute to my sister-in-law Tammie who
passed away from Cancer. Her compassion shows through on that art work. I will
treasure it always.
I have been very lucky to get to know this woman as an artist and as a person.
Her pride in her work and her professionalism have been constant factors
throughout the last two years.
STILL want a new bike?? Why not sit down with Weeze and get involved in
the creative process. It doesn’t cost anything for you to brainstorm on an idea/
concept. You will be surprised how enjoyable and fulfilling it is to create that
unique, one of a kind machine that fills you with pride as others now drool over
your ride!
So why put out thousands of dollars for a newer model with a couple of minor
changes. For a fraction of the cost you can have that “Custom” bike you have
always dreamed of. And you created it yourself!!!....(With a helping hand from
Weeze).

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 29

 Thunder Roads West Virginia Survey

Rate The Page

One of our favorite things to do is watch The Survey
you while you read Thunder Roads West
Virginia. Oh, yeah. We watch you pick up
the magazine at one of our advertiser’s A. Dragon Tales
establishments or at a bike event where we 1. Huh?
have a booth to pass out magazines. We
2. I don’t read it every time.
watch you read. Now before you start getting
creeped out, the reason we watch you is 3. It’s Okay.
because we want to know what you like 4. I really enjoy her column.
about the magazine. We watch which pages 5. The Dragon Rocks!
you stop to read, and which pages you just
whip on by. We watch you get to the center
of the magazine…and turn it sideways. That B. Letter From The Editor
always makes us smile. 1. Double Huh?
We hear from someone everyday about how 2. Kind of a yawner.
much they enjoy something in the magazine. 3. It’s worth reading.
This article, or that one. But what, exactly, do
you like and not like about Thunder Roads 4. I always find it interesting.
West Virginia? 5. I memorize it every month!
Here’s your chance to tell us. All of our
regular features are listed below, and we C. Bike Of The Month
ask you to rate each on a scale from one to
1. Who cares?
five, with five being the highest rating. We
will use this information to help us shape 2. Not very interesting.
the magazine in the months ahead. You can 3. I see something cool once in a while.
fill out the survey and mail it, if you like. But 4. I enjoy reading about other people’s bikes.
it’s easier for both of us if you fill it out on
our website at www.thunderroadswv.com.
5. One of my favorite pages!
From the homepage, click the “Rate the
Page” button.
We’re working hard to make this a magazine
for all bikers in West Virginia, so be honest
but be nice, too.

30 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010

D. Hidden Highways I. K.I.S.S.
1. Been there. Rode that. 1. You must have mistaken me for someone who cooks.
2. I’ll find my own roads. 2. Reading it makes me hungry.
3. Some look like neat roads. 3. I wish my significant biker would cook some of this stuff for me.
4. I’m always interested in new places to ride. 4. I use one of the recipes every once in a while.
5. It’s not a road until it’s featured in Hidden Highways! 5. These recipes make me so hungry that I usually eat the page!

E. Center Calendar J. Upcoming Events

1. I don’t bother turning the magazine sideways.
2. Just another pin-up picture.
3. The photos are okay.
4. I enjoy the cool bikes and pretty girls.
5. The mag hangs in my garage all month!
1. I make my own events.
2. I glance at who’s doing what.
3. It’s nice to know what’s happening around the state.
4. Sometimes I look for rides that might be close to me.
5. I love traveling all over the state to participate in rides!

F. Skin Art K. The High Road

1. Yuck! 1. I am from the dark side.
2. I’m glad that’s not on my body. 2. Not really interested.
3. Just flippin’ through. 3. I read most of the devotional.
4. It’s great artwork. 4. His column makes me feel good.
5. I found what I want for my next tattoo! 5. Jammer speaks to my soul.

G. Seats & Saddles L. The Jokers Wild

1. Disgusting. 1. Oh, it’s supposed to be funny?
2. Whatever. 2. There’s a chuckle or two in there.
3. Boys will be boys. Whaddya gonna do? 3. I retell the jokes sometimes.
4. Got my attention. 4. I laugh out loud.
5. Nice curves to those, ah, saddles! 5. Hysterical, Man. Just hysterical.

H. TNT
1. Oh, please.
2. Sometimes I see double.
3. It’s nice eye candy.
4. I like seeing double.
5. No, I mean it’s REALLY nice eye candy.

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 31

 TNT

32 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010

 MADE WITH LOVE........ BLACK CHERRY & MINT
LAMB CHOPS
1 - 14oz. Can Jellied Cranberry Sauce
4 Loin Lamb Chops, each 1-1/2 in. thick
Real Butter Cooking Spray
1 Stalk of Scallion or Shallot; thinly sliced
2 Tbls. Fresh Mint; chopped finely
1 Cup Black Cherry All-Fruit Preserves
3 Tbls. Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 tsp. Cracked Black Pepper
Salt to taste
1 Large Pat of Real Butter
Preheat oven to Broil. Spray lamb chops with butter spray and arrange on
a slotted broiler pan. Place chops under pre-heated, hot broiler and cook
8-10 minutes for medium-rare and 9-11 minutes for medium (just perfect
pink thruout). While chops are broiling (put a timer to them as overcooked
lamb chops are a cooking sin), in a small saucepan over medium heat,
add one pat of quality margarine to pan, add your chopped shallots and
mint, cook out for 2 minutes, then add the Black Cherry preserves and
whisk together with the balsamic vinegar & cracked black pepper.
Remove from heat and whisk in your large pat of real butter into sauce.
Cover to keep hot. Remove chops from broiler, tent to cover completely
but let them rest for 4 mins. before serving. Plate up 2 chops each and
pour a generous amount of Black Cherry Mint sauce down over each
chop. This romantic supper is so easy to make but tastes like it came
from a 4-star restaurant!
POLENTA HEARTS
Polenta is just Italian cornmeal that when cooked with liquid makes a
delicious mush. It can be found in the rice or pasta aisle of any regular
grocery store.
1 Medium Pot of Boiling Water
Salt to Taste
1/2 Cup of Instant Polenta (Medium cut preferred)
2 Tbls. Real Butter
Nonstick Butter Cooking Spray
TO ALL OUR BRAVE, PROUD TROOPS... YOU’RE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS DAILY. God Speed You Home.
www.thunderroadswv.com
Apprx. 3 Tbls. Olive Oil
1 Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter
Slowly whisk your Polenta into your salted, boiling water and watch your
pot and stir continuously for about 5 minutes. Stir in your real butter.
Spray a glass oven dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour polenta into
dish and spread evenly so it forms about a 1/2 inch layer. Chill it up in
refrigerator for no less than 1 hour. Take out of fridge and spray your
cookie cutter with cooking spray and then punch out all the heart shapes
you can get out of the layer and set aside. Pre-heat a large skillet to
medium-high heat. Add your olive oil to pan and sear up your Polenta
hearts until golden brown on both sides. Transfer to paper towels and
serve hot and crisp. You’re going to love the flavor of these little bites.
LOVELY & EASY CHERRIES JUBILEE
4 Tbls. Unsalted Real Butter
1 Large Bottle of Real Cherry Preserves
1 Cup of Orange Juice
1-1/2 Cups Cherry Brandy (*optional)
1 Package of *Grands Buttermilk Biscuits
1 Carton of Real Vanilla-Bean Ice Cream
Pre-heat your oven and get your biscuits cooking. While they cook, in a
large saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter, stir in the bottle of real
cherry preserves and the orange juice.
If you’re adding the brandy, remove the pan away from the stove, add
your brandy and place your pan back on the stove and shake the pan
several times to ignite the pan and burn off the brandy. This only lasts
seconds but you then have that rich, thickened brandy taste. If the pan
doesn’t ignite by shaking it around, just use a long, candle lighter to ignite
brandy. It’s still really good without the brandy. Now, take your baked
buttermilk biscuits, slice in half, butter each side, drizzle with some honey
and spoon your Cherries Jubilee mix generously down over the biscuits.
Top with real Vanilla Bean ice-cream that you’ve let soften slightly by
nuking in micro for about 10 seconds. Whooeeeee, baby, this is so good
your taste buds will be sending you little kisses all over your mouth! And
remember, the best word thruout the world is still L O V E.
Happy Valentines Day
FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 33
 BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY
ATTORNEYS
Angotti & Straface, L.C.
274 Spruce Street
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 292-4381
www.angottistrafacelaw.com
Colombo & Stuhr, PLLC.
1054 Maple Drive
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 599-4229
www.colombostuhr.com
BAIL BONDS
Weatherholtz Bonding
306 West Stephen Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
(304) 267-5888 or (304) 728-6889
Email: tweatherholtz@verizon.net
BARS & RESTAURANTS
3rd Base Sports Bar & Grill
22 Virginia Avenue; US Rt. 220
Up from the stop light
Petersburg, WV 26847
(304) 257-2273
Email: calt2@rocketmail.com
Bee Hive Tavern
463 Morgantown Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 282-8196
One block from Thinkin Ink Tattoo
Cindy’s Bar & Grill
Route 3 (End of Speedway)
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 363-0058
Across from KET TruckStop
Dakota Tavern
Route 19 North of Fairmont
(304) 288-4893
Friendly Atmosphere and Good Food
Est. 1964
Fox’s Pizza Den
646 North Main Street
Franklin, WV 26807
304-358-2118
Pizza-Salads-Subs-Chicken
34 Thunder Roads West Virginia FEBRUARY 2010
Iron Horse Bar & Grill
HC 84 Box 33 (Cutoff Road)
Keyser, WV 26726
(304) 788-7533
Longshots Billiards
76 Wolfcraft Way
Charles Town, WV 25414
(304) 724-1975
www.longshotsbilliards.com
Magic’s Bar & Grill
3 Moran Circle
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 363-9227
Across from Pickup City
Mom’s Place
Full menu served 24 hours a day
The end of Hoult Road by the Phillips Plant
Fairmont, WV
(304) 788-6433
Mountaineer All Star Cafe
U.S. Rt. 220 South / 2 mi. from Keyser
A Family Restaurant with a Sports Atmosphere
(304) 788-6433
Nan & Pops Place
3485 Winchester Avenue
Martinsburg, WV 25405
(304) 267-2007
www.nanandpopsplace.com
Road Hogs Saloon
415 Clayton Street
Rivesville, WV 26588
Star Mercantile, LLC
80 W. Main Street
Wardensville, WV 26851
(304) 874-FOOD (3663)
Email: star.wardensville@gmail.com
Steve’s Broken Spoke Bar & Grill
14977 SR 55
Needmore, WV 26801
(304) 897-7706
Email: sbosley@hardynet.com
BIKER ACCESSORIES,
APPAREL, LEATHERS & GIFTS
Anthony’s Specialty
Biker Apparel – Leather – H-D Boots & More
112 Davis Avenue
Glen Lyn, VA 24093
(540) 726-3080
DFM Special Tee House “The Biker Shack”
Helmets – Shirts – Chaps - Jewelry
162 Nancy Jack Road
Gerrardstown, WV 25420
(304) 229-7609
Email: dfmdbikershack@aol.com
East View Variety Shop
We have everything from A - Z,
Old and New
715 Philippi Pike
East View Community
Clarksburg, WV 26301
(304) 622-6710
CUSTOM APPAREL
My Club Clothing and Accessories
Embossed, Silk Screened and
Embroidered Custom Logos
Kerry Henson (301) 992-1530
Email: kerry@myclubclothing.com
www.myclubclothing.com
CUSTOM ART
Art by Weeze
Custom art on bikes, leathers, helmets,
auto, canvas & murals
Martinsburg, WV
(304) 264-4604
Email: sheila@artbyweeze.com
www.artbyweeze.com
DEALERS & SERVICE
Evel Speed
Custom Machine & Motor Sick’l Shop
7323 Winchester Avenue
Inwood, WV 25428
(304) 229-0987
www.evelspeed.net
 BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY
JT Cycle & Hoodlum Motorcycle Garage
Aftermarket & Custom Parts & Accessories
INSURANCE VEHICLE SERVICES
486 Ragland Road, Beckley, WV 25801
Mathias & Associates Insurance Bob’s Tire Service Inc.
(304) 255-2468
Farm – Home – Auto – Life - Health 812 East Moler Avenue
www.jtcycleparts.com
Motorcycle – Boat – RV Insurance Martinsburg, WV 25401
and Retirement Planning (304) 267-2797
M&J Motor Company
(800) 628-3064 www.bobstireservice.net
Lehman Trike Conversions
Email: mathiasins@hardynet.com
1000 S. Queen Street
Hot Rods Roll Back and Towing
Martinsburg, WV 25401
(304) 262-6200
LODGING Specializing in Motorcycle Towing
274 Bedington Road
www.mjtrikes.com
Smoke Hole Caverns & Resort Martinsburg, WV 25401
Open All Year Round (304) 267-5586 Visa & MC Accepted
Miller’s ATV Superstore
HC 59, Box 39 Email: hotrodstowing@yahoo.com
On Rt. 52 in Bluewell, WV
Seneca Rocks, WV 26884
Stop for all your ATV & Dirt Bike riding needs
3601 Coal Heritage Rd.,
(800) 828-8478 WEB DESIGN
www.smokehole.com
Bluefield, WV 24701
Meridian Websites
(304) 589-5277 www.millersatvs.com
MOTORCYCLE PARTS 55 Meridian Parkway, Suite 101
Martinsburg, WV 25401
O.B.’s Motorsports
CycleMart - Your Motorcycle Parts Store (304) 263-1000
1019 7th Street
All Makes All Models www.meridianwebsites.com
Parkersburg, WV 26101
202 Elkins Street
(304) 420-0910
Fairmont, WV 26554
Motorcycles Shipped FREE
(304) 366-8119
Clubs & Organizations
www.obsmotorsports.com
www.cyclemart.net
C.E.’s Helping Hands (Old Fields, WV)
Shenandoah Harley-Davidson
213 Rolling Thunder Lane
PHOTOGRAPHY is a non-profit organization enlisting the
help of other good hearted people wanting
Staunton, VA 24401
Vetter Photo to contribute to the cause of helping others
(540) 213-7433
1675 Cold Spring Road in need. Recent donations have gone
www.shenhd.com
Moorefield, WV 26836 to local families with serious health and
(304) 530-6855 financial challenges. The organization holds
Skip’s Honda
www.vetterphoto.com monthly meetings and several fundraising
580 South Mineral Street
rides every year. Donations are always
Keyser, WV 26726
(304) 788-1615
SPORTING GOODS appreciated. For more information visit our
website at www.cehelpinghands.com.
Doug’s Sport Shop
Smitty’s Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha
New and Used Guns, Sporting Apparel, Highways and Hedges Motorcycle
Rt. 33 E. Corridor H
Aigner Products and Reloading Supplies Ministry (South Charleston, WV)
Buckhannon, WV 26201
220 North Main Street; 743B Hawse Plaza For more information email Jim “Jammer”
(304) 472-4824
Moorefield, WV 26836 (304) 538-6496 Marcum at: harley4me2@verizon.net
Email: smittys@cebridge.net
Email: dougssportsshop@frontiernet.net
www.supersmittys.com

The Twisted Spoke

TATTOO STUDIOS
Custom Builds, Motorcycle & ATV Repair
Smokin’ Guns Tattoo
97 Milford Street
2986 Robert C. Byrd Drive
Clarksburg, WV 26301
Beckley, WV 25801
(304) 326-HOGG (4644)
(304) 250-6020
www.thetwistedspoke.com
www.sgtattoo.com

www.thunderroadswv.com FEBRUARY 2010 Thunder Roads West Virginia 35

 3485 Winchester Ave , Martinsburg WV 25405
(304) 267-2007

Snow Crabs or Prime Rib $30 per couple $20 single

Music: Shades (50s, 60s & Motown)

FEBRUARY BANDS
February 13th – Stone Cold Red
February 20th – Blue Fish
February 27th – Mack Attack

March 6th
Save the Ta-Tas
Relay for life breast cancer awareness fundraiser
Wear a bra to auction off!

Friday Night March 19th

Smooth Cat Burglars
Saturday March 20th
Spring Poker Run
to benefit Fallen Police Officers of the Eastern Panhandle

Sign-up at 12:00 noon with kick stands up at 2:00 p.m.

Beer Garden 12:00 – 6:00
Live Music by J Factor
All You Can Drink Domestic Draft $10
BBQ Buffet for $5.00 Beer & Buffet for $15.00

Sunday March 21st

Beer Garden Opens at 1:00 p.m.
Bike Show - Registration 1:00 – 3:00
Judging at 4:00