April 18, 2010…Here it is a week since the last club breakfast and ride. We’ve had the rollercoaster weather this week again, reaching both ends of the thermometer. Today had a frosty start this morning and at this moment, 4PM, it is sunny but cool. I’ve placed myself at the computer to get this month’s newsletter done. The week has not given me a free moment to start it, so now is it. I’ve ridden the bike to work some of the past days and taken the longer way home on occasion. It feels great to have the two wheels guiding me along. You can tell that the riding season is starting. There are more motorcycles being seen and heard. The events are beginning and we will have to make choices as to which ones and where we will go. I hope to be able to make the two larger (BMW MOA and BMW RA) rallies this year, along with some more localized events. One of these that you may want to look into is the ROCK-n-RUMBLE Charity Ride. It is being held on Saturday June 26th. Club member Chip Hurley is the chairperson for this event for the ALS Association. Many of the local events are posted at the dealership on the bulletin board. The club’s Michigan Destinations for 2010 will also give you a reason to ride. The only thing left would be to go out and do it. Do ride safe and I hope to see you sometime, somewhere, or someplace down the road………………………………………………………………………………………Bill Dirkmaat
Speaking of rides, club member Chip Hurley is the chairperson for the ALS Rock and Rumble Charity Run to be held on Saturday, June 26th. See the particulars in the last of the page section. If you could make this it would be greatly appreciated.
Go through that closet and if you have items you no longer need or use and would like to sell, call me at 616-340-4440,or email wmbmwriders@charter.net , and I’ll list it in the Member Want Ads.
The next breakfast/meeting will be on May 16th (3rd Sunday) , at 9am. A ride is scheduled to the Blessing of the Bikes in Baldwin, departing at 10:15AM.

PREMISE for the CLUB: There are a number of local riders who would like to get together with other riders once in a while. Most everyone is “busy”, so a local club is not intended to be the focal point of anyone’s social life.
The CLUB’S GOAL: To provide an occasional opportunity for area riders to get together for conversation and to ride with other BMW enthusiasts.

CLUB EVENT DATES TO REMEMBER:
BREAKFAST/MEETINGS: All Breakfast/Meetings are held on the second Sunday of the month unless otherwise notified. We meet at 9:00 AM at: NEW BEGINNINGS RESTAURANT, 4735 Lake Michigan Dr., Standale, Mi. They are ¼ mile west of Wilson Ave. Their phone number is 616-735-4902.
Upcoming dates: May 16, 2010 (3rd Sunday), June 13, 2010 (2nd Sunday), July 11, 2010( 2nd Sunday).

CLUB RIDES: There is a ride scheduled for May 16th, to the Blessing of the Bikes in Baldwin, after the breakfast. Stay tuned for the rest of the 2010 schedule.

MICHIGAN DESTINATIONS 2010: Well here it is…….. we will be making those places that we use to give us a rest in between our journey to destinations, our destinations this year. What you ask is he talking about? Well, I was pondering over the state map from 2009 and it was staring me right in the face. The cover of the map had the answer to my question of where to go. Michigan Roadside Parks and Scenic Turnouts will be the stops for this year. I have picked out five of them as required and you will also have to add two more of your own choosing.

CLUB NEWSLETTER: Mailed or emailed on a monthly basis. If you have any concerns or contributions you may contact me, William Dirkmaat at: 11801 Hoskins NE, Cedar Springs, MI. 49319. Phone: 616-263-9110, cell-616-340-4440 or wmbmwriders@charter.net

OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST: Please note that you may obtain more information in the BMW MOA ON and BMW RA OTL magazines for some of these events. More local events can be found posted on the bulletin board at the shop.

April 30, May 1-2, 2010, Battle Creek BMW Club Mini Rally, Sturgis, Mi.
July 15–18, 2010; 38th BMW MOA National Rally, Redmond, Oregon. www.bmwmoa.org
July 29-August 1, 2010; BMW RA National Rally, Pownal, Vermont. www.bmwra.org

CLUB T-SHIRTS and SWEATSHIRTS:

The available shirts and sweatshirts are as follows:

T-Shirts:

ASH
blue & red print / no pocket; 3 – Lg @ $8.50 ea, 9 – XL @ $8.50 ea
blue & red print / with pocket; 3 – XL @ $9.50 ea

BLACK
white print / no pocket; 3 – XL @$8.50 ea
white print / with pocket; 2 – XL @ $9.50 ea

WHITE
blue & red print / no pocket; 1 – Sm @ $8.50 ea

Sweatshirts:

ASH
blue & red print; 3 – Lg @ $16.00 ea, 5– XL @ $16.00 ea

BLACK
white print; 3 – XL @ $16.00 ea

Call Bill D. at 616-263-9110, or 616-340-4440 if you would like to have one of these.

More Random Musings… April 2010………………………………………..…….by Bill Hankinson
Well, here we are back in good old Michigan. We did indeed have a great time in Mexico again this year. It was so good that we booked the same place for next year. Couple of additional notes from Mexico, we did spot a few more BMW’s before we left. A couple of local guys from Guadalajara, one on a R1200GS and one on a R1150GS, both very friendly and very happy with their bikes. We also met a guy from Alberta, Canada that had moved down here last winter and trailered his 08, R1200GSA down, he had ridden it to dinner. It is good to be home again and we are enjoying Spring. I have put a new rear tire and brake shoes on the LT and changed the fluids in both bikes and they should be ready to ride anywhere, anytime. I’m looking forward to a good riding season again this year.
The MOA Mileage contest results are in for 2009. Michigan had 89 finishers with a total of 851,758 miles. That calculates out to an average of 9,570 miles per finisher. Our club had seven finishers for a total of 72, 597 miles, an average of 10,371, putting us ahead of the state average. Jerry Arnett was our high mileage entry with 16,210. Interesting fact: I missed the Average Mileage Award by 111 miles!!! Our Club was down from our 2008 results, fewer finishers equals fewer miles. The 2010 contest started April 10 and entry forms are available in the April issue of the Owners News or online at www.bmwmoa.org Here’s hoping that all our MOA members will enter the contest this year.
Some of you will remember the MSF Seasoned Rider Course that we did back in November. There is now an online MSF test on rider perception that you can do on your own. It is kind of neat, and if you can, give it a look; www.mfs-usa.org/riderperception/. YOU will be tested later. Thanks to Mike Hankinson for sharing this resource.

If you haven’t checked out the new WMBMWR website, DO SO, it is AWESOME, www.wmbmwr.com. Thanks to our webmaster, Kristy Hollingsworth. Where is that curvy road???

Looking ahead, things that you and your motorcycle will enjoy;
Apr. 25, Lakeshore Blessing of the Bikes, Ottawa County Fairgrounds, Ottawa Beach Rd.
              Holland, Mi. Gates open at 10:00AM, Blessing at 2:00PM, donation $5.00/bike
              www.blessingofthebikes.com
May 15, BMW-GR, Spring is Here Open House, 9:00AM to 3:00PM
May 16, WMBMWR Monthly Ride, Baldwin Blessing of the Bikes, Gates open at 9:00 Blessing at 1:00PM, Donation
              $5.00/person
May 29, Old Iron Bridge Motorcycle Show, Allegan, MI., 8:00AM to 3:30PM, for details               www.oldironbridgemotorcycleshow.com

Thought for the Month: Only bikers understand why dogs love to stick their heads out of car windows.
Historical Note: Gas prices, 1 year ago…………$2.059/gal

April Ride Report………………………………………..…….by Bill Hankinson
Here we go again, another riding season has begun. Our first ride this year started out under sunny skies at 54 degrees. We had eight bikes and eleven riders, Bill & Joanne Hankinson took the lead, followed by Phil Nellis, Alan Cunningham, Bill & Virginia Lane, Larry Schwailler & Kristy Hollingsworth, Dave Wilson, Bill Dirkmaat and Mark Schantz took the tail position. Our route takes us west, following the Grand River, we are on top of the bluffs on the east side making for some nice views over the valley. We cross the river at Eastmanville and continue west about ¾ of the way across Ottawa county, then we turn south, working our way between Zeeland and Holland to a point just to the east of Drenthe. Here we veer east and follow 142nd St. which is also a ridge and gives us great views of the rolling farm country. Eventually we head south again with our rest stop in Allegan as our target. As we arrive there we are joined by Steve Cooper. He had driven his cage to breakfast, realized the error of his ways, left after breakfast to get his bike and join the ride. Taking care of the necessities, gas, refreshment and potty stop, we continue west, now following the Kalamazoo River. We cross it twice, once at the Allegan Dam, which was pretty crowded with fisherman, and continue west to 66th St. Here we swing south, more farms and orchards and rolling country. On this leg we encounter another BMW rider, Ned from Glenn, riding a R1200C, who tagged along for the rest of the ride. Just into the north edge of Van Buren County we once again turn east, on Phoenix Rd., toward our destination. Our route even included a mile of gravel just for the GS rider. We arrived at the restaurant at about 2:00PM, a quick table shuffle provided seating for all thirteen of us. A great Chinese repast and conversations were enjoyed by all. Afterwards we all found our own way home. I sure hope that the great weather was a harbinger for all our future rides this season.

FOR SALE: 1997 Ford E-150 Conversion Van, Excellent condition, 98,000 miles, 4.6L V8, towing package. Contact Jim Scott at 616-550-9480.

See them at the Lakeshore Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday April 25th, and on April 30th to May 2nd at the 37th annual Mini-Rally.
May 15, 2010…Spring is Here --- Open House. Just a destination ride open house to get you out for a ride and to sign up for some door prizes. Saturday from 9-3.
Check out their website for current events and specials.

The last of the page;

* A hearty WELCOME aboard to new members: Gala van’t Schip from Ionia and Michael Ryan from Spring Lake.

* A little update as to my working status. As some of you know, I had started a new job on Feb. 1 of this year after being laid off and having my job terminated last year. It is going well for me and I am happy with my new place of employment. At present we are very busy and I have been working a lot of hours. I find that between work, eating and sleeping, there is not much time. So, please bear with me as I attempt to get your newsletters out to you in a timely manner. If I happen to forget something or get something wrong, email me and I will send out updates or corrections by email as necessary. Thank you for your understanding.

* Check out the club website……it has a new look!!!! Thanks to Kristy Hollingsworth for the surprising new look.

* I had talked to Homer last week Sunday, he is scheduled to go in for another surgery on May 6th. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he prepares for this.

* Any and all contributions for the newsletter is welcome. Share your experiences with your fellow members. Till next month, be happy and be safe.

Bill Dirkmaat, 11801 Hoskins NE, Cedar Springs, MI. 49319.
Phone: 616-263-9110, cell-616-340-4440 or wmbmwriders@charter.net