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Captain Reports March 2nd
April Newsletter 2008
Lets Keep Riding Safe and Fun
I recently completed a solo trip up to northern California. I rode over 1400 miles in three days. Needless
to say, my backside was a bit sore for a few days after I returned home. One thing I learned while on my
journey was riding alone can be satisfying and frightening, all at the same time.
While on my way through Bakersfield, traveling west on highway 58, when I came upon a woman driving
a small car in the fast lane. I moved over into the number two lane and held back a bit to be sure we
made eye contact in her rear view mirror. I saw her look directly at me and so I was confident she knew I
was there. I proceeded to move forward with my pass on her right. Well, just as I came up alongside her
passenger door, she began to move into my lane!
She was about to halfway in to my lane before she realized I was there! By this time, I had moved as far
to the right of my lane as possible, and I was looking for more. Because, the next move she made I could
almost predict. She suddenly jerked the steering wheel to the left, and now was in the process of losing
control of her vehicle. She overcorrected to the right and swerved back into my lane, which luckily by
now, I had completely evacuated. She finally brought her car under control after nearly taking out me and
several cars around her. We exchanged hard glances, which included some head shaking. I took the next
exit, which happened to be Highway 99 north and my would-be accidental killer kept on going west.
I did the right things by knowing where I needed.......
Safety Officer Tony Catrambone
to say, my backside was a bit sore for a few days after I returned home. One thing I learned while on my
journey was riding alone can be satisfying and frightening, all at the same time.
While on my way through Bakersfield, traveling west on highway 58, when I came upon a woman driving
a small car in the fast lane. I moved over into the number two lane and held back a bit to be sure we
made eye contact in her rear view mirror. I saw her look directly at me and so I was confident she knew I
was there. I proceeded to move forward with my pass on her right. Well, just as I came up alongside her
passenger door, she began to move into my lane!
She was about to halfway in to my lane before she realized I was there! By this time, I had moved as far
to the right of my lane as possible, and I was looking for more. Because, the next move she made I could
almost predict. She suddenly jerked the steering wheel to the left, and now was in the process of losing
control of her vehicle. She overcorrected to the right and swerved back into my lane, which luckily by
now, I had completely evacuated. She finally brought her car under control after nearly taking out me and
several cars around her. We exchanged hard glances, which included some head shaking. I took the next
exit, which happened to be Highway 99 north and my would-be accidental killer kept on going west.
I did the right things by knowing where I needed.......
Safety Officer Tony Catrambone
Just would like to Say Congratulation to Larry Votava
If you missed the last meeting the Club presented a Club hat to Larry for 10 years with the club. Larry
was the club President for couple of years. I think he holds the record for DMV renewl. I hope you are
with the club for many more years.
If you missed the last meeting the Club presented a Club hat to Larry for 10 years with the club. Larry
was the club President for couple of years. I think he holds the record for DMV renewl. I hope you are
with the club for many more years.
Sunday March 2nd, it looks like finally the club has a dry day to ride. I have planned a 160 mile ride to
Angles National Forest. Checking the weather report for that area it looks like a warm day, but cool up in
the mountains with the winds predicted. So I warned all riders at the meeting about the winds and there
were some who decided not to ride which is very wise if you are not comfortable riding in the wind.
We left Chaparral to jumped on the 215 and sure enough we hit a cross wind through Devore, I’m
talking White knuckle riding, the wind had gust which would cause us to change lanes at times. We exit at
138 to Wrightwood and we stop at a 76 station to regroup and take a breather. We did have a couple of
riders decide not to continue, but overall everyone did incredible job through the wind.
Our first schedule stop was in Littlerock (Not Arkansas). We turned on Lone Pine Canyon Rd over to
Big Pines Hwy, pass Valyermo onto Fort Telon Rd and we are there. I had sent out a E-Mail before the
ride and said dress warm, boy it was cold through Wrightwood. It drop down to 32 degrees,with snow
still on the side of the roads. Randy H's bike decide it was to cold also and shut down. Good thing for
the rest of us, we pulled over and had a chance to warm up, once Randy H. bike warm up it re-stared.
As we droped in altitude it warm up very nicely.
After leaving Littlerock we went through Palmdale over to Elizabeth Lake Rd also known as N4. Turned
left on Lake Hughes went south to our next schedule stop in Castaic. From there headed back north on
Bouquet Canyon Rd back to Palmdale. Stopped at Sizzler for lunch which was very good.
One thing that is great about riding in California this time of the year, everything is green and the flowers
are out, this is why I picked this route. I was very glad that the wind had died down and it turned out to
be a extraordinary day for a ride. As always Eddie and both Randy’s help with the ride in let me
know how the group was doing and they would report back that everyone is doing a great job in riding
today. Thank you all.
Pete Aker
Angles National Forest. Checking the weather report for that area it looks like a warm day, but cool up in
the mountains with the winds predicted. So I warned all riders at the meeting about the winds and there
were some who decided not to ride which is very wise if you are not comfortable riding in the wind.
We left Chaparral to jumped on the 215 and sure enough we hit a cross wind through Devore, I’m
talking White knuckle riding, the wind had gust which would cause us to change lanes at times. We exit at
138 to Wrightwood and we stop at a 76 station to regroup and take a breather. We did have a couple of
riders decide not to continue, but overall everyone did incredible job through the wind.
Our first schedule stop was in Littlerock (Not Arkansas). We turned on Lone Pine Canyon Rd over to
Big Pines Hwy, pass Valyermo onto Fort Telon Rd and we are there. I had sent out a E-Mail before the
ride and said dress warm, boy it was cold through Wrightwood. It drop down to 32 degrees,with snow
still on the side of the roads. Randy H's bike decide it was to cold also and shut down. Good thing for
the rest of us, we pulled over and had a chance to warm up, once Randy H. bike warm up it re-stared.
As we droped in altitude it warm up very nicely.
After leaving Littlerock we went through Palmdale over to Elizabeth Lake Rd also known as N4. Turned
left on Lake Hughes went south to our next schedule stop in Castaic. From there headed back north on
Bouquet Canyon Rd back to Palmdale. Stopped at Sizzler for lunch which was very good.
One thing that is great about riding in California this time of the year, everything is green and the flowers
are out, this is why I picked this route. I was very glad that the wind had died down and it turned out to
be a extraordinary day for a ride. As always Eddie and both Randy’s help with the ride in let me
know how the group was doing and they would report back that everyone is doing a great job in riding
today. Thank you all.
Pete Aker