Legends of Dirt

I was lucky enough to grow up watching motocross legends like Brad Lackey, Bob Hannah, Roger DeCoster, Heikki Mikkola, Jimmy Weinert and many others racing around the Southern California area. I rode in much, much lower classes on much, much slower bikes made by Benelli, Bultaco and Suzuki. But, I did have the all important Bell helmet and Preston Petty fenders that made me feel much faster.

Jammin Jimmy Weinert

A few years later, names like Jean Michel Bayle, Doug Dubach and Guy Cooper, on much more modern motorcycles, were staging some of the most exciting Motocross racing to date. I don't want to take anything away from the excellent racing that is going on today, but to see those guys running true works bikes back in the early years was quite a sight. 

The smell of burning castor oil still brings a tear to my eye.

RIP: Bob Hall

We received a bit of sad news from El Reno, Oklahoma last week.

Robert "Bob" Hall, one of the owners of Sid's Burgers in El Reno, has passed away. I had the pleasure of interviewing Bob for our sixth show which featured Route 66 in Western Oklahoma, but it's more commonly referred to as the "Onion Burger episode."

Finish of the Cannonball

Finishing
Well the finish of the Cannonball did not go like Team Seaba would have liked.

Head west young man

After changing the motor out on Friday night with a loaner motor and missing day 15, we thought everything was good. Starting out this morning, our loaner motor was trying to seize up a few miles after the start, so I rode the backup V-Strom. It was a nice route heading south on Highway 1. Once we rolled into San Francisco the local motorcycle club supplied lunch at the base of the Golden Gate bridge. Then it was an escorted ride over the bridge and down to Dudley Perkins Harley-Davidson to a huge crowd waiting for us.

Group's Hate List Keeps Growing

I attended a gathering today along with a thousand or so other bikers. The funeral of Shane Reed who died Sunday along with Kaly Hull and Travis Flud in a tragic motorcycle accident.

I didn't know them. The reason I attended the funeral was because it was rumored the members of the Westboro Baptist "Church" planned to protest. Like many, I have heard of this group and knew about their hate propoganda against gays. But I found out their list has been growing. I was curious why they would come down from Topeka to picket and protest this funeral in Bixby, Oklahoma. If you are not aware of this group, here is what I gleaned from my research.

Biking with Bizarro

Last week we got to spend a few hours with my old high school chum, Dan Piraro. Dan does the syndicated comic strip Bizarro. He also is a motorcycle geek and rides a cool old BMW, plus still owns a Vespa he bought brand new in 1980.

But his visit to Tulsa was not to test drive a motorcycle- go figure.

2010 Cannonball Endurance Run

The next time you hop on that modern bike, thumb the starter and point off to the horizon without a worry about your trusty (insert favorite brand of motorcycle here), think about trying this in 1915. And suppose you had decided that instead of a leisurely ride, you had entered a race with your trusty Flying Merkel or Excelsior. And it was a race across the country.

Wyman with his California

After that has sunk in for a while, remember, these pre-1916 motorcycles were generally rigid framed, single speed, leather belt driven, rear only clamp type or coaster brake with a blazing carbide lamp in front to light the way.

U. S. Highland Plane Crash

Less than a month ago, both Rex and I had the good fortune to meet US Highland Chief Operating Officer and visionary, Chase Bales at the new U.S. Highland facility in Glenpool, Oklahoma. We were impressed with everything that we saw and especially with Chase. Both his work ethic and his vision of producing a product that he believed in, with no expense spared in quality. It was truly amazing to talk to such a person as Chase Bales.

We were saddened to hear of his death Saturday night at 10:00 pm on the north side of Tulsa International Airport. Chase was headed to Jones Riverside Airport on the way back from Michigan. After reporting they were low on fuel the plane was given the clearance to land at Tulsa International. The Cessna 412A was registered and piloted by Bales and also carried Mats Malmberg, President of Highland and Damian Riddoch, CFO of U.S. Highland.

It is not often that I have the privilege to meet somebody such as Chase. The Swedes he normally work with refer to him as "John Wayne" and for good reason. He was a true visionary, seeing and doing things that only a few of us can dream of, let alone ever accomplish. After talking with him for over an hour, we were shown projects that will be world changing. I hope some of these will come to light and Mr. Chase Bales given the credit due.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families of Chase Bales, Damian Riddoch and Mats Malmberg.

Highland Open House

Brad and I had the good fortune to attend an open house event at US Highland's new facility outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The weather was near perfect and Highland treated the crowd to good eats from the Rib Crib and Backyard Burgers. But there was a lot more here than just a free lunch! The on-site test track was open for demo rides and examples of the company's high performance off-road motorcycles and four-wheeler were on hand.

Highland AB is a Swedish company that has been building boutique bikes for over a decade. They also engineer nifty components for everyone from Husqvarna to Harley. Of course, we never hear about that stuff. A couple of years ago an American businessman took the bold step of suggesting motorcycle production be moved to the States. US Highland was born.

Not the End of the Road

Looks like the last Two Wheel Oklahoma on OETA will be aired May 30, 2010.

We tried our best to meet our commitment to provide a steady stream of new episodes to OETA. But our effort was scuttled by the lack of suitable financial backing. When it came time to deliver Episode Six (which should have aired on May 9) we could not deliver. Re-runs will continue on Tuesdays through June on the OKLA Channel, but our Sunday morning slot has been given to another show.

This is disappointing for us, as well as many of our fans I'm sure. We appreciate OETA for giving a couple of unknowns the opportunity to share our idea for a television show with thousands of people. They told us up front they were not in the business of underwriting locally-produced programming, so the burden was on us.

But this isn't the end of the road. We will continue to post the episodes of Two Wheel Oklahoma online, offer DVDs and search for other local venues. And we're most excited about national interest that has been expressed!

Brad and I are actively searching for corporate sponsors to support a travel show for all 50 states. So stay tuned for more news on that front.

Who knows? Two Wheel America don't sound half bad.

1000 Facebook Fans "Like" Two Wheel Oklahoma

Winners were announced in Two Wheel Oklahoma's "TWO 1000" promotion today. 

Beth Goins Bray and Charlie Otis were selected at random from over 1,000 of the show's Facebook fans. They each receive a t-shirt of their choice from the official Two Wheel Oklahoma gear store on Zazzle!

The TWO 1000 contest was initiated last December to encourage fans of the TWO television show to follow our exploits on the popular social networking site, Facebook. The contest culminated, and the winners were chosen, when the number of "fans" reached 1,000.

Apparel and other items featuring the Two Wheel Oklahoma logo are available online through Zazzle. The service allows buyers to personalize products and create their own unique shirt, decal or coffee mug. Once the order is placed the product is custom-printed and shipped by Zazzle.

We'll be expanding the designs available over the coming months, so stay tuned. And if you have suggestions for new designs post a comment here or contact us!

Brookside's Vintage Bike Spring Fling | April 18, 2010

Twice a year the gang down at Brookside Motorcycle Company have a fun little bike show with barbecue, sodas, vintage bikes and balloons for the kids.

Actually I made up that part about balloons.

But tons of cool old motorcycles get dusted off and cruise down Peoria every Spring and Fall for this casual get-together. All shapes and sizes of motorcycles show up, and there is no entry fee. It's always an eclectic assortment- old motocrossers, Harleys, race bikes and a few scooters for good measure. Lunch is provided from Bob's BBQ and trophies will be awarded!

2010 Spring Vintage Bike Show

Sunday, April 18
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Brookside Motorcycle Company
4206 S. Peoria Ave
Tulsa, OK

Brad and I will be there- with or without a vintage bike. And even without free balloons, it should be a pretty darn good time.

Photos courtesy Mark Harrison

BMWs are Back in Tulsa

BMW motorcycles are back in Tulsa. Seriously.

I know this has come up before, but after a few shaky starts in Tulsa over the last few years, it looks like they might be here to stay at Iron Lightning, now doing business as BMW Motorcycle Tulsa. The Iron Lightning dealership has carried the Big Dog line of motorcycles for some years now, and they have been in their current location at 8246 East 73rd Street since April of 2000. It is a family run business with Bill Ewerling and his wife Judy running the shop and their son, Bill Jr., working as a technician.

We visited with the owner, Bill Ewerling of Iron Lightning and got some insight on the dealership and their new range of bikes from Munich.

Stroud, Midway and the Rock Cafe

Long before there was a Hard Rock Cafe- heck, long before there was hard rock, there was the Rock Cafe.

This popular roadside eatery in Stroud, Oklahoma has become sort of a local legend. The name describes the stone walls, made of local sandstone dug up during construction of Route 66. The brown stone walls have stood the test of time- and more recently fire.

This popular stop along Route 66 enjoyed a steady business from locals and travelers since opening its doors in 1936. Situated at the halfway point between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the restaurant's location was a perfect stop for weary drivers.

Indian Motorcycles are Back in Tulsa

On April 14th, 2009, Joyce and Butch Drake opened the doors to Roadhouse Motorsports in Tulsa, Oklahoma under their ownership. The shop has been around for a couple years as a Polaris dealer, selling first the Polaris Outdoor line and adding Victory motorcycles when they were introduced.

The dealership has been through a few owners in the past couple of years and has seen some rocky times, but since Joyce and Butch have taken over they have added Indian motorcycles to the floor, as well as getting the dealership as a whole back in shape. They bring 37 years of successful business experience to the table from the aircraft and automotive industries. Both are avid riders, but more importantly, they are good people with good, honest business practices.

New Date for 2009 Ride to Work Day

The 18th annual Ride To Work Day will be held Monday, June 15.

Ride to Work is a a non-profit organization advocating and supporting the use of motorcycles and scooters for transportation, and providing information about everyday riding to the public.

Ride to Work Day helps demonstrate how these vehicles make parking easier and help traffic flow better. Studies have shown that across equal distances, commuting motorcyclists reach their destinations in less time than those using automobiles, that motorcycles and scooters consume less resources per mile than automobiles, and that they take up less space on roads. Motorcycle and scooter riders seek improved employer recognition and support for this form of transportation, and more public and government awareness of the positive value of riding.

Oklahoma Takes Lead on Lead Law

Oklahoma lawmakers are proposing a resolution this week to help reign in a new law limiting lead in childrens products.

Last year reaction to Chinese toys containing lead resulted in the passage of a Federal regulation named the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. The gist of the law is to regulate the lead content of products intended for children under age 12. But the regulation has been applied to a wide array of products- including motorized vehicles.

Since February 10th, the date the regulation went into effect, the 50cc motorcycle and ATV business has essentially come to a standstill. We visited with one local dealer in Tulsa to find out how this regulation is affecting businesses in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Toy Runs

Bikers across the Sooner State are gearing up for the 2008 holiday season and the annual slate of toy runs. Here are some notable dates to make note of...

December 7th is the date for Tulsa's first big toy ride- the Salvation Army Toy Run. The ride starts at 1:00 pm from 61st and Riverside Drive. Details>
Tulsa's 29th annual ABATE Toy Run is scheduled for December 14th. I say "scheduled" because last year some extreme weather and falling trees postponed the ride. We're hoping the only thing out of the ordinary this year is the route- it's backwards! For the first time any of us can remember the ride does not begin on Riverside. Line-up begins at 10:00 am on Tulsa's Expo Square. Details>

Up the turnpike, that same day, the folks in OKC will also be hauling toys for the kiddies in the 16th Annual Oklahoma City Toy Ride. Details>
And if you're down south don't miss the Big Texas Toy Run on December 21. It sports three different rides starting from different points in the DFW Metroplex. Details>

Check our Events Page for upcoming motorcycle events in Oklahoma and surrounding states. For more upcoming toy runs across the U.S. visit the motorcycle events calendar on Places2ride.com.

Stone Bluff Winery Open House

Ride To Stone Bluff Cellars
Come join the T.W.O. crew for a ride out to one of our favorite spots. Grab a friend and enjoy beautiful scenery along rolling highway with some fellow riders. Not to mention that the owner of this winery and some of his crew are avid motorcyclist!

Sunday, November 16
Ride to Haskell, Oklahoma
Meet at Roadhouse Motorsports at 12:30
Ride at 1:00
RSVP to 918-250-1400
Or sales@roadhousems.com

Riding Solo

My addiction to Motorcycles started before I reached the ripe age of 5 years. I was one of the lucky ones that had a father that rode and believed that his boys should do the same. From that time, I have ridden all across this country in the dirt, the sand, dried lake beds, racetracks, of course the street and a few places I probably shouldn't mention. Of that time riding, I would guess that I spent 75 percent of that riding with friends and/or family.

Riding solo is more different than most “pack riders” would realize. When riding with others, it allows for a couple of things.

One of the first is Safety. If there is a mishap along the way, and I have had my share, you have somebody you can rely on to help you back up, call for help, explain to you where you are and what your name is, etc. (thanks again Rex). I made it a habit to always have somebody along when taking off in the dirt, whether it be rompin' through the woods or on a Motocross track. I crash far too often in those environments to not have somebody around. It's just what I do. I crash, I get up and try not to do it again.

New Tulsa Dealers for European Brands

Ever since longtime Tulsa dealer Atlas Cycle closed its doors last year the rumors have been flying about who will pick up those orphaned European lines they carried. Suddenly there was no local outlet or factory support for Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Moto Guzzi or Triumph. Not to mention all those forgotten marques that used to grace their showroom: Cagiva, Moto Morini, Husqvarna or MZ.

Paul Rogers of Brookside Motorcycle Company

Atlas owner, Ken Johnson, decided to retire in 2007. He opened the business in 1965 in a storefront on Cherry Street. Over the years Ken carried all the obscure motorcycle, scooter and mini-bike brands. Eventually the shop moved to 11th Street just east of Sheridan.

Just about every dealer in T-Town phoned up Triumph. But most of the conversations ended early- Triumph and their Eurocentric leanings forbid selling alongside Japanese bikes. For BMW and Ducati the most likely candidate appeared to be the Oklahoma City dealer, having already stormed ashore in Brookside with their Vespa shop.

The latest news is some new faces have popped on to the scene, and we're optimistic it's good news for local riders!