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July/August 2006 Features
The Hog Rider Next Door
by Katie Wainwright
Hell’s Angels or Harley Hogs, devotees of motorcycles have come a long way. The image of the burly, bearded guy with a red bandana wrapped around his head and a black tattoo on a muscular arm is a thing of the past. Now the riders are doctors, lawyers and executives who have put aside their Mont Blanc pens, stethoscopes, computers and BlackBerrys, forgotten their cares and duties for a few hours or a few days, and taken to the open road.
In a society that some think grows more and more restrictive by the year, the motorcycle has become the symbol of freedom. Profession doesn’t matter, the amount of money in the wallet is of no consequence, and status is unimportant. Poor or rich, blue collar or white, male or female, the motorcycle is a great equalizer. It embodies a spirit of adventure and a willingness to cast aside, temporarily at least, the responsibilities and pressures of everyday life.
Taking to the open road on a motorcycle requires a certain amount of daring-do and coordination, traits more associated with young people than with middle-aged persons and retirees. According to the latest statistics, however, the average age of a motorcycle rider is 42.
The Riders
Hammond attorney Sam Dileo, who has ridden most of his life and is the owner of a Honda GL 1800 nicknamed “Bayou Blue,” writes “Kruisin’ with Kahuna,” a popular motorcycle column for the Hammond Daily Star. His touring group includes John Montecino, Dutch Battle, Bon Suarez, Randy Collins, Terry King, Ron Macaluso and Paul Hubert—loosely referred to as the Magnificent Seven. Groups like the Magnificent Seven that travel together get so used to one another that they know each other’s actions and reactions. Sam says, “We’re like a drill team.” The road captain, or the “point man,” sets the pace and makes the big decisions, such as when to stop for lunch. The tail gunner brings up the rear.
“There’s nothing like [motorcycling],” says Sam. “When you saddle up and hit the road, you forget your troubles and a total feeling of freedom comes over you.”
Dutch Battle, owner of Jackson-Vaughn Insurance in Ponchatoula, totally agrees. “You become aware of the surroundings, not just visually, but with all your senses. You smell the pines, dairy farms, and honeysuckle. Hear the wind. Feel the vibrations of the bike. You’re one with the world.” Dutch is presently between bikes, checking into another Honda Gold Wing, a Yamaha Roadstar, a Kawasaki Vulcan or a Harley Electra Glide. “It’s a hard decision,” he says. “They’re all outstanding bikes. My old Wing rode like a magic carpet.”
Ron Macaluso, Hammond attorney and owner of a 1998 Honda Gold Wing, says motorcycle riding is not about speed and not particularly about the destination. “It’s traveling the distance,” he states, with a conviction backed by thousands of miles traveled on his Wing. “The journey itself is what counts. There are no bad days on a motorcycle.” Ron is much impressed with the great freedom citizens have to travel the USA. “The lines separating states can only be found on the map. There are no barricades, guards or checkpoints between states. Nobody needs a pass or a permit.”
Ron is excited about a trip planned for this summer with his son, Samuel, who recently graduated from the University of New Orleans this semester with a major in film. He is presently working in a movie being produced in the Big Easy. “We will ship our bikes to Seattle—the first time I’ve done this—and then ride the Pacific Coast Highway from Seattle to San Diego,” says Ron.
Dr. Bon Suarez, a urologist, takes to the road as often as he can. He’s been riding for more than ten years. “It took a little time to convince my wife,” he says. He enjoys being outdoors, the changes in the weather, the rise and fall of the temperature, the smells. “The sun, wind, sounds make you feel alive.” Like most riders, he prefers back roads to interstates. “You never know what’s around the next curve,” says Bon. “That suspense is part of the excitement and enchantment.”
His longest trip was 9,500 miles to California and back. “Initially, I thought riding across the desert through New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada would be long and boring, but I was mistaken. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. I felt blessed to see the beauty of this nation.” His most memorable trip was 2,500 miles to Key West and back. “It was a thrill to share the riding experience with my son.”
Craig Husser, a fireman from Husser, belongs to the Red Knights, riding members of local fire departments. The group takes cross-country trips together every other year. In alternate years, they do day trips, overnight trips and fund-raising runs.
An outstanding trip for the Red Knights was a 6,270-mile, two-week ride to the California redwoods and back. Jerry and Toni Dugas, Ronnie and Jackie Honsee, Daryl Fairchild, Gerald Albers, and Gary and Connie Passman traveled 450 to 500 miles a day. The Dugases, from Denham Springs, plotted the route and mapped out the stops. Everyone took his or her own tent, and they slept in campgrounds along the way.
In addition to owning an All-State Insurance agency, Terry King is an active civic worker with Hammond Kiwanis, Options and the Chamber of Commerce. He also plays guitar with the Dominoes. “I don’t seem able to get off as frequently as my buddies do,” he says, “but I manage to hit the road on my Wing as often as I can. I frequently ride with Randy Collins and his wife.” The Collinses own the Robert Tire Shop.
The parishioners of Independence’s Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church take Father Paul McDuffy’s Harley in stride. “Mostly, they’re curious as to where I’m going or where I’ve been,” says Father Paul, who started riding a dirt bike when he was eight years old. Since then, he’s never been without wheels. Owner of an Ultra Classic touring bike, Father Paul enjoys Harley Owner’s Group (HOG) rallies. This summer he plans to ride to Milwaukee, Harley’s headquarters, for the annual rally. “It’s always a great event. Last time I went, people lined the highway all the way from Rockford, Ill. to Milwaukee, waving and cheering the bikers.”
One common thread runs through the men’s accounts of their travels: the beauty of this country is only surpassed by the friendliness of the good people they meet on the road. “People have a fascination with bikers and bikes,” says Ron. “All you have to do is make eye contact and you immediately have a new friend.”
Inevitably, the time comes for the riders to return to reality, to don the suit coat, pick up the BlackBerry, reach for the phone. As they efficiently go about their work, they are sustained by one constant, cheering thought: their next ride.
Charity Runs and Rallies
“Hogs,” as Harley riders are known, now have a “home pen” in Hammond. Because of the northshore’s growth, and after an extensive market study by Harley-Davidson, Malcolm and Donna Zanca were given the green light to open the full-service Harley-Davidson facility, in addition to their Baton Rouge location.
Recently, riders from all over the state gathered at the newly opened “pen” for a charity “poker run.” A poker run is a predetermined course set out from stop to stop, usually about 65-70 miles between stops. At every stop, the biker gets a card. The one who accumulates the best poker hand wins.
This poker run was sponsored by the Blue Knight Chapter FX of Livingston/Tangipahoa to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network—specifically for 7-year old Will Easley, a heart patient. Will arrived in a big limousine with a roaring motorcycle police escort. He was treated by the Louisiana State Police to a helicopter ride and presented with a four-wheeler. The Blue Knights are members of police departments throughout the state.
Charity runs are an important facet of motorcycle riding. Last year, Harley- Davidson joined forces with Muscular Dystrophy and raised $5.4 million dollars for the organization.
Motorcycle rallies are held all over the country, with notable ones in Daytona, Fla. and Laconia, N.H. But breathe the word “Sturgis” to anybody astride a motorcycle, and a look of rapture comes over their face. Sturgis is the motorcyclist’s mecca. “Sturgis, North Dakota,” Dutch Battle says, “is a little town like Ponchatoula or Covington. Same vintage main street, same type buildings. But when a million motorcycles descend on Sturgis, the town burgeons into a Mardi Gras of bikers.”
The rally is the single best drawing card for the town’s economy. It has forced Sturgis to expand facilities and add tourist attractions. In 1990, the Motorcycle Museum was opened. Corporate sponsorship took off. The rally became an international sensation, the biggest gathering of bikers in the world.
Individual companies also sponsor rallies. For 2006, Harley-Davidson scheduled 68 rallies throughout the country. This number does not include the hundreds held in Europe and other overseas locations.
One With The World
When the asphalt calls, a biker saddles up. It’s time to twist the throttle and hit the highways and byways looking for adventure—to become, as Dutch Battle says, “one with the world.”
Education and safety
The Louisiana Department of Education offers a Basic Motorcycle Safety and Rider Education Course. Larry Ourso, in charge of the program for 30 years, says at first the free instruction was aimed at 16-24-year-olds, and the department struggled to get participation. Now, nearly 100,000 bikers have taken the course, including former Governor Mike Foster. The department has instruction sites scattered throughout the state. “A few are temporarily closed because of Katrina,” Larry says, “but we’ll soon have them all back up.” Northshore classes are held at Southeastern Louisiana University. Larry noted the latest motorcycle trend: “The course we just did this month at Southeastern had 22 participants, 13 of whom were women.”
A motorcycle is provided for the 15-hour beginner’s course, half of which is conducted in the classroom and half on the driving range. “Instruction includes protective clothing, staying dry and alcohol free, balance, control, and strategies to survive in today’s traffic,” Larry says. “We cover 20 exercises—turning, straight-line riding, braking, wet-weather driving, cornering and swerving, to mention a few. The first thing the instructor does is test the rider’s balance to make sure he or she can stay perched on the machine.”
For the eight-hour advanced course, the rider must have his own bike. (A motorcycle owner is required by law to have a motorcycle endorsement on his or her automobile driver’s license.) A passenger course is also offered, in which the driver takes classes with a passenger on the back seat.
For motorcycle riding instruction and safety courses, call or write: Louisiana Department of Education, PO Box 94064, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064; telephone (225) 342-3484; www. louisianaschools.net.
