SEPTEMBER 2012

Mad Hatters MC Pg. 4

Granting Wishes Pg. 8

Motorcycle Madness Pg. 10

Readers Rides Pg. 19

Photos and story by Ricky J. Carrasco

Mad Hatters MC & Candlelighters

"We appreciate that the Mad Hatters and the El Paso bikers have supported us for a long time now. I know they will be there through several of our upcoming events including the Guns and Hoses baseball event (EPPD vs EPFD) later and the Walk of Hope at Ascarate next month. The entire Coalition comes out, not just for us but for other kids' charities like the Child Crisis Center, the Ronald McDonald House and so on," says Mary Vasquez, who's been with the Candlelighters for over 17 years. this are important to keep it going to help out the kids and their families.

Peggy Schuster, Director of

Child Life Services at the Children's Hospital at Providence West, described it well when the event at the hospital was almost over. "Well, that certainly was a learning experience! I know my brothers-in-law are bikers, but I'm amazed at the sheer number of bikers and that they are united for a single cause!" In fact, I report almost weekly from biker events all over the city where bikers from every patch, every walk of life, every kind of bike and occupation, come together for a common cause. Every week, a club has chosen to adopt a cause and works to raise money and awareness for it amongst their brother, and sister, bikers.

This weeks run was the 5th annual Mad Hatters MC run to benefit the El Paso Candlelighters. The Candlelighters provide family assistance for young cancer patients. They provide financial assistance for such things as transportation, medical equipment, even food and

hotel stays for family when the kids are under treatment out of town and away from home. They even provide scholarships for students who survive their illness and wish to continue their education. Since the organization works largely from donations, events like

Mad Hatter President La Bala stated that his club would like to continue working this kind of charity event and creating new

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events that support children. When asked how the public reacts to their presence at such a mainstream even like the Walk of Hope, one of his members said, "It's like breaking the ice. They get to meet us as individuals. We greet them cordially. We speak to them about supporting the community and their kids usually want to get on the bikes for a ride! There have always been personnel changes within our club over the years, but the mission to be in the community and help remains the same. Aside from the money that we ourselves bring in, we also provide a little bit of an edge, some extra excitement to the event. Many of the kids have either never seen or heard a Harley close up or even

I, for one, know how important it is to build those bridges, not just with the kids, but with the community. Many people are not aware that your normal biker with tattoos, leather vests and loud pipes are simply members of the community that wish to be a useful part of that community, albeit a louder, rougher part. As Peggy says it, I know the bikers do a lot of good and events like this serve to change the mentality of the public. The money raised here by the Mad Hatters and the bikers goes to the Candlelighters, and every little bit helps!

dared to ride one. It turns out to be fun for everyone."

How Does the Ride Look for

I really look forward to the

Weather 101

September?

month of September and October my favorite time of the year! We start our mornings off a bit cooler and we typically stay away from triple digit heat and temps in the 90s. If you are planning on doing a lot of riding around the region or the United States for the month of September, here is the latest forecast courtesy of the Climate Prediction Center. One map highlights the precipitation forecast while the other concentrates on the temperatures. As you can see from the computer models, most of the

rain is expected to congregate around Louisiana, Mississippi, Arizona and California. This is the area that is highlighted in green. Unfortunately, it appears that our monsoon is not going to be as great as originally anticipated back in June and July. Of course, this latest forecast may allow bikers to stay a bit drier with fewer uninterrupted moments on the road, at least in our region. As you can see form our area, we will have an equal chance of seeing above normal, normal or below normal rainfall (basically, the computer model having some difficulty deciding what we will see). The temperatures expected for the month of September show El Paso and the region staying a bit above normal for this time of year. Perhaps seeing a bit more readings in the 90s instead of our normal 80s for highs. The center of the heat is where they dont need it, in the Midwest and portions of the plains.

By: Doppler Dave Speelman

What is the average high temperature and the average amount of rainfall for the month of September in El Paso? B. 91 degrees and 1 of rain

Weather Trivia

A. 88 degrees and 1.5 of rain C. 84 degrees and .75 of rain

Catch 'Doppler' Dave Speelman on KVIA Channel 7 or online at www.kvia.com for your most accurate weather reports.

D. 79 degrees and .50 of rain

6 Sun City Biker

Answer: A 88 degrees and 1.5 of rain (for the 30-year average in El Paso).

Courtesy: CPC Precipitation Outlook Courtesy: CPC Temperature Outlook

Photos and story by Ricky J. Carrasco

Granting Wishes

every day. It means an encouragement to continue the fight.

What does it mean to grant a

wish to a sick child? Does it mean that its a sign of the end of a journey, maybe like a trophy or a pennant given at the finish line? Debra Ruz, President of El Paso's "Reach for a Star", would rather think of it as more of a reward for the kids struggling through the fight they endure

In August, Centauros-Socorro Chapter hosted their Reach for Star benefit run that ended with a uniquely Mexican charreada. In addition to the normal barhopping, this run ended at the Lienzo Charro Ajiladero de Horizon with a rodeo demonstration from the charros and a performance by the Escarramuza Paso Del Norte, a Mexican all female trick-riding group. The Lienzo charro is a circular rodeo arena with a long straight-away. There were traditional Mexican foods and treats available that

lent to a completely different atmosphere.

According to Centauro-Socorro President Carlos "Keebler" Castaneda, the run raised more than $2000 by itself (in addition to other fundraisers) to provide more wishes for more sick kids. "Reach for a Star is a very special organization. They help children and we're lucky to be a part of their effort. We hope to continue next year and make the entertainment bigger and better. We had some participation from the bikers, but we would like to make it even more interactive, not just with the bikers, but with

the general public that attends." President Keebler would like to thank Angel Perez Moran, owner of the Lienzo, the charros who donated their performance, and the Escarramuza Paso Del Norte.

Debra Ruz was grateful and excited for this and future biker events. "I thought it was a huge success. I loved the uniqueness and the participation of the bikers with Reach for a Star and the kids we serve. We hadn't had a run in a couple of years and we could always use the donations. All the money we receive will be strictly used to grant wishes only."

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We spoke about some of the kids whose wishes have been granted. We talked about one boy who got to throw out a baseball at a Diablos game, got to meet the Diamond girls and even got to meet Amy from "LA Ink". She spoke about another boy who recently passed away whose main wish was simply an Ipad, granted by Gino at the Black Pearl club and Robert Tapia with the Texas Boxing Commission. She tells me that Ipads have become the number one gift be-

cause many times, the children are limited to their bed, often inside the hospital, with very little access to the outside world. The Ipad becomes their escape to the outside world.

We reminisced about another boy, Angel, who got his wish granted back in March of this year. Debra had put the word out that she was desperate for a biker club to grant a wish to the 7 year old who was clinically day-to-day. He wanted to ride a

real motorcycle and meet the pro-wrestler Sin Cara. The Mission Riders MC were able to make it happen in two weeks. The situation was so urgent because doctors had taken Angel off of his medications and many of his internal organs were beginning to shut down. How powerful can having a wish come true be to a little boy? Debra still keeps in touch with Angel, five months later! As Suky from Mission Riders said, "Angel got more energy and

strength after his wish to keep on going. One of the things that has kept him going is that he watches over his mom and sister alot and he takes the role of being the man of the house. I think meeting his idols gave him that strength to keep on going." Debra is planning to grant 3 wishes a month for the rest of the year. Hopefully, she will report more success stories thanks to the Centauros and the rest of the El Paso biker community.

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Motorcycle Madness at the El Paso Museum of History

By Joe Olvera , 2012 a 1920 Harley Davidson, a 1921 Harley Davidson J, a 1939 Harley Knucklehead, a 1942 Harley War Bike, and other historic motorcycles are currently on display at the El Paso Museum of Art, 510 North Santa Fe Street, and will continue until January 20, 2013. The exhibit will also feature artifacts and other memorabilia, including El Pasos own Buddy Elmores unique racing bike, together with the First-place trophy he won in 1966 at the Daytona 200. His racing leathers will also be part of the display.

Jim Murphy, the museums development director, said that the exhibit will be open to all makes and models. The museum has created an exhibition of unique motorcycles and artifacts that the entire Southwestern community will be impressed with, Murphy said. All of the motorcycles, artifacts and memorabilia are on loan from the Texas and New Mexico motorcycling communities. Included in the festivities is a Motorcycle Family Day, planned for the end of September. Also included in the display will be a 1954 British Matchless, a 1959 Triumph 650, a Ducati 916 SPS Racing Bike, a Honda Volkyrie, a 1986 Suzuki Racing Bike, a GS 1150 Russian ice racer, and a Shovelhead blown fuel racer. Murphy said that there will be a $5 admission charge for non-museum attendees, but will be free for members. Children under six years of age will also be admitted free. Whatever money we raise from the exhibit will be used by the museum to support future exhibitions and for artifact restoration.

Vintage motorcycles, featuring

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Sun City Biker 11

By: David Bear Wren

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Staying Safe on your

By: Ryan Webb

Motorcycle
most dangerous motor vechiles that was ever created is the motorcycle. This was built for speed but not built for protecting the rider. Driving a motorcycle can be extremely dangerous if you don't take the necesaary precautions and are a skilled rider. I have had many friends who have had bikes and have gotten into serious accidents. A couple had broken bones while one lost a couple of fingers. With motorcycles being so dangerous why do people buy them? For one thing it is cheaper to own than a car and of course they are a lot of fun to ride. I myself own a bike and I love riding it on the weekends. When you ride your bike you want to make sure that you are safe and these are some tips to do so. The first tip that is meant for people who just got a bike and don't

have much practice is to make sure you avoid driving on busy roadways until many hours of practice. A lot of the times people by a bike and think they have the skills to ride it but that is very rarely the case. You need practice and you need to make sure you have the skills needed or you could get seriously hurt. Another tip for staying safe while riding your bike is to make sure you wear the proper equipment to protect your body. This includes a helmet, gloves and the proper clothing. You need these things to protect your body just in case you get into an accident. I will say this, the road isn't the softest landing spot and your body will need protection or it will suffer serious injuries. Another tip for staying safe on your motorcycle is to make sure you abide by the laws of the road. Don't go weaving in and out of traffic as this will increase the chances the you will get into an accident. Also make sure you don't go over the speed limit as the faster you go the harder it will be to control your bike. These are some simple tips to consider to help make sure that you are safe while riding you bike on the roadways.

Electric

motorcycle

cles designed for the street.

Without a doubt one of the

tax credit may be extended

"Right now, companies like [electric motorcycle maker] Brammo in Oregon are keeping the American electric vehicle industry on the cutting edge, "Wyden said. "But without an extension of this tax credit for the purchase of electric motorcycles, we could be stifling this innovative new industry in its infancy." Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations, thanked his former U.S. Senate colleague for his efforts. "This credit will benefit familyowned dealers, manufacturers and riders of motorcycles," Allard said. "Also, motorcycles reduce traffic and parking congestion and reduce impacts to our roads and bridges compared with automobiles and light-duty trucks. Electric motorcycles are certain to play an ever-increasing role in motorcycling." The measure now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

From: American Motorcyclist Association

Buyers of on-road electric motorcycles would continue to be eligible for up to a $2,500 tax credit under a bill approved by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the American Motorcyclist Association reports. On Aug. 2, the panel approved bipartisan legislation extending dozens of tax breaks, including language offered by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to preserve the tax credit for buying electric motorcy-

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Las Vegas Bikefest 2012

CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER 2012

Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally The Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally will be held on September 12th, 2012. at the Ruidoso Downs RaceTrack and Casino, The event will feature Live Music, a Scenic Ride, Poker Run, Field Events, Games, Prize Drawings, and Much More! For more info: www.motorcyclerally.com food, vendors, and much more! More information: (817) 9645491 Rumble on the River 2012 Rally The Rumble on the River 2012 Rally will be held from September 20th to 23rd, 2012. in Manseld Park, Bandera, Texas The Rumble on the River 2012 Rally will include live concerts, rides, contests, biker games, bike show, vendors, and much more! For more info: bikerralliesoftexas.com

The Las Vegas Bikefest is a huge annual motorcycle rally held in beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada. There will be live entertainment, live music, poker run, bike shows, over 20,000 bikers and more! The 2012 Las Vegas Bikefest will be held on September 27th, 2012 to September 30th, 2012. For more info visit: www.lasvegasbikefest.com

The 9th annual turkey run will be held on Sept 2nd All proceeds will be used to buy turkeys for the battered womens shelter, Child crisis center, Salvation Army, rescue mission and Vets Home. For more info contact: Hi-Tower 915.474.2295 or Jefe 915.603.6800

New Mexico State HOG Rally 2012 The New Mexico State HOG Rally will be held on September 6th through the 8th 2012. in Albuquerque, New Mexico The event will feature Music, Vendors, Activities, Lodging, Food, Refreshments, and Much More! For more info: (800) 258-2464

4th Annual biker Bash Texas The 4th Annual biker Bash Texas will be held on September 1st to September 3rd, 2012. at Historic Granury Square, Granbury, TX The event includes bike runs, a bike show, live music, delicious

If you would like to have your event listed for all our readers to see please email details to:
events@suncitybiker.com

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ON SUN CITY BIKER!

ROUGH RIDERS MC TURKEY RUN

2nd Annual Bootheel Bike Run The Bootheel Bike Run will be held September 1st, 2012. in Lordsburg, NM Kickstands up at 10:00am. This event includes a scenic ride, bike games, vendors, live music and much more! For more info visit: facebook.com/bootheelbikerun

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Readers & Rides

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Readers & Rides

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4 on The Floor | Motor Toys

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4 on The Floor | Motor Toys

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