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Vol. 3 - Issue 4
| April 2012
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I. Team Ride West Track Support
Our exciting new program! Ever wanted to go to a place where you can ride your ownbike as fast as you want, with no oncoming traffic and no irritating worries about speeding tickets? Your best bet would be a 2Fast Track Day or Track School. It would be even better if you had an area to relax provided for you.
Voila! For the remainder of this year, a customer who purchases ANY model new 2012 BMW can select a 2Fast event at either Pacific Raceways or The Ridge (the exciting new track outside of Shelton) and we will provide track support: our Events Sprinter van with a canopy, chairs, snacks, and water, John Heale, Mark Eddy, or Dave Swezey and our demo BMW S 1000RR to ride, and Dave Preston to maintain the "friendship station" at the van. Once the customer has selected a day of his or her choice, we will take care of the customer's entry, and let you all know. Then you can merely register, pay for the event, and when you arrive we will have "your" support Sprinter there with the canopy, chairs, water, and snacks to make the day special.
But wait, there's more! Let's say you wanted to attend either the track day or track from 2Fast on April 11th, May 9th, or June 6th. By a special arrangement with 2Fast and WMST, as a Ride West VIP customer you will pay not the usual $189 for a track day or $289 for a track school, but only $120 for the track day or $220 for the school!
Even better, Chris Johnson of WMST and our Dave Swezey will attend all three events, so you'll have coaching help even if you opt for just the track day. Chris is well known for his Washington Motorcycle Safety Training (WMST) programs, and has served as an instructor for a police high speed motorcycle operation course. Dave Swezey is a graduate of Keith Code's California Superbike School, and their experience and knowledge will be available to you for free. This offer is open to you riding any street legal motorcycle of any brand.
To registert any of these dates, simply go to www.2Fast.org and use the special promo code of RIDEWEST to access the special rate for just those three dates.
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II. Exhibitions At A Picture...
Summer IS coming. Really. I'm serious |
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III. You, Me, You-Tube, We..Etc.
We have our own Team Ride West web site page on the Ride West site. Go to our Team Ride West page. There you'll find lots of information, links to ride videos and slide shows from past adventures.
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Content Editor: Dave Preston Production Editor: Nicole Turner |
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IV. Team Ride West Events
Please check the web site frequently for changes.
April
4/11 - Wed - track day/school - Pacific Raceway
4/14 - Sat - PSS Maintenance class 9:00am - Ride West
4/13-16 Fri - Mon - PSS Adventure Camp Roy, WA
4/17 - Tu - Team Ride West dinner6:30pm - Café Veloce
4/20-23 Fri - Mon PSS Adventure Camp - Roy, WA
4/22 Su DEMO RIDE #1 10:00am - Ride West
4/28 Sa WVM Vintage Meet - 9:00am - Mt. Vernon
4/28 Sa - Team Ride West Ride 9:00am - Vashon Island
May
5/9Wedtrack day/school - Pacific Raceway
5/12Sa Parts and Apparel Swap 9:00am Ride West
Long term planning note: For those who like to plan their summer events around Ride West BMW activities, Ride West will not be a sponsor of or be present at Sound Rider's Rally In the Gorge this year. We're trying a couple of other new ideas instead - details later! J
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V. R-Ides of March
We stage The R-IDES of MARCH to raise funds for Riders for Health, and this year was the tenth annual effort. It is always scheduled as close to the 15th of March (the "ides") as possible, for several reasons - a fondness for bad puns among them.
For information on why donating to Riders for Health is a good idea, please visit www.riders.org. Riders for Health is supported by motorcyclists all over the world, and, due to the backgrounds and friendships of its founders, by most Moto GP, WSBK, and Formula 1 teams.
This year's effort was marked by good times, great people, and weather better than expected. A dozen intrepid souls meandered over the route, some of them using the GPS version, and then enjoyed great conversation and two door prizes apiece at the end. Thanks to the considerable generosity of the participants and people who did not go on the ride but donated anyway, a whopping $1200 has been sent on to Riders for Health. In last name alphabetical order, thanks to:
Dave Bowen Steven Bragg Paul Bullard
Tad Haas Bill Hucks Aimee Johnson
Paul Peterson Dave Preston Mark Ramirez
Phoenix Rudner Deb Shiell Gary Stebbins
Lee Stewart Sean Tully Gina Venolia
Huzzah for Team Ride West, and thanks to volunteers Bill Hucks, Deb Shields, Paul Peterson, and Tad Haas for their considerable efforts. Next up - the "Chilly Turkey X" in November!
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VI. Dinner at Cafe Veloce
We enjoy a fine time and great food at Café Veloce for our club monthly dinners. "Our" night is the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Most people arrive between 6:00 and 6:15pm, and by 6:30pm we have looked at each others bikes sufficiently to sit down to order food. We're in the "club" room in inclement weather and out on the deck when the sun shines.
This month's TEAM RIDE WEST CLUB DINNER will be on Tuesday, March 20th. Cafe Veloce is located in the Totem Lake mall area north of Kirkland and south of the Bothell/Woodinville I-405 exits.
Directions to Cafe Veloce:
Heading north on I-405 take exit 20B (NE 124th St) and then the ramp to Totem Lake Blvd. You will go through the traffic light to 120th Ave and Café Veloce is to the right just past the auto parts store.
Heading south on I-405 take exit 20 (NE 124th St) and turn left on NE 124th Street. You will go through two traffic lights and then take a left on Totem Lake Blvd. Into the right lane, and right at 120th Ave to the restaurant.
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VII. The Ride West Difference
Say you're chatting with friends about the varied events and rides you're enjoying with Team Ride West. Say further that these friends ask you, "What makes Ride West different?" Here are concepts we would thank you for putting across - the "Magnificent Seven."
- With Team Ride West, more rides, dinners, and events than anyone else.
- More in-store sales, swap meets, seminars, classes, etc. than anyone else.
- Ability to purchase insurance for your bike, home, and auto - all in-house.
- More demo bikes than anyone else.
- Encouragement to take longer demo rides than any one else.
- Service Department capable and happy to work on any brand.
- Wide assortment of used bikes of all brands.
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VIII. Team Ride West Concept Ride Procedures
Team Ride West rides are referred to as "concept rides" because route and destination changes may evolve during the day depending on the wishes of those on the ride, the weather, and events of interest we may find along the way. The initial route directions will be sent out by e-mail a few days prior to the ride, but it is not required that everyone on the ride follow the same route or reach the same destination!
Here are the guidelines that we follow:
- Arrive at the start of the ride (usually Ride West BMW) with a full tank of fuel and funds for fuel, food, and other expenses during the day.
- Sign in and receive the printed instructions if needed. (Pause - if you do not have both a motorcycle endorsement on your license and insurance on your motorcycle, we ask that you wait until you do to ride with us.)
- Be VERY careful as we turn out of the Ride West parking lot onto 16th. Cars can and sometimes do turn left from Lake City Way onto 16th - potentially at lethal speed.
- Once on the ride, find a group to ride with of 3 to 5 bikes - based on friends, model, experience, style of riding, and/or desired pace.
- Allow LOTS of space around you - front, side, and rear. Do not "tailgate."
- At major intersections that involve a turn, make sure the person behind you (in your group) has seen the turn before you accelerate away.
- RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE - always.
- Pass on the left - well over the centerline. Do not pass on the right - EVER, under any circumstances barring dire emergency.
- Use hand/foot signals as needed. There's no required guide to these.
- On the way home, once past the final group fuel stop, it's every person for him/her self. You may drop off at your exit or street without the need to let the entire group know - but mentioning your intent at the final stop is a nice gesture.
- Other groups of motorcycles? - pass them very carefully with lots of room.
For groups larger than 15 bikes or so, we will expect people to take some responsibility for following the route directions and/or others in the group, or for finding their own route. This rule is called "YOYOMF" for "You're On Your Own My Friend." Kudos to Bill Hucks for coming up with the phrase, although his version is just a bit more colorful.
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IX. Pithy Words to Ride By...
Is this the year you commit to riding more often, with more training, and with more intensity, comfort, and skill? If not now - when?
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