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Mid-South ride, eat, and meet

I've received e-mails all evening on the passing of a dear friend of mine, Danny Crittenden. Danny had gone to Florida and purchased a Triumph Scramler and was riding it home. Was killed riding the bike in Georgia. Danny was a long time member of The Old Bike Club . Our hearts and thoughts go out to his wife and children. Danny had rode BMW's in the past. Sad news all the way around.
 
Danny Crittendon's obituary was finally in the local paper. Danny was killed riding his new bike home in Fairhope, Al., Aug. 20. Danny leaves his beloved wife Kathy and one son Jonathon and a daughter Jennifer Young. Visitation will be 12:30 pm and service at 2:30 pm. Tues., August 30 at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Park Av. Memphis Tn. 901 767 8930.
 
Had to mention that Danny had a good funeral. Every one there could tell Danny was loved by his family, respected and liked by his fellow company employees and well liked by his fellow motorcyclists. Sorry about the little rant about the wrung out On's in another thread. Just one look at Little Jack sittin in that sidecar on the front cover put's a smile on your face. Got me some bling comin. I got some BMW spotlamps for my K100 coming off Ebay. Like an early Christmas present. Gonna look good on that K bike. Can't wait to get the tranformation done on this bike. I feel better, now; wish I could go for a little ride and really put a smile on my face.
 
Well there are all kinds of rides, runs, meets happenin today. The BMW RAMS are on a run to Iuka, Ms. for the monthly club meeting. I couldn't quite pull that off. The Memphis Mummies, a local vintage cafe racer club is puttin on a ride, tour, and bike show. I'm going to make the bike show this afternoon. Sat. the 10th. I'm going about 4:00pm. Wish I could have done the whole tour. Out to the Shelby Forrest Store, HiTone Cafe, Sun Records etc. Their meeting at Kudzu's Bar and Grill around 4ish for the bike show and music fest. Kudzu's is located at 603 Monroe, downtown Memphis. The mummies will be joined by the The Memphis Kings scooter, the Old Bike Club and all other derelick bike and scooter riders. Mods and Rockers. Yea Baby. I'll get my R50/5 out and ride over for the festivities. :dance:drink
 
Had a good time at the Mummies shindig.there were about 50 bikes and scooters in the patking lot. All types, but cafe style bikes were pretty common, along with the scooters. They said they had a good ride to Shelby Forrest. Kudzu's had several bands lined up and Rockabilly was the theme. It really matched the bike style of the rally. Several BMW's were in attendence and every one was having a good time. The members of the Mummies said they meet here every Wendesday after work, then go down to Bikes on Beale. I'll have to put that on my schedule for Bike Nite. After a couple of cold ones I left early and I glad I went.
 
Took my '84 R100 heads over to a buddy of mine and bead blasted them . They look better than they were, but not as good as I like. Will have to come up a Plan B. I don't think the heads have ever been worked before. Just went out and checked the mileage on the odometer, 52,000. Exhaust valves shot, due to valve recession. The air injection system along with the wrong combination of valve seats and valves caused this problem. Air cooled engines were not designed to have combustion happening in the exhaust port. That along with this being a factory built escort bike. These bikes get used in funerals, parades etc.; lots of idleing. Bad for the heads. Most of the individuals and companies who bought these bikes were not aware of this problem. But I am and will correct the problem. The problem on this bike was the 'soft' exhaust valves. Exhaust valves shot at 50,000 miles. Will buy 4 new valve guides and 2 new exhaust valves. when I'm done, it'll be better than new. While I'm at it, I'll remove all that emissions garbage from the airbox. The bike will breathe properly for the first time in it's life. Think I'll dual plug it while I'm at it. Nothin like a good combustion flame front to burn that fuel. This bike is coming back from grave and will have a new life. It's on it's way from poor derelick has been to leading man on the red carpet.
 
I got a call from Spencer Bennet along time member of the BMW RAMS. He was over at the West Memphis, Ar. airport. They have a hanger over there where they work on their bikes as well as planes. They have a pretty good set up there. Spencer was working on his K100/EML sidecar outfit, mainly putting barbacks on at his wife, Rose Ann's request. They were a universal set and they were going to take some engineerin to work . I'm glad those guys are over there, pretty handy to have some other shade tree techs to bounce ideas off of. Rick Coffman is the other tech. Not many resident BMW motorcycles in east Ar. I basically live at the intersection of I 40/I 55 and I see a fair amount of BMW's, but most are just passin thru.
 
Just got back from haulin some freight up to Chicago and Columbus, In.. I was wanting to visit the new BMW dealership in Countryside, but got the load offer over to Columbus. Needed the money so visiting the Countryside dealer would have to wait. Did a little Civil War sightseein. Stopped in Corydon, In. to visit the little battlefield park and town sqare. All of this was part of John Hunt Morgans raid into Indiana and Ohio. I'd been here several years ago. I think on this trip I saw BMW motorcycles than I have seen all the rest of the year. I have yet to see a airhead on the road this year, during my freight hauling runs.
 
I havn't been home lately on Wendesday, so I've missed Bikes on Beale. So last nite I was my first chance to go. The Mummies a cafe racer style vintage bike club meet at Kudzu's Bar and Grill on Monroe Av.. Went early and when Ipulled up there were about 10 scooters lined up out front. Mods and Rockers. Cafe bikes and riders started trickling in. The Mummies went out on the patio for their meeting. Mainly talked about the Run to the Sun Rally they had just put on. They deemed it a success; which it was. They then voted in 2 new members. Very casual affair, with both new members roundly applauded. Apparently if you attend 3 meetings and ride a bike they deem worthy enough, you can be up for a vote. Nice laidback casual affair. We then rode the 3 blocks over to Beale St.. Place was packed and our spot in front of Superior BBQ was packed with vintage bikes. Beale st. was hoppin. Cool bikes every where you looked. The high lite in our group was Peter Guldans '41 Indian 4. The bike was covered up with lookers and picture takers all nite. That bike is over the top, as are all of Peter's bikes. I've been seein a Moto Guzzi El Dorado all summer on Beale, and last nite we finally hooked up. Denis DiAngelo and his really a nice '73 Eldo. I related to him that I was building my version of a BMW eldo using a '74 r90/6. After exchangeing pertinent info, the street was clearin out, we took off for home.
 
I mentioned Peter Guldan and his Indian 4 in the previous post. I have known Peter for 25 years or all of my motorcycle life. Peter has restored or refurbished a variety bikes and scooters over his carrer. All to a rather exquisite level that I have not seen in an individual who doesn't make his living restoring bikes. His list includes Harley's, Indians, Vincents, Nortons, BMW's, Vellocettes, Vespas, etc. A couple of his bikes were featured in Classic bike magazine back in the 90's, a Norton Commando and BMW R50/2. One of the headlines was 'Is this the World's Fusiest Restorer'. The level of his work was astounding. Anyway, Peter has mellowed over the years and he has his little web site which he details and discusses some of those restorations. I think you will find it under a search for A Red Rapide or www.patwilliamsracing.com/vincent/ This really covers a lot of what all of us go through finding a bike, the restoration problems and hurdles, and getting to the finished project. Peter tells his story in own rather unique way.
 
Just got back from freight run to Joplin, Mo.. Driving west on I-40 and north on I-540 I was constantly surrounded with bikes headed to Bikes Blues and BBQ Bike Rally in Fayettville, Ar. Running thru the Fayettville, Springdale, Bentonville area was hundreds of bikes showing up for the rally. Stopped in BMW of Bentonville for a quick visit. Bought a MotoMan pin for my cap. Told them I would stop back in on my return trip Thursday. I was informed that they were shutting down for the entire weekend. I was incredulous. 100,000's of bikes in town and the BMW dealer was closed for the weekend. Strange. I've attended 15 Daytona bike weeks and the BMW dealer there is covered up with business. It's got to be their biggest money week. Am I missin something here.
 
After the run to Joplin, Mo., I got up yesterday , did a quick service on the K100RT and road over to the Return to Shiloh Rally. This was to be a one day affair for me, 140 mile rideover, enjoy the rally and comraderie of the Rams. The 140 mile ride over was good, the old K100 has a charming kinda old school buzz/growl sound out the pipe. I've had the bike over 20 years and I can make the perfect K75/100 sound at speed, reving up and down thru my mouth. Kindof a buzz/whistle. The day was perfect for a ride, got to the rally at about noon. I was# 259 signed in. Had a great time seeing friends and bikes. Walk, talk, eat, stand, sit, look, then start over and do it again. The $1 pancake and 2 sausages were fabulous, I ponied up for 2 plates at $2. The band was pure southern early rockabilly. Steve Clark a RAMS member played standup bass. He does a mean Johnny Cash. Renditions of Elvis, Carl Perkins, and Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis were played in abundance. After the rally meeting was over, I headed home. I hope I get to come next year and camp out. My hats off to the BMW RAMS who sponser the rally, good job Guys.
 
I make my share of dumb mistakes. Tim Hendrickson cooks the BarBQ dinner for the rally, and it's quite good. As soon as the meeting was over I headed over and got in line. My mistake was not having my food ticket in hand. Left the line, went to the bike and got my ticket. Started back to the line, took a good look and realized I was going to be 200 back in the line. I figured an hour to get the food and at least 1/2 to eat. I'd be getting home about midnite; so I missed out on Tim's excellent BarBQ. Took off for home, but I stopped in at Brad's BarBQ in Oakland, Tn. and had a plate. Excellent BBQ, I've been eating at Brads for over 20 years. Had a short visit with his son Tracy, then headed home. Yep, a lack of planning cost me my BarBQ dinner at the rally.
 
Any one interested in hooking up with or joining the Naturally Beemers of Ar., they are having their Fall Campout Oct.22-23 at the Ozark Campground about 6 miles north of Jasper on Highway 7. FyI there is a 2 miles of hardpacked gravel to the campground. Nice time and area to get out and ride the Ozarks and see some fall foliage color change. I hope to get the chance to ride over myself.
 
Bikes on Beale the downtown Memphis Wendesday Night bike nite is over for the year. Last Wed. was the last nite. It kept me going all year when I couldn't take those longer rides due to time and money constraints. Can't wait till next year.
 
Bored just sittin here waitin on a load offer. The Olde Bike Club is havin their Oct. meeting tonight at Bubba's Bar and Grill. 6:00 at 7041 Hwy 64, Bartlett next to Memphis. Will probably ride over in few hours. Come on and join me. Time for a burger and a beer. Some cool bikes usually show up.
 
I didn't have the funds to pull off a run to Barbers's vintage weekend or the Falling Leaf Rally this weekend so I guess what's left is an afternoon ride out to the country to Old Millington Winery, and getting a bottle of Delta Blush. Time to get the old K100 out and head her toward Memphis then north to the winery. Time to ride.
 
Excellent ride over the the winery. Riding in the country is good for what ails ya. There was agood crowd when I arrived. Got my bottle and headed outside, a group that had a table invited me to join them. Weather was perfect. The band for the day was Nancy Apple and Her Whole Damn Band. The folks who invited me over were from West Memphis, Ar.. Home of the I-40/I-55 intersection where the road construction never ends. Left the winery and took a ride further up the Chickasaw Bluff close to the Mississippi River. I call it my little slice of motorcycle riding heaven. A lot of motorcycle riders from Memphis don't know these roads out here, which is good. Just more road for me to enjoy in peaceful solitude. I found myself imitating the sound of the K bike drone, I call it the buzz/whistle. :whistle. I do it for my buds ocassionaly, which allways gets a laugh, then I start laughin and can't do it. Well now it's back to work.
 
Old Millington Vineyard & Winery
6748 Old Millington Rd.
Millington, Tn. 38053
901 873 4114
Perry and Carrie Welch
www.oldmillingtonwinery.com
Thought I would add this if anyone is interested in getting to the winery. And general info.
 
Gotta ride planned this mourning. I'm heading over to Batesville, Ar. to attend my 40 year class reunion. I'm going over to see how the old folks are looking. I skipped the 10th, went to the 20th, skipped the 30th. Like allways people and places change, I left Batesville in 1973, but I've rode thru there many times on my many journies around the state. Looking forward to the ride over and the gettagather.
 
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