Chapter H
News Letter
IOWA G W T A DESTINATION FRIENDSHIP
June/July 2008
Chapter Director Notes
Amazing, June seemed forever getting here and now it is the end of the month.
We enjoyed Chapter L’s fun run in Manawa on June 1st. It was a great ride. We were able to connect with other GWTA friends and made some new ones as well. Several of our chapter members rode over and had a good time.
Region C Family Reunion at Nebraska City, NE has come and gone. Randy & Jen, our Region C directors and those that helped did an awesome job. There were a lot of things to do this year. Several members from Chapter H, Iowa attended with some camping (including inside a building, “wonder who that would be?) and some stayed in the Girl Scout dorms.
CONGRATULATION to Region C FAMILY OF THE YEAR, Wendel & Peggy Hakanson, from Nebraska Chapter Z (but live in Iowa). They will represent our region well!
Next year, Region C rally will be in Wisconsin at Chippewa Falls. Beautiful country and sounds like a wonderful time.
On one of our Monday night supper rides, one of our members, Bill K, had a close encounter of the unwanted kind with a deer. The deer jumped right into his fairing and left headlight, the deer flipped up into the air, with all four legs, feet facing up, and then fell down into the ditch. Bill did a great job of controlling his bike, keeping it upright and he was unharmed and safe! What a rider!! The bike was drivable, he finished the supper ride and made it home!
Several of our members have been on vacation and trips. Jerry & Jan went to Colorado to see their youngest son. Connie and I went to the Branson/Arkansas area for 9 days. John & Rosalee are in lower Arkansas/Texas area; Bill & Dee are in the North Carolina/Tennessee
Area riding “the snake”.
Don Newell and his “Schatsi” LaVone are heading for Germany the first of July.
We are making plans for Goldrush in Billings, Montana, which is only a few weeks away. It will be a Western theme of the “Legend Lives On”. It should be a lot of fun. Most of the chapter is camping at the Billings KOA; some are leaving early and others the Friday before.
Chapter P fun run at Griswald, Iowa. Steve, Connie and Rick Harvey went to the fun run, June 29th. It was a great ride and a beautiful day with the temperature in the 70”s and windy. Wind has become the “norm” for Iowa.
We want to send our thoughts and prayers out to any of our members with health issues and have parents that are in poor health. Also, to those affected by the storms, tornados, and floods. This has been a very eventful spring and beginning of summer.
Upcoming GWTA events:
Monday night supper rides, 6:30 PM Wynnsong Theater parking lot.
July 14-17 GoldRush- Billings, Montana
August 17th Chapter J fun run, Clarinda, Iowa
August 22-24th Iowa’s state event, FUNFEST, Storm Lake, Iowa
October 10-12th Colorama, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
There is a non-GWTA event “RIDE IOWA” that is a charity ride for the March of Dimes, July 26th, that starts at Newton Speedway and ends at Baxter Cycle. Contact us if you want more information.
We found out that the Honda dealer in Springfield is closed.
Gene’s Honda is open in Springfield and had several motorcycles that they had triked on their showroom floor.
We checked out Neosho dealer in Neosho. They had several motorcycles on display.
Everyone ride safe and be safe.
Your Chapter H Director
Steve Patton
The Future with $4 gas.
Massachusetts inventor Sylvester Roper built what is credited as the first world’s motorcycle in 1867. Powered by a twin cylinder steam engine, stoked with a charcoal fired stove under the riders seat, this machine could reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Wow! Now that’s what I call a “hot” ride.
With all the environmental concerns and $4 gas what is the future of the combustion engine in America or for that matter world wide? How are Americans who love the open rode, and love vehicles going to survive with this on going fuel war? Fuel increases are starting to drastically change how we look at transportation in this country.
With our great love for motorcycling lets look at some new motorcycles trying to get to and make it on the open market.
Electric powered motorcycles are the most developed alternative energy systems on the rode today. Motorcycles are best suited for electric power.
They are small, light weight, easily maneuvered and compactly stored.
For those of us who ride in this group electric motorcycles have two huge drawbacks: low speeds and a short range. But for many of us who love to ride and like to commute by motorcycle to work on a daily basis, electric motorcycles are starting to become a viable option. Electric motorcycles currently have a range 20 to 50 miles and speeds up to 50 M.P.H. In most cases that criteria would fit the average commuter at least in cities the size of Des Moines and smaller. Electric motorcycles and their development are in its infancy and those above mention figures are sure to improve with newer technology.
I think one of the biggest draw backs in my opinion is the price. They seem rather pricey to me for how they perform, but, having said that I was amazed at the styling. Some of the electric bikes/scooters are absolutely beautiful. First class in everyway, disc brakes, great body fairing, vibrant colors, comfortable seating, styles and colors no one would be ashamed to have sitting in their driveways.
Yamaha is a huge leader in the development of new electric motorcycles.
They have several models currently in the prototype stage: Yamaha “Luxair” a full sized gas/electric hybrid, and four other scooter style models built for commuting, the FC-Dii”, “FC-AQEL”, “Bobby” & “C3+”.
Here are some links to some of the new electric and gas/electric bikes.
One thing I’m convinced of, as Americans we will find a solution to this energy problem. We are an inventive, determined and independent people.
There is no problem we can’t confront and solve.
Have a great 4th of July.
God Bless America
Jerry
