Please Let Me Outta Here!

Each year, around the first of July, it becomes increasingly tough for ABM to enjoy riding Florida's long, flat, hot highways. All we can think of is a sea of motorcycles on Main & Lazelle in Sturgis, seeing bikers we haven't laid eyes on since last year, & those we haven't seen in ages. The premliminary word is, as of today, July 23, the "early birds" have begun arriving at the world-renowned mecca of motorcycles, & you thought our July 28 arrival was early?

Betty Blows A Jug:

ABM's bought-at-auction, restored from hell '06 Harley Softail Standard project bike toasted a valve just before we were to head for Meade County, SD. She had probably the dirtiest engine oil we've ever seen inside a running internal combustion mill. Some time later, & an (still as of now) unknown repair bill, the cylinder has been bored, & the burnt valve ground. Our thanks to Scotty of US1 Cycles in Bunnell, Fl, for getting us back on the slab in time to head out for the big party! Dude, I have enough $$'s in this baby to have bought a brand new bike. Ugh. Still, she's a very attractive girl, I guess. At least she hasn't run off with someone else, much like one that talks you into a scilicone implant then runs off with the gardener. It's all about the jugs..always.

Mapquest: Does it really work?

How they do it, I do not know, but when Sturgis was punched in from Florida, we got a figure of 1850 mi vs last year's 2150. The extra miles could have been screwups along the way, or they know something we don't. Before you leave this year, try punching in your location. http://www.mapquest.com/ With gas near four bucks, every mile counts.

Dollar Beer, Dollar Hot Dogs

One of the great Buffalo Chip institutions is that of the dollar beer, dollar dog shack, inside the Buffalo Chip Campground, just outside of Sturgis. Each morning when it opens, there's always a gathering of bikers needing a bud or a miller to get the day started. Bikers from all over the world can appreciate a dollar beer, a dollar dog, & the brotherhood which comes from being some of the cheapest bikers in the campground. Trust me, for what the grocery store charges for a case of Coronas, you cannot afford to drink mexican beer. Hot dogs & beer....What else is there? For starts, the daily biker games, right alongside the picnic tables. Might even give it a try this year. Last year, in the interest of spreading ourselves out in order to give you, the radio listener the greatest degree of total understanding of the Sturgis experience, we stayed in a sedate, down to earth campground, where noise after dark is shunned, & people are expected to behave themselves at all times. We get that at home. When we're in Sturgis, anarchy is the way to go, period. In my humble opinion, there isn't a better place to find it than the Buffalo Chip. Plus, you get Alice Cooper, Foghat, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc as part of the total package. Yeah, it cost more than a hunk of dirt in a national park, but ya get what ya pay for.

Have You Seen Sandy?

Black Betty is Sandy's bike. She'll be blasting around the campground, & downtown Sturgis on that restored '06 black softail, looking for bikers with attitudes & something to say. Embrace the unknown, step up to the microphone & be a biker star!

Your Daily Dose

Catch a different ABM every single day, even if our show's not yet on the air in your town, by calling (360) 282-5400. In case you forget, we'll be handing out ABM cards by the thousands, both inside the Buffalo Chip, and throughout the Black Hills from August 1-10th. American Biker Minute airs each morning during the Bob 'n' Tom show on FM 100.3, KFXS, "The Fox", a great radio station, playing classic rock. They did a "free poke sandwich" promotion in conjunction with the pork council last year, offering free sandwiches at several area locations. Listen for their promos, we hear they might do it again, & if you get the chance, go have one or two of 'em. They're pretty darn tasty!

Check back often--if it's happening, we'll be there!