Friday the 13th Port Dover Maple Leaf May 2016

THE EXCITEMENT OF FRIDAY THE 13TH IN PORT DOVER...

Bikes arrive by the hundreds to Friday the 13th in Port Dover for every year’s event!

Mr Friday the 13th Chris Simons and Mary Kushneryk featured inCommunity Living calendar... 17

Bikers come to Port Dover and talk about their favourite rides... throughout the paper

2 Friday the 13th in Port Dover May 2016

By Jan Dean

Lorrie Kauzen has been riding her Yamaha 650 for almost two years. She says she rides for the feeling of freedom.

Riding also introduced her to her fiancé Dave Dunn who rides a Suzuki Cruiser. They’re planning to marry next May.

Finding love on a motorcycle may not be the way most women meet their future spouses, but a relationship built on like in-terests and passions has a lot going for it.

The London couple are members of the Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers, an all-Canadian riding club with chapters across the country that is family-friendly and welcomes all makes and models of motor-cycles.

The couple make a point of attending every Friday 13th event in Port Dover, usu-ally with friends.

They also come to Dover on their bikes

just for the heck of it. After all the scenic route from London takes just an hour and 45 minutes. With a stop in downtown Port Dover for some shopping or a snack, it’s a perfect day-ride.

Part of the fun is riding with friends like Brenda Williams and Denise Donald.

Women riders are still in the minority but they’re a growing demographic of mo-torcycle riders.

“I tell people it’s like golf,” says Denise. “It used to be a men’s sport, but that’s changed.”

Brenda has seen just how much it’s changed since she began riding motorcy-cles in 1995.

Back then most women rode pillion on the back of bikes. Now it’s more common to see women riding their own bikes.

Which means that there will likely be more biking romances happening -- like Lorrie and Dave.

Dave Dunn has been riding motorcycles for 10 years, but never expected to meet the love of his life on a bike ride.

Denise Donald says people are getting used to seeing more women riding motorcycles.

Lorrie Kauzen found love with her motorcycle. She and Dave Dunn met on their bikes and are planning to tie the knot in a year.

Brenda Williams has been riding motorcycles since 1995.

Motorcycle riding can lead to romance

Friday the 13th in Port Dover May 2016 3


It takes Hans Zahren jr. about one hour to arrive in Port Dover from his home in Smithville, including a stopover half way along the road. He has owned his 1999 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide for two years.

Hans chose that motorcycle “for no special reason but I liked its style!”

The model was first available in 1999 and was in production for seven years. He rides to Port Dover several times a season but has never attended a Friday the 13th celebration in this lakeside com-munity ... but stated last Saturday while in town he was unsure about returning for today’s May 13th event.

The Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide has a TwinCam engine, an 88 cubic-inch ovh, 45-degree V-Twin that makes 60.3 hp at 3400 rpms.

The ride from Smithville to Port Dover

Claude Maurice of Welland draws a lot of attention whenever his carved wooden motorcycle is on display. He has brought it to Port Dover for Friday the 13th events in the past and it has been admired by thousands.

Mr. Maurice says he had been enthralled by Harley-Davidson motorcycles all his life and decid-ed to carve one out of wood as a retirement project. This piece of art is made up of over 1,500 pieces and weighs well over 200 pounds.

It is designed to be accurate to the smallest of details and uses a variety of woods including black walnut, maple, pine and bass wood. Mr. Maurice has also cre-ated a cabinet on wheels for the piece which allows him to trans-port it to shows and events.

The project was completed over several years and started with creating the motorcycle -- a 2001 Harley Fatboy which was done to scale using pictures of the bike.

Then the rider was added the following year and after that the girl, the dog, the saddle bags and more details were included. Mr. Maurice said he had never carved a girl before and it took several at-tempts to get the face just right. She is portrayed flashing a peace sign.

Carvingcreates feelof ridingin wood


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Dave Lorimer of Simcoe was in Port Dover earlier this month with his 2007 Harley-Davidson Deluxe Soft Tail bike, which is the third motorcycle he has owned. He began riding at age 15 and likes the ride to Port Dover because at the “half-way corner” of Highway 24 as he turns toward his destination there is a distinct cooling of the air that is welcome in summertime. Dave does not have a lot of spare time to enjoy his bike ... this electrical-plumbing contractor is busy all the time. In fact, he installs the equipment at the Port Dover Kinsmen Club’s Friday the 13th refreshment bar. His wife likes to ride with Dave as a passenger. About 20 years ago they rode to Prince Edward Island.

This Friday the 13th is #61 since November 13, 1981

Port Dover’s Friday the 13th had its modest beginning in 1981. It began inno-cently enough at a November event.

The story goes that Chris Simons suggested to a few motorcycle buddies that they meet for a few beers at the Commercial Hotel (today known as An-gelo’s of Dover). Word spread about the get-together so that Friday evening on November 13, 1981 about 25 guys showed up.

They had a great time and someone suggested “let’s meet again on the next

Friday the 13th.” More came to party in Port Dover on the next Friday the 13th. And, as they say, the rest is history.

The May 2016 event is number 61 over a span of 35 years since that first casual and friendly meeting.

No attendance records were estab-lished in last year’s three “off season” events. For 2016, the May event is the only Friday the 13th this year. It is expected to be large but more weather-dependent than a July or August event.

In 2017, Fridays the 13th fall in Janu-ary and October.

The number of motorcyclists, and spectators who came to Friday the 13th Biker Days in Port Dover to admire the machines increased sharply as the 21st century dawned.

The first time the total number of bikes and visitors reached the 50,000 mark was in 2000. By 2003 on June 13 the estimated number surpassed 60,000 and that included more motorcycles than previously … and the makes and models were more varied.

In the summertime events that fol-lowed after that, numbers reached and topped 100,000 visitors in the single day.


Upcoming 13ths

find us at www.facebook.com/Fridaythe13thPortDover

View our live stream of Main Streetin downtown Port Dover at www.PortDoverMapleLeaf.com

351 Main StreetPO Box 70Port Dover ON N0A 1N0Tel: [email protected]

Todd DewellPublication Coordinator

We welcome your comments about Friday the 13th and Port Dover in general!

Published by Maple Leaf PublishingPaul Morris, PublisherStan Morris, Editor

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Welcome to Port Dover’s only Friday the 13th Motorcycle Rally in 2016. Our hometown can be your town today as an honourary citizen.

This lakeside community has enjoyed being host to 60 Biker Days in the past and always looks forward to seeing the riders re-turn, their passengers, and the spectators that are attracted to the event.

Because of these riders, and those that wish they were, Port Dover is known across Canada, and in American communities too, for the sheer numbers of mo-torcycles assembled in one small town, and for the way the visitors

and townspeople intermingle and share what this town has to offer.

There are no planned activi-ties to spoil the carefree small town atmosphere that many tell us is the attraction that brings them back every Friday the 13th.

What began as a small group of local biker enthusiasts sup-ported by service clubs has mushroomed into a celebration requiring the coordination of volunteer service groups, munic-ipal staffs, Provincial Police in-volvement and citizens generally to make the event run smoothly … everyone involved does their part to make every Friday the 13th the grand experience it al-ways has been.

To every rider, passenger and visitor, the community offers its welcome, whether your stay is

measured in hours or for a day or two. Please come again, and often.

Welcome to Port Dover! Come again and oftenGino Palermo of Port Dover took this photograph at the Port Dover waterfront writing “I guess it is getting to be that time of year again.”


By Donna McMillan

Port Dover is a popular destination for group and single riders throughout the rid-ing season.

On April 30, a group of eleven motorcy-cles, mostly Harley-Davidsons, were in Port Dover as a part of a ride that would take them to Long Point and then back to their home town of Barrie.

The group – HD-ROC – rides almost every weekend. Billy J. Wilson, one of their found-ing members, was on the ride to Dover.

Ride to Dover for day

Today, Friday the 13th of May, there are thousands of motorcycles on the streets in Port Dover but they are not all the latest 2016-2017 models. or those with elaborate air-brushed designs to make them works of art … look closer to see some of the vintage motorcycles here today.

Motorcycling has been part of the way we travel in this country for over a hundred years, and those machines of yesteryear are a reflection of Cana-dians’ love for traveling the vast open space with the sense of freedom only a bike can provide.

The Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group (CVMG) is the largest and best known vintage bike club in Canada with chapters across the country.

The Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Museum was formed in 1994 by several dedicated Canadian Vintage Motor-cycle Club members for the purpose of recording and preserving not only the story of motorcycles in Canada but also the memorabilia and history of motor-cycling.

The museum currently displays 33 bikes. It is located at 347 Greenwich Street in Brantford.

Vintage motorcyclemuseum in Brantford


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Scott Howell of Georgetown is seen in Port Dover with his 2013 Harley-Davidson Night Rod. It was given brand new to Scott from his wife for his 50th birthday! It is his third motorcycle since starting to ride at age 16 (his first was a Honda ST 90 mini bike in 1978). His favourite rides usually take him to southern Ontario areas. Scott has attended three Port Dover Fridays the 13th, but does not generally come “as it is a fairly long ride from Georgetown.” The dazzling colour is Ember Sunglow Red.

Rides this summerA few of the rides taking place this summer. o o oRide2Reach Charity Ride is May 28 at Motor-

cycle Enhancements, 427 Speers Road, Oakville. Event benefits seven Children’s Hospitals. Regis-ter at 9 am, $35 per rider, $20 per passenger with a beautiful ride through Niagara. Kickstands up: 10 a.m. BBQ and Bike wash: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Info: www. MotorcycleEnhancements.como o oBlack Hawks Motorcycle Club Dice Poker

Run is Sat., May 28th. Register 10 a.m. at Bob-bie’s Bar & Grill, 2965 Homestead Dr., Mount Hope. $20 and non-perishable food items accept-ed. Info: www.blackhawksmc.cao o oN.B.S. Riders, Port Colborne – Pierette “Pee

Wee” Merritt Memorial Ride. Sat., May 28. Regis-ter 9 to 11 a.m. at S-Bend Restaurant, 5801 Hwy. 3, Sherkston. $20 per rider includes ride and meal. Info: Louis 905-327-7062 or John 905-714-5542o o oLondon Motorcycle Ride for Dad for Prostate

Cancer research. Leaves May 29 at 10 a.m. from Ontario and King Streets in London. Register from 8:30 a.m.; $30 per rider. Ride to HMCS Ojib-wa in Port Burwell and ends up in Dorchester for lunch.o o oThe Widows Sons Motorcycle Riders Assn.

of Ontario “South Coast Chapter” hosts ride in support of Camp Trillium, Waterford and Prostate Cancer Canada. Ride Sat., June 4 from the Scotland Masonic Lodge #193, 5 King St. N, Oakland. Cost $30 and passenger $10. Info: David Scott 519-757-9821 or [email protected]

o o oBaconfest is Sat., July 9 in Lucan. Every-

thing Bacon & Bikes! Live music, vendor village, burnout pit, bike show and swap meet, beer tent, Harley pulls, walking poker run, strongman competition. Powered by Hog Town Cycles. For information www.baconfestluncan.ca; facebook: lucanbaconfesto o oJohnny Rebels Show, Shine & Super-Session

Jam hosted by NBS Riders, August 13 at Norfolk Tavern, Port Dover. Info: www.johnnyrebels.como o oRide 4 Our Cancer Kids is Sat., July 9 from

Clare’s Harley-Davidson, 590 York Road, Niaga-ra-On-The-Lake. 140 km route. Min. $50 pledges per bike. Registration at 9 a.m.; kickstands up 10:30 a.m. Pre-register at www.rockride.com. o o oRide for Sassy – Aleksa Mewhirter. Sat., July

9, by Ghost Riders Riding Club. Register 9-10:30 a.m.; kickstands up at 11 a.m. Ride starts from A&W Woodlawn Road, Guelph. Proceeds to Brain Cancer Research.o o oSun., July 10, Rock’n and Roll’n in the Growl-

ing Gator’s parking lot and joining Vintage Mo-torcycle Rally in Grand Bend. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Info: Facebook “Vintage Bike Festival.” Spon-sored by Hully Gully.o o oRide for Hope & Hunger Poker Run – Sat., Au-

gust 20. Ride starts and finishes at Ali’s Bar & Grill, 304 St. Andrew’s St., Cambridge. Register from 9:30. Rider: $25; passenger: $20. Facebook: rideforhopeandhunger


By Jan Dean

Ed Squires recently returned from Or-lando -- where he fell in love.

“I saw an Indian bike there,” says Ed. “It was beautiful. If I win the lottery I’m going to buy one.”

Of course the retired Port Dover resi-dent says he would definitely keep the Yamaha 1300 he’s been riding since 2008.

He loves the Indian bikes because they’re iconic. The very name harkens back to the 1940s when Indians were at their peak.

But he’s still loyal to the fuel-injected Yamaha he bought new three years before he retired. It gleams in the sun, always pol-ished.

He rode bikes for years but the demands of a growing family made riding impos-sible for about 15 years.

Then 12 years ago he bought a Honda and he was back on two wheels.

“It’s the culture and camaraderie of bik-ing,” says Ed.

Every motorcycle rider uses the same words to describe what compels them to take to the road.

They talk about freedom on two wheels and the connection amongst those who ride. Forget Marlon Brando and The Wild Ones. Like most of the riders who live in or

stop by Port Dover on their bikes, Ed isn’t a rebel.

He just loves to ride. He can describe the feeling he gets from it, but if you’re not a motorcycle rider it’s like a whole different foreign language.

His wife enjoys riding pillion on the back of his Yamaha, but she isn’t comfort-able on the 400 highways,

“She likes the back roads,” says Ed.Though to be fair, most of his favourite

rides are on back roads.“It’s relaxing,” explains Ed. “Riding

along, all your worries just melt away.”One of his favourite rides was a three-

day trip to Lake Placid, New York on back roads.

“It was just so beautiful,” says Ed.Naturally he made the ride “with the

guys.” He’s a member of 13 Hundred Rid-ers of Port Dover.

Ed is looking forward to this May 2016 edition of Friday 13th in Port Dover, as well as to a Sunday ride to Fort Erie.

That’s the ride of choice for riders who restore old motorcycles. They’re always looking for parts and that ride takes them past some places likely to have them.

While he loves the look of old bikes, he hasn’t fallen prey to the restoration bug.

But there’s no question Ed is has a pas-sion for riding motorcycles.

Ed Squires of Port Dover is as passionate about motorcycle riding as he is proud of his Yamaha 1300. Photo by Jan Dean

It’s all about the feeling riding motorcycles


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By KimberleeAnna Taplay (aka KAT)

Some of us leave early in the morn-ing to chase the sunrise.

Others go to work and play a nine-to-fiver, then hop aboard and savour the taste of freedom and the feel of the wind in our face.

Some have been a part of this world since ‘back in the day’ and then there are those who are just getting their feet wet.

We are parents, singles, partners, and everything in-between. Even without a connection by blood, we are all family. And every Friday the Thirteenth, we gather for reasons as varied as the machines that bring us here.

I’ve been fascinated by motorcycles since I was a kid. Never told anyone, though; they would have laughed. Come

to think of it, some actually did when I got brave enough to whisper the words aloud and give them life in my early forties.

A motorcycle is an independent thing. Like flying, you’re free of the gravity that pins you to the earth; things like what peo-ple think and all of their unspoken expec-tations of who you are or what they believe you should be seem to simply disappear. You aren’t bound by anything except the si-lent promise to yourself that you are going to keep doing this for as long as you can.

We are family gathered for Friday the 13th

It’s what draws me to Port Dover every Friday the Thirteenth.

It’s always been about the sounds and the scents and the sights, but until I be-came a rider several years ago, I never fully experienced everything that Friday the Thirteenth actually is…

The year I became a single mom al-most fifteen years ago, I took my two young girls to a Thirteenth event. I was somewhat of an ‘outsider’ back then, al-though we certainly weren’t treated that way. There were several people who gra-ciously let the girls sit on their bike, and still others who posed for pictures with them. I remember their father being mor-tified that I had ‘exposed the girls to such a dangerous situation and environment’; the implications that in doing so, I had done some kind of irreparable damage to their young and moral minds.

The whole idea of Friday the Thir-teenth to me back then was one of mys-tery and something I never really pic-tured myself of being anything other than an observer. Even after I began the process of immersing myself into the world and learning about what it means to ride and be a ‘biker’, there was always a ‘disconnect’. I started booking the events as vacation days from work and plan-ning glorious full Fridays of the scents of leather and bike fumes and beer wrap-ping around me like a warm blanket.

The first time I went on my own, I felt excited more than anything, but as the morning wore on, I became more and more anxious. All kinds of doubts start-ed creeping in and I started to hear a lit-tle voice echo in my brain. “What are you doing here?” It mocked me from within. “Who do you think you are fooling? You SO don’t belong here! You’re just a single

‘The connection to place, to the land, the wind, the sun, stars, the moon... it sounds romantic, but it’s true -- the visceral experience of motion, of moving through time on some amazing machine -- a few cars touch on it, but not too many compared to motorcycles. I always felt that any motorcycle journey was special.’ ~ Antoine Predock

> See WE ARE on page 12


We visit the historic “Start of the Alaska Highway” sites in Dawson Creek and head for Fort Nelson – another 283 miles down a highway under heavy construction.

On day 4, we head for Watson Lake, “The signpost capital of Canada” and are con-fronted with smoke filled skies from the many forest fires. We arrive in Whitehorse on day 5 and decide to take a tour on the fa-mous Yukon/White Pass railroad. The White Pass is the site of the dangerous mountain climb that most of the gold rush miners had to master to reach the Klondike gold fields.

From Whitehorse, we ride to Tok, Alaska and develop a buddy system so that there are at least two people stopping to take photos. The rain keeps following us and the road construction is relentless.

Onward to Fairbanks – we stop just 30 miles short of that city to visit the North Pole. North Pole has a population of 4,000 with a post office that receives lots of mail addressed to Santa Claus that is answered by local volunteers.

The following day, four of us ride up to the Arctic Circle, stopping at the Yukon River Camp to refuel. The Dalton Highway is muddy and the going is slow – it is good to have dirt bike experience because we are often going sideways on uphills. There is a signpost at the Arctic Circle and we pose again like the typical tourists we are.

On the way back to Fairbanks, I drop one of my mufflers and have to tie it on with

Prepare your machine the best you can and be ready for anything


mom of two growing kids who is trying to find something in a place and a world where you don’t fit in!” I went and found a quiet place under a tree on a side street and sat down. The tears started slipping down my cheeks and I wiped them away as quickly as they appeared, afraid that some-one would see me and only reinforce what I was feeling.

I managed to gather myself together, wander around, and take lots of pictures that day, but the joy I had felt earlier was gone. I didn’t belong. Not really.

It took time.

With each Friday the Thirteenth event that came and went, I found myself feel-ing like I was a part of my surroundings instead of standing under a spotlight with my credibility in question.

I wrote my M1, took a course, passed my M2 and bought Ruby, a Yamaha VStar 650 Custom. Riding became less and less some-thing that I did, and so much more a part of who I now am.

The first time I rode into Dover on a Friday the Thirteenth, I rolled into town shortly before 7 a.m. I had a growing con-fidence in my own abilities, but I wasn’t entirely comfortable around large groups of people -- especially other bikers – and I wanted to get there early so I could make a quick exit if the want or need arose.

I wandered around as vendors began setting up their tables down by the pier and the scents of bacon and fresh coffee and other such heavenly smells began wafting through the air from the direction of the park in the centre of town.

The streets began to fill with bikes and riders of all shapes and sizes and colours.

I got a hug and a wink from ‘Thong Man’.

Several people stopped and checked out Ruby, asking me questions and saying things like ‘nice bike!’ and giving me an ap-proving nod.

The thing about Friday the Thirteenth

in Port Dover is that it can anything to anyone. From a young mother looking for something interesting to do with her kids, to the crowds who gather around showcase bikes and snap pictures all over town, to seasoned & novice riders alike who under-stand the term ‘rider’s heart’, Friday the Thirteenth is about everything motorcycle.

And the brother/sisterhood. And about living life from the inside-

out.And whatever the sights and sounds

and smells mean to you.I am still the same girl who visited Do-

ver all those years ago with two young girls in tow. I was a biker back then, long before I even dared to dream of riding. Now, I’m an Ontario travel writer, motorcycle blog-ger, and ‘biker momma’.

We are all connected, my friends. We are family. We are Friday the Thirteenth.

KimberleeAnna Taplay (aka KAT) is a ‘biker chick’, correspondent for What A Ride, and someone who finally feels like she belongs. You can reach KAT at [email protected] or follow her motorcycle travel pieces at www.whataride247.com

> From page 10

Follow KAT’s motorcylce travel pieces at www.whataride247.com

KAT is a ‘biker momma’.

We are all connected, my friends. We are family. We are Friday the Thirteenth


OPP patrolson motorcyclessince 1930s

Finding the fastest, easiest and most economical method of travel has always been a challenge for police officers in On-tario. Considering the vast distances and varied landscapes the Ontario Provincial Police officers face on a daily basis, motor-cycles were an obvious choice.

In the 1930s, many officers were as-signed to motorcycle patrol duty where they purchased their own motorcycles and were reimbursed for gas and maintenance expenses.

That resulted in a fleet that was a mix-ture of makes and equipment. One of the more popular bikes was the Excelsior Hen-derson, which had a reputation of being fast, comfortable and reliable. The Hender-son Motorcycle Co. began in 1911 in Detroit by two Henderson brothers. In 1917 they sold the company to Ignaz Schwinn whose Excelsior Motor Mfg. & Supply Co. pro-duced motorcycles and bicycles.

Provincial Constable John Melville Hinchliffe was among the last to purchase a motorcycle, model Streamline Special KL, in their final year of production in

1931 for the sum of $525.00. It boasted of 40 hp from its 1301cc in-line 4 cylinder engine.

In the early 1970s Chief Superinten-dent Robert (Bert) McKie purchased that motorcycle from a Waterdown resident. In the 1950s he was in command of the OPP detachment based in Simcoe, Ontario, that included Port Dover.

When marked patrol cars were first pur-chased in 1941, the OPP Motorcycle Patrol was phased out, but it soon became clear that motorcycles still had a role to play. In

1949, the OPP purchased 11 Harley-David-son bikes re-establishing a tradition that continues today.

The 1977 Harley-Davidson FLH-P-F Po-lice Special motorcycle was equipped with a 1200cc 74 cubic-inch 2 cylinder; 45-degree V-Twin “Shovelhead” engine. That motor-cycle was restored by motorcycle techni-cian Sterling Wiseman, OPP Fleet Services Section, as a tribute to the motorcycle pa-trol officers who continue to serve on On-tario’s highways.

Black Hawks Motorcycle ClubEst. 1938

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OPP patrolling Friday the 13th on motorcycle. Photo courtesy www.earlhartlen.com

The OPP continues to investigate a fail to remain, fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred on Cockshutt Rd. on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at approximately 5:17 a.m.

Twenty-year-old Chad Everets was struck by an unknown vehicle in the early morning hours. The unknown vehicle never stopped and left the scene.

Norfolk OPP Crime Unit continues to investigate and asks if anyone has any infor-mation to contact 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.

“The OPP is following up on information provided by the public however someone in the community has knowledge of this collision and we need them to have the courage to come forward,” said Inspector Zvonko Horvat, OPP Norfolk Detachment Commander.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen Mr. Everets or the suspect vehicle in the early morning hours of May 14, 2011 or who may have information about this investigation to contact the Norfolk County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Police continueinvestigation of 2011 fatal motorvehicle collision


By Jan Dean

When John (Bulldog) Hurdis started riding motorcycles in 1983, he says it was partly for the thrill and for fuel economy.What keeps him riding is the thrill.

He says the best ride of his life was doing the Dragon’s Tail that runs from eastern Tennessee into North Carolina.

This section of US 129 is bordered by the Great Smokey Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest.

It’s considered one of the great rides in the world. There are no houses, businesses, driveways or intersecting roads along the route. Each turn is different and the ride requires total concentration.

“It’s 318 turns in 11 miles,” he says. “It’s amazing!”The Mississauga resident rides his Honda 450 as a mem-

ber of the Oakville chapter of the Southern Cruiser Riding Club.

He participates regularly in charity rides, like the Riders Against Hunger that raise money every August for the Eden Food for Change Food Bank in Mississauga.

He’s planning another ride along the Devil’s Tail this July accompanied by 39 club members -- but this time he’ll also be accompanied by his wife and daughter who also ride.

A week before Friday the 13, in May of 2016, Bulldog rode from Mississauga to Port Dover with his wife Jayne and

John (Bulldog) Hurdis with his daughter Caryn (centre) and his wife Jayne are a self-described ‘bike family’. They’re look-ing forward to riding the world-famous Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina and Tennessee this July.

The family that rides together....

> See page 15


daughter Caryn. Jayne bought herself a Honda Silver

Wing five years ago. Technically it’s a scoot-er, but she has no problem keeping up with any of the motorcycles she rides with. She says that riding a bike makes her a better car driver.

Their daughter Caryn just got her motor-cycle license in April. This was her first trip to Port Dover riding her own Suzuki Bou-levard.

“I spent years riding on the back of my dad’s bike so getting my own was something I really wanted,” says Caryn. “If you’re scared you shouldn’t be riding a bike.”

“We’re definitely a bike family,” says Bulldog. “Only our sons don’t ride.”

But father, mother and daughter are all enthused riders.

It’s not that long ago that women motor-cycle riders were shunned.

May 7, 2016 was the 10th annual Inter-national Female Ride Day when women around the world take to their motorcycles and scooters. Four hundred women were ex-pected to meet for a ride in Elora Ontario.

Bulldog has been to Friday 13 in Dover, but figured a pre-Friday 13th trip to Dover would be a more comfortable ride for his daughter.

When it comes to the Dragon’s Tail, Bull-dog says they’ll be ready.

“To start with, it’s 1800 km to get there,” says Bulldog.

The actual run is short but unique enough to have its own patch on Bulldog’s jacket.

He can’t wait to do it again with his wife and daughter.

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> From page 14

“I spent years riding on the back of my dad’s bike so getting my own was something I really wanted”

Near ‘empty nesters’ enjoy riding

By Donna McMillan

Angel and Dean Michielsen are near empty nesters who see motorcycle riding as a good way to fill the gap in their opening schedules.

The couple, who live in Kitchener, enjoy riding to Port Dover and such other places as Listowel to have a coffee or browse a shop during a day trip.

Dean, 50, has been riding for over thirty years. He is currently enjoying the ride his 2010 Yamaha Strato-liner 1900 gives him. In the past he has owned a number of bikes, from cruisers to super crotch rockets.

Angel started riding a year ago and owns a Kawasaki Vulcan 2001.

Besides local rides, the couple enjoys long distance rides to Gatin-eau and Oka in Quebec and Moncton, NB. Dean Michielsen, 50, with his 2010 Yamaha Stratoliner.

Angel Michielsen with her Kawasaki Vulcan.


Bob HampsonFinancial Security Advisor

33 Woodfield Ave., Townsend, ON N0A 1S00

Office: 519-587-2972Fax: 519-587-5461Cell: 519-429-8384Toll Free: 1-888-868-3226 Ext. 3320

[email protected] Service Centre: 1-877-566-54330

A division of London Life Insurance Company

Freedom 55Financial

Thursday, May 12th • 5-7 p.m. Roast Beef

Hogwild Band - Thurs the 12th 8pm-12am; Fri the 13th 2-6pm

E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://pdlc.x10hosting.com/Legion.htm 519-583-2001

Friday 13th"Bikers' Day"

Open Housefrom 9 a.m. to ?

PEAMEAL ON A BUN 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - $4.00

FISH DINNER 1 p.m. as long as fish last - $10.00

Royal Canadian LegionPort Dover Hugh Allan Br. #158

208 MARKET STREET EAST, PORT DOVER

2690 Dundas St. E., London, Ontario

Fax: 519-659-7314 • Email: [email protected] • www.soniccycle.com

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Ontario Provincial Police Norfolk County Detachment remind all citizens about the increase of motorcycle traffic on the roadways as the nicer weather ar-rives.

The OPP offers these tips when driv-ers encounter motorcycles on the roads.

1 There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don’t “recognize” a

motorcycle; they ignore it (usually unin-tentionally). Look for motorcycles, espe-cially when checking traffic at an inter-section.

2 Due to its smaller size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a mo-

torcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.

3 A motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car

(bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an ex-tra moment to thoroughly check traffic, whether you’re changing lanes or turn-ing at intersections.

4 A motorcycle may seem to be mov-ing faster than it really is. Don’t as-sume all motorcyclists are speeding.

5 Motorcyclists often slow by down-shifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the

brake light. Allow more following dis-tance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersec-tions, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.

6 Turn signals on a motorcycle usu-ally are not self-canceling, and some riders, (especially beginners) for-

get to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle’s signal is for real.

7 Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road

debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Un-derstand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.

8 Maneuverability is one of a motor-cycle’s better characteristics, es-pecially at slower speeds and with

good road conditions, but don’t expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.

9 Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping

quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can’t always stop “on a dime.”

10 When a motorcycle is in mo-tion, don’t think of it as motor-cycle; think of it as a person.

“Motorcycle riders lack the same pro-tection found in a car or truck and these collisions can be extremely serious. In many instances, motor vehicle collisions could have been avoided if the other ve-hicle involved had been paying proper attention,” comments Inspector Zvonko Horvat, Norfolk County OPP Detach-ment Commander.

10 tips from the OPP to all drivers

to keep bikers safethis summer


Expires May 31, 2016

The Barrel Restaurant131 Queensway WestSimcoe, ON519-426-0068 $5.

OFF$5.00 OFF any food purchased at Regular Price

(Minimum $38.00 food order before taxes)

00

Today, Friday, May 13th is the first day a 16-month lottery fundraising calendar is available to buy featuring motorcycles on every page.

Printed in full colour on glossy paper, the calendar begins in September 2016 and runs until December 2017.

Cash draws take place on the 13th of various months with a total prize value of over $8,000.00.

The calendars are a fundraising project of Community Living Access which provides support to adults with a developmental dis-ability in a person-directed, community focussed manner. Com-munity Living Access has been serving the communities of Nor-folk and Haldimand since 1991, providing a range of support ser-vices.

Calendars can be purchased in Port Do-ver at On The Fringe Custom Leathers, Port Dover Jewellery &

Gifts, Cheezers Pizzeria, Scotiabank, all on Main Street, for $20.

The photographs are taken of bikes and bikers during recent Fridays the 13th in Port Dover and in various locations in Norfolk County. Those who have been part of past Port Dover Biker Days may see themselves riding through town or in the crowd scenes.

Motorcyclist enthusiast Chuck Smith rides from Brantford, making the 50 km trip regularly, saying “it is a nice ride to Dover” and he likes the menus at Harbor Pizza and The Beach House restaurant. He began riding on a Yamaha dirt bike at age 15, now has a Suzuki Hayabusa, a sport bike manufactured since 1999. The internet says these motorcycles won acclaim as the world’s fastest production bikes with a top speed of 186 to 194 mph. Chuck is married, his wife did have a bike in the past, but chooses not to ride now. A favourite desti-nation is riding to northern Ontario. They have two adult children.

Fundraising Friday the 13th calendarsupports local Community Living Access

Live stream from Main Streetevery Friday the 13th

www.PortDoverMapleLeaf.com

Port Dover’s community newspaper


By Jan Dean

Ray Barrette figures he’s been riding motorcycles for 52 years -- and he has no plans to stop now.

The Port Dover retiree jokes that he was born on a bike.

“There’s a feeling of freedom on a bike,” says Ray. “It’s my therapy. When I feel down, I go for a ride and I perk up right away and feel happy again.”

Ray spends winters in Florida and when he heads south, he tows his 2010 Honda Goldwing so he can ride there.

The best ride of his life was two years ago when he headed off to Los Angeles on his bike with some friends.

“We rode 700 miles a day to make it to L.A. in four days,” says Ray. “Then we rode back to Washington D.C. with 3,000 motorcycles in the Run for the Wall.”

The iconic Run for The Wall ride started in 1988 as a one-time event to re-member the thousands of American vet-erans who died in Vietnam and demand accountability for veterans missing in action and held as prisoners of war. Now it’s an annual event.

The ride begins each year in Ontario, California and ends at the Vietnam Vet-

erans War Memorial in Washington D.C. The ride is timed to get the riders to the American capital in time for Memorial Day (the last Monday in May).

On Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend, up to 350,000 motorcyclists take part in the Rolling Thunder Parade which honours all veterans. That ride goes from Pentagon parking lots to the Vietnam Memorial.

The trip from L.A. to D.C. takes 11 days because the riders stop for memo-rial events along the way.

“It was a very challenging ride,” says Ray. “We rode in tight formation the whole way and the weather went from a high of 44 Celsius to snow in Denver, Colorado.”

For Ray it was a once-in-a-lifetime ride. But that doesn’t mean he’s less en-thused about riding locally.

Ray is also a member of the 13 Hun-dred Riders of Port Dover and enjoys lo-cal motorcycle rides.

Ray loves simply riding around town and meeting up with old and potentially new friends at the bottom of Main Street near the harbour.

“It’s always about the ride and the people you ride with,” says Ray.

Ray Barrette (left) has been riding motorcycles for 52 years and shown meeting up with fellow motorcyclist and friend Ed Squires.

SPECIAL: 25% OFF for snapd readers! Enter the following promo code “snapdscjazz”

when ordering online at: www.southcoastjazz.com

AlexPangmanCanada’s sweetheart of swing & JUNO nominee

Alex Pangman Quintet. Swing dancingIt’s denitely going to be a party!Bring your dancing shoes

MAY 22,2016Also featuring local artists SHARP DOGS

See website for all events

Alex Pangman is a Canadian jazz sing-er from Toronto who is a specialist in the popular singing of the Great American Songbook.

According to an online biography, in 2011 she was signed to Justin Time Re-cords for whom she recorded the album “33”. With several National Jazz Award nominations, videos, film, television, and radio appearances to her credit, she re-mains true to a classic melodic style of singing made popular by early jazz vocal-ists.

Ms Pangman has collaborated and re-corded with Bucky Pizzarelli, Denzal Sin-claire, Ron Sexsmith, Dick Sudhalter, Don Kerr, Drew Jurecka, Steve Briggs, Jeff Healey, Terra Hazelton, Kevin Clark, John Royen, and members of The New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings.

Having inherited Cystic Fibrosis, she had a successful double lung transplant in 2008 which reinvigorated her career and gave rise to her advocacy work for the cause of organ and tissue donation aware-ness in Canada.

In the summer of 2013 while experienc-ing rejection, Ms Pangman opened for Wil-lie Nelson at Toronto’s Massey Hall short-ly before receiving her second double lung transplant. By March of 2014 she was re-cording music again.

She has led her Toronto band “Alex Pangman and Her Alleycats” since 1998.

Ms. Pangman is appearing as part of the South Coast Jazz third annual series of concerts at Burning Kiln Winery near St. Williams on May 22. Tickets are avail-able online at www.southcoastjazz.com us-ing discount code “PromoMLPD”.

South Coast Jazz concert series startsMay 22nd featuring Alex Pangman

SAVE 25% OFF for BIKERS & FRIENDSEnter the code “PromoMLPD”

when ordering tickets online at www.southcoastjazz.com

A motorcycle isfreedom on two wheels


Shane Duval rode to Port Dover on May 7 from his home in Hamilton on his motorcycle number four ... a Ka-waski Ninja ZX-14.

Shane began riding 25 years ago, starting at age 16 ... his first bike was a Ninja ZX-7. He rides to Port Dover a couple times a season and comes for Fridays the 13th Biker Days. His favourite rides are northward to the Parry Sound area. He is married with two children.

The Ninja ZX made by Kawaski was their most power-ful sport bike as of 2007. Specs online say the bike is ca-pable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds. It has a four-stroke, liquid cooled, DOHC, four valve per cylinder, in-line four. Fuel capacity is 22 litres.

Riders help community

All riders enjoy the beauty of our local roadways and one group of riders spent some time this spring cleaning up the winter litter. Hans Engelhardt reports a group of “North of 42 Riders” spent a recent Satur-day morning cleaning up the sides of Cockshutt Road from Dover Mills Road to St. John’s Road at one of the entrances to Port Dover. A job well done that deserves the thanks of the community.


Documents

Friday the 13th Port Dover Maple Leaf May 2016