Motorcycle clubs an engine for friendship, fundraising in north country

There are Nomads, Divas, Warthogs, Elks, devout Christians and scores of others. And they are on the road, astride motorcycles in increasing numbers, for good causes or just for fun.

The number of motorcycle registrations in force in New York state and in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties has steadily risen over the past several years, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Registrations in force is a count of the registrations that are valid and unexpired on the last day of a particular year.

Statewide in 2007, that number was 307,629; in 2013, it was 345,116. In the tri-county area, the in-force figure was 8,095 in 2007 and 10,200 in 2013.

Of the thousands of motorcycle riders, many share an interest other than a love of bikes. The connection can be as simple as gender, such as with the all-female Chrome Divas.

Or it could be an ambitious goal.

“Our mission is to change the world one heart at a time,” said Martin E. “Marty” Herman, 68, of Barnes Corners and the assistant chaplain of the Tri-County Riders for Christ, a chapter of the national Christian Motorcyclists Association. “Anybody who loves the Lord can join our organization.”

There also is a CMA chapter in St. Lawrence County, the St. Lawrence Servants. The CMA website says the national group has raised more than $52 million over the past 28 years to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ around the world. Funds are raised primarily from chapters’ annual Run for the Son rides in May.

The numbers show that motorcycle clubs are becoming more accepted.

“There aren’t as many negative connotations to motorcycle clubs,” said Nancy McCabe, Watertown, who attended the Americade Motorcycle Rally in Lake George in June. “A lot of people I know are purchasing motorcycles for the first time; they’re taking the proper motorcycle classes to learn to operate a bike.”

Safety is of the utmost importance.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 4,381 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2013, compared with 2,346 in 1993. In New York state, according to DMV data, there were 115 fatalities in 2000, and 171 in 2013.

The instructor of a basic riding course who teaches summer classes at Jefferson Community College said she has seen a steady increase in business.

“If people are interested in riding, they should get formal training,” said Lynne M. Vandewater, owner of Go Motorcycling, Inc., which hosts summer classes at JCC.

‘LITTLE BIT OF REBEL’

According to an author who has studied the history of motorcycle clubs, the camaraderie they offer was born after World War II, when soldiers returned home.

“They were in a very, very rough theater of war,” said Bill Hayes, a Redondo Beach, Calif., resident and author of “American Biker: The History, The Clubs, The Lifestyle, The Truth.” “When they came back, they weren’t really all that excited about getting a normal job and buying a four-door DeSoto and settling down. It took a lot of decompressing to come back from a war like that.”

For many vets, motorcycles were the vehicle of choice to aid in that decompression.

“The idea of jumping on a big Indian or a big Harley and just running around with their buddies, the guys who had been in the trenches with them, it was a continuation of the camaraderie they had felt during the war,” Mr. Hayes said.

Some of those early groups and clubs became notorious, such as the Hells Angels. But as motorcycles became more popular, those clubs and organizations have grown to meet a wide variety of interests. For example, Mr. Herman said he’s aware of 15 active clubs in the north country; Mr. Hayes said a motorcycle is especially conducive to “social interaction.”

“And you always have that little bit of rebel in it,” he said. “It takes you away from the mainstream ... and that has such a strong attraction. It’s not a lifestyle for everybody. The idea of getting out there on the highway and going high speed on a big vehicle like that is not in everybody’s wheelhouse. But that, in itself, makes it special.”

“Motorcycle riders are a unique group,” said Mr. Herman, 68, an ordained minister. “We tend to hang together.”

‘IT’S A CAMARADERIE THING’

In the spirit of early motorcycle clubs, many are made up of armed forces veterans. For example, the Nomads, of the national Veterans Motorcycle Club, must be retired, honorably discharged military members. They also must ride an American-made motorcycle.

The Watertown chapter of the Veterans Motorcycle Club — the Nomads, Chapter 11 — recently presented a $500 donation to the Veterans Center of Watertown. The money was raised by the Nomads’ annual spring ride. The group also hosts a fall ride that benefits the center.

“It’s a camaraderie thing,” said Robert J. Avallone, 57, a Navy veteran and president of the Nomads, who rides a 2007 Road King Harley-Davidson. “We’ve all done the same thing. It’s just a good time with your people who were or are in the service. We all understand what it’s about.”

A similar bond is shared by other groups.

“We are pretty particular about our membership because of what we stand for,” said Adams Center resident David E. Bulterman Jr., 50, the sergeant-at-arms for the Warthogs of Jefferson County.

Mr. Bulterman said the organization has a “10 percent” rule, which states that for every 10 members who qualify to be a member, one can be admitted who does not fit the group’s membership qualifications. Like Nomads, Warthogs must ride an American-made motorcycle.

The Jefferson County club, formed in 2001, has 14 members, ranging in age from 32 to 74. The oldest is Mr. Bulterman’s father, David E. Bulterman Sr., who has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 40 years.

On Aug. 8, the Jefferson County Warthogs hosted their 13th annual charity ride to benefit Meals on Wheels in memory of Edward B. “Crusher” Blackford, an Adams resident who died in 2013 at the age of 47 from injuries suffered in an all-terrain-vehicle rollover in Ohio. The Warthogs are composed of police officers, firefighters, corrections officers and other public servants.

Mr. Bulterman, 50, said the Jefferson County chapter also donates to its national group, which makes a yearly donation to the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.

Warthog members also attend benefit rides organized by other clubs.

“We try to keep the support going to all the good causes that we can,” Mr. Bulterman said. “Being public servants, that’s kind of inbred into our systems.”

BUSY WEEKENDS

Area motorcyclists who are in clubs and organizations have several opportunities to ride together, sharing friendship and raising money.

Jodie L. Foster, president of the Watertown Chrome Divas, said there have been many chances this summer for riders to gather to raise funds for a cause. On Saturday, the Chrome Divas were scheduled to host the eighth annual Ta Ta Run for Breast Cancer.

Like most organized rides in the Watertown area, the Ta Ta began at F.X. Caprara Harley-Davidson in Adams Center. The dealership has a calendar of events — http://wdt.me/wkfNnK — noting the busy season.

“We have rides leaving there almost every weekend during the summer,” said William F. “Billy” Caprara, co-owner of Caprara Bros. “We start them out with coffee and doughnuts and try to sponsor all their events.”

Causes range from the American Red Cross to the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation.

Mr. Caprara said the Aug. 1 ride that began at his Harley-Davidson business to support the Red Cross attracted about 75 riders from a variety of clubs. He estimated that $3,000 was raised for the agency.

He said he’s watched the rides go from a couple of dozen bikes to as many as 250.

“It’s amazing,” Mr. Caprara said.

Ms. Foster, of the Chrome Divas, said the Ta Ta Run has raised more than $40,000 in the past seven years.

The Chrome Divas have six members.

“Every penny we earn goes right back into the community,” Ms. Foster said.

The growing motorcycling community rides like there’s no time to waste, something that likely is due to the north country’s long winters.

“I think people take advantage of the riding season, and they make the best of it,” Mr. Caprara said. “I’ve never seen more people involved. They just love what’s going on.”

source: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/motorcycle-clubs-an-engine-for-friendship-fundraising-in-north-country-20150816