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December Article
November 2nd Captain Reports
December Newsletter
Captain Reports for November 2nd 2003
This month was expected to be the Poker Run, but due to fires in Southern California the club decided to
cancel it, for safety reasons. The Poker Run will be rescheduled for early next year (2004). We had no
Road Captain designated, so after the meeting conclude, we had to decide were to go for the day. Mike
Vaughn asked for suggestion and Connie spoke up first and said,� Lets go for breakfast�. She now
became the 1st Road Captain. So off to Calimesa, to the Royale Restaurant. Connie had 9 bikes and
one car (John and Patti in the car). We got on the 215 to the 10 (east), exit County Line road turning left,
right on Calimesa road, to the Restaurant. We had a magnificent breakfast.
When leaving Chaparral Motorsport some members went with Vasco, 2nd Road Captain. Vasco had
6 bikes go with him. First stop was to pick up Nancy and then they were heading to Lake Elsinore to
Hunny’s Restaurant. It’s off of Riverside Drive. They also had a fabulous breakfast. Over all the
weather was a little cool, but a great day for a Ride.
This month was expected to be the Poker Run, but due to fires in Southern California the club decided to
cancel it, for safety reasons. The Poker Run will be rescheduled for early next year (2004). We had no
Road Captain designated, so after the meeting conclude, we had to decide were to go for the day. Mike
Vaughn asked for suggestion and Connie spoke up first and said,� Lets go for breakfast�. She now
became the 1st Road Captain. So off to Calimesa, to the Royale Restaurant. Connie had 9 bikes and
one car (John and Patti in the car). We got on the 215 to the 10 (east), exit County Line road turning left,
right on Calimesa road, to the Restaurant. We had a magnificent breakfast.
When leaving Chaparral Motorsport some members went with Vasco, 2nd Road Captain. Vasco had
6 bikes go with him. First stop was to pick up Nancy and then they were heading to Lake Elsinore to
Hunny’s Restaurant. It’s off of Riverside Drive. They also had a fabulous breakfast. Over all the
weather was a little cool, but a great day for a Ride.
Gray Matter
by Jackie Vaughan
It's that time of year again. It begins in the evening and continues until mid morning. That misty gray stuff
that covers the landscape and coats the road with a thin film of moisture. Carl Sandberg wrote poetry
about it; motorcyclists curse it. It's fog.
Fog can turn the best road into a slippery beast whose breath blinds the rider. While there are some
techniques to control the monster, there are times when it's wise simply to get off the road.
Some riders measure the density of the fog by how far they can see ahead. They use the stripe method. If
they can see twenty stripes ahead, the fog is only moderate. Ten stripes mean a fairly nasty fog. When it
gets down to two or three stripes, it's time to pull off the road.
One technique some riders use it to tuck in close behind the vehicle ahead. This is great unless the car
suddenly slams on the brakes and gives the biker a tour of his trunk and back seat. And what does it
mean when those tail lights suddenly vanish? Perhaps that he's closed the garage door. It is better to
increase following distance to four to six seconds. This will allow the rider to react to any unexpected
hazards
.
Since visibility is limited, it would seem better to use high beams to see further. However, fog is composed
of millions of tiny droplets of water, and each of these is like a minuscule mirror, throwing the full power of
the high beams right back into the rider's eyes and further limiting his ability to see. Low beams allow the
rider to see.
It is easy to overdrive a motorcycle's headlight under the best of circumstances. When it is foggy, there is
only one thing to do--slow down!
Fog is made of water, and that gets on the road, making it very slick. Riders should avoid sudden changes
in direction and speed. Braking and acceleration should be done slowly. Corners and turns should be
made as close to vertically as possible.
And keep the gray matter in the brain working at full power.
by Jackie Vaughan
It's that time of year again. It begins in the evening and continues until mid morning. That misty gray stuff
that covers the landscape and coats the road with a thin film of moisture. Carl Sandberg wrote poetry
about it; motorcyclists curse it. It's fog.
Fog can turn the best road into a slippery beast whose breath blinds the rider. While there are some
techniques to control the monster, there are times when it's wise simply to get off the road.
Some riders measure the density of the fog by how far they can see ahead. They use the stripe method. If
they can see twenty stripes ahead, the fog is only moderate. Ten stripes mean a fairly nasty fog. When it
gets down to two or three stripes, it's time to pull off the road.
One technique some riders use it to tuck in close behind the vehicle ahead. This is great unless the car
suddenly slams on the brakes and gives the biker a tour of his trunk and back seat. And what does it
mean when those tail lights suddenly vanish? Perhaps that he's closed the garage door. It is better to
increase following distance to four to six seconds. This will allow the rider to react to any unexpected
hazards
.
Since visibility is limited, it would seem better to use high beams to see further. However, fog is composed
of millions of tiny droplets of water, and each of these is like a minuscule mirror, throwing the full power of
the high beams right back into the rider's eyes and further limiting his ability to see. Low beams allow the
rider to see.
It is easy to overdrive a motorcycle's headlight under the best of circumstances. When it is foggy, there is
only one thing to do--slow down!
Fog is made of water, and that gets on the road, making it very slick. Riders should avoid sudden changes
in direction and speed. Braking and acceleration should be done slowly. Corners and turns should be
made as close to vertically as possible.
And keep the gray matter in the brain working at full power.
Lets Keep Riding Safe and Fun