By: Buzz
Every spring more bikes hit the road. When the weather starts getting warmer, the roads become more frequented by bikers and it’s time to remind the cagers to be alert and look for motorcycles. Biker Trash Nation’s Wayne Pinnix called me up and pitched the idea of putting on a motorcycle awareness ride. That’s easy enough, anything we can do as a community to help the odds of our brothers and sisters making it home safely is worth the effort. So, we set a date of March 31st and put together an ad for the upcoming issue of The Carolinas’ Full Throttle Magazine with the addition of Smokin’ Harley-Davidson as a sponsor.
When March 31 came around the weather was perfect, and 187 bikes filled the parking lot of Market Place Mall in Winston-Salem, NC. There were seasoned riders, old friends, and even some who were on their first group ride. We were joined by 8 Winston-Salem motorcycle patrolmen. Wayne gathered everyone together for a few words, some instructions from Winston-Salem’s finest and then the rumble we all love filled the air.
The ride was a short jog over to Smoking Harley-Davidson where Brother Bill had set up vendors and a bike blessing. There was a piper on hand that played Amazing Grace on the bag pipes then Chad and Brandy of Xtreme Wings N Things (located above Smokin’ Harley-Davidson) starting slinging drinks and wings while the band played from the deck up at Xtreme.
It was a really great day with friends and I’m sure that the line of 187 bikes roaring down the highway turned some heads and hopefully reminded those who saw us to “Look Twice And Save A Life”. While making motorists aware that motorcycles are everywhere is important, most of the burden still lies on us to look out for ourselves while we are out enjoying the roads of North and South Carolina. Keep your eyes open and ride safe.