Supporting the Sabrina Black Foundation & presented by the

Teamster Horseman Motorcycle Association, Chapter 43

     What a day to start out the riding season of 2009! The sun’s warmth was in full swing, a crisp breeze thought out the day’s winding roads, with nothing but blue skies and motorcycles ahead.

     It all started with a simple phone call to a few of my rider friends. One thing I can honestly say about the motorcycle community and those I ride with, on a moment’s notice a spontaneous ride for a worthy cause happens more often than the larger weekend’s planned events.

     The poker runs, various bike nights, and the many weekday specials targeted for those who prefer the two-wheeled traveling adventures, have now started off on a very positive note here in Washington Township Michigan. With our rides entailing a three day to four day weekend, starting here very soon, only those who grew up and live in Michigan can truly appreciate the longer get-a-way since we’ve claimed the inventing of Friday’s “nooner-or-sooner” and the famous, “Boss, I’ll be in at noon on Monday.”

     Flier in hand with a personal invitation from Leather Work’s Chuck Bell, I called my longtime friends Jeff and Jenny only a few days prior, for a day ride on the weekend ahead. Without hesitation a reply of “Sure, just let us know when to meet you and where.” Other than a brief description of where to meet up, this was all it took to bring in another couple riding for a good cause.

     This early Sunday morning the 4^th Annual “Itchin Ride” hosted by the Teamster Horsemen and supporting the Sabrina Black foundation, was beginning to warm up for one of the first rides of the 2009 season. Hundreds of bikes filled the parking lot of Leather Works as we were greeted at the entrance by a few of the Teamster Horseman halting traffic for all those who were starting their eighty mile trip. Once parked, we were also welcomed by the ever so popular and beautiful, dressed in leather chaps while complimenting the front of Leather Works, the Rebel Girls.

     After registration and a few introductions exchanged with a few more riders, our journey began with us heading to the south, “riding-around-the-block,” and venturing out for our first card. This drawn ace of spades of mine would soon be my last good card for the day, so we’ll end the card game here while learning a little about the Teamster Horsemen and the Sabrina Black Foundation.

   Established in 2000, the Teamster Horsemen-Chapter 43, host the “Itchin Ride” at Leather Works in Washington Township every year. Charter Member and Trustee Joe Medrano, one of the many Teamster Horsemen helping out over the years, worked the stop at the Oxford Tap. Helping out the Sabrina Black Foundation this year Joe mentions, “One of the trustee’s ideas.” And after the leg work was completed, the first Sunday of every May, this year’s 4^th Annual Itchin Ride chose the Sabrina Black Foundation.

    A very touching human interest story here as I sat down with Steve Black to hear his words. A radio personality for almost twenty years, Steve is an on-air personality with WRIF 101.1 out of Detroit, and the producer/host of the syndicated radio show, “Chop Shop,” whose primary focus is with guitar players.

     Also a radio personality in Detroit, Sabrina Black was best known for working with WDFN The Fan-1130. Steve starts off her story, “Loving sports, a great sportscaster and very passionate about music.” In January of 1999, at the young age of 29, Sabrina was diagnosed with cancer while on the way to their wedding in Hawaii. Ten days later the chemotherapy started, followed by her six year battle. During Sabrina’s last few years the idea to help others was introduced between the two. Sabrina personally picked out and approved the board of directors and together with their radio personalities combined, helped build the Sabrina Black Foundation. Today the foundation works with hospitals to eliminate a cancer patient’s hospital bill.

     Eighty miles later the run ended at Boomer’s Roadhouse in Waterford. Packed full with bikers we were greeted once again with friendly smiles, good food, and the company of fellow riders, riding on a rare Michigan, picture perfect Sunday.

     On a moment’s notice, a spontaneous trip for a good cause, a biker will most likely be on their way and heading down the road before the phone hits the receiver. Of the many poker runs and riding causes over the years I’ve made and been a part of, this is the one I’ll remember.-Ed Spicuzza.

One of the many acts of a silent kindness Sabrina offered, “If she saw a person dining alone. “Put their bill on our tab and please don’t tell them.”  Steve Black

Motorcycles, Metal, and Mayhem Rally ~ 2009

     On a cooler than normal Pennsylvania day in early June, Greensburg’s Westmoreland Fairgrounds would host the first bike rally organized by “Bag Lady Sue,” Suzanne Austin and Clyde, AKA, “Bonnie & Clyde.”

     An idea sparked within their eighteen year relationship to help raise funds for the Operation Troop Appreciation Foundation and soon came to fruition the first week in June. The fairgrounds are located off the winding and curvy roads Pennsylvania is known for and approximately twenty miles southeast of Pittsburgh, home now to NHL’s Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Congrats!)

     Operation Troop Appreciation, OTA, supplies the troops overseas with a variety of basic resources needed to make life a little easier while away and far from their family life on the home front. OTA’s mission here is a simple one, but one of great merit. To boost the morale of our troops overseas while maintaining an elevated and focused spirit though their selfless service and daily sacrifices.

     By providing a “Wish List,” to the thousands of deployed troops, all branches of our Armed Forces receive from many sources, big business, small business, and anyone wishing to donate everyday items we sometimes take for granted. From books to stationary, phone cards to personal written letters of appreciation, and prayers, this diversity shipped thousands of miles away ensures a little peace while instilling a confidence that we true Americans still care.    

     Kristen Holloway, founder and President of OTA, along with the strong support of SFC Robert Moser, Career Counselor and 20 year veteran of the Pennsylvania National Guard, worked the entire weekend educating those who stopped by their booth while gaining support in many ways. One of the many highlights this weekend, not only the impressive display of a military Hummer and amphibious unit on each side of their tent, was when they were both fired up after a tear jerking ceremony on stage. The OTA presented Sue with an encased American Flag along with a special “Thank you speech” by SFC Moser. As the engines were rolling over within a low toned deep thunder and the bag pipers of the Western Pennsylvania Firefighters Memorial Honor Guard marched away from the stage area, Sue and Clyde were invited to ride along in the rather large, tan amphibious military tank! What an impressive way to make a departure!

     The three day rally included a poker run, lead by personally by Sue, a variety of affairs to participate in and witness throughout the fairgrounds. Mechanical bull riding was a crowd favorite, along with a dunk tank, bike games, a bike show, bikini bike wash, as live bands performed continuously complimenting the weekend and its non-stop schedule of events. This uninterrupted line-up of top performers included the Kentucky Headhunters, Jasmine Cain, Rebel Son, Navasota-Rio, Big House Pete, Camshaft, Land Mynd, Trapline, The Motorpsychos, As Fate Burns, with a special appearance by Project Morbid. Wandering around the grounds each day entertaining all within reach and ear shot were the world famous Scally Wags Pirate Comedy Show. At the top of the weekend’s entertainments, comedy with the “Cajun Queen” Caroline Picard, the American Motor Drome Company’s-America’s Original Extreme Motorcycle Thrillshow & the famous Wall of Death along with the Daredevil Duo, all female, Circus Una high wire motorcycle balancing act.

     Bar none and hands down here, the highlight, the biggest crowd tear jerker and most touching moment of the weekend came to light on stage and at the end of “Bag Lady Sue’s” act. A completely caught off guard, wordless, “Deer-in-the-headlights-look” award was earned by Clyde as the woman of his 18 years stood before him with a trembling, heartfelt speech of love. The crowd now in total silence, Sue on bended knee, proposed to her man on stage! The mic dropped to the floor as they embraced, tears from Sue and a very big “YES!” from Clyde ensued.

     Attending more poker runs than I can remember, participating in the various memorial events over the years, blasting through to the next bike rally, one after another, while adding the hundreds of thousands of miles driven on two wheels and a variety of motorcycles, this “first time rally” presented by Sue, Clyde, and their many loyal “Minions,” was a first class, top notch rally boasting the quality of a seasoned ten year bike week.

Ed Spicuzza

Thunder Roads Motorcycle Magazine Michigan

May 23^rd & 24^th ~ 2009

Benefit for Camp Fishtales

     “There are those who choose to ride for a reason, there are those who choose to ride for a cause…”

     Kicking off this two day event started off with a Saturday Charity Bike Show at Bubba’s Tri-City Cycle, located just to the north of Bay City in Linwood Michigan, and a poker run on Sunday afternoon. The cause, a benefit fundraiser for Camp Fishtales, a kid’s camp designed and ran for challenged children of all ages.

     The bikes rolled in all day Saturday, many registering and entering for the show, others taking a peek at the custom built and painted bikes lined up along the back of Bubba’s shops. The show bikes brought in a variety of themes ranging from a deep purple and black lightning chromed Harley to the tributes to our Nation’s fallen military heroes. Within the high gloss olive drab fuel tank and fenders, an older Harley was themed up commemorating the Vietnam War complete with earned ribbons. A few other eye catchers, a Road King honoring fallen Marines, tributes memorializing Pearl Harbor, D-Day, a variety of World War II themes including a unique paint job showing the Arizona and the Vietnam Wall. Also noted on these two days, the parking lots were never shy of American flags boasting all shapes and sizes.

     The weekend was also filled with wonderful weather, good food, and entertainment. The incredible band line up kept the stage filled with, Gyro 360, Sinister Scarlett, Roaddogs, Mrs C & The Manwhores, Darling Down, Thunderchickens, and Hinge. With the thousands in attendance, the 630 bikers and their passengers, this two day extravaganza Benefit for Camp Fishtales had raised $35,000!

     I was honored with a personal tour and camp introduction. Bubba has been personally involved with this camp and its kids now for eleven years. It started many years ago with a father whose disabled son was too old to attend such a camp. A donated property five miles north of Tri-City on 60 wooded acres, Camp Fishtales has the capacity to house and care for twenty six kids. Fully staffed with “Campers” & “Counselors,” nurses, grounds keepers, and volunteers, this camp hosts a complete itinerary of fun and exciting activities. From talent shows to karaoke night, the kids learn many different things by utilizing numerous hands-on practices. A typical Camp Fishtale setting; a simple hike through a cleared path in the woods, archery, fishing, a sand filled beach, spotting nature’s beautiful wildlife shine, small woodland creatures, her colorful flowers in bloom, or a campfire at night as stories fill the air. These activities and many more, all revolve around children whose disabilities seemingly are non-existent to them while visiting for a short while at Camp Fishtales.

    A very humble and modest Bubba tells me, “This dock is one of the many things the bikers have raised money for here, I just run the show.” He continued with this, “If a parent can’t afford this for their child, this is also where the money raised comes in.”

     This story and its depth could continue on, the positive energy, the genuine good in people who’s hearts are always in the right place, an innocent child’s disability-they truly know not what it is at Camp Fishtales. Bubba’s devote dedication for a worthy cause now responsible for the many smiles every time he makes an entrance. As riders we’ve a choice, choosing to ride for a reason, or choosing to ride for a cause. Either way we choose, another person gains from our silent good. This weekend Camp Fishtales and its kids were our reason and our cause, a warming and heartfelt “thank you” from them to you awaits within a gleam and a smile.

Ed Spicuzza

Baldwin Michigan

Municipal Airport

Sponsored by the Para-Dice M/C Club

     Located on the northwest side of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, approximately 27 miles east of historic Ludington at the junction of M-37 and US-10, two and three wheeled machines of all makes and models are welcomed into Lake County’s tiny town of Baldwin. Sponsored by the Para-Dice M/C Club, it is here where the gates of the Baldwin Municipal Airport are opened to the thousands of riders who for years have spanned across the highways of America as they host one of the nation’s largest bike blessing every year.

     This three day event started off on a typical Michigan cloudy day as the streets to the south side of the town made way to the many vendors finding just the right spot to set up their sites. A seemingly endless selection of various leathers, helmets, tee shirts, trinkets of many kinds, with a variety of foods to choose from, lined up the majority of M-37’s north and south roadway. This wave of merchants selling their wares to all those in ear shot, bartering with every moment offered up while making a great deal happen for all who would soon venture into their reach, gave the bikers and townspeople an incredible selection of unique, often times personal, items of the motorcycle community. “Everything must go!” “No reasonable offer refused!” “Everything is on sale today!” filled the airwaves as the weekend’s event was slowly witnessing the bikes arrive.

     Friday held the typical biker camp set-up as I was offered a spot in front of the Leather Works trailer. My personal thank you to Chuck for the space needed to film Sunday’s blessing. Saturday welcomed the first large pack of various motorcycles and soon the streets were claiming the roar of its first thousand. An inviting, picture perfect sunny Sunday, brought in the remaining thousands within the final few hours of the gates opening at 9:00. As far as the eye could see M-37 north and south were rippled with an endless wave of motorcycles, custom choppers, and trikes looking for a spot for their machine to be blessed.

     The commencement introduction and a warming welcome to all was preceded by our National Anthem, a short prayer blessing all those in attendance followed, and then…Those all too famous words, “Gentlemen, start your engines!” Lost somewhere within the middle while completely surrounded by thousands of motorcycles and fellow riders, the thunderous low roar echoed a deep rumble as the starters turned over the engines firing up the cylinders, literally had the ground shaking beneath my feet.

     One thing to note here, of the three days weather wise, Sunday by far was the best as the sun and its warmth finally made an appearance. During the National Anthem all eyes were upon a shadowed silhouette flying high above the crowd. Wings spanning and stretched out it appeared to be a Bald Eagle circling around the biker congregation below…?

Ed Spicuzza