April, 2008

2007 Iron Butt Awards –Club records shattered
In a hotly contested men’s Iron Butt Contest “dark horse” Butch Hiller shot by second place finisher, Scott Morse in the final weeks of the contest. Both entrants blew away all previous MMR mileage records by both topping 20,000 miles for the year. Butch finished with 21,706 and Scott had 20,373. Gordon Terry, who was injured during the year and had his bike in the shop for repairs for several months still managed to pull out a third place finish with 12,744.

In the women’s division, Katherine McHenry literally led from wire to wire and actually finished third overall, with 15,292 hard driving miles. Donna Ferland took second place and Tabitha Emerald was a close third at 7,173. In addition to splitting the pot of $270, the two winners were each awarded a handsome trophy, a medal, and had their names engraved on the perpetual plaque. Second and third place winners each received a medal.

Ernie Vohnoutka, the new Iron Butt Manager, is currently taking applications for the 2008 contest. Entry fee this year is $15. The extra $5 will go into a pot for any rider breaking the club record which currently stands at 21,706. If no one breaks the record, the pot will roll over into the following year. 

Cabin Fever Party Huge success!
Saturday night, March 22nd MMR held its annual CFP and it was a smashing success thanks to all the hard work of club members. There was great food, great music, great raffle gifts and a great time was had by all.

With Ed Kelly providing preliminary DJ music and break music, followed by the Cindy Daley Blues Band, dancing was enjoyed throughout the evening by many of the attendees. There were many members of other local clubs there, most notably the Upland Riders with 29 members, followed by the Blue Knights with about 10. Raffle tickets sales went well, and most winners seemed pleased with their prizes. Special guest Paul Cote from MMA was present and brought copies of the recent Mass. proclamation regarding motorcycle awareness month. 

Food preparations were managed and supervised by Jen Staines and the food was delicious. Thanks to all who contributed, both by bringing food, helping with preparation and cleaning up. Raffle ticket sales duties fell upon Deb Johansson, Karen DiPietro and Dave Larsen. The raffle display was supervised by Theresa McGuire with help from various people, including Dave Larsen and Scotty Smith. Many people pitched in to help draw the winners and award the prizes. Bill Ferguson and Scotty Smith took tickets and sold tickets at the door. The music continued until midnight, people dance until midnight and then many people pitched in to clean up. All in all, a great time.

Daytona Special   by Bill Barry

Mary Ann and I spend the coldest seven months of the year at our place in Edgewater Florida right off US 1 about 20 miles south of Daytona Beach. Here we get to ride through the winter and of course we are here for Bike Week. It is an ideal place to live for gear heads. Thursday February 28 the day before the 67th annual Bike Week officially kicks off it was 54°, about as cold as it ever gets during daylight hours around here, Mary Ann and I took a ride into Daytona Beach.

The number of bikes in this part of Florida has been swelling for a week or more and on Main Street most of the sidewalk parking spots for bikes are taken early in the afternoon. What we like about Main Street is the variety of bikes and people you see.

There are bikers from all over here for the week, along with the locals and tourists, some who probably had no idea this week was going to be Bike Week. Bike Week used to start on the first Monday of March, now it begins the Friday before. On this day wanting to avoid the crowds we stayed south of Daytona Beach.

Heading out of town I stopped at our local bike shop Rogue Cycle where we met a guy from Massachusetts who is also wintering in Edgewater, turns out he is from Plymouth, Joe Galante a MMR member and our tee shirt silk screening guy. Riding north on US1 brings us to New Smyrna Beach then north again to Port Orange , on to South Daytona where we head east over the Halifax River to beach side then south on A1A into Ponce Inlet. There are several biker friendly restaurants and lounges in Ponce Inlet.

The North Turn is a great place with a lot of racing memorabilia and it is one of our regular stops. It's name come from being the location of the north turn when years ago motorcycles and NASCAR used to race north on the hard packed beach sand then turn on to route A1A and then back towards the Inlet.  Another spot and a favorite stop is The Inlet Harbor Restaurant where Mary Ann and I have a drink and listen to the live music.

On the way back home we stop at The Last Resort an infamous biker bar depicted in the movie "Monster". This is the place where the serial killer Aileen Wournos use to hang out. Out back there are a lot of vendors set up. I looked at but did not buy a tee shirt on sale there "Last Resort" home of cold beer and killer women.

Saturday on the way through New Smyrna Beach we stopped for gas and while at the pump I spotted a black Road Glide with ape hangers and a couple other bikes pulled over on the other side of the street. Was a big guy on the Road Glide …you guessed it, Bill Ferguson. They took off before I finished gassing up but we caught up with them in Gilley's Pub 44 parking lot. There we chatted a while with Bill and his friend Diane. We were staying around that area for a while, Bill and Diane were just passing through so we made plans to hook up later in the week.

Mary Ann and I continued on to Daytona Beach where Main Street is now jammed with people and bikes. This weekend the police are keeping autos off the Main Street strip and without the people in cars gawking at the spectacle going on we move right along. With no parking nearby we decide to ride on, we've got all week.

Sunday we get a call from our friends Sy and Joy down here from Ohio for the week in their 40' fifth wheel toy hauler and Boss Hoss. We all go to the Iron Horse Saloon on US 1 in Ormond Beach. Out back from the elevated deck we see Big Engine a real good local southern rock band. After a couple of hours we then head back to Port Orange and their campsite right on Spruce Creek to watch the NASCAR race via satellite TV.

On Monday afternoon Mary Ann's brother Joe and his wife Kathy from Stoughton arrive for a three day visit. They flew down and have a rental car and no bikes but they are bikers and want to see the sights so off we go in the car.  We showed them around our area before hitting Ponce Inlet and then the Last Resort on the way home . Our company is up early the next day and off to visit another brother in Hobe Sound down near West Palm Beach.

Bill Ferguson called around 10:00 AM to see what we are up to so I invited him and his friends Diane, Jessie and Tina to our place here in Edgewater. After showing them around our community we take a ride through the country on the back roads of southeastern Voluisa County ending up at the Cabbage Patch in Samsula. This gathering place is best known for its scantily clad women coleslaw wresting matches during Bike Week. We are a day early however as they only do it on Wednesday and Friday. Instead we get a bite to eat and walk around the compound checking out the vendors, bikes and people. By mid afternoon the skies were threatening so we head home and Bill's group head back to Ormond Beach.

Joe and Kathy are back Wednesday morning early so the four of us head out in the car again. We head north into Ormond Beach where US 1 and I 95 intersect to Destination Harley Davidson the largest HD dealer in the world. Several other biker orientated businesses such as J&P Cycles and Arlen Ness are located in this two year old and still growing complex. From there we head for Daytona via what the locals call "The Loop". The Loop is over 20 miles of twisting turning roads. Some run along the Tomoka River and then there are long stretches of road completely shaded from the sun by a canopy of Live Oak. It is a fantastic motorcycle road.

Once in Daytona Beach we head for the Ocean Center where Harley Davidson has their new bikes and other products on display. Also H.O.G. has a hospitality area with refreshments and Mary Ann and I got our event pins. After that we walk Main Street and check out the Boot Hill Saloon and then Froggy's before calling it a day and heading home.

Thursday morning our company's last day here we take another ride this time down the coast to Merritt Island National Park and Wildlife Refuge. On the way into the refuge there is a viewing area with deck right on the river where we see several manatees. Once in the park we had the luck to spot a big old gator sunning itself on the bank of a canal. As we continue on there is the Atlantic Ocean and a beautiful beach where we take a walk and enjoy the sun, sand and surf. Too soon we need to head back as Joe and Kathy have to catch a flight that evening.

Friday I am back on the scoot. Mary Ann has a couple appointments so I head for the track, Daytona International Speedway. Outside the track is a sea of vendor tents and tractor trailers displaying the latest in new bikes, choppers, biker parts, clothes, and accessories. I intended to take a demo bike ride or two but all the lines were way too long so I spent a couple hours checking the vendor's cool products. Rain was in the forecast so I headed back home via The Last Resort and a beer. It poured down rain all evening and well into the night, I feel sorry for the tent campers.

On Saturday is the 67th running of the Daytona 200, it is called the most prestigious motorcycle race in North America. Mary Ann and I head to the track and go down through the tunnel which takes you into the infield. We proceed to the grandstands where the road course is with its horseshoe curve is right in front of us. The sight of these modified 600cc crotch rockets blasting through the corner and out on to the back straight-away where they hit over 170 mph was really amazing. Also what is nice about being in the infield we could go to another grandstand and watch the pit stops.

After the race we ride over to beach side and take one more ride down Main Street where it is again jamming on the last big day of reveling. Most everyone from out of town is usually heading home by Sunday morning and a lot of the vendors are already packing up. One thing is for sure though the crowds and craziness will return next year for the 68th celebration of Bike Week. I wouldn't miss it. 

On Sunday, March 16, three representatives from MMR rode in the annual Scituate St. Paddy’s Day Parade.
Yours truly, Karen DiPietro and Dennis Hoffer braved the cold temps and occasional snow flakes to ride the 4 miles or so down First Parish Road, through the Harbor, and over to the end of the parade, at the restaurant “On the Water”, formerly “Pier 44”. Parade Grand Marshall was none other than our own Ed Kelly.

Following the parade there were the traditional drinking of as much beer as possible and dancing the Irish Jig. At the restaurant there was a special treat. The Irish Air Corps Pipe and Drum Band , straight from Ireland, which had marched in the parade (and in a parade in Newport the day before), entertained us right in the restaurant for about a full half hour. Absolutely phenomenal. Don’t miss this next year, as it is a lot of fun. 

Submitted by Ernie Vohnoutka-New Iron Butt Contest Manager

Manomet Mystery Riders Iron Butt 2008 Welcome fellow riders, As the warm weather starts to temp us out on to the roads I would like to remind you of our new contest this year and encourage you to sign up. We will be having, in addition to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, places; a new cash prize has been added. 

This will be awarded to the contestant who breaks the club high mileage record {21,706}. The requirements to join are a photo of your odometer reading; the year and type of bike, and of course the entry fee. This year that is $15.00 and of that $10.00 is put in the regular pool and $5.00 is put into the high mileage pool. If no one breaks the record the pool will roll over to next year. The regular pool is split between the high male and female riders.