So the Vancouver Motorcycle Show starts tomorrow and it is a busy weekend for us Galz. Best to get a head start we say and get there a day ahead of time. So we departed Kelowna at approximately 9 a.m. and fully expected most of the winter driving we experienced. Until the Coquihalla.

“Why are all the trucks stopped there?” says Marissa. “I wonder what they know that we don’t,” responds Jasmin.

About two minutes later we were at a standstill, right after we decided we would stop in Hope as opposed to Merritt for gas, food and bathroom break. After about an hour and half, a bathroom break was in order but mother nature dropped the temperature and threw in a dash of wind that solidified no going outside.

However, the guy behind us was experiencing the same plight and began unloading his sled to make a trip to the rest stop some 2 km back. Just as he unhooked it, a trucker honked at him and we were on the move again.

Traction is not the issue up there, the visibilty is the issue with all that snow blowing around you can’t see anyone. If you are up there, turn your hazard lights on whether or not you need them because it will allow the car behind you to spot you in the blowing snow.

This is the snow shed on the Coquihalla.

This is before Hope.

This is after Hope.

If you are heading from the interior to the show, from the north to the show, or any other direction, be safe people and give yourself a lot of extra time and pack food because they closed the highway after we came down.

British Columbia ICBC VP, Kellee Irwin has been elected as the Chair of MCC. Here is the press release:

Markham ON – November 18, 2011: The Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada (MCC) is pleased to announce the election of Kellee Irwin as Chairperson for 2011 – 2013. Ms. Irwin serves as Vice President, Personal Insurance for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. She replaces Liz Jansen who has completed her two-year term but will remain on the Board as Past-Chair.

MCC is also pleased to announce the election of Mr. Doug Houghton (Manitoba) as Vice-Chair and Jennifer Ross (Quebec) as Secretary-Treasurer. Joining Kellee, Doug and Jennifer on the MCC Board for the next two years are new Directors Don Galloway (Alberta), Mark Gray (British Columbia), Dave Millier (Ontario) and Norm Sukkau (Manitoba).

“I am honoured to be joining a volunteer Board of Directors with the depth and breadth of riding experience, strategic thinking and leadership qualities needed to represent the interests of Canadian motorcyclists from coast-to-coast,” noted Ms. Irwin. “Taking on this role at a time when the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada is determined to weigh-in on public policy and rider and traffic safety issues that impact the Canadian on- and off-road motorcycling community is challenging and exciting.”

“Motorcycling is a convenient, safe, modern, affordable, community- and family-oriented and increasingly eco-friendly mode of transportation, recreational activity and sport,” added MCC President Daniel Tessier. “The growth of motorcycling from coast-to-coast underscores the need for federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to acknowledge the positive aspects of motorcycling; recognize motorcycling as a transportation choice for hundreds of thousands of Canadians; and better integrate motorcycling into our nation’s transport strategy.”

Comprised of national, provincial and territorial organizations, regional clubs, individual members and industry representatives, the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada is the premier national, grassroots advocacy organization championing motorcycling interests throughout Canada.

Kyle Keast sits at #1 in Pro-Am Lights and Pro-Am Open categories after rounds 1 & 2 of Arenacross held in Penticton at the South Okanagan Event Centre.

We caught up to Keast during warm-up for a couple of quick question:

Question:  Indoors or outdoors?
Answer:  I’m more of an outdoor guy but I’ve been starting to get into the indoor stuff more lately.

Question:  I hear indoors is more technical and you’re not going as fast.  Is that how you have to wrap your head around this?
Answer:  Ya, it’s a short race, only 15 laps and starts are everything.  You get a good start, stay up and stay consistent.

Apparently his strategy worked!

Catch rounds 3 & 4 in Chilliwack at the Heritage Park January 20 and 21, 2011.

Snowmobile Licence and Registration

Before you operate your snowmobile in British Columbia, it must the registered with ICBC. ICBC will issue an owner’s certificate and two numbered owner’s decals. The decals must be displayed on either side of the cowl of the snow machine or in another conspicuous place on each side. The owner’s certificate must be carried when the snowmobile is being operated and produced on the demand of an enforcement officer.

If you bring your snowmobile into BC as a visitor for winter recreation, you are exempt from having to register it with ICBC if it is properly registered in your home province or state and you are not using it in BC for more than 30 days. If your home province or state does not require you to register your snowmobile, you must obtain a special permit from the director of the Fish and Wildlife Branch for a period not exceeding 30 days.

If you intend to cross a highway or operate your snowmobile in a parking lot, you must also obtain both an operation permit from the police having jurisdiction in the area of operation and licence and insurance from ICBC. A restricted licence plate will be issued to be displayed on the machine in addition to the registration decals.

Snowmobile rental agencies must register snow machines before they are rented to customers. A duplicate of this rental dealer’s certificate must be carried and produced to an enforcement officer in the same manner as an owner’s certificate.

The author is a retired constable with many years of traffic enforcement experience. To comment of learn more, please visit www.drivesmartbc.ca.

Constable Tim Schewe (Retired)
DriveSmartBC – Home of Behind the Wheel

http://www.drivesmartbc.ca

Twitter: @DriveSmartBC

PRESS RELEASE FROM LIZ JANSEN – AUTHOR.

Women increasingly discovering motorcycles as freedom machines
Fifty women share stories of empowerment, adventure and self-discovery in new book

Orangeville, Ontario, November 1, 2011 – In an age where businesses around the world are recognizing the economic value of empowered women, the cast of Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment have long-discovered the personal value in taking control of their own destiny. In her soon-to-be released book, author Liz Jansen speaks not only from personal experience, but brings messages from forty-nine women for whom motorcycles have become a literal and figurative means to freedom.

“The empowerment of women is smart economics. In fact, studies show that investments in women yield large social and economic returns,”  says Robert B. Zoellick, president of the World Bank Group. Jansen sees this as a call to action.  “This statement sends a strong message to women in our society to wake up, appreciate their own worth and take charge.”

Powerful people are usually defined by status, accomplishments, titles or accumulation of material possessions. These illusions can cause us to lose sight of our own power and who we are. The book illustrates how pushing our limits:

• Offers ingredients such as adventure, community, freedom and independence, which satisfy our soul and reacquaint us with our power.
• Highlights fears that prevent us from becoming all we can be because of notions based on cultural training, opinions of others, physical requirements and fear of failure.
• Brings unimaginable rewards in all areas of our life when we accept, embrace and move beyond our limits.

Not only are women riding on trips across the country, their machines are taking them on a return to their authentic self. “While motorcycling is their vehicle of transformation for,” says Jansen, “you don’t need to be a rider to understand the wisdom they impart.”

“As significant as this is,” she continues, “It’s only the beginning. Not only does one’s personal growth become exponential, the positive ripple effect is enormous. When one realizes the potential for positive change, it gets really exciting!”

Through fifty stories of adventure and self-discovery, from a cross-section of women with varied interests and experience levels, this book is evidence of just how powerful this movement is.

Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment
ISBN 978-0-9877583-0-9
List $19.95 Cdn/US
Trade soft cover 272 pages
Trillium Wordworks

- ### -

Release dates:

• Nov. 1 – Preorders can be placed through http://www.lizjansen.com/book
• Nov. 18 – Progressive International Motorcycle Show in San Mateo, CA where Jansen will be presenting on the Learning Curves stage.
• December 1 – Available in print and ebook through all major bookstores and online stores
• December 9 – Official Canadian launch at the Toronto Motorcycle Show’s Ladies night.

About the Author:

Liz Jansen is an entrepreneur, adventurer, writer – and rider extraordinaire who loves riding across the country. She creates experiences that instill a sense of adventure, freedom and community while traveling the transformative road to personal and professional leadership. Liz has worked with individuals and organizations in both private and public sectors.

To learn more about Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment, to receive a review copy or to book the author for an interview or speaking engagement, visit www.lizjansen.com Books will also be available through Amazon or your favorite bookstore.

Here’s the catch – yes there is a catch. . .

Those maintenance items that you always do yourself . . .have Bentley Motorrad look after $1000 of your maintenance needs, no matter what kind of bike you have,  and they will store your bike over the winter.

No maintenance? No problem. Monthly storage $75.00 or 6 months heated storage with battery tended $500.00

For further information, call Chris Backhouse at 778.755.5540

Over $150,000 worth of merchandise was taken from M&M performance late last Sunday night, early Monday morning.

From the Police investigation, so far, it is believed that 2 unknown men took a semi-tractor from where it was parked on Adams Rd at around 8:50 p.m. on Sept 11th.

Shortly after, a 53 foot semi-trailer was taken from Neaves Rd, which is less than a kilometer from where the semi-tractor was stolen.

At around 9:10 p.m., the vehicle pulled up to M&M Performance, located on Fenwick Rd at Hwy 97 in Kelowna, and was there until almost 1:00 a.m Sept 12th.

Five brand new Polaris side by side ATVs were taken, as were 6 Polaris Sportsman model ATVs. Also stolen was an older Yamaha dirt bike.

The truck and trailer was recovered, on Sept 13th, in the Lower Mainland area and Kelowna RCMP are coordinating their investigation with the Lower Mainland RCMP in an effort to identify the suspects and recover the stolen property.

Police are asking for any information relating to the theft of the Semi tractor unit, having the name “DCC Trucking” on the doors, the theft of the 53′ white trailer unit, and the theft at M&M performance between the hours of around 9:00 p.m. Sept 11 to 1:00 a.m. Sept 12. where the truck and trailer were parked.

Please call Cpl. Woodcox or Cst. Henneberry at the Kelowna Detachment at 250-762-3300 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimestoppers.net to report.

Our friends at SpeedPro signs did some great work with decaling our off-season vehicle. If you are looking for some signage, stickers, graphics etc., call them up and tell them the Galz sent you.

Check out this creation that Bryan hand-made and hand-painted.

The Okanagan Chapter of the national Ride for Dad organization presented the BC Cancer Foundation with a cheque in the amount of $15,756. The sum donated represented funds raised from the 2011 ride held in June. Presenting the cheque were members of the Ride for Dad Executive Committee and BC Cancer Foundation.

Police in Salmon Arm say they have been kept busy over the first two days of the Sturgis North Motorcycle Rally and Music Festival. The first annual, five-day event is expected to draw thousands of people–including motorbike riders– to the Shuswap city.

RCMP say over the first two days, ten people have been arrested for liquor and other offences. There’s been nine drug seizures and one complaint of shots fired which they say was likely from fireworks being set off.

Fourteen liquor related driving prohibitions have been issued, along with a seven-day vehicle impoundment for street racing.

CKIZ Vernon

With the Great Canadian Bike Rally well underway in Merritt, some were worried about motorcycle gang problems cropping up.  Merritt RCMP Constable Tracy Dunsmore says so far so good.

Festival organizers have kept things under control and there have been no biker related problems…however Friday night there were a number of fights and alcohol related issues but Dunsmore says they were all caused by locals who may hoave gotten carried away with the festivities.

She says downtown Merritt has been packed with people enjoying the street fair and concerts since the rally started Thursday.  She’s hopeful it continues for the rest of the weekend.

CFJC Kamloops

What better way to remember Father’s Day than by winning a pair of Harley-Davidson motorcycles!

For Kelowna’s Bill Gerk, June 19, 2011 is a date that won’t soon be forgotten. Gerk’s wife, Kathy, was in disbelief when she first took the phone call from Kelowna & District Safety Council executive director, Tania Meyer. Meyer advised of the win but it took some time to convince the pair that the call was not a prank.

The value of the prize package is $25,869.52.

“I never win anything, I just thought I was supporting a good cause,” said Gerk. “The guys at work have been teasing me about getting some tattoos and keeping the bikes, but I’m going to sell them.”

SELL THEM? WHAT?

So, if you are in the market for two brand new 2011 Sportsters, most likely at a really good price, look Bill up. 250.869.0137 or email him bgerk@shaw.ca

KDSC thanks everyone who purchased tickets for this fundraiser. For information on any of KDSC’s programs, call 765-3163 or visit www.kdsc.bc.ca.

Two Weeks Left to Win Two Harleys & Learn to Ride Course!!

The Kelowna & District Safety Council’s fifth annual Harley Davidson raffle fundraiser is in the home stretch, with just two weeks of ticket sales left.  $20 tickets left. KDSC is hoping for another sell-out to meet its fundraising goals. The winner’s name will be randomly drawn on Father’s Day June 19th at 3pm at Boyd’s Father’s Day Car Show at Kelowna’s City Park.

The lucky winner will win two 2011 Harley Davidson Sportsters as well as a 32 hour Learn to Ride course from the Kelowna & District Safety Council. The bikes being raffled are a black 1200cc Sportster and a birch white and sedona orange 883 Super Low Sportster. The total prize value is $25,869.52, but the winner doesn’t have to be present at the draw in order to claim the prizes.

Only 3500 tickets were printed, so the odds of winning are really good. The bikes are being trailered from one location to the next, so that the first person to put any kilometers on the bike will be the winner.  The bikes are on display now until June 18th at Princess Auto, where volunteers will be selling tickets each day from 9am – 5pm. Tickets can also be picked up in person at the KDSC office (395 Hartman Road, across from the YMCA in Rutland), or they can be ordered over the phone by calling KDSC at 250-765-3163 (Toll Free: 888-580-7233). Visit www.kdsc.bc.ca for full raffle information and for photos of the prize bikes. BC Gaming Licence #31313.

What is with the recent outbreak in the Okanagan’s motorsports shops’ theft anyway?

Thieves made off with a couple of dirt bikes and at least one ATV during an early morning break-in Sunday at Valley Moto Sport on McCurdy Road.

Thieves managed to get away with an older 2004 dirt bike and a 2011 dirt bike along with at least one quad.

The thieves tore open the entire front of the store in order to gain entry.

How do they get away with it? Hope they’re punished with the full extent of the law once caught!

Police are investigating the theft of 5 ATVs from a Kelowna business in the 2800 block of Hwy 97 sometime during Sunday May 8th and Monday May 9th.

RCMP investigators received a call just after 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday 10th, after thethefts were discovered by staff during the opening of business.

The five brand new ATVs, valued at nearly $60,000, were taken from a storage building on the property and through a containment fence.

Police are currently investigating possible leads and are asking that if anyone has any information or saw any suspicious persons or vehicles near M&M Performance, during the evening hours of Sunday or Monday, May 8th and 9th, please call the Kelowna Detachment at 250-762-3300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Rush drummer Neil Peart learned a little something about April weather while traveling by motorcycle on the first half of the band’s 2011 Time Machine tour. He writes at NeilPeart.com, “My April travels on this sequel to last year’s tour carried us from Florida up to Quebec — 13 shows and 3800 miles of motorcycling between them. The weather varied from warm and blossoming across Tennessee to a polar wasteland in Ontario. In the 15 years I have been traveling on concert tours by motorcycle, the band has never toured in the East at that time of year, and it truly was a revelation to me.”

Rush takes the tour to Europe starting tomorrow night in Helsinki, Finland. The next North American leg starts June 8th in Greenville, South Carolina.

Peart’s new book, Far and Away: A Prize Every Time, is in stores this week.

Susan Raby-Dunne is a modern day explorer. Whether it be geography from her motorcycle, history from the places she travels to, who she is with the feelings and experiences she encounters or uncharted territory that has yet to be seen, Raby-Dunne is ready to take on the world each Spring.

Rest Your Head on the Wind is a collection of personal encounters from these discoveries from two wheels and it began when women were not common place on motorcycles. Susan is a self proclaimed solo rider who began life in a ‘man’s world’ so to speak. She embarked on adventures that most women would not have considered in that time.  Her chosen career path was also not commonly occupied by women but the adversity is what fueled Susan in an era of social change. Now at age 56, a confident, out spoken, artistic and strong woman on two wheels fits right in. You could say the world adapted to Susan as she paved a way for the women that followed.

The book is an interesting account of  life behind bars but leaves the reader with a few unanswered questions about relationships and careers that were either considered unimportant or none of the reader’s business.

The spiritual work that has drawn Susan in is that of healing. Veterans and soldiers, past and present, have been forgotten or have experienced ‘out of sight out of mind’ syndrome – until Susan found a way to make it right.

You can pick up a copy of the book for $25 by visiting Susan Raby-Dunne’s webiste www.restyourheadonthewind.com

Rush drummer Neil Peart will publish his fifth book on May 1st. Far and Away: A Prize Every Time is a collection of the essays he posted on his website about his travels through North and South America on his motorcycle.

He says, “I’m pleased with the voice and the story that it tells and the variety of stories that it tells. I hope there would be subjects of interest and themes of interest in there for most people.”

Peart published his first book, The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa, in 1996 followed by Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road in 2002, Traveling Music: The Soundtrack of My Life and Times in 2004 and Roadshow: Landscape With Drums, A Concert Tour By Motorcycle in 2006. Peart and Rush take their Time Machine tour to Baltimore tomorrow night.

Regional District and Kelowna Dirt Bike Club Resolve Bylaw Dispute

A lengthy legal case involving the Regional District of Central Okanagan Noise Control Bylaw has been resolved with a court-approved consent order.

The Regional District and Kelowna Dirt Bike Club have signed a consent order agreement that details specific actions that the Club will undertake at its track just off the Bear Creek Main Forest Service Road. The agreement is seen as a major step to reduce any potential noise complaints arising from activities at the Club facility and resolves an outstanding bylaw dispute over alleged violations dating back five years.

The Club has agreed to conduct sound testing of the exhaust system of every motorbike using the track at least once each year before it sets out on the circuit. In order to use the track, the exhaust sound level must not exceed 96 dB/A which is the current Canadian Motosport Racing Corporation (CMRC) sanctioned level. If in the future, that sound level is reduced, any new, lower CMRC rating will apply. After testing, the Club will provide an approval decal to the owner of any motorbike that meets the noise restriction. Any system that has been replaced or modified must be retested before it’s allowed to use the Bear Creek track. In addition, the consent order requires the Club to keep a record of all test results and if requested, make the list available to the Regional District.

With the acceptance of the consent order, the Regional Board has given its approval for two Special Events permits for the Kelowna Dirt Bike Club. The Noise Bylaw regulations will not apply during these special race events that will be held on Sunday, May 15th (2nd annual MX Ride for the Cure fundraiser) and the weekend of September 24th – 25th when Canadian Motorsport Racing Corporation sanctioned races will be held at the track.

Allow me to introduce Rob Thiessen – former rock star – now a design consultant at Trev Deeley Motorcycles. Design consultants are not easy to come by and not all dealers have one on staff.

Rob sits down with each client and listens to personal circumstances and then makes suggestions on the best possible scenario for the individual rider.

After my discussions with Rob about the issues I have been experiencing with my tailbone, I left my bike with Rob to contemplate a solution.

Today I went to get my bike and Rob showed me a Buell that he had designed that had recently been purchased. Sweet ride!

Then he fished my bike out and explained to me the best solution for my particular situation.

A brand new tall boy seat for my 2006 Softail is hopefully the answer to some long distance riding  in my future. During the visit, my bike was detailed and a new battery put in. The only down side is that I have to trailer it back to Kelowna and my guess is that if the Coquihala and Connector are in the same condition as they were when I came down, my bike will not be so pretty once I get it home.

During my visit, I happened to notice a four legged friend that I had not seen in years! My bulldog buddy Higgins is one of a kind. I first saw him in Kelowna at the SPCA yappy hour fundraiser. That night I asked his owner if we could try to put him on my motorcycle and put my helmet on him for some pictures. Three years later, I meet up with Higgins again at Trev Deeley. I guess I convinced him to take up riding after all!

After feeling a difference in my strength this past weekend riding MX I felt a bit more motivation to keep it up at the gym. Trying to go everyday is tough but I have been consistently keeping up at least 4 appearances per week.
Today I am proud to say I completed my two mile run after my workout-no stopping! No walking! All running! Woo hoo. (those two dents under my ribs are beginning to meet in the middle-lol)

Retired Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios will lead a motorcycle ride in memory of teammate Bob Probert.

The inaugural Bob Probert Memorial Ride will begin at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, cross into Windsor and continue into southwestern Ontario.

Funds raised by the June 26th ride will support the angioplasty program at Hotel-Dieu Grace hospital in Windsor, Probert’s hometown.

Probert played for the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks.

He died last summer after suffering a heart attack while boating on Lake St. Clair with his family.

story from CP

We are working through the pain at the gym. After a full program workout with Shane , Kathy has joined the ranks of whining with jazz and I. HA!

This is from the website… www.sturgisnorth.com

Had a chance to chat with Levi last week as he travelled to the Okanagan to see some dealerships and promote Polaris.

Click below for audio interview:

Pro Snowmobiler Levi Lavallee

www.vtwinokanagan.ca

V Twin Okanagan wants to know why you want to learn to ride… or learn to ride well. 

With each group of new riders, or experienced riders in our Advanced Rider Challenge Course, we hear the stories, and they have been interesting: “I’ve ridden on my own for years, but now I have a new girlfriend who wants to be my passenger… I want to be sure she enjoys it.” “I couldn’t do it when the kids were younger, I just didn’t have the time…” “I’m single again. My ex-husband didn’t want me to learn, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Whatever your reason, let V-Twin Okanagan know and you could win a New Rider or Advanced Rider Course absolutely free. Send them an e-mail at: v-twinokanagan@shaw.ca with “Why I want to learn to ride well” in the subject line. Tell them, in 50 words or less, why you want to learn to ride, or want to improve your riding skills if you are already a rider. We’ll have the entries judged by an independent but experienced rider, and award a New Rider Course and an Advanced Rider Challenge Course (or equivalent credit) to the top two entries.

Closing date is May 16th, 4:30 pm. The winning selections will be announced on May 20th, and will be published on the web site. The winners can chose which course they would like to take, but the awarded courses are non-transferable. The Advanced Rider Challenge Course can be used as partial credit towards a New Rider Course, or can be taken as 4 hours of private, one-on-one training. If you can’t wait, sign up for a course now, and if your entry is selected, V-Twin will refund the cost of the course.

At V Twin Okanagan, it’s not just about riding, it’s about riding well.

Story from:
www.ultimatemotorcycling.com
Sam Sims

The 2011 Japan Earthquake and subsequent Tsunami late last week has affected the motorcycle industry in a big way, especially since Japan is home to the “Big Four” motorcycle manufacturers: Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki.

As the disaster relief efforts continue in Northeastern Japan, not much news is available about how much of an impact the devastating earthquake has had on motorcycle exports from Japan.

But some information is becoming available from the Big Four companies.

Honda released a statement earlier today, reporting it will halt production at all factories, including the Kumamoto Factory, where Honda produces the CBR600, the VFR1200F, the DN-01 and the Super Cub. Honda reported that production activities at the Kumamoto Factory will be suspended today thru March 20th.

Honda said to assist in relief for Japan Earthquake victims, it has donated 300 million yen toward the recovery effort, and supplied 1,000 generators (gasoline-powered and home-use gas canister-powered), along with 5,000 gas canisters. Honda said it will dispatch its staff to explain how to use the donated generators.

Honda also stated it would co-operate with “rolling electricity blackouts,” which will help slow electricity usage. The rolling electricity outages are being done to avoid a total electric blackout; this is because electricity demand may overcome power supply capability due to Nuclear Plant breakdown from Earthquake.

Yamaha released a statement, reporting its factories were not damaged by the quake. Yamaha continued to keep it’s factories open, and will re-evaluate the situation today. Yamaha also reported it will co-operate in rolling electricity blackouts.

Suzuki released that it will suspend production until March 17. On that day, Suzuki management will decide when to return to production.

Kawasaki has not released any information regarding the earthquake, and if it had any impact on the motorcycle manufacturer.