Mid-South ride, eat, and meet

If your in the Midsouth area looking for a ride and eat this weekend Saturday Feb 19., this is it. Memphis, Tn. is the center of the midsouth. The BMW RAMS are having a get to gather just north of Memphis in Kerrville. Their meeting at Pig-N-Whistle Restaurant. 6084 Kerr-Rosemark Rd. This is on the north side of Millington on the west side of Hwy 51. About 2 miles, off 51 down to the restaurant. Their tel.# 901 8722455. Be there for lunch at 12:00. The Rams will have their Feb. meeting at 1:30 Time to get your bike out and ride and eat. Temps Saturday are to be in the mid 60's and no rain, sleet or snow in the forecast. This place known for good BBQ.:eat Rams will be out in force showing off their cool scoots.:clap

I'm off to to chow down on some BBQ and see some bikes. Tell ya bout it later. The ride is on.

Just got back. It was just what I needed. Nice easy going ride over. Felt good to be back in the saddle. Road my '94 R1100RS and it purred like a kitten. I think it needed out for spin to stretch it's legs as much as I did. Lots of bikes out every where. Everyone had the same idea, get out and ride. Bikers waving back and forth, it was a never ending meet and greet going down the road. Got to the chow house first, got off and stretched my legs. Then the others started showing up. It was your basic family BMW club monthly reunion. Think we had about 30 in attendence. Got a rib plate, and filled up. Hit the spot. Got thru the meeting, mostly stuff about the RAMS directory and Return to Shiloh Rally. Back outside, every one was taking off in all directions. Got to talking with Paul Witworth, our club sec/trea., he said he was up for a little Ride. Rode over to see the Shake Rag. Recently burned down. It's been the Memphis go to weekend biker hangout for 30 years. Sad to see it like that. We took off for Mayor's Cove about 5 minutes away. Got there and they had a good crowd, due to no Shake Rag. Mayor's Cove has the look of, if you don't have a gun or knife, they issue you one at the door. Had a couple of cold ones, then headed back toward Memphis on the back roads. Took Paul by the Charles Limbergh monument, and had our history moment. After we split up, had a nice put back to the house. Just what I needed,a nice ride. Forgot to mention, at the meeting, I won one of the prize drawings The Ride is On, BMW dvd. Think I'll watch it now.

I noticed that on my ride over to and back from the meeting that my riding skills had diminished somewhat from a 2 month lay off from riding. Hopefully with the coming of some decent weather and some saddle time, I'll get back up to speed, and my riding skills will return to their normal razorsharp ability. :D

Anyone in the Midsouth or more specifically east Arkansas looking for a place to ride this weekend, this is it. The BMW RAMS and the DooDah Sidecar Riders are having their annual April meeting and get togather at Village Creek State Park this weekend. Apr. 15,16,17. Just outside Wynne, Ar. . Casual ride in and meeting. Camping available. Check the BMW RAMS web site for more details. Lots of comraderie with the focus on BMW's and sidecars. Barry :groovy

Just got back from the Rams meeting. Good ride over. Had to stop and put on another layer for warmth. Good to see everyone. Had probably 6 members of the Naturally Beemers show up and camp out. They had a pretty bunch, 25, for the campout and meeting. They survived a pretty tough storm front that came thru Thursday nite. Stopped outside the park and went to an almost unknown Civil War War Site. Wittsburg. The place were about 5000 Ark. Confederate soldiers surrendered at the end of the war. Good easy day of riding.

Since the demise of of Shake Rag. It burned down about a month ago or should I say torched as in arson. I'm headed over to Mayer's Cove. It's north and west of the Rag. in Tipton Co.. Went by a couple of weeks a ago and thet were remodeling it. I heard they were having bands on Sunday. Getting ready to go.

Turned out to be a nice ride. I first rode up to Covington on 51 Hiway, stopped in at a Cigar shop and got a box of my favorite cigars. Backwoods Sweet Aromatic. Then got my ride started. Headed west toward the Mississippi River. Rode to Randolph and stopped at John's Boatdock. Ol Man River was all the way up to the boat dock's back door. John'a ain't a real boat dock, but a real out of the way honky tonk bar and grill. Left there and headed to Mayor's Cove. A lot of real back roads close to the river. Up, down, around up the Chickasaw Bluff and back down to the river. Their's a lot of little 3 and 4 way stops, kinda confusing but that keeps the ride interesting. I carry a map, but I didn't have to look at it very often. Mostly rode by instinct. 20 years ago I rode up here with small groups and was lost the whole time; I'm glad I can now find my own way. Rode into Mayor's Cove and met up with Larry and a couple of his riding buddies . They were on Dual Sport bikes. All they could talk about was the TransAmerica ride across Ar.. Gotta get the KLR running and do that. Went into the Cove and got a cold one, the band was playing. As usual too loud for me. Back out side, Larry and his buddies were gone. I had leisurely ride back to Ar.

Had to participate in the thread - couldn't see you going it alone any more. :whistle

Thx. Deacon. Just sharing my bike rides and other BMW related stuff. It seems the Mid-South kinda gets looked over as a riding area. I'm relating rides that are about 100-150 radius around Memphis. I live in Marion, Ar. just across the river from Memphis. I'm including east to Crowley's Ridge down to Helena; up to the Boothill of Missouri, western tip of Ky. West Tn., North Miss.. With the price of fuel, I'm having to concentrate on that area. It's what my pocket book can handle. I belong to both the Naturally Beemers of Ar. and the BMW RAMS,and The Old Bike Club. So just going to their activities and meetings it gives me a chance to do a lot of riding in this area. I also do the Wendesday Bike nite at different places. Side Car, Joe's CrabShack, Bikes on Beale. I like the Blue's. I also like tech sessions, I'm getting my garage in shape to have some. I'm a bike nut and their ain't no reforming me. See you on the road or on this thread, everyone is welcome. Barry

Hey, I know a few of the RAMS and regularly go to Parkers Gro on Sunday mornings. Also, saw on your profile that you work at MMW. Never been there but familiar with the reputation. Always thought in the back of my mind that I might someday enlist their services in building a vintage racer - someday. Good on ya for the ride reports. Much of what you mention is in my backyard. Oh yeah, I've also participated in a couple of the rides put on by the Old Bike Club. I don't really know anybody but they seem to be a great bunch of people.

I'm not at MMW any more, been gone from there for awhile. Need to up date my profile. Where's Parker's Grocery store. Seems I read about in the Rams newsletter some time back. Yea, a little cafe style hot rod would be a nice build, wouldn't mind one for my self. I've got a long term project going on right now. I'm building up a '74 R90/6 into a Classic Bavarian Bagger. Engine pretty much built. Bored out the cylinders installed 1st over pistons, dual plugged the heads. I've been fortunate to accumulate quite a few parts to really dress it up. I'm not up to speed on posting pics and such. If you go to the RAMS web site look into the threads on meetings '07 you can see a pic of the engine and one of me standing behind the engine at the meeting. I'm the tall drink of water, next to my bud Marshall. Will probably be down on Beale tomorrow night.

Been hard at work the last couple of weeks. Getting my garage in shape, gettin ready to bring a couple of my bikes home. Been puttin up shelving, cleaning up, reorganizing, making room. Way past due. The '84 BMW R100 Escort and the Cushman Eagle are coming home. One of my lifts is also coming home, too. Time to start puttin some bikes back on the road.

Got the garage in shape to bring 2 bikes home. Just about wupped me. It's all good though. Spent all three days of the Holiday weekend on that garage. Didn't even ride. I did put pads on the rear brake of the R1100RS. Brakes were acting a little funny on last ride. Hope the new pads cure it. Found the pads during the clean up. Found all kinds of neat things during the clean up. Wished I could have rode to find out if that was the problem. I haul freight in a cargo van and I gotta a run from northwest Ms. to San Antonio tomorrow. So moving the 2 bikes home and test riding the bike will have to wait till I get back home. I may get the chance to visit S.A. BMW and Austin BMW. I'm also bringing my bike lift home, that will make servicing my bikes a lot easier.

Stopped in at Alamo BMW. Had a nice visit. Sid gave me 2 fine cigars. Cool. There is a GoCart shop and track connected to the dealership. A grandfather was there with his 2 grandsons and they all had their own personal machines. They were all fast and smooth on the track. The older grandson was really fast. While I was there watching he set a new track record. Neat. This dealership is diffenently becoming one of my favorites. On the rode with a load to Nogales, Az.; hope to stop in at Iron Horse BMW in Tucson. I havn't been there in a while. Posting this at the N.M. Welcome Center. Just rocking on down the hiway on I-10. I havn't seen one BMW motorcycle on the rode in over 600 miles. What's up with that?:scratch

Gotta load outa Seguin, Tx, to Nogales. Az. ; about a 950 mile run . Pretty easy run, good weather. High plains, mesas, plateaus mountains, tumble weeds, cacti, gulch's. I ain't in Ar. anymore. Rolled into Nogales and delivered the load early, right on the Mexican border. I could walk over and touch the border fence. After a day, I was off to Tucson, to see a Uncle and Aunt. My Uncle Buddy was recuperating from a odd medical malady. Any way he was mending well and ready to get out of Tucson. The heat was getting to him. Got the oppurtunity to go to Iron Horse BMW. I'd been there several times, but it had been a few years back. This is another dealer that I like going to. Good mix of new and used bikes. They hada couple of nice R100GS's that had been freshened up. Jim Richardson, the sales mngr. showed me a nicely restored '77 R100RS to concours condition.. Just sold, and it went for over $20,000. The guy's going to have a really nice RS. I helped restore one just like it about 15 years ago; I allways liked that year RS. Lookin over the bike accessory section, I found a R100GS leather tail bag on the self. On sale no less. Snatched it up, it's going on my R80ST. Almost worthless, but great bling. I dealt with Jon the parts guy. I think everyone there was John or James. Gotta get back there soon. These guys are racing the S1000RR and I think their getting some factory sponcoring from BMW. Good for them. Tucson BMW riders are fortunate to have them as the dealer. Like I said, great dealership, can't wait to go back.

I was looking thru my old BMW literature and brocheres and found an ad on the GS leather bag I bought. Stated the bag as robust in 3 mm cowhide in top quality finish. reinforced aluminum base. Enough space for for a rainsuit or light luggage. A picture was also included. Will be on the shelf for some time, till I get around to putting the ST back together.

Continuing my trip. After the Iron Horse visit, I set in Tucson waiting for another load. Got bored and took off to Phoenix to visit both BMW dealers in the Phoenix area. Got to Eloy and got a load offer. Picking up back in Nogales, load going to Belvidere, Il.. No time to sop at the Phoenix dealers. 1600 mile paid run; had to take it. I need the money. Had 3 days to deliver. Made the run. After delivery, I decided to visit BMW Of Barrington. Wanted to go by and see Dan Kriete the Parts Mngr.. I did a lot of business with Dan back in the 90's. Good guy, know's his stuff. I really like this place, old school. I was talking to Dan Baber the Mngr.. He informed me that the building was built in 1923 as a car dealership. Lots of history, same year for the start of BMW. I really get a kick out of the motorcycle elevator taking the bikes up to the 2nd floor for service. Cool place, I hated to leave. Off to Chicago.

In Memphis, Tn. every Wendesday night is Bike Night. There are several places the bikes seem to congregate. My favorite is Bikes on Beale Street. Downtown Memphis. Motorcycles and moter scooters are invited down to park on Beale St. every Wendesday night. Many restaurants and bars catering to the bikers. Lots of free music. It's a happening. If your traveling thru the Mid South this is a nice stop. Beale Street Merchants Association :: Events Main

this should get you there. [url]www.bealestreetmerchants.comevents.php[/url]

I'm meeting up with my Beale St. bud Larry Schally tonight about 7:00. Erik Hughes is playing at Alfreds on Beale. He will be joined by the legendary Leo Goff on bass. The greatest bassist on Beale. Leo of BMW engine building fame. Can't wait to get there.:dance:drink

Made it to Beale Street last Wendesday. Had a beer with Larry at our spot. The street was pretty well packed with bikes. Larry took off for Joe's Crab Shack, the other big bike nite meeting place. I went down to Alfred's to listen to Eric Hughe's band with the legendary Leo Goff on bass. Back 20 years ago Leo and I were on the same vintage car racing team. I had some paperwork from our race at Watkins Glen in '92. Hard to believe it's been 20 years. The band was excellent. Bikes on Beale every Wendesday nite.
I missed the monthly Old Bike Club meeting at Sidecar Cafe. Just to tired from working on my garage. They meet the 1 st Thr. of every month at Side Car Cafe. Check their web site to comfirm this. Hopefully if every thing go's well I'll be bringing home my '84 R100 police bike tomorrow. .

It's home along with my Handy motorcycle lift. Life is good.

Fixin to head over Tennessee, head up 51 highway north. Going to Old Millington Winery. Meeting up with a buddy of mine, Ron Wigginton. I'm taking the R100RS and I'm ready for a ride, then sharing a bottle of Delta Blush. That is if I can get over Wolf River and the Loosahatchie River. Record river depth on the Mississippi River in my life time.

Didn't make it. Highway 51 closed at Watkins av. All the rivers are backed up off the Miss. River. Was running late anyway. Ron made it to the Winery by zigg-zagging around the low spots . He said he made a lot of u turns, but made it. Went over to Side car Cafe and ran into some of the BMW Rams. Ron and I later hooked up at Barbi's in Memphis. I then called it a night and rode home.

Moved my R90 out of the shed and into the garage, up and on the lift. it's a milestone. I'm back in bidness. Hope to make it over to Beale St. for Bikes on Beale. Beale St. is flooded at Riverside Dr. down by the river, will go east down Crump Blvd. and go north up Main St. to my spot on Beale. I know the river flooding is all the news, but Bike Nite is here, I'm home and I'm going.

I've mentioned my buddy Ron in a previous post. We are looking seriously at doing some BMW motorcycle engine work. Ron is a very unique person. He is a 40 year machinist /tool and die journeyman. He has many years in jobshops all over Memphis. I've had the oppurtunity to work with him at several of those machine shops. He was probably the best machinest I've ever had a chance to work with. During all those years, he worked on many automotive and motorcycle projects, building some of the most complex devises and components, I've ever seen. This for a varity of different people with car and motorcycles custom jobs. At the moment he is working downtown in Memphis at a automotive shop building a variety of engines and doing extensive head work on street and racing engines. He has just purchased his first BMW R90 and is the process of getting it running and ridable. I was a 25 year journeyman machist and also have 10 years of experience doing BMW motorcycle heads along with BMW cars, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, Rover, etc.. Any way we are going to have some fun doing some head work on our bikes and building some nice custom pieces and bling for our bikes.

I'm gettin ready to head to bike nite on Beale St. In down town Memphis. I'll be in my usual spot in front of Superior BBQ out on the patio side walk. Later I'll move up the street and listen to the legendary Leo Goff, bassist extraordinaire, playing with the Eric Hughes Band.

Got a late start ridng over to Beale St. Got my usual spot sitting in front of Superior BBQ. The street was packed with bikes and people and music was great. Saw my first K1600GTL as it was parked almost in front of me. Walked over and looked it over, very impressive. The owner came back and I thought I would invite him to sit down, but he was having so many people ask about his bike I never got the chance. Went down to Alfred's and caught Leo's band during their last set. Went back to Superior BBQ and my buddies from the BMW RAMS and the Old Bike Club had our spot covered. Had a good time hangin with them, their all good folks. They wanted to ride down and see the Mississippi River at flood stage. I got seperated from them, so I just rode on home.

If all goes well I'll be able to ride over to the Natural State Rally just outaide of Morrilton, Ar. on the Arkansas River this weekend. I think it's Lock and Dam #9 off Highway 9 at Sequoah Campground and Park. Will ride over and spend the day. Nice rally. I'm a charter member and past president of the Naturally Beemers. I havn't been as active with the club for several years. I blame it on my being constantly on the road due to my job. Well hopefully I can make up for some of it Sat. I also havn't been on any kind of ride this year, maybe a little road trip will put me in a better frame of mine. If your looking for a nice ride this could be it. Beautiful Petit Jean Mountain is the back drop to this rally.

Rode over and back yesterday. Felt good to be on as little road trip. Stopped after 5 miles at the I-40 welcome center in West Memphis due to it being cold, overcast, windy; layered up with another longsleeve T, sweatshirt, and winter gloves. I-40 between W. Memphis and N. Little Rock as everone knows is one of the most boring rides in the ol US of A. I've heard it a million times and I've ridden it a million times. I didn't care it was good to be on the rode on my bike. Road into the campground about noon and it was 6 hours of hard good ol fashion BMW motorcyclist family reunion. I've missed the last few of the Naturally Beemers rallies and other meetings and campouts. And when I did show up it was in a four wheeler. I took my share of ribbing over it. I believe there were about 75 in attendence. 6 o'clock came to fast, I was having such a big time. Just at dark, I was heading home. Right at 400 miles of riding and 6 hours of BMW comraderie was just what I needed. Hopefully next year I'm also camping.

Hey Barry...that was a good tune up ride for you. Now ride that thing on down to see us at the Chicken Rally in couple weeks! :usa

Thx, Vance; nothing would make me happier. At the Ark. rally was just sittin minding my own bidness. All of a sudden seemed like all the attention was on me and was gettin my picture takin by a couple of camera's. Really kinda perked up and I felt important. Really all the attention was on my black biker vest. I had it dolled up with a bunch Naturally Beemer batches and pins and other Beemer swag. The past president pin really got their attention. The funny part is over half the club members are past presidents. For a moment though, I was a cross between Nate Kern and Brad Pitt. I was a star. :groovy

Was going to deliver some tents to my bud, Marshall to look at. I think he needs one for the Chicken Rally and was going to deliver some old airhead brake master cylinders to my bud Ron. We're looking into resleeving them with stainless inserts. But the President is in downtown Memphis today. Gotta wait till he departs, no getting thru till he leaves.

Had a good day out in my shop, neat to be able to do something out there. Still needed more room, So I pulled the police bike and started stripping some of the police accessories off. Off came the front, then the rear crash crash bars. Then the bags and the bag mounts. Took off the radio box and alot of the extra electrical stuff. The bike started out as a RT, but the fairing was already gone, so off came the fairing mounts. It really thins the bike down in size and weight. Probably 30 lbs. Will make it much easier to move around in and out of garage. The bike really looks in sad shape now, but will be a nice bike for me to restore in the future. I, allways see the potential of the bike.

I've been looking at Kbasa's aka David Swiders '84 R100CS rebuild site. It's very similar to my '84 R100 police bike. I've got the twin disc/rear drum setup. One thing I found on dissasembly was that I had the top handle bar clamp that was cut out(notched) for a BMW windshield set. Good for me. I've got a few of those windshields and most of the time when I buy them used, that part doesn't come with the windshield. Not easy to find and kinda hard to make. I have taken the top clamp and machined it down and installed the top stud. Good to be a machinist as I am. Can' wait to to pull the heads and see the condition of the heads and cylinders. I've never had a big valve head BMW airhead. Back in another life, I specialized in reconditioning BMW motorcycle heads and cylinders. I also specialized in BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, Rover, and others. Any way, I can't get to involved with that bike now, I've got a couple of other airheads ahead of it.

I'm getting to be more forgetful than normal. I have had a big valve BMW. I had a '81 R100RT. Nice bike and the only BMW I bought and sold. Wish I was on the road to the Chicken Rally. Maybe tomorrow, still a possibility.

Ain't going to be able to do the ride to the Chicken Rally. Gotta Sunday ride and eat going on. Just gotta e-mail from Bob Osbourne, the Old Bike Club has a ride this Sunday. They will be meeting at Circle K at Summer and Whitten in Memphis. 10:00 start and ride to Atoka, Tn. and have lunch at Casa Mexicana restauraunt. I guess that is my run for the weekend. Any one want to join me for the ride, give me a call. 901 233 7913. I'll just be leaving the house and just joining them at the restaurant.

Hey Barry,

I am in Memphis. If you want to ride sometime just give me a holler. I met several of the Memphis Ram guys at the European Rider rally last weekend and a couple more while at the Chicken Rally this weekend.

10-4 Lee. Would be glad to ride with you. I'm in and out of the area all the time., as I travel for a living. When I'm in town and when it's possible I ride to Beale St. on Wendesday nite. Bikes on Beale. I uaually park in front of Superior BBQ and sit in front on the side walk patio. I also walk down to Alfred's and listen to my buddy Leo Goff, bassist for the Eric Hughes Band. This week the Old Bike club is having their monthly meeting at Bubba's Ale House and grill at 7041 Hwy 64 between Summer and Appling Av. I think 64 Highway is also Stage Road. This club kinda promotes riding older bikes, but there is no officers or dues and they really don't care what you ride.I think Thursday nite is the nite. Usually about 5:30pm. Everyone is friendly and will be happy you come. I'm usually riding a white '94 R1100RS. I don't consider this thread as mine, it's for any one who wants to text about BMW's, bikes, rides etc. in the Mid South Area. Look forward to meeting and riding with you. PS, I'm also a member of the Rams. Check out their web site. Feel free to call me or post on this site. Barry