In todays wired world you can have various relationships/associations with people and never actually meet them. I'm here to tell you it just ain't the same. A lesson learned this past week when I rode up to Cherokee, N. C. to meet a couple Bikers and met instead a bunch of “BIKERS PLUS”.When former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson was Governor of Wisconsin he began what has come to be known as the Tommy Thompson Reunion Rides. Initially a way to promote Wisconsin tourism and business it has since become a fund raiser for “Accident Scene Management, Inc”, a non-profit organization that trains first responders on the specifics of treating Motorcycle accident victims. Fortunately the Rides have also crossed state lines.
Accident Scene Management, Inc. is headed up by Vicki Sanifelipo, wife of Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo, National Director and Founder of B.O.L.T., co-Founder of ABATE of Wisconsin and an Accident Investigation Specialist. Tony works for Hupy and Abraham Law Firm, also a large contributor to Accident Scene Management, Inc. and other Biker causes. They just don't do it with all the fanfare of some others.
Having recently become a member of B.O.L.T. I wanted to meet this dude, “Pan,” that heads it up who also wrote the article “Where is ABATE” around 1994 that is probably more relevant today than when it was written. I also wanted to meet Mike Greenwald of GoldIron who publishes many biker related articles and who we have linked to in the past.How
would I know that I was going to meet so many other awesome people, whose names I won't remember due to the time spent riding and a burnt brain. Former Wisconsin State Senator Dave Zein stands out, not because he is a former state senator but because he rides an 82 Harley with 1 and a half million + miles on it, shooting for two million. He has the receipts to prove it. Not to mention a soul that makes it difficult to wrap ones mind around the concept “him+former senator”.
The night of my arrival was a cook out provided by the Cherokee volunteer Fire Department, in part to celebrate Staten Island Lowriders MC president Stormin Normans marriage to Christina. There I met “Rag Doll”, a B.O.L.T. member from North Carolina who made me feel comfortable just by virtue of the fact it was the only other southern accent I heard. Plus a most intriguing t-shirt.There was the firefighter who had responded to ground zero and others of note who all had a story that made me wish I had planned things a bit better. Or at least planned. It's hard to get to know people when your mixing the sound of 90+/- bikes with the awesome beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway to have lunch provided on the house by an Ashville, N.C. HD dealership. Or when your riding what some of the locals refer to as their own version of the “Dragon”. Which was interesting
enough to have a street sign on it that said “good luck”. Not to mention the gravel on the turns that had Martins words, from CCHD, “your due for a new rear tire and brake pads”, echoing in my head.Unfortunately I had to head back the next day. I didn't register or anything. Just showed up. So I want to thank all those who made it not only an experience to remember but also gave me a little wider perspective on a few things. Also to the Friends of Bill, keep on keeping on. (For more pics go here) Ride Free rc.Add to Technorati Favorites
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