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www.4windsbmw.orgMOA # 6 RA # 76

ANNUAL BANQUET INFOThe 2012 Annual Banquet of the FourWinds BMW Riders will be held onSat., Jan. 21st, 2012 at The BestWestern, Parkway Center inGreentree from 6–11PM. Supper willbe at 7PM. Cost is $23 person. Reg-istrations must be in Tom Furey’shands by Jan 14th at the latest.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

President’s Letter ...................... 1Board Of Directors 2012 .......... 1Annual Banquet Info ................ 1Publication Info ......................... 2Meeting Schedule 2012 ............. 22012 Shacks ................................ 2Ongoing Events .......................... 2Why BMW Bikes??? ................. 3North Breakfast Ride ................ 4For Sale ...................................... 5Bikes for sale! ............................ 5Banquet Registration Info ........ 6Banquet Registration Form ..... 7The Way We Were ..................... 8How ABS Works ....................... 10Barber Museum! ...................... 12Cleveland Motorcycle Show .... 14Hog Fathers Ride Pix .............. 14West Breakfast Ride ................ 15It’s to Laugh .............................. 15How do I join ............................ 16Directions to The Banquet: ..... 16

JJJJJANANANANAN 20122012201220122012

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2012

President – Sean Barrett724-941-1543

nancyandsean@comcast.net

Vice President – Diane Pears724-656-1239

timndiane@comcast.net

Treasurer – Thomas Furey724-882-9300

thomasfurey@gmail.com

Corres. Sec’y – Joyce Elk724-935-2062

jselk@consolidated.net

Rec. Sec’y – Tim Pears724-656-1239

timndiane@comcast.net

Director – Jeff Harlichjharlich@comcast.net

Director – Kevin Hart

HAVE A HAPPY

AND PROSPER-OUS NEW YEAR!Why not start it right with

the North Breakfast Ride onthe 1st!

See you at the Banquet onthe 21st!

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

As winter takes hold, our riding time has de-creased, so we must find something else todo during those cold, dark days of winter.Maybe work on the bikes, plan that big tripfor next summer, or just read a great book onmotorcycling. Think back on the great ridesand friends of last year and look foreword tothe good times to come. Start planning forthe next 12 months, realizing that sometimesthe anticipation is almost as enjoyable as theactual event.

Also start thinking about the club for nextyear. What would make it a better club andwhat can I do for the club? The board willstart planning for next year, but we will needyour ideas and support, so feel free to bringyour thoughts and ideas up to any board mem-ber. What can you do for the club? We willneed officers for next year so start thinkingabout it now, talk to us and see what is en-tailed in being a club officer.

We can always use members to set uprides, do 50/50s at meetings, etc. The moremembers that contribute to the club, the lesswork it is for those who do contribute to theclub.

Hope to see everyone on the road as wellas at the meetings.

RIDE HARD, RIDE SAFE!

SEAN

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PUBLICATION INFOThe Four Winds BMW Riders

Newsletter is published formembers’ use. Articles’ and pic-tures’ copyrights are held bytheir authors. Author’s permis-sion should be obtained beforeany form of republication.

Editor: Ralph MeyerDeadline: Articles submitted must

be received by the editor nolater than 6:00 PM on theTuesday after the club meet-ing of the month preceding themonth of publication (e.g., Jan.Banquet: Jan. 21; Feb. issuedeadline: Tues., Jan. 24th).Articles/Info rec’d after dead-line go in next month’s news-letter.

Submission information:E-mail submissions: Send as at-

tachments with “4 Winds News-letter Article” in the e-mail‘Subject’ line to:

<meyer@zoominternet.net>Articles on Disk Media mail to:

Ralph Meyer, Editor4 Winds Newsletter6056 Meadow LaneBakerstown, PA 15007-9720

Submission formats:Articles: Send as plain text with

headings and hdg depth defined,or in Word Processor (e.g., MSWord) format. Save trees: avoidpaper if you can.

Pictures and graphics: Submit inJPEG or TIFF format withclearly marked locations in thearticle.

Long articles may be split betweenissues.

National Club Affiliations: FourWinds BMW Riders is char-tered club #6 of the BMWMOAand chartered club #76 of theBMWRA

Newsletters in color PDF formatare at the Four Winds Site,www.4windsbmw.org . Down-load a free Adobe PDF readerby clicking the ‘Get AdobeReader’ button atwww.adobe.com and followingthe directions thereafter pro-vided.

MEETING SCHEDULE

2012Mark the dates on your calen-

dars, but remember...All meeting sites are tentative.

Please check the web site andnewsletter for changes andupdates.

January 21, 2012 — Annual ClubBanquet, 6:00-11 PM, at BestWestern Parkway Center Inn,875 Greentree Rd. Pittsburgh,PA 15220

February, 2012 — Uno’s Chi-cago Grill = Cranberry; 1294Freedom Road, CranberryTownship, PA 16066; Phone:724-772-1711 http://www.unos.com

March, 2012 — TBAApril, 2012 — TBAMay, 2012 — TBAJune, 2012 — TBAJuly, 2012 — TBAAugust, 2012 — Friday, August

17 to Sunday, August 1946th Annual Four WindsRally!

ONGOING EVENTS

Breakfast Rides, et al.:These rides are free-form. Those

attending decide what theywant to do and where, if any-where, they want to ride. If youjust want to show up in the carand have breakfast with fellowmotorcyclists, that’s fine too.

COME! EAT! CHAT! RIDE!

Ride Schedule — Month:Sun, Jan 1 — North at Eat ‘n Park,

I-79 & Rt 910/Brandt SchoolRd., 10:00 AM

Sat, Jan 14 — West at Bob Evans,Rt 60 & Campbell’s Run Rd,9:00 AM

Sun, Jan 15 — South at EaglesLanding Restaurant, RostraverAirport on Rte. 51, 10:00 AM

Sat, Jan 28 — East at Dick’s, Rt22 Westbound Side,Monroeville, 9:00 AM

If you’re going to a breakfastride, you might want to no-tify others: It’s not necessary,but it’d be nice to let othersknow you’re going to a particu-lar Breakfast Ride by puttinga notice on the 4-Winds SiteMessage Board’s BreakfastRide section saying so. That’llhelp save a rider from discov-ering too late that no one elseis going that day. The Break-fast Ride’s URL is: http://www.4windsbmw.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=9 . Be sureto erase your post after the rideif you can so the board doesn’tget cluttered.

2012 SHACKSKeep an eye out on the web site allyou lady and gentleman wrenchersand attendees out there, for anyShack locations and dates to helpkeep us smiling through the win-ter, and keep ‘em rolling!

SAFETY THOUGHTS FOR THE

MOMENTIt’s Winter. December 21st has come andgone. Cold is in. For BMW riders who scoffat the notion of riding seasons that start inMay and end in October some time, thereare things to look out for. One is cagers--they know nothing of Gerbings or layering(unless they’re skiers) and suppose motor-cycles are uncomfortable in cold weather, sothey’re even less likely to look out for us.We can surprise the heck out of them whenthey suddenly realize the road ahead isn’tclear, but contains a motorcyclist. Be awarethat cagers are even blinder than they are insummer because they don’t expect to see us.

Then there’s sand, and worse, black ice.Especially on curves. More than usual, keepan eye peeled on the road surface, and becareful on curves and turns. Tires too, areharder when cold and don’t grip the road likea nice warm tire does in summer. Ride moreslowly. Be safe. Be watchful! And, as partof the enjoyment is the skill of attention, en-joy the ride! And while you’re at it, stayWarm! Layer and use your Gerbings, etc.

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WHY BMW BIKES???from Walt Halaja

YESSSSSSSS!!!

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On the Net...Have you found a neat location on the Internet? Send the URL in with a brief description of what

it’s about to the editor and we’ll post it here for the benefit of your fellow riders...Note: copy or type the underlined link into your browser’s URL textbox and hit ‘Go’ or ‘Enter’ to go there.

Our Four Winds Site, what else??? http://www.4windsbmw.org . And always remember never to forget, you can get this andpast color copies of the Newsletter in PDF format there! Check it out if you haven’t already done so.Oil filter chart: http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/FilterXRef.html - Sent in by Al Vangura--this chart has informa-

tion on filters for all types of bikes. This URL also has links to much other interesting stuff! Great for Shack attendeesand Home Wrenchers!

NORTH BREAKFAST RIDE

12/4/2011By Ralph Meyer and Walt Halaja

With many thanks to Ron “ReddyK” Latkovic, who did the ground-work to set us up for it, we had such a nice time at the Eat ‘n Park inthis change of Venue from the former King’s across the street, that itseemed the majority wanted to continue our North Breakfast Ridesat the Eat ‘n Park for the time being. The food was hot, the coffeeplentiful and always present, and the only complaint I heard was that

their corned beef hash was different from King’s and that they hadn’thash browns, but only home fries. This negative fact was offset bythe positive one that there was a very nice Breakfast Buffet availablethat King’s lacked. Also, it didn’t seem as though the change ofvenue had an effect on riding or riders as we played “Cheaper or

Better by the dozen”—there eventually being a dozen of us enjoyingthe E ‘n P comestibles, with a good 9 or 10 bikes gracing the parkinglot. Being right around the corner from the Wexford/910 exit of I-79,the Eat ‘n Park was as easy and quick an eatery to get to for us all ashad been King’s.

Riders present for the munching, tire kicking, conversing, andmaybe riding after were John Allen, Frank Beatrous, Jack Bramkamp,Ron Latkovic, Dave Manfredo, Dave McLaughlin, Paul White, KarlHartz, Ron Kranz, Sonny Robison, Walt Halaja, Sean Barrett, andyours truly. We all seemed to figure the food was on a par withKing’s but in the main a slight cut better as it all was hot, and sev-eral of us availed ourselves of the previously mentioned fine, wellstocked, varietudinous, and inexpensive breakfast buffet—I LOVE

those things and so does PW, and Dave Manfredo, though, dang itall, they don’t do our waistlines any good, especially given the factthat once your hat is in the ring of having chosen to do the buffet, youcan go back for seconds, thirds, fourths, and so forth for no addi-tional wampum—given my own lack of iron willed self discipline inthe face of yummy eggs, bacon, home fries, pancakes, waffles, etc.with all necessary accouterments, my waistline simply sags in sur-render when faced with one—small price to pay however, for deli-cious goodies and plenty of ‘em!

Anyway, after the usual fine camaraderie, cuisine, and conversa-tion, we adjourned again to the bikes, and Sonny and ReddyK didthe photographic honors for our august group (see the pics accompa-nying the article O Ye of Left Brain Pictorial Persuasion).

While kicking tires before taking off, I did hear discussion ofseveral rides in the offing for any that wanted to go. I heard Rte 18mentioned by several in John Allen’s vicinity, and Walt Halaja saidhe was going to see if Franklin Road and Rte 528 as far as the boatlanding at Lake Arthur were still located where they had been thelast time any of us twisted and turned on ‘em. So I think the South-ern bunch will have checked out Rte 18 and other environs over that-a-way, while Walt and Dave Manfredo, whom I saw leaving together,checked out Lake Arthur. They did. See Walt’s comments below!

Me, I had a basement light lunch out, and a couple of (ugh) drainsrunning slowly enough to need a hearty shot of liquid plumber (Whensuch stuff happens I need a shot of Black Label—but never mind, as

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FOR SALEPlease note: If you sell your item, please notify the newsletter editor so it can be removed from this list.‘06 K1200S, 10.2k, silver/gray, all factory options. Newly installed Akrapovic Ti/Ti/CF full exh, Evoluzione race intake, dual com-

pound rear tire with Dynojet runs on each change totaling +12rwhp.Dealer installed clear strobe turn/brake lights, CF trim,panniers w/ liners and tank bag, center stand, June 2012 extended unlimited mi warranty. Dealer maintained w/records. Adultowned, never down,immaculate condition. $13,900/obo, Peter: 724-516-1260(PA)

Home in the Johnstown, Pa. 15904 area. Asking $199,900. 4 br./ 3 bath, 2 car garage, 2,528 sq. ft., 2 decks, hot tub, .5 acre, inRichland Twp. http://teamrealtors.pennsylvania.remax.com/PropertySearch/ListingDetail.aspx?lid=84827384 . If interested, con-tact: George J. Blackham IV, (814) 266-9573 (H) .

1988 K75S rolling chassis. 5300 miles. Previous owner CUT the wiring harness to get a computer (fuel, I think). He has a newcomputer & harness. Baby literally needs new shoes, so he wants it out of his way. $750. Yes, seven hundred fifty USD. 724-863-6424 ask for Shawn.

BIKES FOR SALE!MUST SELL 3 BIKES. $1000 Price Re-

duction!!1980 Yamaha SR500 approx. 3k miles $15001984 BMW R65LS 70k miles $25001988 BMW K75S 24k $3500

Call Holly at 724-610-1723,

or e-mail: Hemarcheck@comcast.net

that’s neither here nor there), so I had to make my own lonely wayback to Bakerstown and the Honey-do list. BUT, the breakfast andthe morning was, as usual Grrrrrreat! So all things being equal andthe creek don’t rise, I’ll see y’all next time around at a breakfastride.

And Now, here’s Walt:

GEORGE E. WADDELL 1876 - 1914“ONE OF THE GREATEST PITCHERS IN BASEBALL

HISTORY”Did you ever hear of this fellow? Well, I didn’t ‘till a couple ofmonths ago. After the November North breakfast I took a solo ridenorth to the “Boat launch area” on Rt. 528 after crossing the bridgeover Lake Arthur: a very good rest area about one hour’s ride fromthe north breakfast. I have done this ride many times as it’s a goodshort ride with or without a friend. This time on the way home Itried a different route and got lost. Ha! So I headed back to to Rt.528 & 488 and found this marker about “George Waddell.” As soonas I read this I wanted to take a photo, but I didn’t have my regularcamera. “Go Figure!”

OK! Back to the North breakfast, Dec. 4th. I said I would takethis same ride and out of 12 fellows only one was willing to tagalong. So Dave Manfredo and I headed for Franklin Rd.—if youhave never been on it yet, you should make a point to do it one day!We picked up Rt. 528 and I couldn’t wait to show Dave that historicmarker. He liked it too, and, like me, had never heard of this base-ball Pitcher either. I told him I wanted to take a photo, but againdidn’t have my camera. Ha! Dave quipped, “Hey Walt you have a

cell phone, Huh?” Never thought of that! So Dave took a few photoswith his phone and sent them to me—which was good because Idon’t know how to get them off of my phone and onto my computer.[Don’t feel bad, Walt. I don’t know how to get ‘em off mine onto mycomputer either! ‘Double Ha!’ —Editor] Dave and I split at 528and 422, Dave to find a “Trader Joe’s” and me to go to my Sonshome in Bakerstown to watch the Steelers.

It seems to me that many BMW riders like to ride solo or with afriend or two, so in your travels see if you can find this marker andtake a photo with yourself in it and I’ll bet Ralph will put it thenewsletter. [You can bet on it! Editor (again)] Or maybe you canfind another interesting marker and send that in?

WALT & RALPH

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THE FOUR WINDS BMW RIDERS’

Annual Banquet

Best Western Parkway Center Inn 875 Greentree Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15220

Phone (412) 922-7070

Saturday, January 21, 2012

6:00 Mingle, Games, Chinese Auction Prize Bidding, 50/50 Cash Bar opens with reasonably priced drinks 6:00 -- 7:00 Treasurer available one hour only for Membership Renewals 7:00 Buffet Dinner = Featuring Roast Beef, Salmon, Chicken Kiev 8:00 Awards, Entertainment, Prizes, Auction Winners 10:00 – ?? Dancing & Music, Visiting, Bar still Open

Featuring

Ten Years in the Making : Allison McGee’s Irish Odyssey

Bring non-digital (new or old) Four Winds photos for display table. Send your best digital shots to Patrick Barrett for the slide show at triiku@gmail.com or mail to 1008 S. Braddock Ave, Apt. 1 Swissvale, PA 15218 Discounted room rate of $89 will be available for reservations until Jan. 1st. Free cocktail hour from 5 - 6 pm for overnight hotel guests. Free deluxe breakfast, indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness center. (No pets allowed.) http://www.bestwesternpa.com/hotels/best-western-parkway-center-inn Book rooms directly through our banquet contact, Katy Mittica. Phone: 412-922-7070 ext. 153. Email: salestwo@parkwaycenterinn.com

BANQUET REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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BANQUET REGISTRATION FORM

Directions to the Best Western Parkway Center Greentree: FROM DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH: Follow signs for 376 West towards the airport. You will eventually pass over the Fort Pitt Bridge and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. As you exit the tunnel you will continue on 376 West towards the airport. Go 2 miles and take Exit 4B Parkway Center. Travel up the ramp and hotel is on the right. FROM THE SOUTH HILLS: Take Route 19 North (Washington Road) and follow it to Cochran Road. Turn left onto Cochran Road and follow to Green Tree Road (Route 121 North). Bear right onto Greentree Road. Continue on Greentree Road. It crosses over 376 overpass and straight to the hotel on the right. FROM THE WEST: Follow 376 Parkway West towards Pittsburgh. Take

Exit 4A. At light turn left onto Greentree Road. Greentree Road crosses over 376 overpass. Continue on Greentree Road to the hotel on the right.

---snip----- VP by January 14, 2012 -----snip--- (Must arrive at Tom’s by Jan. 14th to submit count 2 wks. ahead!)

Names:______________________________________________ Number Attending x $23 pp = _____________________ (enclose this amount) Mail check (made payable to Four Winds BMW Riders) to: Tom Furey, Treasurer 1663 Beamer Ave. New Kensington, PA 15068

BANQUET REGISTRATION FORM

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THE WAY WE WERE BACK WHENFrom Walt Halaja

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The Way we were, cont’d

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HOW ABS WORKSFrom Kevin Hart

Kev, who is on top of all the latest technical stuff sentthis over for those of us who keep seeing all that stuffabout ABS (Anti-Lock-Brakes and Braking Systems)and wondering how the heck the stuff works. Wellhere’s how. The dog on the left has the ABS. Notehow s/he never loses traction, but keeps pulsing thebrakes, while the dog on the right without ABS simplylocks up and skids, the latter occurrence, on a motor-cycle leading to loss of control. Next time a buddywonders how ABS works, show ‘em this!

The Way we were, cont’d

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Attention all members who have submitted beginning mileage reports this year -- you know who you are. December has arrived! Please submit your ending mileages before Friday, Jan. 6th 2012. Note: your Dec. 31, 2011 mileage will be your beginning mileage for Jan 1, 2012!

Four Winds Mileage Contest Jan 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011

Ending Mileage Form – Year __2011__ Name: ___________________________________ Address: _________________________________ City: _____________________________________ State: ____________ Zip: _____________ Phone Number: (_______) ___________________ Make / Model / Year Beginning Mileage (ONLY

if not sent in last January!) Ending Mileage

Bike 1

Bike 2

Bike 3

Mileage submitted must be an honest record of the odometer readings for the Motorcycles you currently own, operate and submit for the beginning and end of the 2010 year. You can submit the mileage from one bike or all of the bikes you own. The sum of miles you attain on all of your bikes combined will produce this year’s winner. The highest mileage submitted at the end of the year will win a $25 gift certificate to refill your tank at:

And Note: NEW PRIZES will be offered this year: 2nd Prize: 1 year’s Free 4 Winds Membership 3rd and 4th Prizes: ALL Participants names will be put in the ‘hat’ and 2 will be drawn to receive additional prizes. As the saying goes . . . “It pays to play.”

Mail Form to: Mileage Contest c/o Tim Pears 555 Rose Stop Rd. New Castle, PA 16101 or E-mail to: timndiane@comcast.net

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BARBER MUSEUM!When I stopped at Sub-Technical and Sealguard, Inc. on Valencia Road to pick up the camera that dropped out of my pocket on the way homefrom Hog Fathers, that Scott White, the Warehouse Manager, had found, he, Eric Smith and I got to discussing motorcycles. One of thethings they mentioned was their ride to the Barber Museum. I remember that the Barretts went there and from what Sean also said, that’san awesome place to visit. You’ve seen some of Sean’s pictures. Here are some Scott said he’d send me, and they too are enough to whetthe whistle for taking a nice ride down there to tour the place! It’s sure worth thinking about for a ride one of these days! Thanks for thepictures, Scott! That place is enough to make a motorcyclist drool, so it is!

RALPH

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2012 4-Winds Dues Submission form:

Member Name:__________________________________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________________________

Post Office:__________________________________ State:_________ Zipcode:______________________ Additional Members’ Names (if any):

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Associate Members’ Names (if any):

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Number of Members’ Dues submitted: _________ X $15 = $_____________

Number of Associates’ Dues submitted: _________ X $7.50 = $_____________

Total: $_____________

Please make out your dues check for yourself, and other members and associates in your family to

“4 Winds BMW Riders” and mail it with this completed form to:

Tom Furey, Treasurer

4 Winds BMW Riders of Pittsburgh

1663 Beamer Avenue

New Kensington, PA 15068

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CLEVELAND MOTORCYCLE SHOWHere’s one for your calendars for January. As per usual, the Interna-tional Motorcycle Show manu of us like to attend will be again heldat the Cleveland Ohio I-X Center, One I-X Center Drive,Cleveland, OH 44135, from Friday, January 27th through Sunday,January 29th. If you are driving, or wish to share a ride with otherclub members who hope to or plan to go, you might want to post thatinformation on our 4 Winds Web site. You can buy tickets onlineand find more information at http://www.motorcycleshows.com/cleveland . In years past, depending on the policies of the Interna-tional Motorcycle Show, sometimes European Motorcycles of Pitts-burgh has had available tickets either at a reduced price or free. Ifyou plan on going you might want to check with Lee or Glen or oneof the other folks at European to see if the Show is following thepolicy this year of sending some free or reduced cost tickets to mo-torcycle dealers in the area of their shows. It usually is beneficial toget these tickets or to order them via the internet as they generallycost less that way and one doesn’t have to stand in long slow-movinglines at the show to buy the more expensive tickets at the door.Parking costs for Attendees will be: $8And the Show Hours:Friday, January 27 3:00pm - 9:00pmSaturday, January 28 9:00am - 9:00pmSunday, January 29 9:00am - 5:00pm

BTW, a big Thank You to Lady Di Pears for reminding youreditor to get this in the newsletter!

HOG FATHERS RIDE PIXDue to my camera’s falling out of my pocket and going gebust, Ihadn’t these pictures of the fine ride to Hog Fathers our good friendand ride leader, Ed Syphan (aka. Syphoon, or The Great ‘Phoon) ledavailable for the December Newsletter. I got a refurbished cameraback from Canon, and could thereby down load ‘em, and here theyare:

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WEST BREAKFAST RIDE

DEC. 10, 2011By Walt Halaja

I know, I have missed many West breakfast rides this year and manyof you know why. So yesterday, Friday the 9th of December, I wasthinking, “Should I or shouldn’t I put up a post?” Still undeterminedat approximately 4 PM, I received a phone call from a fellow inter-ested in meeting for breakfast, so, after a short conversation I toldBob (the fellow who called) I would be there and so the post wentup. Really I was thinking it would be just Bob and myself at theBreakfast. So a pleasant surprise was when I checked the Web-Sitein the AM and I read Dave “2 Spark’s” post that he would make 3.“Better yet,” I thought. The biggest surprise was that Carl Hartzcame too. So the four of us had a great breakfast and Bob said hemay join the club next year! Bob rides a 1999 R1100RT and he isunder 60 yrs. old!! I told him we really could use some new mem-bers and will be looking for a President in 2013! Hope I didn’tspook him! Ha! Since Carl and Bob came on 4 wheels it was justDave and me on the bikes. I have to tip my hat to Dave because it’sabout a 40 to 45 mile ride for him just to make Bob Evans so I feltobliged to ride part of his way home. In consequence, off we wenton back roads ‘till we parted at Rt. 50 and 519. Dave headed forLittle Washington while I headed home.

WALT

IT’S TO LAUGH

Definition found and sent in by Big Al Vangura

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRANDMOTHERS &GRANDFATHERS

Have you ever wondered what the difference isbetween Grandmothers and Grandfathers?

Well, here it is: There was this loving grandfatherwho always made a special effort to spend timewith his son’s family on weekends. Every Saturdaymorning he would take his 7-year-oldgranddaughter out for a drive in the car for somequality time — just him and his granddaughter.

One particular Saturday, however, he had a badcold and really didn’t feel like being up at all. Heknew his granddaughter always looked forward totheir drives and would be disappointed. Luckily, hiswife came to the rescue and said that she wouldtake their granddaughter for the drive.

When they returned, the little girl anxiously ranupstairs to see her grandfather who was still in bed.

“Well, did you enjoy your ride with grandma?” heasked.

“Oh, yes, Grandpa, it was really wonderful. But wedidn’t see a single Bumhole, piece of crap, horse’srear, blind dimbulb, dipstick, Arab goat humper,Bullhockey slinger, or son of a brick anywhere wewent!”

Almost brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?

AL

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Four Winds BMW Ridersc/o Ralph Meyer, Editor6056 Meadow LaneBakerstown, PA 15007-9720

DIRECTIONS TO THE BANQUET:See pp. 6 & 7 for information and the registration form. The annual

banquet will be held Saturday, January 21st at the Best Western Park-way Center beginning with happy hour from 6:00 to 7:00 PM and ban-quet to follow. Registrations must be in Tom Furey, our treasurer’shands NO LATER THAN JANUARY 14th so as to submit a countof attendees to the Parkway Center!

Directions to the Best Western Parkway Center Greentree:FROM DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH: Follow signs for 376 West

towards the airport. You will eventually pass over the Fort Pitt Bridgeand through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. As you exit the tunnel you will con-tinue on 376 West towards the airport. Go 2 miles and take Exit 4BParkway Center. Travel up the ramp and hotel is on the right.

FROM THE SOUTH HILLS: Take Route 19 North (WashingtonRoad) and follow it to Cochran Road. Turn left onto Cochran Road andfollow to Green Tree Road (Route 121 North). Bear right onto GreentreeRoad. Continue on Greentree Road. It crosses over 376 overpass andstraight to the hotel on the right.

FROM THE WEST: Follow 376 Parkway West towards Pittsburgh.Take Exit 4A. At light turn left onto Greentree Road. Greentree Roadcrosses over 376 overpass. Continue on Greentree Road to the hotelon the right.

HOW DO I JOIN

FOUR WINDS BMWRIDERS?

To join, come to a meeting and introduceyourself. Meetings are listed here in theNewsletter and in the schedule of eventson the Web Site, www.4windsbmw.org.

Membership dues are $15 per year for pri-mary membership, and $7.50 per year forassociate members residing in the samehousehold as a primary member.