Topic: Rider's logs

[Bankerdanny]

I'll post more pictures after I get home tomorrow, but here's a preview. PZ double fisting after a 6.5 hour 300 mile day.

[Tripps]

Sorry it took me a while to post, crazy busy this summer. Met up with Larecords and his friend john at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, took him to the Triumph Noreast Rally the next day, and handed him off to Becken the following day, so we had a short visit. The Triumph guys loved Godzilla, the Triumph riders organization is TriumphRAT, talk started of a relay rally with a rat instead of Godzilla. The Triumph guys were a very bad influence, they got Godzilla pretty messed up on home made bourbon and other substances, I bet he's still recovering. First pic is me on left, Becken on right

[mjstone]

handed PIMPZILLA off to MJ,SEAN,and BANKER DANNY in Davison today around 11;30.Hand off was uneventful except for the DOUCHEBAG who backed into MJ.s bike knocking it over.then she just drove away.no damage done to bike just irritating.Banker Danny has pics to  follow

Unfortunately there was some damage.  My New windshield has some gouges in it and she may be responsible for braking my trunk as well.  On Day 2 of our ride Sean flags me down and told me my trunk  was real crooked.  Turns out 3 of the 4 bunkies that hold the trunk on were broken. I had some rope in my saddle bags, so I lashed it down to the luggage rack.

Also unfortunately the manager at Archie's couldn't get a view of her plate # from his video camera that watches the parking lot.  So all I've got is a couple of witnesses and no plate #.  At least it didn't keep me out of the Tour.

MJ

[Bankerdanny]

I have pics to spare. The camera on my phone was working overtime, particularly today.

Here's a few. My GoldWing, MJ's 500, Dave's 750 chopper, and Sean's 750 Cafe at Archie's in Davison and a picture of PZ taking a look at Lake Huron in Alpena, MI.

[scottly]

Keep 'em coming, Danny!! We want pics of the riders, as well as the bikes and GZ. Remember to put names to the faces!

[Bankerdanny]

I have a great shot of MJ, Sean and I. OldSchool's wife took a pic of the four of us at lunch yesterday, so he should be able to post that.

I'll try and get more up tonight, I was just too wiped out (and busy watching the Bears beat the Steelers) to post more last night.

1,040 miles Thursday to Sunday. I haven't done the math on GZ miles yet, but I would think about 300 yesterday with another 100 or so coming later this week on my run up to Wisconsin.

[Bankerdanny]

Slowly but surely making the pictures small enough to post multiples.

Here are MJ (left) me (middle) and Sean (right) on Sunday afternoon at a scenic pull off on M22, a truly spectacular road that every rider in or near Michigan owes to themselves to ride. Just as fun, and far safer than the better know M119 Tunnel of Trees.

The other pictures are MJ doing clutch cable surgery on his 500 Saturday morning, with PZ's supervision of course, and a panorama shot of Lake Arcadia, just south of the M22 scenic pull off. A really beautiful place.

[Bankerdanny]

Here are action shots of MJ and Sean on M119 and a shot of Lake Michigan I took just before they rode by.

[Kevin D]

Wednesday September 18th
 Godzilla comes to Michigan

1) SOHC4 riders Randy, Derek, Art, Dave join up in Novi.
2) Crossing the Border, my first Interstate jaunt in 39 years.
     The Zilla made me do it!
3) Gas stop at the Toledo BP: Randy, Art, Dave, Derek.
4) Meeting with the Emissaries from the East at Maumee Bay.
     Ken becken and the lovely Mrs. becken.

[Kevin D]

Wednesday September 18th
 Godzilla comes to Michigan

5) Pimpzilla strapped to my CB but he is eyeballing all those juicy dead bugs on the gauges.
6) Derek, Kevin, Art, Dave, Summit Street McD's on the ride back
7) Randy Derek, Art, Dave
Big Airzilla came out to meet us at LaSalle, Michigan!

[Kevin D]

 I had a GREAT time. Good ride, good weather, good company.
I'm not getting nearly enough seat time these days but the Wednesday ride fit right in - Thanks so much Art for keeping me in the loop. I started off the ride with a dead battery -  a new one is due in the springtime - but it took care of itself as we went along. About 180 miles for me, 48 Godzilla miles.
 I narrowly managed to dodge a little black Toyota with a yakety young girl on her phone who didnt even look for me when she pulled away from the pump at our Monroe gas stop. Now that would have wrecked my day, but it didn't happen because I was looking for her.

Nice to meet you all.

[Bankerdanny]

OK. Time for some context to go with the pictures, and then more pictures later tonight.

I was scheduled to head up to Kalamazoo to meet up with Seanbarney, OldSchool, and Ekpent on Thursday. I woke up Thursday to heavy rains, which continued all morning. But then like magic as I gathered my stuff together to take off after lunch the rain stop the clouds parted and the sun came out. By the time I left around 2 or 2:30 the sky was a brilliant blue and the streets were dry. This would be the case for my entire trip to KZ.

Since I knew the route I would be taking home, and because I was a couple hours behind schedule and on my highway friendly GoldWing, I hit the highways, cranked it up to 75 and 'winged' it northeast. traffic was flowing smoothly and the trip went by with no excitement.

I pulled in to the parking lot at Sean's shop about 7:30pm EST to find him, OldSchool, and Ekpent hanging out while Sean installed his bags and Bruce (OldSchool) changed the oil on his GL1200 sidecar rig. I also found the 5 pizzas that Bruce brought with him and the beer in Sean's shop fridge. All was well in the world.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

 Awesome ride this past weekend!  A bit nippy in the mornings but the afternoons were mild with little if any actual rain.

Things kicked of on Thursday with a wrenching party at Sean's shop.

Here I am adjusting my headlight fluid.


While relaxing after a checking my battery pressure, I notice this on the wall.  It prolly doesn't mean much to anyone, but this is a sign from a tavern that was on the edge of Western Michigan University's campus, and, more importantly to me, the site of my first LEGAL drink!!


after wrenching, Sean and Danny took off to catch some well deserved ZZZZZZzzzzzzz.....'s before they take off to the East side of the state to meet up with MJ and Dave.  I went home to get ready for work.  The plan was for me to catch up with them along the Lake Michigan lakeshore on Sunday.

<< read MJ's, Dave's, Sean's and Danny's posts here>>

Ok, now that Sean and Danny have ridden about 650 miles, Mrs OldSchool and I catch up to them in Grand Haven, MI.  Here is the Mrs nestled in the sidecar.  Out of site is our dog, who is tucked in under the sidecar shell.


We ride together for about 60 miles to South Haven, MI when we stop for lunch.  PimpZilla is quite a handful when he's thirsty!


MMMMMMmmmmm..... BEER!!


Sean & Zilla


Danny & Zilla


Danny, Me, Sean & Zilla


After lunch, PimpZilla hopped back on Danny's bike for the ride to Chicago.  Sean & Danny took off to the South as the Mrs, myself and our pup headed East.  But before we went home, we rode over to the South Haven beach.  Here are some gratuitous shots of one of Michigan's nicer beaches. 






Looking forward to next year's ride, whatever form it takes!!

[seanbarney41]

I don't have too much to add to this and no pics ...It was cool to see the northeast section of the lower peninsula, as I was very young the last time I was there...different atmosphere and architecture than I am familiar with in the rest of Michigan...but the north west seems to have the funnest roads, m119 and m22 being particular high points.  The weather kinda sucked, but I never really did get wet, and I have certainly ridden when it was colder before.  I managed to fit most of the things I needed for 3 days and 2 nights camping and riding in my small Shoei hard bags...a compact one man tent, a sleeping bag, a couple changes of clothes, an extra set of points and condensers, and the cb750 factory tool kit with some select additions.  I don't know how many miles I did 'cuz my speedo cable broke at 349mi. (less than half way)  No one should be scared to ride their sohc4 on a three day trip as my cb750 is  farrrrr from mechanically pristine and I brutally beat the thing regularly.
    It was great to ride with Danny, MJ, Dave the Welder, and Old School is Cool and I regret I didn't get to see some of the other guys and gals from earlier rally's...and what about new folks?  That's about all I know...

[Tews19]

Sean if you need a cable I think I may have one laying around.. I will look tomorrow and if I find it I will ship it to you..

[Bankerdanny]

Time for me to pick my tale back up.

I had just arrived at Sean's shop, which in addition to Sean's various bikes includes some cool Harley's, a vintage Triumph, a vintage Norton, and a hot rod in process.

[seanbarney41]

Sean if you need a cable I think I may have one laying around.. I will look tomorrow and if I find it I will ship it to you..

No worries Nick, I probably have one too...and if not I can certainly live without until I get a new one

[Bankerdanny]

I also finally received a tour of Ekpent's garage. This is only half of it and I understand there is another building with more bikes. Front and center is one of his three Suzuki GT750's.

[Tews19]

I also finally received a tour of Ekpent's garage. This is only half of it and I understand there is another building with more bikes. Front and center is one of his three Suzuki GT750's.

SO pretty! Does the cabinet in the back say Leggs? As in women's pantyhoses??? Kinda cool..... Now I will continue to wish for Eric to sell me a bike!

[Bankerdanny]

He did show me a couple bikes the thinks me might, maybe, perhaps, when he mood strikes him, see someday. All 750's, all '75 or older I think.

[Bankerdanny]

He and his parents used that building as an antique store years ago, so there is still some old furniture and displays inside.

[becken]

I can't figure out how to post these pictures in the reply, but here's a link to my photobucket library. Pictures are of GZ's time in Marblehead, Ohio and the handoff to the Detroit crew. I had a great time and hope I can do something next year. Sorry for my technical illiteracy.

http://s990.photobucket.com/user/monnin2/library/

[Bankerdanny]

Go to photo bucket and open the picture you want to include. Click on the photo address next to Direct on the right side of the page

Go back to SOHC4 and Click the Reply button.

Type whatever words you want.

click the insert image button (tiny Mona Lisa) then ctrl-v to paste the image address.

repeat to add more or hit post to, well, post.

[Tews19]

Danny left my place roughly 10 minutes ago... Here we are with the handoff..  I come inside and pimpzilla already up to no good....
Hopefully he won't cause to much trouble during his short stay...  a couple pics of My 2 girls having fun with him..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

[Stev-o]

Pictures are of GZ's time in Marblehead, Ohio and the handoff to the Detroit crew. I had a great time and hope I can do something next year.

For Becken: