Tom Binyon of BaggerWorks Custom Touring Motorcycles in Wichita, Kansas has announced he’ll reveal his charity bike, “The Dakota,” on Saturday, February 2, at 9:30 a.m. at the Duke Energy Center during the V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati, Ohio.  If you are in that area, I really hope you will go and see Tom’s creation, which benefits the Children’s Home Society of the Black Hills Region as well as the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame.

“The Dakota” will be the featured auction item during the Kids & Chrome 2008 benefit dinner and auction on Wednesday, August 6, in Spearfish, South Dakota at the Spearfish Holiday Inn and Convention Center. 

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My husband tells an amusing story about how, one year with a previous wife, he was building a custom car. He decided, since he viewed it as “their” car, that it would be a wonderful idea to give her car parts for Christmas.

Now I am not here to debate the wisdom of that idea. I am only here to point out that she is, in fact, a previous wife. And that perhaps if he wonders why, he should think back to the festively wrapped box he gave her that ended up containing a chrome tunnel ram.

Now since he freely admits that 25 years later the incident is still painful, I imagine there was perhaps the teensiest bit of trepidation about giving me motorcycle parts for Christmas.

But he needn’t have worried - the lower master cylinder cover, the front axle nut covers, and the upper belt guard are welcome additions for The Picky Bitch. I love you, honey, you are welcome to give me chrome for Christmas any time!

(Googled photo courtesy of Walker Performance.com.)

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I’m really saddened to report that Breitbach’s, the legendary family-owned restaurant in Balltown, Iowa, was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve. During the 2007 Estrogen Ride, we rode from Galena, IL over to Balltown to have dinner at Breitbach’s, then back to Galena.

Locals in Balltown have started an assistance fund for the Breitbach family. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

What’s really painful about this is that the history of the town is so wrapped up in the history of the restaurant - it has been in operation since 1852 and was Iowa’s oldest restaurant and tavern. Numerous irreplaceable antiques were destroyed also, which had decorated the restaurant.

I hate to see any community lose a historic landmark. My heart goes out to the Breitbach family and to all of Balltown. Here’s wishing you a speedy rebuild!

(Googled photo courtesy of www.tristatetourism.com.)

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Oh boy, here we go - I’m betting we’re in for a helmet law here in Iowa in 2008. How do you ride, with or without? Should they be mandatory? C’mon, let’s hear it!

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It’d be nice to think that “biker gang” activity is a thing of the past, that the old school gangs are just a bunch of guys who simply want to be free to ride their machines without being hassled by the man. Certainly there are people who adopt the look of the old school MC’s, but who don’t live the lifestyle.

Still, I’m not naive. I know that illegal activity still happens, which is why I try to give “one percenters” a wide berth whenever I take note of their presence: I’m pretty sure they don’t need me hovering around trying to chat them up like we were best biker buddies.

Today the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) announced a string of indictments against Outlaws Motorcycle Club members in Michigan and Indiana. The indictments were the results of “a five-year investigation by the ATF, the FBI, the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), Michigan State Police, the Detroit Police Department, the South Bend (Ind.) Police Department, and the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department,” according to a USDOJ news release.

The release stated:

The 18-count indictment alleges that the Outlaws Motorcycle Club is an enterprise whose members allegedly committed, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence to protect and expand the gang’s criminal operations. Several of the defendants were charged with allegedly assaulting various members of the rival Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, in some cases with dangerous weapons including a cane, a hammer, and motorcycle parts. Several defendants allegedly trafficked in the sale of drugs, including methamphetamine, marijuana, hashish and cocaine, while others were charged with various firearms offenses for either being a felon in possession of a handgun, or selling a firearm to a prohibited person. The indictment contains a criminal forfeiture allegation, which sets forth property, vehicles, motorcycles, weapons and currency that was either used to conduct or facilitate illegal activities, or which were proceeds from the Outlaws’ criminal activities.

Here’s a link to the full release about the results of the various federal “operations” that led to the indictments against the Outlaws.

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