September 11,2011…What an auspicious date, there is probably not one of us who can’t remember just where they were ten years ago on this morning. As we motor in for our breakfast/meeting this morning I reflect on that date and all the changes it has brought to our lives. The tragedy of the attacks, two wars, airport security, I know that we will never forget but we will not bury our faces in the past either, we will look forward to the future and many more unblemished early fall mornings. It is foggy as we leave Holland this morning, really foggy, visibility is only 1/10 to ¼ mile all the way to Standale. Upon our arrival, which was a few minutes late because we had to travel at 35mph much of the way, we join others also just arriving and mosey on into the restaurant and get seated with the rest of our group.

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: Oct.16, 2011 (3rd Sunday), Nov. 13, 2011 (2nd Sunday)

A big welcome to our newest member, Bob Childers from Pentwater, MI. Bob’s been riding BMW’s since 1960 and currently has a 1964 R60/2 as well as a stable of other bikes. We’re looking forward to meeting him at one of our upcoming breakfast/meetings.

CLUB RIDES: Our next ride will be after the October Breakfast. The Ride departs at 10:30 am. Our destination will be Duke’s Cajun Grille, Portland, MI. We are always open for ideas or suggestions for future rides.

MICHIGAN DESTINATIONS 2011...You should be working on these, personal favorites, any five places that are your favorite destinations in Michigan with at least one being in the UP. These need to be completed and submitted by Nov. 15th, 2011. If you have completed your destinations forward your pictures or proofs to Bill Hankinson at 497 Timberlake Dr. W., Holland, MI. 49424 or bring them to the next breakfast/meeting. If you need further info contact Bill Hankinson.

Phil & Roxanne Nellis turned in their Michigan Destination documentation. They choose a lighthouse tour for their destinations and logged in fourteen of them in all. There were seven on Lake Huron from Port Huron north to St. Ignace, three on Lake Superior from Whitefish Point to Ontonagin and four on Lake Michigan from Seul Croix Point in the UP to the White River light at Whitehall.

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.

Oct. 7-9th, 36th Falling Leaf Rally, Potosi, MO.
Oct. 16, 2011, (3rd Sunday) Our annual club “Color Tour” ride. To a joint destination with the Saginaw Valley BMW Riders and the Battle Creek BMW Club.
Oct. 22, 2011, Saturday, Scavenger Hunt, Sponsored by the Battle Creek BMW Club, Meet at BMW of GR 9:00AM

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; 1 – Lg @ $16.00 ea, 3– 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.

September Breakfast/Meeting......................................………………………………………..…….by Bill Hankinson
Upon our arrival for breakfast this morning we are greeted by good group of riders. There are 21 of us, including Bill and Barb Dirkmaat, sure was great to have them back at breakfast with us. Also present this morning were Theresa, one of Bill’s caregivers and also a motorcycle rider, Phil & Roxanne Nellis, Tony & Colleen Wolfer, Mike Hankinson, Gordon Hankinson, Donna Sienko, Kristy Hollingsworth, Larry Schwallier, Jim Weber, Bill & Virginia Lane, Allan Dewey, Bill & Joanne Hankinson, Dave & Linda Wilson and Dan Shultz. As usual, a lively and talkative group. As we had our first cups of coffee and got our orders placed we attended to a couple of business items. Two potential new logos were circulated for input from the members present; a card for Bob Swanson also made the rounds. The logo choice was very close, 10 for the blue & white background and 9 for the flag background. I will submit it to the MOA for approval and we will make the changes to our brochure and letterhead after we get the approval. Our breakfast’s arrive and Mike Hankinson circulated an email that he had received from John & Diane Obermeyer who purchased a Ural sidecar rig out in Washington state and toured down to visit a daughter in San Diego and will be back here for breakfast with us in October. As always, there are way more conversations and topics going on around the table for anyone to keep up with it all. The bills are paid, the last visits to the bathrooms are made, and we exit the restaurant and make our way to the parking lot where the fog has abated substantially and we will get our ride underway. We bid Bill & Barb goodbye and hope to see them at breakfast next month if not before.

More Random Musings..............................................…………………………....……………..…….by Bill Hankinson
I am pleased to advise all of you that we have a volunteer to assume the Secretary/Treasurer position. Phil Nellie will take on those responsibilities effective in the next month or so. Bill Dirkmaat will continue to do our club newsletter as soon as he is able to do so. A big Thank You to Phil!!

We are still moving ahead with the new logo program. At our last breakfast I circulated a couple of ideas and got many comments and suggestions. The modified version of our old logo seemed to generate the most positive feedback. I have submitted those suggestions to our designer and had some additional logos for you to consider at the Sep. breakfast. As I mentioned above, the logo with the blue & white background was the popular winner by a mere one vote.

Mr. Art Haley of the Battle Creek BMW Club contacted me to see if we would be interested in participating in a “Scavenger Hunt” that they are organizing. I advised that I was sure that there would be a contingent that would like to do so. The date would be Saturday, Oct. 22nd. The meeting place would be BMW of GR at 9:00AM and returning there for a Pot Luck after the successful hunt. Mark up your calendars and more details will be forthcoming as they are available.

Looking ahead, we have moved our breakfast/meeting in October to the third Sunday, Oct. 16th; to accommodate any of our members who are planning on attending the “Falling Leaf Rally” in Potosí, MO. on Oct 7th – 9th we have found that we actually have better “color” if we have our ride a little later in the month. We will be joined at our destination, Duke’s Cajun Grille, in Portland, MI. by both the Saginaw Valley BMW Riders and the Battle Creek BMW Club. This should be great fun, BMW’s will rule Portland.

For you “IronButt” riders out there, there is a Great Lakes 100 planned this month. This is a 100 hour ride around all the “Great Lakes”, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, approximately 2,450 miles. It will be leaving White Pigeon, MI. on Thursday, Sep. 22nd at 4:30PM. If you want to participate, contact Jim VanDenBerghe at vandenbe@triton.net

Thought for the Month: Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Historical Note: Gas prices, Sep. 6, 2010. $2.759/gal

September Ride Report...................……………………………………………………………..........…by Bill Hankinson

As we congregate in the parking lot and make ready for our ride today, we still have some fog evident but visibility is much better now than at 9:00AM. Once again we have a nice group of riders consisting of the following; Bill & Joanne Hankinson, Jim Weber, Dave & Linda Wilson, Tony & Colleen Wolfer, Bill & Virginia Lane, Dan Shultz and our tail riders, Phil & Roxanne Nellis. We are off at the appointed hour and head east and south, dropping down into the Grand River valley and following its western bank and then crossing the Grand River at Grandville. We do our one ride on the expressway here, about 2 miles, to get past the commercialism that stands in the way of our ride. We exit the freeway and continue south along the western side of Ottawa county, nice farm country here, lots of corn and beans and beans and corn. At $7.26/bushel for corn and $14.17/bushel for soybeans, there are a lot of bucks standing in those fields. As we enter Allegan county the road is a bit more hilly and we descend to the banks of the Kalamazoo river, more accurately, the backwaters of the Allegan Dam, and follow the north shore to the dam, cross the river, climb back out of the valley and encounter a little stretch of dirt road for the GS riders among us. We then follow the south shore east to Allegan where we make our rest stop. After taking care of necessities and refreshments, we mount up and continue on our way. The fog has all disappeared by now and there is some shedding of gear as it is getting warmer. We are still heading south, jogging east and west as the roads demand us, crossing into Van Buren county. This leg takes us through Gobles and on east, then south again, nice rolling country, lots of vistas across the valleys, good road and bad road surfaces but as seasoned BMW riders we can deal with it. There are some nice roads on this stretch, some of which we have never ridden before, nice curves, tree tunnels and all. We arrive in Paw Paw, wend our way through town and park at the St. Julian Wine Co. as in years past. We agree to meet back at our parking spot at 3:00PM and go for lunch. We all enjoy the wine tasting, sampling the host of varieties available at both of the local vineyards which can be a lot of samples. We meet back up with the group at 3:00, less Dan Shultz, who opted to visit his parents, and adjourn for dinner at the Acapulco Café in Lawrence. This is a great little authentic Mexican place that we have visited before. After our lunch/dinner, lupper or whatever you choose to call it, we headed home, more or less as a group but shed members along the way as they choose their own way home. We did notice some sure signs that fall is coming, some red sumac, trees with color, even the weeds along the road are different this time of year. All in all, another great day, great ride, and especially great company.

FOR SALE: Two chrome plated steel rims for early “R” bikes. Brand NEW, still in factory wrappings. One complete generator system off 1981 R100: Rotor, stator, diode board, and wiring harness. (Replaced with a 450 watt EnDuraLast System) Contact John at 616-301-4298.

WANTED: A left side battery cover for an “85” to “95” R100RT, BMW Part # 46 631 452 435, contact Bill Hankinson, 616-786-3645 or billandjo09@yahoo.com

Lots of room for additional items, just let us know and we will put your item in next month’s newsletter, also check out the Free Swap Meet coming up next month at BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids.

09.12.2011 | Grattan Track Day
We are having a track day. The price is $150.00 and includes lunch. We will have an S1000RR there to demo ride on the track. We just need your charge card to cover the $1,000.00 deductible if something happens. Call Andy Nitsos or Blane Kamp to sign up.

09-24-2011, Free Swap Meet.
Well, we’re going to try it again, hopefully we’ll have better weather this time. Come in and set up a table, sell off your bike or out of your pick-up truck, anything motorcycle related. No charge for a spot, just set up on the north side of the lot or in the empty lot to the north of us.

The last of the last page

Our club has suffered another member accident; Bob Swanson hit a deer on Labor Day and sustained some serious injuries. There was internal bleeding which required the removal of his spleen and gall bladder. He also broke all his ribs on the left side, has left shoulder injuries and a bruised spine. He is currently at Spectrum Health – Butterworth Hospital, room 4006 and his telephone number there is 616-391-7921. A visit or a card would be most welcomed. I stopped at the hospital on Friday, Sep. 9th, to see Bob. He is in good spirits. He has a tube going down his throat that bothers him but other than that he says that he is doing quite well as long as they don’t take his morphine pump away. He did ask the doc when he would be able to ride again and was told, “probably not anymore this year” and “when can I go home?”, “when you’re ready” was the reply. The best guess is that he will probably be there another week before he gets to go home.

The following was received via email from Bob’s wife Jan on 9/11;

Hello everyone! Well today is Sunday.. Bob is doing very well.. His back is bothering him but the pain meds are doing their thing. He is off the morphine pump and on oral drugs. The NG tube to his stomach has been removed, and he received liquid food today. Tea,juice,beef broth, jello. He said it was the best tea he ever had.. He never drinks tea!!!! He is walking the complete unit, and the steps in rehab room.. very good for an old man he said! If things keep going like they have he will be home soon... Everyone have a wonderful evening... Jan

The following note was received via email on Aug. 21st and included for your information.

Hello Everyone,
Just thought I'd say hello and give you an update. I have moved from Mary Free Bed to the Inn at Mary Free Bed. I am no longer an inpatient at MFB, but now do out-patient therapies. I have seen my surgeon for my right arm/shoulder last Wed. and she told me that the healing is good and at about 80%. She gave the go ahead to do full range of motion, both active and passive, 3+ times a day as tolerated. I also can put weight bearing on it. This will allow me more things to learn. On Sept. 12th I see the hand specialist for my left wrist which has a fracture on the small bone at the base of the thumb. This will need to be fused to the wrist. The hand specialist wants the right arm/shoulder to be able to bear weight. Once this is determined, then the wrist will be operated on and I'll have 8 weeks of non weight bearing on that arm. All this should go fast.I will be getting transportation available to me sometime this week, on Wed. or thereafter. This will allow me to go places when I want. So I hope to be coming to the next breakfast. If you would like to stop by and visit, the address is 360 Lafayette Ave. SE. Go up the parking ramp to level 4, and as you enter that level of the ramp, the Inn at Mary Free Bed is on your left. I am in room 5. Give me a call at 616-340-4440 and let me know your plans and I can tell you where I'm at or if it'll work for me. Looking forward to seeing you again.

Thanks for all your prayers and visits,
Bill Dirkmaat.

The following was received via email on Aug. 30th;

Hello Everyone,

Bill was moved from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to The Inn at Mary Free Bed on Friday, August 12 which was also his birthday. The Inn is accessible from either Mary Free Bed (via the sky ramp - follow the signs) or the Mary Free Bed Parking Ramp (level 4). You may access the parking ramp at 360 Lafayette (corner of Wealthy). When you arrive you may pick up the phone and dial 2798 or after 7 p.m. call security for entrance. Any cards should be sent to:

Bill Dirkmaat
c/o The Inn at Mary Free Bed Room 5
360 Lafayette S.E.
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Bill will be at the Inn until renovations are completed at our home which may be approximately four or five months. It is a long involved process but is in the planning stages at this time. A contractor and architect were at our house on August 11th and we should have the final drawing emailed to us today or tomorrow. Everything is subject to the insurance company's approval. Three estimates are required and the insurance company chooses which one will be doing the job. The Inn is very nice but only one meal is provided - a continental breakfast. All other meals are on your own. I usually make dinner and bring it there. Bill's Mom has brought him soup, chili and of course, cookies. There is a mini fridge, cabinets, counter and small sink. I have snacks, canned goods, food for lunches, etc. There is a large Dining Lounge with a microwave oven, television and plenty of room. He had been eating his meals in there until he got a microwave oven and another fridge - compliments of his brother. We are borrowing those until Bill is able to return home. He has 24/7 care through Health Care Associates and so far it is working very well. The insurance company finally agreed to rent a van for us to use while Bill is at the Inn. That was delivered last Friday and we took our first day trip on Saturday. We left at 11:00 a.m. and returned at 7:00 p.m. He is able to ride in the front passenger seat - with that seat removed and his wheelchair secured with tie downs. Once Bill is at home the insurance company will be purchasing a vehicle for him to use. Bill is also doing continuum therapy at Mary Free Bed for two hours three days per week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He would like to add more therapy time if possible so we will see what the future brings. I bought some "free weights" for him to use when in his room. His attitude continues to be very positive. He does enjoy having visitors so please feel free to visit him whenever you can. Call his cell phone (616) 340-4440 or mine (616) 540-5165 to find out his schedule. For those of you who have taken the time to visit Bill, we appreciate it very much. Those of you who have hesitated at visiting him for whatever reason, there is no time like the present to do that. It will do you good to see how well he is doing in spite of his limitations. Whenever God closes a door, He opens a window.

Thank you for your continuing thoughts and prayers. There is no such thing as too many prayers.

With Our Love and God's Blessings,
Barb and Bill Dirkmaat

So be careful out there, we certainly don’t need any more accidents among our members.

Ride safe, ride often!!!

Bill Dirkmaat,11801 Hoskins NE, Cedar Springs, Mi. 49319
Home: 616-263-9110 or Cell: 616-340-4440 or email at wmbmwriders@charter.net