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GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 1
GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION
Northeast Region B Pennsylvania District Chapter PA-I
Inside this issue
Ray & Doreen Snyder, Chapter Directors .... 1
You Know You’re From Chapter I When… ... 1
Chapter, District, Region Team Listings ...... 2
Web Links .................................................... 2
Rick & Andi Riek, Pennsylvania District Directors ................... 3
Advertisement: World of Wheels ................ 3
Levels Program ........................................... 4
Advertisement: The Dog House .................. 4
Release your Inner Author! ......................... 5
Advertisement: G&L Designs ...................... 5
You Know You’re From Chapter I When… ... 5
Let’s Celebrate! ........................................... 6
Chapter I Event Calendar ............................ 6
Support Our Advertisers! ............................ 7
Lori Schill, Chapter Educator/MAD Coordinator .......... 7
Jim & Pat Delo, Couple of the Year Coordinators ................. 8
For Sale ....................................................... 9
Hi Chapter I
March was not a good month for riding in this area. I am hoping that April will be better.
If you have not been on the bike yet, take it slow on the first time out! Dana gave a good safety talk at the March Gathering. He filled in for Lori as she wasn’t feeling well. We had 10 come from Chapter W to visit us at our Gathering; two of them took home cakes made by Kathie Simcox for winning the Irish Cake Walk game.
There were eight that went to Chapter D’s Annual Bowling Challenge and the supper afterwards. Everyone had a great time!
Our Meet ‘n Eat at Sakura in Clarion was enjoyed by the 20 that attended. With April here, things will start to get busier. Check your ride schedule, google calendar, and watch for email announcements.
The Meet ’n Eat that was scheduled for April 8 has been moved to Thursday, April 6, at the Dutch Pantry at 6:00 pm.
It is time to send in your registration for the Pennsylvania State Rally in State College, if you have not done it yet! If you have not gone to a state rally, come this year and have fun with Chapter I.
If you were not at our last Gathering, I introduced our new Assistant Chapter Directors, (effective 4-1-17) Dana and Danise Hartle. Make sure you thank them for stepping up. We know they will do a great job!
Ray and Doreen Snyder Chapter Directors
April, 2017
On The Web: www.pachpateri.com
Chapter I Gatherings Third Friday each month
Hoss’s Steak & Sea House 675 Liberty Boulevard
DuBois, PA 6:30 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Gathering Come Join Us!
Ray & Doreen Snyder ..................................... Chapter Directors
Contact Chapter Directors, Ray & Doreen Snyder at:
814-583-5619 [email protected]
(Continued on page 3 )
You Know You’re From Chapter I When… … You know what the Party Barn is.
Jim & Pat Delo … You ride a lot.
Paul & Helen Long
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 2
Chapter Directors
Ray & Doreen Snyder 814-583-5619 [email protected]
Assistant Directors
Dana & Danise Hartle 814-938-7136 [email protected] [email protected]
Chapter Educators/Motorist Awareness Coordinators
Lori and Gary Schill 814-226-6314 (home) 814-229-6314 (cell) [email protected] [email protected]
Membership Enhancement Coordinators
Dick & Mary Lou Hetrick 814-856-3222 [email protected]
Treasurer
Nancy Knarr 814-938-3729 (home) 814-952-5317 (cell) [email protected]
Album Coordinator
Donna Miller 814-849-8997 [email protected]
Couple of the Year Coordinators
Jim & Pat Delo 814-328-5133 [email protected] [email protected]
Chapter Couple of the Year
Dana & Danise Hartle 814-938-7136 [email protected] [email protected]
Chapter of the Year Coordinator
(Vacant)
Ambassadors of Fun
Kathie Simcox [email protected] and Danise Hartle [email protected]
Ride Coordinators
Terry & Mary Mauk 814-856-2148 [email protected] [email protected]
Roll for the Dough Coordinators
Dana & Danise Hartle 814-938-7136 [email protected]
Greeting Card Coordinator
Nancy Knarr 814-938-3729 (home) 814-952-5317 (cell) [email protected]
Goodies Coordinators
Dave & Cindy Marconi 814-781-6383 [email protected]
Newsletter Staff
Lori Schill, Editor 814-226-6314 [email protected] with Bill & Peg Zortman 814-653-8851 [email protected] and Dave & Susan Moore 814-653-2091
Webmaster & Advertising Coordinator
Gary Schill 814-226-6314 [email protected]
Pennsylvania District Directors Rick & Andrea (Andi) Riek [email protected]
Assistant Directors Jim & Diane Heffelfinger [email protected] and Harold & Diane Jackson [email protected]
Educators Doug & Cyndy Motter [email protected] and Phil & Darlene Pirozzi [email protected]
Trainers Gerry & Bonnie Vanart [email protected]
Couple of the Year John & Glenda Leib [email protected]
Goodies Coordinators Dave & Cindy Marconi
CHAPTER I TEAM PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT TEAM
NORTHEAST REGION B TEAM
Northeast Region B Directors Tom & Renee Wasluck [email protected]
Region B Assistant Directors Kevinn & Georgia LeBlond [email protected] and Ken & Lois Ingram [email protected]
Educators John & Pam Van Deusen fj.vandeusen@icloud
CPR/FA Coordinators Keith and Elaine Price [email protected]
Couple of the Year Coordinators Rich & Wendy Wirt [email protected] Membership Enhancement Coordinators Dan & Mary Costello [email protected]
2016 / 2017 Couple of the Year & Chapter of the Year Coordinators Bob & Julie A’Hearn [email protected]
Trainers Eileen & Time Guile [email protected]
Webmaster Clark Clemens [email protected]
GWRRA International www.gwrra.org
Northeast Region B www.gwrra-northeastregion.org
Pennsylvania District www.gwrrapadist.org
Pennsylvania Chapter I www.pachapteri.com
WEB LINKS
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 3
Hello everyone,
Hopefully the season for spreading salt and cinders is finally over. We can only hope it is. March sure came in like a lion and hopefully will exit like the proverbial lamb. At least the days are getting longer and the sun does last
longer in the day since we set the clocks ahead. The sun does feel like it has some warmth to it also. I guess we get spoiled when the winter months feel like spring and winter comes in March with cold and snow.
Now is the time to start going over your motorcycle and make sure everything is in good shape and all maintenance is completed. You sure don’t want to have some nice weather show up and your ride is not ready.
All the officer change and year-end financial paperwork forms are complete and sent on to region directors so they can send them to the home office if necessary. We again thank all the chapter directors and chapter treasurers in getting this complete. Beside completing your financial paperwork do you know what else is a very important part of the paperwork? You probably are wondering what could that be. Well the region is working with the IRS on an issue with the 990N. The IRS wants a copy of the latest newsletter listing all the officers, location of the chapter, and when and where they gather and whether they have a rider education article. It is very important for GWRRA to be able show the IRS that chapters have a newsletter to keep their nonprofit status. That is why we encourage all our chapters to have a newsletter, no matter how big or small.
I am sure by now that most chapters have been working on and completing their 2017 riding schedules. Why not go ahead and get them posted on the district website so everyone can enjoy some of your events.
Don’t forget to make plans for Wing Ding, the PA District Rally, and especially All Chapters East and All Chapters West. If you have never attended any of our All Chapters you don’t know what you are missing.
We have been getting the region fundraiser tickets back and
Chapter Pride (Chapter Goods) ................... 9
2017 Chapter I Couple of the Year/Roll For The Dough Coordinators.................................... 10
You Know You’re From Chapter I When… ... 10
Gary Schill, Advertising Coordinator/Webmaster ......... 11
Peg Zortman, Chapter Historian ................. 12
You Know You’re From Chapter I When… ... 13
All Chapters West Flyer (Page 1) ................ 14
All Chapters West Flyer (Page 2) ................ 15
All Chapters East Flyer ................................ 16
(More of what’s inside)
GWRRA Chapters of the Pennsylvania District
Rick & Andi Riek ......................................... PA District Directors
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 4
thanks to you for doing a great job in selling them. Now, we are waiting for the return of tickets from a few of our chapters. Please get the tickets, sold or unsold, returned to us as soon as you can.
Andi and I returned home Sunday afternoon from the district Couple of the Year Retreat. On the trip home, we discussed how successful the retreat had been and how well organized it was. I don’t want to bore you with all the details but I must mention a few highlights of the weekend. Our district MEC, Diane Heffelfinger, and our District Couple of the Year Coordinators, Barry and Rhonda Blyler, did an excellent, excellent job putting this event together.
We started out Saturday evening with get to know each other games. After that, we made a trip to dinner at Prime Rib Buffet across the road to chat with the couples that were paired up before we left so we could get to know each other. After dinner, we came back to the hotel to discuss what we found out about our couples’ likes and dislikes. What a great idea. After the discussion, we played some more games and enjoyed an ice cream sundae bar.
Sunday morning, we started out with another get to know each other discussion, then Diane went over the Couple of the Year handbook and resume. This was very helpful for the Couples in attendance to understand the process going forward to the Couple Selection coming at the PA District Rally in the spring. Next up was a seminar put on by our District Assistant Trainers, Tim and Crystal Brakebill. This presentation was another informative program. Anybody that came away from this retreat without learning something, must have been asleep the whole time.
We appreciate the Couples in attendance along with their Chapter Directors. Hopefully next year we can have all 20 of our chapter Couples of the Year there along with their Chapter Directors. I bet a dollar to a donut the Couples in attendance this year will be going back to their chapters and telling them what a great time they had. The Couple of the Year program truly holds a special place in our district team’s heart. This year the whole group’s attitude seemed so upbeat and everyone seemed so comfortable with everything that was going on. Again, we thank everyone
Levels Program
Have you enrolled in the GWRRA
“Levels Program?”
Contact the Chapter Educator to enroll now!
Are you “current” in the Levels Program?
Check your status at: www.gwrra.org.
On the Rider Education page, click on “My R.E. Information”
and log in to see where you stand.
Watch for announcements here, and in your email inbox, about
upcoming education opportunities!
We encourage you to accept the challenge to make the commitment, learn the skills, and
apply what you learn so that you can make motorcycling safer,
increase your riding skills, and make other drivers
more aware of motorcycles.
Safety doesn’t happen by accident!
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 5
involved with putting this retreat together. They did a marvelous job. As I always say, the Pennsylvania membership has the greatest and most energetic district team around.
Next up is the District meeting coming at the end of April. Hopefully, every chapter will have their team members in attendance. This year Andi and I will be turning over the meeting to our Assistants. We have a family commitment that we are unable to miss. The team has graciously accepted to run the meeting, and Andi and I have confidence in them going above and beyond to do the district membership proud.
The 2017 PA rally in State College is coming fast. Don’t forget to get your District Rally reservations in. In case you are running late getting your registration in, we have extended the deadline for registering. Remember you don’t want to miss this one. This year we have some exciting events going on. Along with vendors being there from Thursday to Saturday afternoon. We are excited to again have Cliff and Kelly back on Thursday evening. We are not sure what they will be presenting, but whatever it is, we know it will be fun.
Also, going on will be the talent show and ice cream social on Friday, chapter participation games on Saturday morning, hosted by Chapter I. The atrium will be all ours for the weekend and open for members to just sit around and relax, play cards or board games all week. There will also be guided and unguided rides available. Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates this year. Of course, our hospitality room will be open again for your enjoyment to just sit around and enjoy our goodies and comradery.
We are again this year asking our members to bring some packaged goodies to the hospitality room for everyone to enjoy. The District team is excited and anxious to see everyone there. Come and have some fun. Just remember it will be as much fun as you want to make it.
Well I guess I have bored you enough. Hope all our members have a great riding season. I am looking forward to this upcoming season and seeing all of you on the road somewhere.
Rick & Andi Riek Pennsylvania District Directors
Release Your Inner Author!
Not everyone has a novel inside them, but we all have a story to share. Release your “inner author” …
Share your stories here in the Chapter I newsletter.
Submissions received before the 27
th of the month
appear in the next month’s publication (space permitting).
Email your story, recipe, etc. to Lori Schill at: [email protected].
You Know You’re From Chapter I When…
… You see ducks. Jim & Pat Delo
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 6
Let’s Celebrate!
Happy Birthday
Ray Snyder ................................. April 5
Haley Skinner .............................. April 9
Lori Schill ................................... April 13
Cindy Marconi............................ April 17
Lois Skinner .............................. April 21
Robert Gunther ......................... April 21
Roger Witter .............................. April 27
Happy Anniversary Tim & Kathy Shaffer ........... April 2
Mel & Jodi Lufsey ............. April 12
Check the Chapter I website calendar
for more event details as they become available! www.pachapteri.com
APRIL 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 28 Mar 29 Mar 30 Mar 31 1
Bunco
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Tim & Kathy Shaffer’s
Anniversary Ray Snyder’s
Birthday Meet n’Eat
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Haley Skinner’s Birthday
Mel & Jodi Lufsey’s
Anniversary
Lori Schill’s Birthday
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Cindy Marconi’s Birthday N.6 Due
Chapter I Gathering
Lois Skinner’s Birthday
Robert Gunther’s Birthday
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Murraysville Biker Blessing Newsletter
Articles Due! Roger Witter’s Birthday
30 May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 May 6
Meet ‘n Eat Run For The Son
UPCOMING EVENTS:
DATE EVENT TIME LOCATION NOTE
April 1 Bunco! 4:00 pm
Simcox Party Barn - 2188
Stephenson Hill Road,
Reynoldsville
Bring a snack to share!
April 6 Meet ‘n Eat 6:00 pm Dutch Pantry, Rich Highway,
DuBois
April 21 Chapter I Gathering
6:30 pm—Dinner 7:30 pm Gathering
Hoss’s Steak & Sea House,
DuBois
Print & bring email that is sent out
before gathering
April 23 Murraysville Biker Blessing 8:00 am Leaving Punxsy
Walmart
April 25 Newsletter Articles Due! Share a story, recipe, or joke! Email
May 4 Meet ‘n Eat 6:00 pm Our Hometown
Restaurant, Reynoldsville
May 6 Run For The Son More information to be announced
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 7
Let’s Ride!
Spring has officially arrived! Even though it may be awhile before we get comfortable riding weather, it’s a good time to start thinking about brushing up on our skills. The Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program
offers a variety of free courses to do just that. Keep checking their website at: www.pamsp.com to find – and sign up for – the rider course that best suits your experience level. Gary and I have taken the Advanced RiderCourse, enjoyed it, and will be taking it again. Doing so keeps us “current” in the GWRRA Levels Program, but more importantly, it’s great practice!
Here’s some of what the website says about the Advanced RiderCourse:
It’s a one-day course for experienced riders who desire to learn and practice more in-depth riding techniques. In the classroom, the focus is on decision making, goals, and personal limits. Classroom activities use small group discussions and interactive activities to address personal risk management strategies; to discuss options for cornering, braking and swerving; and to improve visual perception to identify collision traps.
Riding is fast paced and fun for all motorcycle types. Riders will be challenged in a variety of exercises dealing with the fundamentals of fluid control inputs to precise rider/motorcycle dynamics in both slow speed and higher speed riding. Using your own motorcycle and helmet, you’ll put into practice the techniques of managing traction, stopping quickly, cornering and swerving.
Here are some of the exercises in the ARC:
CURVE ADJUSTMENTS Objective: To refine skills for curves.
This exercise uses a small circle and a large circle. Riders will practice using two upper body positions, adjusting path of travel, and adjusting speed using brakes.
CORNERING & SWERVING Objective: To contrast body position for curves versus swerves and use proper control operation and body position for curves and swerves.
This exercise uses a continuous cornering circuit with a path leading to a swerve area. The exercise helps with improving cornering abilities along with precise and crisp steering inputs.
DECREASING RADIUS CURVES Objective: To corner skillfully in a decreasing radius curve and to judge quick stop distance.
You will practice riding a path with a series of gates forming a decreasing radius curve followed by a path to practice quick stop judgment.
GAP ANALYSIS & SAFETY MARGINS Objective: To re-orient riders to traffic mix and identify effective
SUPPORT OUR
ADVERTISERS !
The advertisements in
this newsletter have been
purchased by businesses that
support our chapter.
We encourage you to thank them by giving them your
business, whenever possible.
Be sure to tell them that you saw
their ads in the PA Chapter I newsletter!
Lori Schill ...................... Chapter Educator/MAD Coordinator
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 8
safety margins.
This exercise uses two oval paths with an intersection to practice aspects of sharing the road and use of safety margins to establish time and space.
The ARC is not a testing course and has no passing requirements. For all courses, you must meet the objectives of each exercise before you can continue to the next exercises. This is for YOUR learning and safety!
Lori Schill Chapter Educator/MAD Coordinator
Hello to All!
It is now officially SPRING. We can’t wait to get on the Wing and start riding.
I’m sure you all know about riding but I want to let you know about something else. The weekend of March 11th and 12th, we traveled
to Duncansville, PA to have a lot of FUN and get some KNOWLEDGE with FRIENDS.
This was the weekend that the Couples of the Year got together to learn more about the program. We attended to support our Couple of the Year, Dana and Danise Hartle.
The official activities were to start at 4 pm Saturday evening. Well, we decided to really make this an enjoyable weekend so we started at 9:30 am with getting some knowledge. Rich and Wendy Wirt did some seminars for some of us. This was truly a great learning experience. We had the pleasure of getting more fun and knowledge from the six seminars that were presented. A wealth of knowledge is available and all we have to do is ask for it. We feel sure that the things we learned will be very useful to us. We want to thank Rich and Wendy for giving their time and making it a truly fun day right from the beginning.
Back to the get together for Couples of the Year. Friday evening we got together for a couple of hours as a social and crowns were presented. One of the assignments was to take between three and six squares of toilet tissue, then write three to six things about ourselves to match the number of squares of toilet tissue we took. We then went to dinner where we were assigned partners to sit with. We had to discuss what we had written, but guess what... we discussed so much more and really made new friends. We then went back to the hotel and had a couple more hours of fun telling about our “new” friends. We learned so much about everyone there. A really good mixer. We ended the evening with an ice cream sundae.
Sunday we met after breakfast and the Couples of the Year were given instructions on their resume. Yes, there is a lot of work for
Jim & Pat Delo ...................... Couple of the Year Coordinators
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 9
For Sale:
*WINDWARD Camper. Gently used. King-sized bed with 6 x 6 sitting area. If seriously interested, call Dick at 814-856-3222.
*MARKLAND Heal/Toe Shifter & Floorboards. Fits GL1500. Very good condition with little to no rust. Check Chapter I website Classified ads for pictures and what all comes with. Asking $215. Contact Gary & Lori Schill at 814-226-6314.
*Driver backrest for GL1500. Adjustable from front-to-back using chromed sliding tubes. Retails for about $210. Asking $50. See Chapter I website Classified ads for pictures. Contact Gary & Lori Schill at 814-226-6314.
Chapter Pride
A variety of Chapter Wear items are available from the suppliers below.
Secco Designs
If ordered “in quantity” from Secco Designs, prices are as follows.
Polo Shirts:
Small to XL $12.00* 2XL $13.00* 3XL to 5XL $14.00*
T-Shirts: Short Sleeve Long Sleeve
Small to XL $ 8.00* $11.00* 2XL $ 9.00* $12.00* 3XL to 5XL $10.00* $13.00*
Hoodie Sweatshirt:
Small to XL $25.00* 2XL $26.00* 3XL to 5XL $28.00*
* Adding name adds $1 to the price
Biker King
Chapter I member Biker King offers a wide variety of high-quality Chapter I clothing - many items feature exclusive “Gold or Black Glitz” (sparkling metal flake) printing of logos and names. Order just one ... or more!
Go to Biker King’s website to view the selection and pricing of Chapter I gifts and wearables. Complete your order online and have your items delivered to your home … usually within one week!
*Biker King supports Chapter I by donating a portion of your purchase price back to the chapter.
Brookville Motorsports
Black Denim Vests
Brookville Motorsports, a Chapter I member - stocks a very attractive black denim vest in sizes S to 5XL. Contact Dale or Lisa at 814-849-0004 for current pricing and availability. More on these vests is on the Chapter website merchandise
page.
GWRRA and Chapter I Bike Flags, Patches, Pins, & Pin Locks! Contact Goodies Coordinators, Dave or Cindy Marconi at [email protected] with inquiries and orders. Payment due upon receipt of order.
Looking to buy, sell, or trade something?
There is no charge to Chapter I members who wish to list items
here.
Contact Lori Schill at [email protected]
with detailed information!
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 10
the ones who represent us. We headed home shortly after noon from a great time.
The Region Couple of the Year will be chosen at the Pennsylvania District Rally in State College. Come on out and support all the Couples of the Year and cheer Dana and Danise on.
Jim and Pat Delo Couple of the Year Coordinators
We, along with Pat and Jim Delo, attended the Couple of the Year retreat in Duncansville on March 11th and 12th. The turnout was great – ten Chapter couples participated in the event. The PA District team did an excellent job in providing
information about the program and the selection process; Dana and I learned a lot.
There was also food, fun, and games. Dana was the ONLY one who was able to walk with a clothespin in between his knees and successfully drop it into a tall skinny glass! We also passed lifesavers on a toothpick and rolled ping pong balls from a tape measure into a plastic cup. Sound easy? Try it sometime!
We enjoyed a delicious meal at Prime Buffet followed by an ice cream social back at the hotel. MEC Diane Heffelfinger shared her research on what ice cream toppings you chose and what it showed about your personality; very interesting. Pat and Dana won the door prizes of Dairy Queen gift cards, and Barry and Rhonda Blyler, District Coy coordinators, presented each couple with a wind sock.
Tim and Crystal Brakebill, District Assistant Trainers, presented a seminar on the Couple of the Year program. It was a fun and informative weekend, and it was great to meet and mingle with the other couples. Last but not least, we want to thank our COY coordinators, Jim and Pat Delo, who have been such a big help and supported us every step of the way.
Dana & Danise Hartle 2017 Chapter I Couple of the Year
Roll For The Dough Coordinators
Dana & Danise Hartle .... 2017 Chapter I Couple of the Year Roll For The Dough Coordinators
You Know You’re From Chapter I When…
… You have a Chapter I flag. Dave & Cindy Marconi
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 11
Reborn, Reinvented, Remodeled (Part 3)
In my previous article, Indian was the featured old/new brand. For this article, I take a look at the energized Italian/Chinese brand of Benelli. How, you ask, can a company or
brand be both Italian and Chinese? While most manufacturers (including Honda) now produce models in more than just their “home” country, Benelli is doing the same by producing some of their models in the old factory in Italy, and more competitively-priced models in China.
Benelli was born in a garage back in 1911 when the six Benelli brothers started to repair and manufacture motorcycle parts. By 1919, the first engine was born...a single-cylinder 75cc two-stroke engine adapted to a bicycle frame. In 1921, the first actual motorcycle was offered in the form of a 98cc two-stroke in a Sport or Touring model. A few years later, the first four-stroke was produced with a 175cc engine. Over the next several decades, Benelli produced many race winning 250 and 500cc models.
In 1973, Benelli and competitor Moto Guzzi were acquired by Argentinian industrialist Alejandro de Tomaso. He quickly introduced such iconic models such as the 750 and 900 sei’s, which were inline six-cylinder models with the 750 Sei being the first production motorcycle with a six-cylinder engine. Although technically advanced, Benelli motorcycles built from 1973 to about 1988 were plagued by reliability problems, along with severe competition from the Japanese. Production was stopped and the factories in Pesaro, Italy were sold.
Starting in 1995 when the Merloni Group of Fabriano, Italy purchased the majority stake in the company, things started to look up for Benelli. Several quite modern and somewhat exclusive models were introduced starting with the Tornado 900 three-cylinder which was nothing like the old Tornado 650’s in the actual Benelli family-owned era. The newest Tornado sported not only a three-cylinder engine with liquid cooling, but had the radiators mounted under the rear seat and cooled by twin fans in the tail section of the bike.
Soon after, there were the TNT 1130cc sport/naked bikes in variously equipped models. Although the bikes were well received initially, reliability was still not up to par with other brands. It was believed that the Merloni Group, in their bid to revive the brand and introduce new models as quickly as possible, just lacked the time and financial resources to properly R&D the bikes before release.
A small dealer network also did not help, and finally in December of 2005, Benelli (and Moto Guzzi) became part of the vast Chinese Q.J. Group which employs about 14,000 people and produce over 1.2 million vehicles, and two million engines per year. They also produce ATV’s, electric bicycles, lawnmowers, golf carts, generators, pumps, and other gardening equipment which are distributed worldwide. The Qianjiang (Q.J.) corporation while based (and manufacturers a majority of their products) in Wenling, China, still maintains the Benelli factory, now back in production in the previous Pesaro, Italy facility.
Gary Schill ................... Advertising Coordinator/Webmaster
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 12
While most of the newest models of Benelli will be manufactured in China, upgraded equipment for some models will come from the original Pesaro factory in Italy. The newest models from Benelli, will be Italian designed and will be more mainstream in both price and availability. A new USA importer for Benelli, SSR Motorsports, is beginning to ramp up model availability with more popular priced and displacement models to start. New 300cc twins, as well as 600 four-cylinders are currently being offered, along with a few scooters. It is projected that in the Spring of 2017, even more models such as the Tornado 302R and TNT 135 play bike, a direct competitor to the Honda Grom will make their way to the USA.
Gary Schill Webmaster/Advertising Coordinator
More of the 1987 Adventures of PA-I
* Designates a deceased friend.
This month I’ll tell you about our June 1987 Region B Rally in Hagerstown, Maryland. It was WET!
It was raining when we left home and according to my story of the rally it rained on us all the way to Maryland and most of the weekend. Then it was hot and humid all the way home (most of us were camping) - but we had a WONDERFUL weekend. Here are some of the highlights.
Vaughn Tapper was the leader as we headed south with Bill Zortman and Tim Shaffer riding tail. Somehow (with the help of stop lights, traffic, and a wrong turn by Vaughn) the ‘tail’ got cut off and we became two groups. The ‘tail’ got to Maryland before the ‘head.’
Shaffers and Zortmans were first to arrive at Safari Campground and set up camp. As we left the campground looking for food, the new ‘tail’ arrived. Did you keep up with that?
Later in the evening, we all finally got together for a campfire – wait – everything was WET. Not a problem for this group – Tim Shaffer found a fire ring and Pat Howell came up with a mosquito candle. Instead of repelling bugs, that candle drew people and served as a beacon to those around us.
Saturday:
Chapter PA-I had the Sign-In table for the Poker Run, and Bill and Peg Zortman had first shift at the table starting at 8 am. That meant we had to be up, showered, dressed, fed, and at the Venice Motel early. The community kitchen was working very well with Toast Man, Tim Shaffer, and Egg Man, Bud Howell, working their magic. We all had to scramble (pardon my pun) but we all got there on time. Bob and Joanna Crawford in the meantime, had stayed at the motel and, to the best of our knowledge, slept late.
Peg Zortman ...................................................... Chapter Historian
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 13
Because PA-I had a large turnout for the rally, each couple had to spend only one hour at the table; and considering the fact that none of us had ever been in a Poker Run before...WE DONE GOOD.
Later that day, back at the campground...We sat isolated in the screen rooms of our campers watching the rain pour down. Next-door Don and *Virginia Marnati were doing the same. *Virginia kept saying, “It’s getting brighter.” And the rain would come down a little harder. “It’s getting brighter.” And the lightening would flash. Others of our group were having a water battle. Why not?! We were wet anyway. *Sharon Tapper kept calling to Bill, “Billlllyyy, come out and play with me.” Bill didn’t fall for it.
Meanwhile back at the motel...
The power was off and a large wedding party was still in the dinning room where, in a short time, a whole bunch of hungry bikers should be. People at the motel worried while we campers had water battles and did important stuff like that - cause we didn’t know.
The water battle was finally canceled on account of rain and on account of we had to dry off and ride to closing ceremonies. *Virginia’s ‘getting brighter’ finally held true and we headed to the Venice Motel where the motel staff worked wonders at finishing the wedding, clearing the room, and seating the bikers. The food was good … and on time too.
*Sharon Tapper and her brother, Bob Crawford, performed their amazing talent of wearing a spoon on the end of the nose. Joanna Crawford provided a fist full of toothpicks, Don Marnati worked a scam on desserts and we all stacked our empty salad bowls and added them to those already stacked on the table of the good folks of PA-B who were nearly as rowdy as PA-I.
Sunday...
The men of PA-I once more provided a delightful breakfast served under the tarps of our community kitchen. Then we packed up and headed north. Although our crew formed four separate ‘groups’ we kept meeting along the way, finally stopping at Hoss’s in DuBois about 4:40 pm for supper. It was 89 degrees and very humid - but not raining.
Another memory shared. Now go make your own memories.
Peg Zortman Chapter Historian
You Know You’re From Chapter I When…
… You know that George Simcox is always the last bike.
(Bill & Pam Crissman, Gary & Carol Doverspike)
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 14
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 15
GWRRA Pennsylvania Chapter I 16
