Geezer with a Grudge: All the News that Didn't Fit

Nov 15, 2009

All the News that Didn't Fit

AMA Trial des Nations Team Goes to Italy
This year's AMA team (Will Ibsen, Patrick Smage, Cody Webb and Keith Wineland) will be competing in Darfo Boario Terme, Italy on September 19-20. AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley said, "The Trial des Nations represents the pinnacle of the sport and is a big part of our international racing effort. Team USA will face a world-class challenge in Italy this year, but we're sending a world-class team that will make America proud." Last year's team placed 7th in the event. Patrick Smage is an Elkhorn, Wisconsin native and is a three-time AMA/NATC National Trials Champion and the winner of the 2009 national title. This is his 3rd TdN, although he missed last year's event because of a back injury.

Buster's Hates Bikers
According to MMM's Kevin Kocor, Buster's on 28th is a fairly biker-hostile environment. According to Kevin, "Twice now they have refused our patronage. Once, they told us we could sit outside, but we had to order our drinks inside and we couldn't order food for the patio. It was early in the season, and cold - but not unreasonable.

"Tonight [8/26/09] - they kicked us off the patio and said that it was reserved seating after I had gone inside and verified that it was 'seat yourself' - it turns out that Buster's prefers money from their own Softball League and not Scooter people. Shortly after we got up - the team that Buster's sponsors replaced us."

Philadelphia Parking
The Philadelphia Parking Authority is creating motorcycle zones in the downtown business district. The spaces will cost $1/hour, half the car rate.

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The Geezer Story

I stumbled upon this column name (Geezer with a Grudge) almost 20 years ago, in 1999. The first Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly editor I worked with, in late 1999, complained that the magazine was getting no mail and the editors wanted to know if any readers were still out there. I fired off a sarcastic note, as a joke, intended to provide a little humor and some feedback. He published it as an article and later called me to say he'd received more mail on that letter than he'd received in the past year! I followed that with an offer to write a monthly column attempting to piss off a particular section of the magazine's readership to see if that tactic would generate some mail.

It did, probably more regularly than the magazine wanted at times, and I wrote a monthly column for MMM until the magazine died in 2018.

I plan to post an occasional old Geezer article into the blog, followed by short comments about the current status of my perspective on our activity/sport/vehicle of choice.