WELCOME TO THE HISTORY PAGE ...
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WE TODAY ARE TOMORROW'S HISTORY ... Let's make it a good read, eh? Updated 08 - 06 - '26
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Okay ... (photo above - of FSSNOC #002's new gas tank on his awesome DR-Z400SM)
How do we pronounce it?
Go ahead, let me hear your version...
I remember an ad in a magazine of many moons ago, you know, when magazines came in the mail to a metal box mounted on a wooden post at the end of our driveway, they were even printed on paper ... and typically, the mailman had read it before I got it a few days later! How did I know? The telltale imprint of his dripping coffee cup, that's how!!!!!
Back to business. It was an ad for a company's products ... and it contained a very explicit depiction of how to pronounce their brand name correctly, so simple even a Thumper rider can say it (that be me!)?
Ha! Ha! Okay, here we go:
First object depicted was a common (think old fashioned dining room here) wooden chair.
NO, WAIT! First was a huge capital "A"... the wooden chair was the second depiction!
Next was a picture of a detailed bumblebee ... to be pronounced "bee"... then a big "S"
A - chair - bee - S "Achairbees" ... Acerbis
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it... - #000.
See "U" on the Event Page ... (See masthead above if you've never visited it before...)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Good Morning Jack and Fellow FSSNOCers
Just finished reading your ‘ode’ to Phil, FSSNOC #001. He sounds like a great person. I’m sorry that I did not have the pleasure of meeting him. I sense a likeness to Burt Munro in your write up of him.
On another note(s): I’m currently trying to find the prince of darkness in the DR650’s starting circuit and mulling over the other articles I need to complete after the trip to New Zealand.
Keep On Thumping! - Flying Fran, FSSNOC #1440 - CA.
RESPONSE TO FRAN:
YES! You hit the proverbial nail square on the head! The compared likeness to Burt Munro is spot on, Good Sir! I hadn't thought of that, but now it brings a big smile... perfect!
Good fortune with that search for the "Prince of Darkness" - Ha! Ha! We've all been there... and it can be an elusive hunt but when you find it, such joy results!
And, yes, we always enjoy the fruits of your travels ... see the upcoming Thumper News on the screen above ... you are page 23. (T/Y!)
=================================================
Anything below the above line, Dear Viewer, is good info, but from an earlier update ... read again, or slide over to the Event Page, etc ... as per the navigational aids above in the masthead...
Welcome to the History Page ... and for once, we're gonna talk some real history here! Read and ride on......
YES ... that is one groddy t-shirt above. Note the stain of many hours of sweat and grime, this shirt was honorably worn time and time again at the club racetrack by FSSNOC #001, Phil Vigo - Ks. during his term as President of the local motorcycle club here in ThumperVille, USA, the Prairie Pups Motorcycle Club - est. 1940, AMA Historic Sanction #109 ...
Back in that day, we had a racetrack located on an old mostly forgotten WWII Naval Air Base about 5 miles south and a few east of what we called our town then, Puckerbrush, USA.
Our club was bigger then, usually 50-60 members and pretty much everyone was active and full of zeal. As I remember it, we all owned a street-road bike and at least one, sometimes more, dirt/race bikes ... and we rode and/or raced every week and every weekend, riding every day in a lot of cases.
We had a club breakfast on Sunday mornings that resulted in motorcycles parked against the curb in front of the current go-to cafe, the line would almost go the entire block! ... Ahhhh, those were the days, but as a fellow participant commented the other day, (laughingly - "so fun, but I'm glad those days are over!")
PPMC President/ FSSNOC #001, Phil passed on July 15, 2026.
The morning after my dream of starting a National club for Single cylinder motorcycle owners, I went to work at the Shop as normal, but underneath my exterior, my heart and my brain were RACING!
I shared my vision with all of the fellow employees who would listen that day, and for sure, even the Boss, Big AL. All were interested, or at least courteous enough to hear me out ... but no response on that day ... the initial annual dues were $20. For most of us, that probably would have been the largest bill in our wallet, it was 1986.
After lunch, mid-afternoon, as I recall, Phil walked up to me, planted his feet, and rapidly extended his clenched fist at about shoulder height. I ducked and dodged .... This was before the clenched fist greeting of today, a.k.a "the bump" ... usually a clenched fist was followed by a bloody lip or a black eye , ie ... "those were the days" ... or at least a stinging shoulder ... but not this time.
Phil said, laughing, "Go ahead, Take it! I'll be Number One!"
In that fist was a waded-up $20 bill!!!
FSSNOC #001 Phil Vigo ... Rest In Peace, my dear friend. - #000
*Phil lived out his days in a small town west of here about 40 miles.
He loved 350cu. in. Chevy motors. During the day he would build-up those V-8 motors for Hot Rodders and Racers and just for fun. I'd ride through his small town at part throttle, I knew just when to glance over my left shoulder to see if his backyard shed's overhead door was open or shut.
If open, I'd often chop the bars and motor-up to the back of his shed. We visit for awhile, the grimy tv would be on the cowboy movie channel, he'd offer a cold bottled water for me, and he'd sip on a splash of whisky in a dirty glass, we'd usually talk about the old days at AL'S HONDA-YAMAHA and PPMC and FSSNOC. Good memories, all.
A few months ago, he gave me the above shirt, a belt buckle, a sidecover emblem off his old Yamaha SECA-TURBO, and some pages out of his photo album ... words didn't have say it, but I'm sure this was all in anticipation of life's checkered flag.
If the GOOD LORD likes 350 Chevy V-8s, he's definitely got the right man ... #000.
=================================
ENJOY A LITTLE OF OUR OWN HISTORY ... CHECK IT OUT, RUNS AN HOUR AND MAYBE A BIT MORE, MIGHT TAKE THE PLACE OF SOME BAD TV, EH? - #000
A THUMPER RIDER'S PODCAST ...
To view the podcast ... CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZb4CgjfmEk
The podcast above was generated by Janus Motorcycles in Goshen, Indiana. EP.#1 ... In this podcast, FSSNOC #000 (Jack) is the guest being interviewed by Richard and Grant from JANUS MOTORCYCLES.
Play/View time is a tick over an hour so some popcorn might be nice, I like the chocolate drizzle kind, btw. Formal wear (FSSNOC club t-shirts, cap, etc...) adds to the mood, but not mandatory. Contact your friends, invite them in, share as you like. No cheat sheets, no prompt boards, no prior discussion and no Thumpers hurt in the making of this podcast.
574-538-1350 JANUSMOTORCYCLES.COM
And, this podcast is for entertainment only...
##########################################################
MORE?
THERE'S MORE??
WHERE???
Sure, just slide over to the Event Page for more Thumper-chit chat :::>
*************************************************************************
=================================
WE TODAY ARE TOMORROW'S HISTORY ... Let's make it a good read, eh? Updated 08 - 06 - '26
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay ... (photo above - of FSSNOC #002's new gas tank on his awesome DR-Z400SM)
How do we pronounce it?
Go ahead, let me hear your version...
I remember an ad in a magazine of many moons ago, you know, when magazines came in the mail to a metal box mounted on a wooden post at the end of our driveway, they were even printed on paper ... and typically, the mailman had read it before I got it a few days later! How did I know? The telltale imprint of his dripping coffee cup, that's how!!!!!
Back to business. It was an ad for a company's products ... and it contained a very explicit depiction of how to pronounce their brand name correctly, so simple even a Thumper rider can say it (that be me!)?
Ha! Ha! Okay, here we go:
First object depicted was a common (think old fashioned dining room here) wooden chair.
NO, WAIT! First was a huge capital "A"... the wooden chair was the second depiction!
Next was a picture of a detailed bumblebee ... to be pronounced "bee"... then a big "S"
A - chair - bee - S "Achairbees" ... Acerbis
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it... - #000.
See "U" on the Event Page ... (See masthead above if you've never visited it before...)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Good Morning Jack and Fellow FSSNOCers
Just finished reading your ‘ode’ to Phil, FSSNOC #001. He sounds like a great person. I’m sorry that I did not have the pleasure of meeting him. I sense a likeness to Burt Munro in your write up of him.
On another note(s): I’m currently trying to find the prince of darkness in the DR650’s starting circuit and mulling over the other articles I need to complete after the trip to New Zealand.
Keep On Thumping! - Flying Fran, FSSNOC #1440 - CA.
RESPONSE TO FRAN:
YES! You hit the proverbial nail square on the head! The compared likeness to Burt Munro is spot on, Good Sir! I hadn't thought of that, but now it brings a big smile... perfect!
Good fortune with that search for the "Prince of Darkness" - Ha! Ha! We've all been there... and it can be an elusive hunt but when you find it, such joy results!
And, yes, we always enjoy the fruits of your travels ... see the upcoming Thumper News on the screen above ... you are page 23. (T/Y!)
=================================================
Anything below the above line, Dear Viewer, is good info, but from an earlier update ... read again, or slide over to the Event Page, etc ... as per the navigational aids above in the masthead...
Welcome to the History Page ... and for once, we're gonna talk some real history here! Read and ride on......
YES ... that is one groddy t-shirt above. Note the stain of many hours of sweat and grime, this shirt was honorably worn time and time again at the club racetrack by FSSNOC #001, Phil Vigo - Ks. during his term as President of the local motorcycle club here in ThumperVille, USA, the Prairie Pups Motorcycle Club - est. 1940, AMA Historic Sanction #109 ...
Back in that day, we had a racetrack located on an old mostly forgotten WWII Naval Air Base about 5 miles south and a few east of what we called our town then, Puckerbrush, USA.
Our club was bigger then, usually 50-60 members and pretty much everyone was active and full of zeal. As I remember it, we all owned a street-road bike and at least one, sometimes more, dirt/race bikes ... and we rode and/or raced every week and every weekend, riding every day in a lot of cases.
We had a club breakfast on Sunday mornings that resulted in motorcycles parked against the curb in front of the current go-to cafe, the line would almost go the entire block! ... Ahhhh, those were the days, but as a fellow participant commented the other day, (laughingly - "so fun, but I'm glad those days are over!")
PPMC President/ FSSNOC #001, Phil passed on July 15, 2026.
The morning after my dream of starting a National club for Single cylinder motorcycle owners, I went to work at the Shop as normal, but underneath my exterior, my heart and my brain were RACING!
I shared my vision with all of the fellow employees who would listen that day, and for sure, even the Boss, Big AL. All were interested, or at least courteous enough to hear me out ... but no response on that day ... the initial annual dues were $20. For most of us, that probably would have been the largest bill in our wallet, it was 1986.
After lunch, mid-afternoon, as I recall, Phil walked up to me, planted his feet, and rapidly extended his clenched fist at about shoulder height. I ducked and dodged .... This was before the clenched fist greeting of today, a.k.a "the bump" ... usually a clenched fist was followed by a bloody lip or a black eye , ie ... "those were the days" ... or at least a stinging shoulder ... but not this time.
Phil said, laughing, "Go ahead, Take it! I'll be Number One!"
In that fist was a waded-up $20 bill!!!
FSSNOC #001 Phil Vigo ... Rest In Peace, my dear friend. - #000
*Phil lived out his days in a small town west of here about 40 miles.
He loved 350cu. in. Chevy motors. During the day he would build-up those V-8 motors for Hot Rodders and Racers and just for fun. I'd ride through his small town at part throttle, I knew just when to glance over my left shoulder to see if his backyard shed's overhead door was open or shut.
If open, I'd often chop the bars and motor-up to the back of his shed. We visit for awhile, the grimy tv would be on the cowboy movie channel, he'd offer a cold bottled water for me, and he'd sip on a splash of whisky in a dirty glass, we'd usually talk about the old days at AL'S HONDA-YAMAHA and PPMC and FSSNOC. Good memories, all.
A few months ago, he gave me the above shirt, a belt buckle, a sidecover emblem off his old Yamaha SECA-TURBO, and some pages out of his photo album ... words didn't have say it, but I'm sure this was all in anticipation of life's checkered flag.
If the GOOD LORD likes 350 Chevy V-8s, he's definitely got the right man ... #000.
=================================
ENJOY A LITTLE OF OUR OWN HISTORY ... CHECK IT OUT, RUNS AN HOUR AND MAYBE A BIT MORE, MIGHT TAKE THE PLACE OF SOME BAD TV, EH? - #000
A THUMPER RIDER'S PODCAST ...
To view the podcast ... CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZb4CgjfmEk
The podcast above was generated by Janus Motorcycles in Goshen, Indiana. EP.#1 ... In this podcast, FSSNOC #000 (Jack) is the guest being interviewed by Richard and Grant from JANUS MOTORCYCLES.
Play/View time is a tick over an hour so some popcorn might be nice, I like the chocolate drizzle kind, btw. Formal wear (FSSNOC club t-shirts, cap, etc...) adds to the mood, but not mandatory. Contact your friends, invite them in, share as you like. No cheat sheets, no prompt boards, no prior discussion and no Thumpers hurt in the making of this podcast.
574-538-1350 JANUSMOTORCYCLES.COM
And, this podcast is for entertainment only...
##########################################################
MORE?
THERE'S MORE??
WHERE???
Sure, just slide over to the Event Page for more Thumper-chit chat :::>
*************************************************************************