FSSNOC THUMPER GARAGE
IS CLOSED THIS WEEK FOR SPRING BRAKE ... SEE YOU ALL ON THE 25TH!
**************************************************************** THIS WEBSITE UPDATE IS FOR ... 04-18-19
OUR NEXT ANTICIPATED UPDATE IS ... 04- 25 - 2019
See "Website Details and Instruction" section at the bottom of all this great conversation.
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"ROAD-GRADER HEAVEN?" ...
or, as the man who came out of his nearby office to talk to me called them,
"Motor Graders ... the largest collection of Motor Graders in the solar system! I used to say in the world, but we have even more than we did then", he exclaimed. "Go ahead, walk around the lot!", he graciously invited. I asked if I could ride my bike through the yard instead, he said "Sure, go ahead but be careful!"
Best I could count ... 10 rows deep X the amount you see left to right, who knows how many? The state law required a fence around such an area; a salvage yard, junk yard, whatever ... so they pulled off the tires and stacked them in a row, the law apparently doesn't say what the fence is to be made of, so here ya' go, a fence around the "en-tire" collection (pun intended - Ha! Ha!).
You ... who visit the THUMPER GARAGE routinely may have noticed on the Event Page that we are on "Spring Brake" with our FSSNOC S.O.S. (SATURDAYS ON SINGLES) lunches. These lunches are generally held each Saturday for any FSSNOC member who happens to be traveling through Kansas and/or any FSSNOC member who cares to attend from the area. This "Spring Brake" is largely due to the unpredictability, or maybe one could say the predictability, of bum-weather during the usually painful transition this time of year from the throes of winter into the joys of Spring. To see a photo of a Spring day in ThumperVille, visit the Event Page. In contrast to that 80 degree day, a few days ago, tomorrows daytime high is to be 46, the low is 36...
In lieu of the S.O.S. lunches ... we temporarily have what we call the "NYPD" lunches ... N is supposed to mean Nearly. Y means Your. P means Perfect. And, lastly, D means Day. Nearly Your Perfect Day ... NYPD
Tuesday was our pick for just such a day. Lunch at Seward, Ks. Population 64 people, a Co-Op elevator, and Mom's Bar and Grill since 1998, so the sign says. These impromptu rides aren't just everyone's cup of tea. Many potential participants need more notice, etc so expectations for participants are kept low. And, true to that, we had just four Thumpers outside the front door at 1:05PM. Tacos were the special, I had a grilled cheese, and I had homemade pie, which was anything but. Despite the just okay food, the occasion was fun and the time with Thumper-mounted friends well spent.
Afterward ... we all headed for Pawnee Rock, a landmark on the plains that travelers on the Santa Fe trail would watch for diligently, why was that? Because there was a river not far away and their water barrels could be refilled and the oxen watered to their contentment, something that wasn't always possible on the slow trek west in those days. The big mound of earth is only about 60-70 feet high now, but in those days it was 100 feet to the top. When the railroad went through the area, the top of the hill was actually mined for material for the railroad roadbed. A tow story platform atop the mound now represents the height of the original mound. The eastward facing portion is bare sandstone that bears the carved inscriptions and initials of travelers going clear back to the mid-1800s to present day. Before that it was a common meeting place for native Indian tribes and, in addition, it was a popular grazing area for huge herds of buffalo.
I'm up on top ... reading all the plaques, leisurely enjoying the view and the day when I hear the sound of three Thumpers leaving the hillside parking area below my station. I turnabout and watch as my traveling companions steal away during the bright of day with nary a glance back ... even though there was no one there to see it, I do my very best Rodney Dangerfield impression, "I just don't get any respect!"
An 18 mph south wind ... was the only fly in the ointment of our NYPD day, but here in Kansas, we consider that almost a still day. You may have noted that the Thumper in the shot above is my 2018 Yamaha XT250. It's been my main ride all winter, well, since January one, and so far, remains just that ... anyway, on my way back to the house, I passed by the field of dreams you see above. I also rode by a sign that said B-29 Memorial this way ... so I turned at the sign and rode by and spent some time there. Our local area played a huge role in the WWII B-29 and other airplane models of the day.
It was a 170 mile run ... and I motored home with a smile.
"Wait Not On The Perfect Day Lest The Perfect Day Escape You" is my creed ... during the Springtime, I'm happy with a NYPD ... a Nearly Perfect Day! - #000
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Lynn and Johnnie, FSSNOC #139 - COLORADO
(Sorry ... your really great photos didn't fit our website page format, but I hope you'll send some more!
Photos work best when they are horizontal in format, in other words, turn the camera sideways. Now, with that said, in some cases a vertical format will work but on your examples, it cut off too much of the top and bottom of the shot ... but really great to hear from you two! Thank You!! - #000.)
Stretching Thumper's legs after a long winter !! 100+ inches of snow at the visitors center of the Grand Mesa National Forest at 10000 feet. Down here at home (Grand Junction), 4500 feet, we have fruit trees blooming.
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AND THAT BRINGS UP A REALLY GOOD POINT ...
Most FSSNOC members now days carry a cellphone with camera ability and some carry really good cameras. So, will someone please send me a photo of your Thumper or of anyone's Thumper? Otherwise, I have to use something that is on my phone as I did today. Anyone? (And, remember ... horizontal format)
If you don't want to say anything, that's okay ... I'll make do, but you are welcome, even encouraged, to say something about the photo you are sending. All photos will be considered but not all may be used and upon receiving your photo, it becomes the property of FSSNOC, INC and may be used in any of our media or it may not be used at all ... but you already knew all that, right?
E-mail it as an attachment to your e-mail to our address here at the THUMPER GARAGE:
FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
(You may have to write this address down then go from there to email or you can copy and paste ... just clicking on it here may not work for some, or so I'm told... ) - #000
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David Blasco, who does the Royalenfields.com blog, ran a post about the rare old Royal Enfield Indians, the Floyd Clymer ones with Italian frames. I sent him a few hundred words about an old bike of mine ... and two photos, and the text and photos are up on his blog page now.
royalenfields.com
your friend, Maynard, #1196
Thanks, Maynard ... good stuff! I was around when those puppies were new. Last one I seen (or is it "saw") was at Baxter's Triumph-Royal Enfield shop in Marne, Iowa just off I-80, a great place to visit, by the way! It's where I bought my Royal Enfield Continental GT-535 Cafe Racer. Randy used to say, "Never fewer than 100 vintage bikes for sale and on the floor at any one time!" - #000.
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THE "GAME ON" SCORE IS NOW:
KANSAS - FIVE
OHIO - TWO
INDIANA - ONE
FLORIDA - ONE
VIRGINIA - ONE
The above represents the current results for the "GAME ON", a FSSNOC program that challenges members in each state to sign-up new members in our club during 2019. As you may have noticed, not all states are represented above, hopefully that will motivate members who live in those locations not on the list to up their own game and invite others to join our club. This year is 2019 and this year represents the future of our club. Be a part of destiny, sign-on a new member today... Thank You! - Jack, FSSNOC #000/Director
******************************************************************************************************************* Don't Miss the other Pages on this website ------------------------------> look up on the masthead :)
The posts immediately below are from an earlier update, enjoy:
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BEATING THE WINTER BLUES ... BY RIDING TO DEATH VALLEY!
While most of the country is busy digging out of snow storms the month of March can be a great time for a motorcycle ride to the southwest. This trip was delayed one week due to rain and cold temperatures in the region. Even with the delay the weather remained cold the entire trip.
Three 650 dual-sport motorcycles and 3 large street-motorcycles attended this trip. On our way to Death Valley, we thought it would be great to visit the Trona Pinnacles. The access road to the Trona Pinnacles is a 5-mile dirt road. After about 3 or 4 miles on the dirt road we came across a section of soft sand. Two of the large street motorcycles went down. After getting the crashed motorcycles upright, we decided to go back to the pavement. Then we continued on to Death Valley. Luckily no one was injured. After this we decided not to try anymore off-road adventures with the street motorcycles.
Our timing was off to see the flowers blooming Death Valley. At least we could see flowers in full bloom in other desert areas. While in the Death Valley area, we stopped by the ghost town of Rhyolite. We did stop to shoot a photo of a replica of the 20-Mule Team wagon. In the background of that photo, there was some white stuff that looked to be snow. Not the case, it was minerals. We continued on, riding a one-lane paved road through some of the Death Valley canyons.
While visiting the Hoover Dam, I was surprised that one can still ride/drive across the dam. I thought the dam was off-limits after the bypass bridge was built. It looks like Hoover Dam is a huge tourist attraction.
Passing through Yuma, Arizona, we stopped by the Yuma Territorial Prison. Life was hard in 1876 but being housed in the prison looked much worse. While in Yuma the weather was starting to turn colder so we decided to take a slow trip back home. Seemed like from that point on we had a cold head wind blasting us in the face.
I’ve already been to the 1914 Plank Road located near the Imperial Sand Dunes before but most of the others had not, so we stopped to see it. I still find it interesting to see a road for cars made entirely of wood. The one-lane Plank Road ran across the Imperial Sand Dunes. In the photo, my motorcycle is on a reproduced section of the Plank Road. The original wooden road is fenced off in the background of the photo.
Riding very deserted back roads to the Historic town of Amboy on old Route 66, we passed along the eastern edge of the town “29 Palms”. Half of the homes or shacks that we rode past looked abandoned. As tourists, it was still interesting to observe.
On our way home, we cruised north of Tehachapi Pass. One section of the road was temporally closed by a group of people downhill racing on their skate boards also known as long board racing. These guys looked like professional racers with full leather racing suits and special helmets.
After Bakersfield, we dodged rainstorms most of the way home.
The whole trip was a little over 2,000-miles. As we got closer to home each person peeled off to their respective home. Our adventure was over ... until the next one.
Alan Smith (5286) CA.
Hi Ya, Alan ... Every ride you return from is a good one and this reads like a good one, for sure. I enjoy the history of such an area as well as the scenic opportunities. It's been more wintery in February hereabouts, then March came along with a few good days but mostly without much improvement, now we are into April. We'll see what she brings... Thanks much for sharing, Alan! Always fun to read of your adventures! - Jack, -#000
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FSSNOC IS ALABAMA BOUND ... IN AUGUST
Hey ... My route to the ThumperCafe may include: Hwy21 out of Talladega toward Oxford. Right on Co. Rd 82 to the junction at top, go left to Lodge. Great shady curvy mountain road.
Another nice ride I enjoy is from the Lodge to Hwy 49 to Lineville. Plenty of forest roads up there too.
Brian Slark (FSSNOC #3853 - AL.)
Hey back at ya, Brian ... Thanks for the info above and the phone call. It'll be great fun to see you, been way too long! Of note, the FSSNOC Thumper Garage e-mail that you used is ancient history (grin), our replacement is very similar, use this one: FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
Brian Slark has probably touched and/or rode more historic bikes over the years than anyone that I know, no question! He is also a gifted story-teller and his motorcycling history goes way back to being a teen-age test rider of new Nortons coming out of assembly at the Norton plant in England.
He has long been associated closely with the BARBER VINTAGE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM at 6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy, Leeds, Alabama ... 1-205-699-7275 www.barbermuseum.org Also of note, our event is only about an hour or so away from this world-class venue, so anyone attending our event may want to expand their plans to visit Barbers.
Keep On Thumpin, Brian! - Jack, #000.
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Thank you, Vic Force, FSSNOC #3701 - North Carolina
Yo Vic, Got the "rest of the story" that you emailed for the upcoming issue of Thumper News ... will add it to the original. Send more as you are inspired, deadline is May 1, 2019.
This reminds me to remind all our FSSNOC members:
THUMPER NEWS is our club newsletter and it's content is to come from you, the FSSNOC membership ... what you are doing, what you are riding, what you are learning and enjoying while riding a Thumper out and about in this world ... so send us your story for the next issue?
Mail it to: FSSNOC P.O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, KS. 67504-1809
E-Mail it to: FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com (Indicate that it is for Thumper News)
Questions? Call #000 at: 620-663-1869
Should I be riding, leave me a message!!! .....Jack, #000.
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AND THAT'S NOT ALL! BEFORE YOU GO, BE SURE TO VISIT THE OTHER PAGES ON THIS THUMPER WEBSITE...
AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE THUMPER GARAGE. THEY ARE WELCOME TO VISIT HERE WEEKLY, NO PASSWORD, NO QUESTIONS, NO PROBLEM! IT'S OUR GIFT BACK TO THE SPORT/LIFESTYLE OF MOTORCYCLING HERE IN THE GOOD OLE USA...
AND DON'T FORGET TO EXTEND AN INVITATION TO JOIN OUR NATIONAL CLUB TO MOTORCYCLISTS AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AT YOUR LOCAL MOTORCYCLE SHOP, AT THE COFFEE SHOP, AT THE RACETRACK, AT THE BALLGAME, AT THE PARK, AT WORK, OR ANYPLACE THEY AND YOU MIGHT BE...
AND, KEEP ON THUMPIN'... JACK, FSSNOC DIRECTOR and FSSNOC #000
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(Website Details and Instructions: )
Hello Thumper Enthusiasts...
I'm Jack Robinson (FSSNOC #000), your club Director. It is an honor to introduce you to THE THUMPER GARAGE. This mini-venue is in addition to our legendary hard copy THUMPER NEWS quarterly magazine. After enjoying this page, please visit our other pages on this site. Go to the masthead above to make it happen...
You are encouraged to thump by the THUMPER GARAGE weekly. This is a FREE site for you and your friends.
Members may contact us anytime 24/7 with comments, conversation, stories, or questions via a mailed letter, a phone call or an e-mail. When you E-mail, please give us your first name, your FSSNOC member number, and your state. You'll receive a courtesy confirmation E-mail back. Our actual response to your E-mail will generally be posted on the following Thursday's THUMPER GARAGE posting so be sure to tune back in then... (Address-phone number-email address is below... **)
We encourage you to join our club: Complete the application found elsewhere on this site (click on "more" above) and mail it to us with $40 dues for a 12 month membership or save a few bucks by sending $75 for a 24 month membership. Include your shirt size so we can gift you a FREE club t-shirt if this is your initial membership.
A subscription to THUMPER NEWS magazine, mailed to your mailbox, is included in your membership as well.
Our U.S. POSTAL address is: FSSNOC P.O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, Ks 67504-1809.
To call our club, phone 620-663-1869 or you may send an E-mail: FSSNOCTHUMPERS@yahoo.com
NOTICE: Please understand that your E-mail will likely be reproduced on this site. Any/all subject matter and information may be used in-part or edited and will become the property of the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club and FSSNOC,INC. All included content in Thumper News or The Thumper Garage is solely for entertainment, not advise....
THE CLUB STORE ... CLICK ON IT WHEN YOU ARE DONE HERE?
The Autumn season means awesome riding for many areas ... time to get some new club gear, eh? Order yourself a bright new yellow and black club cap, a couple cotton t-shirts, and at least one sweatshirt to wear under your riding gear. Remember, every day is FSSNOC gear day. Tell the world about our club ... Thanks!
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YOU'VE JUST VISITED THE THUMPER GARAGE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE "MORE" ON THE MASTHEAD ABOVE ... AND CHECK OUT ALL THE OTHER PAGES OF THIS SITE. PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB (FSSNOC) TODAY ...Thank You! - Jack, FSSNOC #000/Director
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