As I travel down memory lane in my mind, I recall 2012 starting off with one of my favorite biker events of the year, the International Motorcycle Show in NYC. Oh what fun it is to attend the motorcycle show with Carmella every year! On February 4, Dino and I attended the Hells Angels Groundhog party and enjoyed some lobster, scallops and shrimp with our red and white friends. The Highwaymen MC Winter Blowout was held on February 11 and I was lucky to make it to that one. On February 25, Hank and I travelled to Syracuse to meet Carmella at the Sons of Sam Winter Party, then back home to attend the 69ers Open House that same night. Now THAT was fun! In March I visited a few clubhouses that I had never been to, including the Caretakers MC. April was a busy month for Carmella, as she advocated in Syracuse and in Albany for biker’s rights, especially after two motorcycle tragedies within one week in her hometown. Dino and I rode with the Hells Angels at their bike blessing on April 21, and I had a blast at the Rolling Pride MC Winter Party on April 28 - great bunch of guys! My book, “The Gloves Come Off,” was published on April 24 and my father had a visitor from Italy named Diego Santalucia, who was pictured in my Lisa’s Peace in May. Satan Cycles opened their doors for an anniversary party in early May and I was able to bring my son for a day of old-fashioned fun in Selkirk with the Satan crew. Of course we all travelled to Washington, D.C. for Rolling Thunder during Memorial Day weekend and I experienced the TAPS program for the first time. I had my first book signing event at Humpy’s at the beginning of June which was extremely successful. The New York Rider Rally was held at the end of June, and although I couldn’t make it since I was on my family vacation in Wildwood, New Jersey, I heard from many people that it was a great event and Carmella looks forward to the next one in the Summer of 2013. The Warlocks Hudson Valley 4th anniversary party was at the Bad Pig on June 16 and I brought some books to sell and had a great conversation with John Boudreau Sr., father of John and Ernie, both of whom are featured in my book. Carmella and I had tons of fun with the 69ers at their Bash #13, spending most of our time with Eddie and his friend Al from Ohio. Despite a busy summer, with Dino being absent most weekends due to weddings, I managed to make it to the Boozefighters Chapter 60 Summer party on August 11. The Highwaymen MC celebrated their anniversary on August 18 and we were all there to party with them! I had the pleasure of meeting a “fan” of mine, Tommy, from Florida, at that party. The 69ers MC and the Highwaymen MC held their East Meets West event at the Hillview on September 8, a very chilly, MUDDY day for all, but of course we still had fun and stayed dry in Carmella’s camper! The We Care Ride was on September 9, in collaboration with the Siller Foundation and Rolling Thunder, to build a home for Joe Wilkinson, a local Veteran. Catskill Mountain Thunder was really interesting this year with Satan Cycles winning the biker build-off once more, and Judy and Mike Humphrey adding to the fun by bringing their camper and staying the whole weekend. Carmella and I spent a night and a day with the Goat Brothers at their Swapmeet in early October, then witnessed the grand opening of the American Biker Culture Law Library in Ilion, New York on October 7. With the help of the Hells and Angels and many local clubs, a very successful benefit run was held on October 27 for a local girl suffering from Hodgkins Lymphoma. I attended two hunger drives with the Boozefighters (Chapters 60 and 147) and I know the needy families of Troy and Catskill, NY, had a nicer Thanksgiving because of those clubs. Colleen and I went to Salem, Massachusetts, and met some interesting people at a biker bar in Lynn, Massachusetts. The Hells Angels Nomads collected Toys for Tots on December 1 while Lee Sikes from Broadway Choppers in Schenectady held his own Toy drive. The Bike Nights at Humpy’s all year have been a lot of fun and I thank Judy and Mike for keeping so many of us together as friends and for giving us all a home on Thursday nights! As I write this, I am looking forward to THIS year’s motorcycle show in NYC and to meeting more New York Riders in the New Year. Peace to all !
Have a Safe and Happy New Year!
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