CHAPTER AR-C
NEWSLETTER
July 2017
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 7 REGION H
CHAPTER “C” TEAM
CHAPTER DIRECTORS Tim & Bonnie Nagy ASST CHAPTER DIRECTORS T B D
MEC COORDINATOR Pam Saulters CHAPTER COUPLE of the YEAR Tim & Bonnie Nagy TREASURER Ron Abbott
CHAPTER EDUCATOR Greg Reinhardt MOTORIST AWARENESS Greg Reinhardt COORDINATOR
CHAPTER WEBMASTER Greg Reinhardt NEWSLETTER EDITOR Greg Reinhardt RIDE CO-ORDINATOR Tim Nagy CHAPTER of the YEAR Vicki Austin COORDINATOR SUNSHINE PERSON Pam Saulters SCRAPBOOKING Ron Abbott COORDINATOR PHOTOGRAPHER Tim Nagy - Lead
JULY’S GOINGS ON
Jul 1st 7:30 am: Chapter C Ride to Rose Bud ( Meet at Exxon station on Hwy 5 )
Jul 4th Independence Day
Jul 8th 5 am: Chapter C Ride to Chapter B ( Meet at Kohl’s in Sherwood )
Jul 11th 6:30 pm: Dinner Ride with Chapter K ( Loca Luna, 3519 Old Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72202)
Jul 13th 7 pm: Chapter C Dinner Ride ( East End Cafe, 20622 Arch Street Pike, Hensley, AR 72065)
Jul 14th - 15th AR District Rally (Eureka Springs, AR)
Jul 20th Jim Goodman’s Birthday
Jul 21st Bruce Ray’s Birthday
Jul 22nd 8 am: Chapter C Monthly Meeting ( Emily’s Diner, 3286 South 2nd Street, Cabot, AR 72023 )
( Eat @ 8 am / Meeting @ 9 am )
10 am: Chapter C Ride to Chapter K ( Benton, AR -- KSU after meeting ) ( Eat @ 3 pm / Meeting @ 4 pm )
Jul 24th Parent’s Day
Jul 27th Richard & Vicki Austin’s Anniversary
Jul 29th 8 am: Chapter C Ride to Oark General Store ( Meet at Exxon station on Hwy 5 )
AUGUST’S GOINGS ON
Aug 8th 6:30 pm: Dinner Ride with Chapter K ( T B D )
Aug 10th 7 pm: Chapter C Dinner Ride ( T B D )
Aug 17th Dan Fornero’s Birthday
Aug 18th Vera Westmoreland’s Birthday
Aug 19th Larry Fulbright’s Birthday
Aug 21st Senior Citizen’s Day
Emily Goodman’s Birthday
Aug 23rd Gaynell Brant’s Birthday
Nick & Judy Kaleta’s Anniversary
Chuck & June Leftwich’s Anniversary
Aug 26th 8 am: Chapter C Monthly Meeting ( Emily’s Diner, 3286 South 2nd Street, Cabot, AR 72023 )
( Eat @ 8 am / Meeting @ 9 am )
10 am: Chapter C Ride to Chapter K ( Benton, AR -- KSU after meeting ) ( Eat @ 3 pm / Meeting @ 4 pm )
Aug 29th – 30th Wing Ding 39 (Grapevine, TX)
AR DISTRICT & REGION H EVENTS
MARCH
11th St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Little Rock, AR)
30th - 31st LA District Rally (Lafayette, LA)
31st 40 to Phoenix Stop (Conway, AR)
APRIL
1st LA District Rally (Lafayette, LA)
27th - 29th Region H Rally (Marshall, TX)
MAY
18th – 20th TX District Rally (Witchita Falls, TX)
JUNE
23rd - 24th KS District Rally (Hutchinson, KS)
JULY
14th - 15th AR District Rally (Eureka Springs, AR)
AUGUST
29th - 31st Wing Ding 39 (Grapevine, TX)
SEPTEMBER
1st – 2nd Wing Ding 39 (Grapevine, TX)
28th - 30th OK District Rally (Muskogee, OK)
“GARAGE” SALE
Black 1997 Honda Valkyrie Tourer
69,500 miles
$5,700 Contact: Jay Stapleton at (501) 412-4217 for more info and pictures
Motorcycle Luggage Trailer
$500 Contact: Jay Stapleton at (501) 412-4217 for more info and pictures
Silver 2008 Honda Silver Wing
6,500 miles
$5,000 obo Contact: Pat Dumas at (501) 246-6828 for more info and pictures
Chapter “Chatter”
Tim & Bonnie Nagy Chapter C Directors
Coming Soon . . .
Ride Safe and Ride Often Tim & Bonnie Nagy
TWO-WHEEL TOPICS
&
3-WHEEL THOUGHTS
Greg Reinhardt Chapter C Educator
Is Your Head In The Game?
Staying mentally sharp and alert increases the enjoyment of the ride
Riding a motorcycle is one of the most dangerous leisure activities you can pursue.
It is also one of the most rewarding. The first rule of enjoying the activity is to survive the
activity. Certainly, you can limit your exposure to injury, or worse, by wearing protective
gear, following safe riding guidelines, and riding within your limits. All of this is part of
what I refer to as "keeping your head in the game". Having the physical skills to operate
a motorcycle cannot overcome a lack of mental focus.
I hear riders say that motorcycling is how they relax or unwind. I have a hard time
relating to that. Riding a motorcycle has never been relaxing for me. If I need to relax, I
sit in my recliner in front of the TV and watch a mindless sitcom. For me to relax, I have
to turn off my brain, something I simply cannot afford to do when riding my motorcycle.
Riding is invigorating and stimulating for me, not relaxing. I defy any of you to ride your
motorcycle in traffic on I35 in Dallas and be relaxed.
Perhaps too many motorcyclists are involved in accidents because
they are relaxed and not keeping their head in the game, so to speak. Even a temporary
lapse of attention can result in bad things happening on two wheels. The margin for error
is very slim on a motorcycle. A healthy amount of fear can be a good thing to help you
say mentally sharp when riding. Never lose sight of how vulnerable you are.
The element of danger is what makes riding such a mentally stimulating and
enjoyable experience. I know it sounds crazy, but isn't that the same with skydiving,
flying an airplane, or rock-climbing? The element of danger comes with a sense of
satisfaction when you survive the activity. Every time I ride my Goldwing, the possibility
of encountering a technical riding challenge exists. It could be a car pulling out in front
of me at an intersection, or encountering loose gravel in a turn, or having to make a
sharp turn up a steep hill from a dead stop. Maneuvering a 900+ pound motorcycle in
these conditions is challenging to say the least. But, overcoming these technical
challenges can be extremely satisfying and stimulating. My focus when riding is to
always try to anticipate the unexpected and plan a way to survive the scenario.
Most of us who have been riding for some time have had at least a few "close
calls". And, in retrospect, there is something I could have done to prevent the close call.
I recall a few years ago I was riding my bike to my favorite wing joint for dinner. I pulled
into the parking lot and was completely unaware that there was a car right behind me. I
had to swing left to get around the bumper of a pick-up truck so I could park in a spot to
my right. When I swung left to make the wide turn, the car behind me assumed I was
making a left turn, imagine my surprise when I swing right and her bumper was about 12
inches from my right knee! I was only going a couple of miles per hour and I instinctively
hit the front brake and the bike went down. The driver freaked out, but I was OK and so
was the bike. That incident caused me to completely rethink how I operate the bike when
negotiating parking lots. While I was eating my wings that night, I thought of at least two
mistakes I made that contributed to the near accident. First, I did not check my rear-view
mirrors to see if there was a car behind me. Second, I did not use my turn signal to
indicate that I would be turning right into a parking spot. Lesson learned.
Keeping my head in the game involves a few little mental strategies that I have
developed over the years. Just like how a pilot goes over a checklist before takeoff, I do
the same sort of thing before I ride. I even talk to myself out loud just to make sure I am
alert. I know it sounds crazy, but it seems to help me focus on the ride. Now, when I am
entering or exiting a parking lot, I audibly remind myself of my parking lot checklist. For
me, that means 10mph or less, high alert, check rear-view mirrors, and engage headlight
modulators. I have another set of rules for approaching an intersection. First, I look to
see if there is an oncoming vehicle in the left turn lane (that could potentially turn in front
of me), if so, I turn on my headlight modulators and try to position myself and the bike so
I can either brake or escape should the blind fool not see me. I probably have a dozen
or more scenarios that I try to prepare for in similar fashion.
All of this planning and mental activity is energizing and actually increases my
enjoyment of the ride. I know some riders would say "man, that's too much to think about,
I just want to ride and not have to think." If that's your style and you are comfortable with
it, that's OK with me. But for me, I always try my best to keep my head in the game.
District “Dirt”
Richard & Vicki Austin District Directors
Coming Soon . . .
Ride Safe and Ride Often Richard & Vicki Austin
Education “Extras”
Arrel E. Carter III (Buster) District Educator
Greetings, I hope this finds everyone doing well and staying cool. The heat is
rough…. A number of you have been asking if we are having any type of Rider Education
events as there are a number of GWRRA members that need classes for their Levels
Program. The answer is yes. I am trying to work out the First Aid part. We will have
ARC and TRC courses on Saturday Aug 5th and Sunday Aug 6th at the MSF facility
in Little Rock. Lloyd has scheduled the weekend for GWRRA members. We will have
room for 8 bikes in each class. We are looking at Trikes on the range in the morning
while the ARC takes Medic First Aid, then in the afternoon we will rotate where the ARC
is on the Range and TRC is taking First Aid.
With the influx of members transitioning to Trike I anticipate the TRC will fill up first.
That said, it is first come, first served. I cannot stress enough that you sign up early.
Please do not sign a bunch of people up thinking they will want the course. There are a
lot of riders needing these courses. Please send me an email and I will add riders to the
list. If your Co-Rider does not want to ride on the course they need to take the Co-Rider
Certification class in order to maintain their levels.
I will be offering the Co-Rider class at the Rally next weekend and will be prepared
to give a couple during the MSF Training as well. Please confirm they WILL be able to
attend. The prices are based on full classes. It will be hotter than blue blazes. The
costs will be $50.00 for the Rider course and $25.00 for the Medic First Aid. I will
need to know which day and class you are wanting to take. Once the class is filled it is
filled so sign up early and commit to that day and time. If you want to pay and confirm
please see me at the District Rally this weekend. I look forward to seeing everyone at
the Rally.
Ride Smart, Ride Safe, Ride Protected Arrel E. Carter III (Buster)
Directors Corner
Jim & Reba Berry Region H Directors
Coming Soon . . .
Jim & Reba
“By the Book”
Jack Wagner Deputy Director -- Region H Trainer
“By the Book” articles are intended to help familiarize GWRRA Volunteer Leaders and Members with the policies, procedures, and information contained in the GWRRA Officer’s Handbook (OHB). A copy of the Officer’s Handbook can be found at the following Internet website: www.gwrra.org/oconnect/officerhandbook.html Please feel free to reprint these articles in Region, District, or Chapter newsletters.
Coming Soon . . .
The More You Know, the Better It Gets Jack Wagner