9 Search Results for "Founder"

• Memories

  • From: CromagnaMan
  • Description:

    My older brother Jim's best friend when he was a Junior in High School was a guy named Thomas M.  Thomas owned the Honda Super 90, and my brother and him would pop all over Las Vegas, (where we lived at the time), to do different errands and just run around town and be teenagers.  Many times my brother would head off by himself on the small Honda, and I was TRULY envious!  I was a year behind him … a sophomore in high school … and the year was 1968.  At that time in Nevada, a minor could own and operate a motorcycle at 14 years of age providing the cycle was less than 100 CC.  Once the kid reached 16 years of age, he could purchase any bike regardless of the size of the engine. Because the regular Honda 90 had a square tank rather than the more streamlined tank of the “Super 90”, I thought it made the bike look bigger ... and I wanted one with all of my heart.  My dad was dead-set against any of us owning a motorcycle for he had almost been killed on an Indian just prior to WWII.  (He was in a gang at the time before he was drafted and, (more or less), he was kind of wild and crazy at the time.) He was absolutely ADAMENT that no child of his would follow in his wild ways ... and to him the way to protect us was to refuse to ever let us own motorcycles.  The only argument I ever had in my life where I caused my father to cry was over that desired Honda 90 when I was in my early teens. The day I purchased my first motorcycle, I was a grown man with children of my own, and owned my own photography lab and one hour photo.  My Pop was retired at that time, and “worked” at my little place of business helping customers and flirting with my female employees. I pulled up on my “new” motorcycle and proudly showed it off to my employees and my dad … but he just looked at it, quietly took his car keys from his pocket, got in his vehicle and drove away. I understood his fear and disapproval … but it still hurt. My Dad passed away about thirty years ago … my Son Christopher was killed in an auto accident in 1995 six weeks before his 19^th birthday … my Mom died  almost ten years ago … and my brother Jim passed away almost three years ago.  I miss all of them with all my heart, and loosing most of my personal family has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with. Over the years being a “biker” has evolved from just being a “cool” thing for me to be to being a very important part of my life.  I would have never believed that this “sport” could, (and did), become all consuming at times.  Like Cruiser Customizing founder Uwe, for several years I didn’t even own a car at all.  If it was raining, I wore a rain suit.  It was freezing, I layered my clothing.  (I never felt the “need” to purchase the electrically heated garments.) If it was storming with wind and lightning, I just “hunkered down” and kept on going. I even drove through a hurricane once … a wild and crazy ride to be sure! As I’ve grown older, I’ve hopefully matured a little, and now at least own a sweet 2005 Trail Blazer that I bought brand new out-of-the-box with all the buzzers and bells. I enjoy my car, and find myself driving it more and more as my health continues to deteriorate … but my first and greatest love and choice for transportation will always be motorcycles.  As I was riding through yesterday’s beautiful weather, I found myself feeling sorry for the “cage trapped” people riding along around me … for they don’t even have a clue of the constant rush of “freedom” and joy I feel every time I ride. There is so much sadness in this old world.  Loved ones die and are gone forever.  In a very real way, “escaping” on one of my motorbikes or the other is the one “bestest” way to keep me sane sometimes.   I have a sticker on one of my brain-buckets … (stickers’ are one or two line truths that we sometimes plaster on our helmets) … and one of my favorite stickers states simply, “You will never see a motorcycle parked outside a psychiatrists’ office”.  That is so true! We are coming up on the Thanksgiving holiday.  Perhaps it would be a good thing to add this thing we are grateful for ... this simple little thing … to the list that we are thankful for.  “Dear God, thank you so much for this sport that enables me to keep a modicum of my sanity … and to in small little way to help me deal with my life.”

  • Blog post
  • 5 days ago
  • Views: 37

• RIP Bruce Rossmeyer

  • From: karmahappens
  • Description:

    Dealer icon killed in motorcycle accident

    Powersports Business

    Friday July 31, 2009

    Bruce Rossmeyer, the founder of multi-line dealership complex Destination Daytona and owner of a number of Harley-Davidson dealerships, was killed in a motorcycle accident yesterday, according to the American Motorcyclist Association. Rossmeyer was on a ride with a five other motorcyclists in the western part of Wyoming. At about 11 a.m., the group attempted to pass a pickup truck pulling a camping trailer. The News Journal Online quoted Lt. Shawn Dickerson of the Wyoming Highway Patrol saying, “The pickup slowed and activated his left signal. Four of the motorcycles passed to the left... When Mr. Rossmeyer attempted to pass, the truck made its left turn and he hit the driver’s side door. The sixth motorcycle swerved to the right and avoided collision.” Rossmeyer was the owner of Daytona Beach Harley-Davidson. He also owned a number of other Harley-Davidson dealerships around the country. He was riding to the Sturgis motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D., at the time of the accident. Rossmeyer, also a co-owner of two Daytona Beach area car dealerships. was a father of five and the grandfather to seven.

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 252

• doktoreker

  • Member
  • Points:405
  • Views: 189
  • Since: 4 months ago

• shrek200348

  • Member
  • Points:250
  • Views: 172
  • Since: 8 months ago

• tiger49931

  • Member
  • Points:265
  • Views: 119
  • Since: 8 months ago

• Die Moto - worlds fastest dies

  • From: uwe999
  • Description:

    3 weeks ago I had the pleasure to meet Michael Sturtz, the founder and executive director of "The Crucible" in Oakland, CA. The Crucible is a really cool and interesting non-profit arts education center. It's a collaboration of arts, industry and community teaching and showcasing fire, metal, glass and light art. They even offer several motorcycle maintenance classes.

    
    Michael and his volunteer team, known as the "Diesel Dozen", had the idea to transplant a European BMW diesel car motor into a BWM R1150RT motorcycle via a custom frame to brake the diesel motorcycle land speed record of 105 mph.

    
    They are sponsored by Greenline Industries, a manufacturer of bio diesel processing systems. After spending countless late nights and weekends in their metal fabricating shop to finish "Die Moto" they headed to Bonneville for the races. Clocking in at over 130mph they succeeded and are expecting to get it up to over 160mph. The engine is powerful enough to that speed however they have issues with the complicated electronic engine control system. If you know a BMW mechanic familiar with engine electronics please contact Michael.  His website is www.thecrucible.org.

    Checkout the video of building Die Moto and a photo from the day of the race.

    Besides breaking the land speed record they are setting out to prove that alternative fuel technology is viable and produces much fewer emissions than standard diesel engines. Personally I'm curious to see how a diesel cruiser motorcycle would perform - and sound.

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 479

• memorymoon

  • Member
  • Points:487
  • Views: 200
  • Since: 1 year ago

• GoldRiderGR

  • Member
  • Points:448
  • Views: 6695
  • Since: 1 year ago

• uwe999

  • Platinum - Country Rider
  • Points:6035
  • Views: 11137
  • Since: 1 year ago