Meet Your Road Captains

Tom B 

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  Been on a Harley for 3 years (currently on my second one).  Prior to that was a variety of Yamahas,  primarily off road / dirt bikes.

Job?  Currently retired from a career in retail marketing / operations.

Best ride?  Best ride on a Harley has was thru-out north central North Carolina (Mount Airy) and the Blue Ridge Parkway (southern Virginia).   A friend I was with who was leading,  had a problem with directions,   I really got some great experience on doing u-turns while riding 2 up on narrow roads.

 Dream ride? Since I lived in Colorado for 15+ years,  I would love to get back there on the bike and revisit those wonderful mountain roads.  I also would love to travel the Pacific Coast Highway thru California.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  I desired to be a road captain to be able to give back a little time to the club that I now have since retiring.   I love the fact that our group is about actively riding and not content with just getting together to admire each others rides.  By helping to keep the ride schedule full, the rewards of making new friends and the comradery enjoyed by all makes the effort worth while.

Brian B 

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  1 1/2 years

Job?  Computer Geek

Best ride? I spent six days riding with friends through the Blue Ridge Parkway and on State RT 16 through Hungry Mother State Park.

Dream ride? The Rockies

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.   I really like being a road captain. I enjoy riding and take the responsibility of keeping everyone safe very seriously. I have been riding most of my life on the dirt, the street or the race track. I enjoy being able to take my experience to help others be more comfortable and safe. We have a broad range of experience and skills within or road captain community and I am proud and honored to ride with them.

Rick B

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  10 years

Job?  Retired.  Taking care of Karla.

Best ride?   Coast to coast  5,800 miles.

 Dream ride?   TBD

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  Enjoy keeping everyone safe.

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?   9 years

Job?    IT manager

Best ride?   Hoover Dam -- Nevada & Arizona

 Dream ride?   U.S. 1 End to End

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.   Safety & Education

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  Bought my first Harley Davidson in 2004. 

Job? Retired

Best ride?  Marilyn and I went two-up on a 7,000 mile adventure north to Canada, west across Canada to the Rockies then south along the crest of the rockies to El Paso, TX.  Crossed the Continental Divide four times and had a snowball fight on the Fourth of July, 2009, in Glacier National Park.

 Dream ride?  Looking forward to June 2013 when I'm going to Key West then turn around and go to Fairbanks, Alaska. Don't look for me for about two months.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  I love to ride motorcycles.  Short rides.  Long rides.  Don't care.  Just love to ride.  Love the freedom.  Wind in my face and bugs in my beard.  Life is good when I straddle the saddle.  I want others to share in the special feeling that can only be found on a motorcyle.  So I use my position as a Road Captain to encourage others to ride as much as they can and as often as they can.

George H

Currently Riding:  2011 Ultra Classic Limited 

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  Since April 2, 2011, but this is my ninth motorcycle and third Harley (’75 Iron Head Sportster Anniversary back in 1994/5) First ride was on 1965 Honda Sport 90. Several cross countries in the saddles of that one plus 1967 Honda 360 Scrambler, 1972 Honda 500 4 cyl, and 1978/1986 Gold Wings. Also rode a Kawasaki 500.

Job?  Program Manager, Business Processes for BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards

Best ride?  1993 Blue Knight cross-country from Norfolk, VA to Memphis, TN. Eighteen in group, first 8 hours spent in hard frontal system rain. Helen and I were two up pulling a trailer on a 1986 Gold Wing SEI, departed the group, then traveled North to Wisconsin, back home through Ohio and West Virginia visiting family and old friends.

 Dream ride?  Would like to make a ride to Sturgis through York, PA to see the Motor Company’s manufacturing plant.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  Initially I was not interested but when we began riding with the OP Chapter, I noticed a higher maturity level in riding I had not seen before. Having been an MSF Safety Instructor in the early nineties and not renewing when we moved to Florida in 1997, I felt the need to contribute to the safe group riding practices this chapter has as its mission..

Butch H

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  I rode a bike when I was younger but sold it when I had kids.  I started back riding in Oct. of 2002 when I bought my first Harley Davidson a 2003 Road King Classic.

Job?  I am the owner of Hubbard's Radiator.

Best ride?   In 2008 we went to the 105^th anniversary for Harley Davidson.  Though I did not get to ride my bike up there I really enjoyed riding around with my family and our friends.  It is always fun to go riding someplace that you haven’t been before.

 Dream ride?  There are many places that I would like to ride, however, one day I would like to ride what is left of Route 66.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  I am a road captain because I enjoy riding.  Without our road captains taking the time to plan our rides and leading the group our club wouldn’t have point.  It is also a great way to get involved in our club.  Its also fun to show people roads they haven’t been on before and take them to places they may not have ever went to just like others have done for me.

Rick K

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  8 years

Job?   Retired from work -- Now busier than ever!!!

Best ride?  3 month "Family & Friends vacation ride from June 15 to Sept 16th.  Jacksonville, FL< to Charleston, SC; South Haven MS & Memphis TN,  Neosho, MO,  (rode the Ozarks for five days) Lenexa, KS --Family reunion; Detroit, MI, Olean, NY; Niagra Falls, NY, Niagra Falls, Canada; Kingtston, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario;  Sudbury, Ontario; Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario; Wawa, Ontario; Thunder Bay, Ontario; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Souix Falls, SD;  Deadwood, SD (Sturgis); Red Lodge, MT; Jacksonv Hole, WY;  Ft. Collins, CO;  Blanco, CO; Taho Indian Reservation, NM; Alburquerque, NM; El Paso, TX; Waco TS; Waxahatchee, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Roanoke, TX;  North Richland Hills, TX;  Mount Vernon, TX; Waxahatchie, TX; Sprint, TX; Pensacola, FL; JAcksonville, FL.

 Dream ride?   Similar to best ride.  Plan to do this every other year until........

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.   Have been a road captain for four different clubs;  Jax HOG, OP HOG, Rolling thunder (no longer with) and American Wild Hogs.  This is a very self rewarding positio as I feel I am totally giving back to society.

Steve L  

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  11 years

Job? Electrical controls assembly.

Best ride?   Ride to Sturgis from Panama City, FL

 Dream ride?  Around the world on a Harley.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.   I doubt if anyone is going to keep up with me.

Ron Mc

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  2 years

Job?  IS Purchasing Administrator for Landstar System Holdings Inc.  15 years

Best ride?  First ride on my Harley, May 22, 2009 at 5:45 p.m.

 Dream ride?   Going to Deals Gap on April 30, 2011.  Riding the Snake, Blue Ridge, one other Trail.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.   Being able to bring people together and having fun doing it with riding my Harley and friends.  Most importantly doing it safely.

Brian M

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  Since June 2009

Job?  Business Consultant for CSX

Best ride?  This past Thanksgiving I rode to my friend's house through back roads between Jacksonville, Leesburg, Lakeland, then finally to Sarasota.  It was about a 7 hour ride (with breaks for lunch, gas, and 2 HD stores) that included roads where I was the only one on between Leesburg and Lakeland.

 Dream ride?  I would like to ride to Sturgis at least once!

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  I became a road captain because to me the club is foremost a riding club.  I appreciated the people who were putting together the rides when I first joined, so I felt this was a good way to contribute to the group and help keep everyone riding.

 

Tom M

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?   16 years

Job?  No.  Leisure riding only.

Best ride?   1998 to California, down Route 1 to LA and back.

 Dream ride?   Home.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  Dah.  Why do do this??  All the time and effort.

Jack M 

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson? I started riding in 1974 and took a break from 1978 to about 1993 I had a Yamaha 700 for a few years. Then I purchased my first Harley in 2004.

Job?  I own my own business with my wife Lori.  We manufacture electrical control systems, and now she is manufacturing the Biker Braids that are found in the local stores.

Best ride?  Best ride I have been on?  There are too many to choose from, but here are a couple of good ones.
Ride to Cedar Key.  We took the long way!  Lori was nominated to be ‘Road Captain’ & pick the route for the ride and, in her defense; she was told we were not in a hurry.  We made our way down through several back roads (and passed by a lot of prisons!) and after stopping for water breaks and lunch we logged about 5 hours of riding.  It was a great day.  We spent the day and night making a lot of great memories with friends.  “Good Times”
Another great ride I have been on would be the Great Adventure Ride as named by DrD.  This was offered out to the chapter in 2010 and it caught my interest, Lori and I decided to go.  We were a little concerned about being on the bike (and packing!) for 10 days straight, but as it turned out, it was no problem at all.  It was wonderful.  Again, time well spent with friends, building new friendships and making new memories. 

 Dream ride? I don’t really have a dream ride but I think I would like to get on US 90 through Mississippi and Louisiana and probably further just to take a ride back in time.  I have traveled some of US 90 through MS and LA and it looked like it had been untouched since it was built.  The bridges were as old as the road and the rest stops were just small areas to get off the road with one picnic table.  It just seems like it would be a nice ride on a motorcycle.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  Being a road captain is an avenue to further my riding experience and increase my awareness of riding safe.  There are several road captains that I consider to be knowledgeable about safety and riding skills, and are well qualified to lead others on fun safe rides.  I am looking forward to learning some of those skills during my time as a RCC.  Once I get the basics under my belt and learn more about the things to look out for to make a ride safe I will be looking forward to leading my own rides.   I enjoy being around the people I have met in the chapter and I am looking forward to leading or being tail gunner on rides and doing my best to make the rides safe for all who are participating.


 

Lori M 

Currently Riding:  2010 Fatboy 

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?   5 years

Job?  Business Owner – Lj’s Biker Braids and Control Tech of Northeast FL, Inc..

Best ride?   My favorite ride to date is the Great Adventure Ride 2010, the initial mountain experience was awesome!.

 Dream ride?   I don’t really have a dream ride per se, but I would like to ride more of the east coast north & the west coast because I love the ocean.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  Because I like to ride in the front occasionally!!!  And sometimes I like riding in the back!!!  All kidding aside, I thought that if I added the Road Captain’s pay to the Treasurer’s it would be like getting a bonus!  I  think the way this training is set up brings safety to the forefront & I want to be as safe a rider as possible; and Jack & I can RC & TG each other’s rides…..how perfect!  

Russ P

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  My first Harley was my Christmas present in 2004, a 2004 Night Train.

 Job?  I retired from the United States Navy in 1995 after 21 years of service.  Today I have one of the best jobs of the world, teaching our men and women in uniform how to ride motorcycles.  Yes, I get paid to ride motorcycles!

Best ride?  In 2009 Kelly and I rode out west, we finally made it to Billings Montana.  It’s a long story.  We rode through Yellowstone NP, down through Wyoming and Colorado.  Talk about beautiful country and riding.

 Dream ride?  I want to return to Montana to ride Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park and Beartooth Pass (US 212).

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  I enjoy sharing the experience.  I love finding the places you’ve never been before.  For me it’s a challenge to find the roads members have not been on, hearing that was a great ride is my just reward.

Billy S

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson? We have owned an ’02 red 883 Sportster, a chromed-out ’01 1200 Sportster and a black ’03 Softail Standard.  We currently ride a blue ’06 Heritage, which we bought on Father’s Day, 2006.

Job?  I retired from the Navy in 1995 with 26 years of service.  Since then, I have worked for Clay County Schools as a Technical Specialist.

Best ride?   I think my wife would agree that our two best rides were an overnight trip to Cedar Key and an overnight trip to the Bok Tower south of Orlando.

 Dream ride?  I want to trade up to a Ultra Limited and ride it across country to visit my family in TX, NM and California.

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  Being a Road Captain gives me the opportunity to serve my club members.  I don’t have enough free time to dedicate to being an officer.  But I can plan rides and lead rides.  It doesn’t take a whole lot of time or effort to find an interesting place to visit. 

Mark S

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  11 years

Job?  Verizon Business Manager

Best ride?  Fly & Ride to Billings, MT

 Dream ride?  Ride the Black Hills region

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  The pay was extra incentive but enjoy helping people get out and enjoy riding safely. The satisfaction of getting a group of people together, that all enjoy the same hobby and show accomplishment in achieving the goal of the day is rewarding.

John W

How long have you been riding a Harley Davidson?  32 years

Job?  Railroad Man 

Best ride? Great American Adventure Ride 2010.  Roads were great, friends were fun and I had my family with me.

 Dream ride?  West to Alaska with a bunch of riding in-between

Thoughts on being a Road Captain.  I am a RC because when the club started we had very few and I wanted to ride.  Thankfully we had a wealth of experience in the small group and it was a great learning opportunity.  I also want to do my part in keeping the club riding safe and the RC and TG can do a great deal to insure a safe and fun ride.