Motorcycle group emphasizes safety, fellowship
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 4:46 am
Motorcycle group emphasizes safety, fellowship
CRIS COLEMAN, For The Nonpareil 03/12/2005
SHENANDOAH - Gold Wingers are a special kind of people.
That seems to be the general attitude of 30 members of Shenandoah's Chapter P of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association.
"The people that are in our group are a very diverse cross section of the populous in Shenandoah," said Marv Adcock, the chapter educator. "We have absolutely no personal conflicts. It's really strange and really invigorating."
Adcock, a Shenandoah city councilman and retired Shenandoah school transportation supervisor, said the GWRRA's motto is, "Friendship for fun, safety and knowledge."
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To him and others, GWRRA is one big, friendly family.
"One couple in our group really didn't have a big circle of friends, and when they joined our group, they became a part of a big family," he said. "They didn't realize how much fun there could be in a group such as ours. Everybody just feels a part of a larger family. It's really hard to describe. I guess it's kind of like being a church family; every- body just fits together."
As chapter educator, Adcock instigates a safety talk at every meeting.
"We have to be ready to accept the fact that, number one, there is a little more risk involved in motorcycle riding and, number two, people don't look for us."
For Ruby Martin, chapter treasurer and an accountant for a CPA firm in Shenandoah, it's a real stress release.
"You're out there; the wind hits you. It's like you're in your own little world out there," she said.
"It's a fun group. It's a social-type deal. It also has a lot of benefits as far as motorcycles safety and information goes," said Craig Leigan, chapter director and Stanton postmaster. "On our trips and different motorcycle rallies we go to, we've met people from all over the country. We have a Web site (www.gwrra.org/) which has a chat room, and I've chatted with people all over the world."
Leigan said all local chapters of GWRRA do fund raising for different charities.
"Last year we had a garage sale for DoVES, and we plan on doing one this year," Martin said.
Adcock said the group collected pop tops for the Ronald McDonald Foundation last year and transported nearly a pickup truck full to Iowa City. He said the group has also donated to Shenandoah Police Department's Operation Care during the Christmas season.
Another charity event the group participates in is something called a "poker run." That's when riders pay an entry fee, travel to different locations, draw a playing card at each of those locations and then return to see who has the best poker hand. The entry fee goes to various charities.
Leigan said there's a lot of benefits besides just riding and the social benefits of the club. Members receive a monthly magazine called, "Wing World."
"There's a lot of good articles in there about trips people have taken, safety articles, and you get discounts with campgrounds, motels and car rentals and tow insurance," he said.
Leigan said members can now get motorcycle and health insurance through the organization.
"There's always a rally or a chapter get-together somewhere," he said. "We're going to try and get some classes set up this spring and summer to learn different safety techniques on a motorcycle."
The chapter holds a monthly meeting every third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. - six months in Shenandoah and six months in Clarinda. The group will meet at Godfather's Pizza in Shenandoah this month, and, starting in April, they will meet at the Icehouse in Clarinda.
"Anybody's welcome to come to our monthly meeting to find out more about us. Even though it says Gold Wing Riders Association, anybody can join if they can have any kind of motorcycle," said Leigan. "One member has a Kawasaki and a Harley."
Martin has a Silver Wing.
"Whenever you get a group together like this, it's always nice to have a reason for being," said Adcock, "and part of that reason is to help others. In fact, all of us carry a little card that if we find somebody with a car or motorcycle that's disabled along the road, we'll stop and offer assistance, and when we leave we give them our card saying you have been assisted by ..."
But mainly, it's all about riding.
"We all say we don't need much of an excuse to ride. Whenever the weather is good, we're on the bike," said Adcock with a laugh. "I guess the main reason for everybody getting together is we just like to ride motorcycles."
"We go out and have supper rides," Martin said. "We'll ride from here to Council Bluffs, wherever, St. Joe (Mo.), have supper and come back."
"We're always looking for new places to eat," said Leigan.
And riding bikes is a different way to "stop and smell the roses."
"It's fantastic. It's hard to explain," Leigan said. "The areas nobody drives in much of the time - it's amazing how much you're aware of the surroundings. It's a relaxing release - kind of a freedom sensation or feeling. Motorcycling is not just a sport, it's cheap transportation and fun."
Leigan should know. He rides his Gold Wing every day to Stanton during the warmer months and puts about 16,000 miles on his motorcycle a year.
CRIS COLEMAN, For The Nonpareil 03/12/2005
SHENANDOAH - Gold Wingers are a special kind of people.
That seems to be the general attitude of 30 members of Shenandoah's Chapter P of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association.
"The people that are in our group are a very diverse cross section of the populous in Shenandoah," said Marv Adcock, the chapter educator. "We have absolutely no personal conflicts. It's really strange and really invigorating."
Adcock, a Shenandoah city councilman and retired Shenandoah school transportation supervisor, said the GWRRA's motto is, "Friendship for fun, safety and knowledge."
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To him and others, GWRRA is one big, friendly family.
"One couple in our group really didn't have a big circle of friends, and when they joined our group, they became a part of a big family," he said. "They didn't realize how much fun there could be in a group such as ours. Everybody just feels a part of a larger family. It's really hard to describe. I guess it's kind of like being a church family; every- body just fits together."
As chapter educator, Adcock instigates a safety talk at every meeting.
"We have to be ready to accept the fact that, number one, there is a little more risk involved in motorcycle riding and, number two, people don't look for us."
For Ruby Martin, chapter treasurer and an accountant for a CPA firm in Shenandoah, it's a real stress release.
"You're out there; the wind hits you. It's like you're in your own little world out there," she said.
"It's a fun group. It's a social-type deal. It also has a lot of benefits as far as motorcycles safety and information goes," said Craig Leigan, chapter director and Stanton postmaster. "On our trips and different motorcycle rallies we go to, we've met people from all over the country. We have a Web site (www.gwrra.org/) which has a chat room, and I've chatted with people all over the world."
Leigan said all local chapters of GWRRA do fund raising for different charities.
"Last year we had a garage sale for DoVES, and we plan on doing one this year," Martin said.
Adcock said the group collected pop tops for the Ronald McDonald Foundation last year and transported nearly a pickup truck full to Iowa City. He said the group has also donated to Shenandoah Police Department's Operation Care during the Christmas season.
Another charity event the group participates in is something called a "poker run." That's when riders pay an entry fee, travel to different locations, draw a playing card at each of those locations and then return to see who has the best poker hand. The entry fee goes to various charities.
Leigan said there's a lot of benefits besides just riding and the social benefits of the club. Members receive a monthly magazine called, "Wing World."
"There's a lot of good articles in there about trips people have taken, safety articles, and you get discounts with campgrounds, motels and car rentals and tow insurance," he said.
Leigan said members can now get motorcycle and health insurance through the organization.
"There's always a rally or a chapter get-together somewhere," he said. "We're going to try and get some classes set up this spring and summer to learn different safety techniques on a motorcycle."
The chapter holds a monthly meeting every third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. - six months in Shenandoah and six months in Clarinda. The group will meet at Godfather's Pizza in Shenandoah this month, and, starting in April, they will meet at the Icehouse in Clarinda.
"Anybody's welcome to come to our monthly meeting to find out more about us. Even though it says Gold Wing Riders Association, anybody can join if they can have any kind of motorcycle," said Leigan. "One member has a Kawasaki and a Harley."
Martin has a Silver Wing.
"Whenever you get a group together like this, it's always nice to have a reason for being," said Adcock, "and part of that reason is to help others. In fact, all of us carry a little card that if we find somebody with a car or motorcycle that's disabled along the road, we'll stop and offer assistance, and when we leave we give them our card saying you have been assisted by ..."
But mainly, it's all about riding.
"We all say we don't need much of an excuse to ride. Whenever the weather is good, we're on the bike," said Adcock with a laugh. "I guess the main reason for everybody getting together is we just like to ride motorcycles."
"We go out and have supper rides," Martin said. "We'll ride from here to Council Bluffs, wherever, St. Joe (Mo.), have supper and come back."
"We're always looking for new places to eat," said Leigan.
And riding bikes is a different way to "stop and smell the roses."
"It's fantastic. It's hard to explain," Leigan said. "The areas nobody drives in much of the time - it's amazing how much you're aware of the surroundings. It's a relaxing release - kind of a freedom sensation or feeling. Motorcycling is not just a sport, it's cheap transportation and fun."
Leigan should know. He rides his Gold Wing every day to Stanton during the warmer months and puts about 16,000 miles on his motorcycle a year.