GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION MINNESOTA DISTRICT REGION E AMERICA S HEARTLAND CHAPTER R NEWS Monthly Newsletter www.gwrramnchapterr.com August 2017 Chapter R Team Directors Robin Pettit & Fred Rennpferd 507-236-1436 Robin 507-327-3098 Fred robin.pettit01@gmail.com Assistant Director Vicki Holst 507-421-2575 turncrest@kmtel.com Rider Education Dean Plank 507-250-0711 cdplank@yahoo.com Motorist Awareness Ricky & Bonnie Johnson 651-341-8337 johnkren4fun@hotmail.com Membership Enchancement Wade & Carolyn Nelson 507-438-5774 kc0aku@msn.com Treasurer Al Horejsi 507-775-6488 achorejsi@live.com Sunshine Coordinator Barb Beeman 507-440-8092 bbbeeman@charter.net Historian Ed & Karen Sharpsteen 507-383-9328 efsharp9@hotmail.com Socials are held at the Pizza Ranch in Austin, MN, on the third Saturday of the month beginning at 6:00 pm for the months February-July, September & October. January Social at Dick & Barb Ochs home. August BS Session New Richland City Hall, New Richland, MN 11:00 am November Chili Dump/Calendar Planning Dick & Barb Ochs home 3:00 pm December Christmas Party Owatonna Hy-Vee Club House 12:00 pm From your Chapter R Directors Robin Pettit & Fred Rennpferd Hello Chapter R Friends, As you have probably heard, there are changes coming to GWRRA. One of the biggest changes is removing the Region level leadership. That being said, we sure to attend the last Region E rally that will be held in Williamsburg, IA on August 11 & 12. Remember, Chapter R is in the running for the Region E Chapter of the Year. We are not sure how Chapter of the Year is going to be awarded going forward, but for now, we could be the next Region E Chapter of the Year. We hope many of you can attend the rally; it should be a great time! This coming weekend, August 5 th is MN Chapter D s Selfie Ride event. They have put together this fun event and it sounds like a great experience. We have added a ride to the calendar for Tuesday, August 8 th going to Rooster s in Rochester (2280 Superior Dr NW). Plan to meet there at 6:30. If someone from the Albert Lea area would like to lead a group, please email robin.pettit01@gmail.com or call Robin at 507-236-1436. - Continued on Page 2 Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge
- Continued from Page 1 Wednesday, August 16 th is a supper ride to Rib Crib in Mason City. For some reason, there isn t a ride leader listed on the calendar, so we ll need a volunteer. Please let Robin know if you can volunteer (see above for email address/phone number). Saturday, August 19 th is our chapters annual BS Session at the community center in New Richland. There are a few duties that still need to be filled. We ll be sending out the sign-up sheets as a reminder to what you volunteered for and what still needs to be done. Also, we need items to raffle. If you have something you d like to donate, please let us know. We will start setting up at 9:30 am and our guests are expected to arrive at 11:00 for a social hour. We will start serving lunch at noon. Sunday, August 20 th is Chapter N s Wings for Wings fundraiser. They have a new location this year at the Whitetail Wood Regional Park located at 17100 Station Trail in Farmington, MN beginning at 11:30 am. Their flyer is later in this newsletter. Friday, August 25 th is a supper ride to Famous Dave s in Owatonna. Plan to meet there at 6:30 pm. Finally, we are at the end of the month, which brings us the International Couple of the Year selection on August 29 th and Wing Ding August 30-September 2 in Grapevine, TX. If you re planning to attend, be sure to volunteer at the ticket sales booth. They need some help and volunteering at Wing Ding is a good time. You get a chance to meet some really great people. If you re planning to attend the Black Hills trip, be sure to get your reservation made. Take as much or as little time as you like to get to the camp ground (cabins or camping sites). Reservations at Hart Ranch can be made for Sunday, September 10 th and leaving Friday, September 15 th or whatever your schedule allows. The flyer is later in this newsletter. Have a good month and if you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. Robin & Fred Chapter Directors GWRRA Anniversaries August 02 August 04 August 13 August 20 August 30 August 31 Brad Harig Al Horejsi Greg Hitchcock Vicki Holst Roxann Kluender Mark Bangert Ricky & Bonnie Johnson Mark & Karen Bangert Rich & Deb Thorson Dick & Barb Ochs August 15 August 17 August 19 August 25 Brian Denny Carolyn Nelson Wade Nelson August 01, 1992 August 12, 2014 August 12, 2014 Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge 2
GWRRA Directors Ray & Sandy Garris www.gwrrra.org Jere & Sherry Goodman http://www.gwrra-regione.org/e/index.php MN District Directors Joe & Jan Marek www.mngwrra.us/ From your Chapter R Educator Dean Plank This week I had a very close-call while driving. Even though I was driving my car, I started thinking what would have happened to me if I would have been on my motorcycle. While driving through a construction zone, a person following me wasn t paying attention to what was going on. The traffic suddenly slowed and they didn t realize it right away. I was looking in my rear view mirror and saw that they were not slowing down. When they realized it, the person had to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid rear-ending me. When they finally stopped the car was right beside me. So, I thought an article on motor awareness. I found the following on the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety website dealing with Motor Awareness. All the following are from that website and I thought I would pass it on to all of you. Safe Driving Tips for Motorists About half of all motorcycle crashes involve a collision with another vehicle. In many crashes, the driver never saw the motorcyclist or didn't see the rider until it was too late. There are many reasons why other drivers do not see motorcyclists. Most car drivers aren't familiar with motorcycles and don't look for them in traffic. Motorcycle riders often wear leathers which are usually dark in color and can easily blend into the background. Motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, so they are more difficult to spot in traffic and can be hidden by other vehicles or roadside features. Daytime headlight use does not give motorcycle riders much of an advantage anymore, due to the widespread use of daytime running lights on cars. The smaller size and single headlight on the motorcycle make it more difficult for other drivers to judge a rider's speed and distance. The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center encourages everyone drivers and motorcyclists to practice these techniques to make motorcycling safer for everyone. When turning left: Most crashes between vehicles and motorcycles involve turning left at an intersection. If crossing traffic or turning left, look twice for motorcycles before turning. Blind spots: Motorcycles are easily hidden in traffic. Always take a second look over your shoulder don t rely solely on your mirrors. Weather: Rain and sun glare can make a motorcycle "invisible." Take an extra moment to make sure the way is clear. Signals: Use turn signals. This allows the rider to anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position. Larger vehicles: Cars and trucks can conceal a motorcycle traveling behind it. Take an extra moment after a larger vehicle passes before beginning a turn Eye contact: Motorcyclists make eye contact often to feel confident that other drivers see them. Give a nod back to acknowledge them. - Continued on Page 4 Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge 3
- Continued from Page 3 Distance: Motorcyclists prefer to use a large space cushion, allowing them more time to react. Do not cut in front of a motorcycle and eliminate the safe following distance. Signals: Most motorcycle turn signals do not cancel automatically. If a cycle is coming, and the signal is flashing, wait a moment for the cycle to pass. Additional Safe Driving Tips Watch aggressively for motorcycles. Search the traffic constantly and expect to see motorcycles. Check blind spots before changing lanes or merging, especially in heavy traffic. Double-check traffic at intersections before turning or pulling out. Motorcycles can easily be hidden in traffic. Look for a helmet above, tires below, or a shadow alongside a vehicle. Anticipate hazards that may confront the motorcyclist and predict how the motorcyclist may react to the situation. Poor road conditions, bad weather, flying debris, oil slicks, and heavy traffic pose high risks for motorcyclists. Allow a minimum three-second "space cushion" when following a motorcycle. Pick out a fixed object ahead of you. When the motorcycle passes the object, count off, "one thousand one, one thousand two..." If you haven't passed the same object after two seconds, your following distance meets the two-second minimum. In poor driving conditions, at higher speeds and at night, use a four or five-second following distance to give the motorcyclist more space. Watch out when turning left. Because motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, it is harder to see them and more difficult to judge their approach speed in traffic. Share the road. Do not drive in the same lane as a motorcycle. It is unsafe and illegal. Treat motorcyclists with the same respect and courtesy you afford to other motorists. Observe and obey all traffic laws, signs, and signals. Failure to obey and yield the right-of-way can result in the death or serious injury of a motorcyclist. Stay focused on the driving task. Inattentive driving is a major cause of vehicle-motorcycle crashes. Remove all possible distractions that can interfere with the driver's attention, and remove any objects that may block the driver's view. Looking Twice May Save A Life! Dean Plank Chapter Educator GWRRA MN Chapter R Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge 4
Upcoming Chapter R Events August 5 August 8 August 11-2 August 16 August 19 August 20 August 25 August 29 August 30 - September 2 Chapter D Selfie Ride - Duluth Supper Ride to Rooster s in Rochester. Meet there at 6:30 pm Region E Rally - Williamsburg, IA Supper Ride to Rib Crib - Mason City, IA. Leave Albert Lea Hy-Vee at 5:30 pm BS Session - New Richland Community Center Chapter N Wings for Wings Fundraiser Supper Ride to Famous Dave s - Owatonna, MN. Meet there at 6:30 pm International Couple of the Year Selection - Grapevine, TX Wing Ding - Grapevine, TX September 7 September 9 15 Roy s Supper Ride to Buckley s Bar & Grill in Walter s, MN. Leave Albert Lea Hy-Vee at 5:30 pm Black Hills Trip September 16 September Social - Austin Pizza Ranch 6:00 pm September 23 Breakfast at Olivia s in Owatonna. Meet there at 9:30 am. September 30 Marek Dessert Potluck - Wabasha, MN at Noon Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge 5
2009 Honda Gold Wing Blue Metallic Heated seats and grips $12,500 OBO Contact Ben Kluender 507-383-9398 Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge 6
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Chapter N Wings for Wings Fundraiser Chapter N is cordially inviting you to join us for our annual fundraiser at a new venue Whitetail Woods Regional Park is located at 17100 Station Trail, Farmington, MN 55024 Please note specific directions on the back of the flyer to remain on non-gravel roads. August 20th, 2017 11:30 am - 2:30 pm Our menu includes wings with various sauces, salads, drinks and dessert $10/per person We will have 50/50 and tickets to purchase for chances to win fabulous prizes Hope to see you there! Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge 10
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