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Vol. 3 - Issue 9
| September 2012 |
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I. TRW Events - What a month!
August 4th, Humongous Ride to Marblemount: Wow! You might wonder how I keep track of 22 motorcycles when leading a ride. It's easy - I can't! With a group this size we rely on people having good judgment, looking out for each other, and YOYOMF.
Here's who went:
Dave Preston, BMW F 800R
Eric Pollard, BMW F 800 GS
Deb Shiell, Suzuki Wee Strom
Peter Biros, Ducati MTS 1100S
Phoenix Rudner, BMW F 800 GS
Tom Klein, Kawasaki ZX 14
Bob Fullerton, BMW K 1200 GT
Bob's 3 friends on two bikes
Kevin Ross, Yamaha FJR
Jeff DeBruhn, Honda CBR 929 RR
Burke DeBrier, BMW R 1200 RS
Kevin Terrell, BMW R 1200 GS Adv
John Swenson, BMW R 1100R
Dennis Sarr, BMW R 1200 GS, R 1150RS
Sarath Menon, BMW F 800 GS
Dave Black, Yamaha FJR 1300
Jim Walker, Kawasaki Ninja 1000
Robert Okrie, BMW G 650 GS
Dan Carr and Teresa, Honda ST 1300
Kobi Bentimon
Paul Fison, BMW K 1600 GT
Having said that, with a couple of stops to reorganize or turn on video cameras, we all arrived in Marblemount at about the same time. Folks then chose one of two dining establishments, and discussed the rest of the day over their food selection. The group I was with (about 10) went up to the waterfall so Deb could cool off (see picture this month) and then back to Darrington. At that point some continued on to the Darrington Loop, while some cruised back. A hot day, but a cool ride!
Ride West Demo Ride #5: Our 5th and possible last demo ride of the year was held Sunday the 5th, and featured 8 Ride West Demos and 3 people on their own steeds. Once again a grand time was had by all, and huge thanks to Kevin Terrell who guided Stacy and Rod Peterson back to Ride West after the group leader, (ahem) unintentionally lost them!
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II. Picture Perfect
"Deb demonstrates the proper way to stay cool on a really hot day. Don't look at the waterfall - be OF the waterfall!"
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Content Editor: Dave Preston Production Editor: Allison Almario |
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III. Team Ride West Events
**Please check the website frequently for changes.
September
9/8, Sat, Team Ride West Ride, 9:00am, Bellingham
9/15, Sat, PSS Maintenance Class #1, 9:00am, Ride West
9/18, Tu, Team Ride West Dinner, 6:30pm, Café Veloce
9/23, Su, ABTOR #10, 10:00am, Edmonds Ferry
9/28, Fri, 2Fast Track Day, The Ridge
October
10/6, Sa, Team Ride West Ride, 9:00am, SnohoAirport
10/13, Sa, Ride West Parts and Apparel Swap, Ride West
10/16, Tu, Team Ride West Dinner, 6:30pm, Café Veloce
10/18 Th, New Buyers Event, 6:00pm, Ride West
10/20 Sat, PSS Maintenance Class #2, 9:00am, Ride West
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IV. Riders for Health Dual Scavenger Hunt!
The first annual Dual Sport Scavenger Hunt for Riders for Health! Wow! Deb Shiell really created a huge success from nothing with this one! The August 10th-12th Riders for Health Dual Sport Scavenger Hunt and Street Bike Campout and all around good time was a success in every single regard. Great people, perfect weather, lots of fun and adventures, terrific food, AND we raised a considerable sum for Riders for Health. You will want to take a few minutes to watch the slide show link at the end of this newsletter. This event is sure to be repeated, and you will not want to miss out this year.
Deb will assault me violently if I give her all the credit, even though she did most of the work, but thanks are due to Bill Hucks for his expertise in creating the maps, and also providing video equipment so we could enjoy movies each evening, to Que and Tracy and Jill for all manner of tasks, and really to the participants who jumped in and made the event more fun for all by doing almost anything that seemed to be needed.
Thanks for sponsorship contributions from Cycle Barn, Sound Rider! magazine, and of course Ride West BMW.
Let me tell you about the Cove RV Park and Country Store. A beautiful site sloping down to the shore of Hood Canal, with camping areas and RV sites. Owners Doug and Kimberly
put up a "Welcome Riders for Health" on their reader board, contributed huge bags of ice for the communal coolers and a whole wagon of firewood for the roaring campfire each night,
joined us for beer and wine and stories in the evening, and then would accept no more than about 1/3 of what they were owned for the spaces we used, making our donation to Riders
for Health much larger. VERY special people, and if you need a place to camp on the west side of Hood canal, look no further!
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V. What's an ABTOR?
The annual ABTOR ride is scheduled for Sunday, September 23rd. It is held every year on the same day as the fabled "Oyster Run," - the 4th Sunday of September. (Not the last Sunday of September, as many believe, which is not t he same thing). The Oyster Run in an annual festival in Anacortes that involves 15 - 20,000 motorcycles of all makes and models - but mostly Harleys - getting to Anacortes by any route of choice for a day of conversation, strolling vendor booths, and a lot of noise - or sound, depending on taste. Customers who had "been there done that" asked me for an event that went elsewhere, so I dreamed up the ABTOR - which stands for "Anywhere But The Oyster Run." For this ride we meet at the Mukilteo Ferry at about 10am and spend the day on a wonderful route we have refined over the years down toward Belfair and back on spectacular roads. If you have never done the Anacortes thing you may choose to do that, or you are welcome to become an ABTOR rider!
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VI. YouTube, Facebook.. - Riders for Health Dual Scavenger Hunt Video!
 | | Riders for Health Dual Scavenger Hunt! |
Here is a video slide show of the Riders for Health Dual Scavenger Hunt that happened August 2012!
 | | 2FAST TRACK DAY |
Here is an actual edited video of our latest Track Day that happened last week at The Ridge. Our Track Riders were Sales Manager, John Heale, & GM, David Swezey. Hope you enjoy the video!
Don't forget to check out more videos on our YouTube Channel! Please see information below.
Don't forget to check out our Facebook Fan Page and LIKE us!
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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, September 18th.
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."
1. With Team Ride West, more rides, dinners, and events than anyone else.
2. More in-store sales, swap meets, seminars, classes, etc. than anyone else.
3. Ability to purchase insurance for your bike, home, and auto - all in-house.
4. More demo bikes, and longer demo rides, than any other dealer.
5. New for this year - our track school and track day support program.
6. Service Department capable and happy to work on any brand.
7. 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 a 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...
"The attitudes you send out echo back and affect... you."
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