Jay Leno Recommends Visiting Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley, NC

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Wayne Busch

Jay Leno at Pebble Beach Event

See the interview at Jay Leno’s Garage, here.

In mid-August 2010, Wheels Through Time Museum Curator and Founder, Dale Walksler, was bestowed the honor of displaying two rare American racing motorcycles from the museum collection at the famed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California. Regarded as the world’s premier gathering of automotive history, the sixty year-old invitation-only event annually brings together several hundred of the rarest and most desirable vehicles ever produced for a one-day spectacle that attracts tens of thousands of fans and spectators from around the globe.

2010 marked the second year in which motorcycles were displayed, with a total of twelve two-wheel machines gracing what is often referred to as the best finishing hole in golf — Pebble Beach’s 18th Fairway. When the judging was complete, Walksler and both museum machines in attendance came away with two out of three of the shows top honors — the rare 1909 Reading Standard placing second, and the one-of-a-kind 1929 Harley-Davidson DAR placing third.

While at the Concours, both Walksler and the two Wheels Through Time motorcycles garnered particular attention from fans and specators alike, including one of the most famed celebrities in show business, Jay Leno. During the show, the avid car and motorcycle enthusiast, and host of NBC’s Tonight Show, conducted an in-depth, six-minute interview with Walksler highlighting both the prestige and excellence of those machines lucky enough to be invited to the once-a-year gathering.

During the interview, which was recently released on the “Jay Leno’s Garage” website, a subsidiary of NBC’s Tonight Show, Walksler and Leno discuss one of the award winning machines from Wheels Through Time — the 1929 Harley-Davidson DAR board track racer — addressing both its rarity and significance in the history of American motorcycling, and how it holds a special place in the museum’s collection of over 300 of our country’s most historic two-wheelers. Walksler shares the intimate details of how the machine was found after sitting idle for over 70 years, and the process in which it was brought back to its former, ear-splitting glory.

Photo - Jay Leno and Dale Walksler from Wheel Through Time Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley

Jay Leno and Dale Walksler from Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley, NC

Jay also offers high praise for the Wheels Through Time Museum itself during the segment, citing it as one of the best museum’s in North America. During the interview Walksler and Leno share the origins of the museum — a dream of Walkslers since he began collecting over 40 years ago — and the museum’s focus on rare, all-American motorcycles, particularly those with great stories and exceptional pasts.

“Having the opportunity to display two machines at Pebble Beach is an outstanding honor for myself and the entire museum staff,” said Walksler. “We’re so proud to share these machines with the rest of the automotive and motorcycle world, and Jay has played a big part in sharing them with a wider audiencethan ever before.” During the segment, Leno even addressed his hopes of coming to shoot another piece at the museum in the future.

The interview can be seen on the Jay Leno’s Garage website, located at www.JayLenosGarage.com, accessed by visiting the videos page and clicking on the “motorcycles” link on the left side of the page. Titled “Motorcycles of Pebble Beach 2010″, the video also touches on other rare motorcycles featured at the Concours.

For more information about the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Jay Leno’s Garage, or the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC, visit www.WheelsThroughTime.com or call (828) 926-6266.

Read the story and see more pictures on the Wheels Through Time website.

Matt Walksler

Wheels Through Time Museum

P.O. 790 / 62 Vintage Lane

Maggie Valley, NC 28751

(828) 926-6266

mattw@wheelsthroughtime.com

_______________________________________________________________________________

: Wayne Busch – Cartographer

- Wayne Busch lives in Waynesville, NC, where he produces the most detailed and comprehensive and up-to-date motorcycle pocket maps of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains to help you get the most of your vacation experience. See them here - AmericaRidesMaps.com

Brighten Your Day With Some Motorcycle Parody Videos

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Wayne Busch

Is Harely Too Cool For Buell?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izzlN2zC8PU

Teutonic BMW Trick or Moped Magic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh1wnZrSVq8

We Can Always Use A Little More Training, Can’t We?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryqse5mX1Nk

CHiP’s Off The Block (of cheese)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYTucV5kYsU

And If you haven’t wasted enough time, the exciting CHiPs CHaSe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tXR-kq2BEw&NR=1

Waiting to Hear About the Asheville Bikefest and the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Run

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Wayne Busch

The big log building in the background was the headquarters for the event - as Route Master I rarely left it.

From before the gates opened to well after they closed, I spent the last four days at the Asheville Bikefest and yet I never really saw it. As Route Master for the event I was stationed in the luxurious air conditioned headquarters building and tasked with helping folks get out and ride the fantastic motorcycle roads in the surrounding area. I rarely stepped outside nor ventured far from my post.

A printer, 30 routes, and me at work helping you find the best rides and routes.

Flanked by two long tables stacked with 30 motorcycle ride routes for people to choose from, I spent much of my time running back and forth to the printer to maintain the supply. There were great motorcycle rides in most every point of the compass, up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway, and to several of my personal favorite motorcycle roads. It kept me busy. When my wife came down Saturday to help me out, I urged her to take a few minutes and grab some photos. She probably saw more of the event than I did.

A vintage Triumph Bonneville parked right out front - I rode one of those back in the day and find myself back on a Triumph today. Great bikes!

I met folks from as far away as Maine, New York, Florida, and a whole lot from South Carolina and Virginia. Considering the remnants of the Myrtle Beach Bike Rally were going on simultaneously, it was encouraging to see so many who had chosen to come here instead, a sure sign that beach venue has lost it’s luster. Most who came seemed to be local. It was a surprising turnout considering all the competing events in the region and up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Yamaha / Star / Boss Hoss and other big rigs set up in one corner. There was a steady stream of demo rides the whole time.

I expect more photos soon. I saw some wild ones from The Anti Team Stunt Show with the bikes in flames. When I caught the last of them on Sunday, they were pulling out all the stops and those boys went home with some painful souvenirs.

Photo - stunts provided by the Anti Team

Three stunt shows each day from the Anti Team kept getting better and better. They kept finding more stuff to blow up or burn, sometimes themselves.

I was there, but I can’t tell you much about it. I was too busy. I’ll post more as it comes in. If you made it, let me know what you thought and I’ll try to do even better next year. Unlike others, this event is all about the great motorcycle riding and should be one you add to your motorcycle vacation plans.

See some cool videos of the show at http://theantiteam.com

For routes and maps: http://americaridesmaps.com

No Mountains, No Motorcycle – Key West Was Fun

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Wayne Busch

My disappointment at not being able to ride my bike to Key West for this brief vacation trip quickly abated. A couple thousand miles on the Interstate would have been a waste of fresh rubber. This is not the experience I’ve been prepping my motorcycle for. Simply put, a motorcycle in Key West is just plain overkill.

Photo-Wayne-finds-2-wheeled-transport-to-the-southernmost-point

Posed on my mighty moped at the southernmost point in the United States in Key West, Florida. Mopeds are the ideal mode of transportation in the Conch Republic.

I try to keep an open mind regarding tw0-wheeled transportation. We’ve all heard the jokes. While I do prefer something a bit more performance oriented, on the small and congested island of Key West anything much larger than this is pretty much wasted. Just like the jokes (don’t tell anyone you saw me do it) we had fun with our 50cc rentals and buzzed around the island like a couple of happy mosquitos.

Photo-Jackie-at-the-southernmost-beach-in-Key-West

One of the first stops of course was the southernmost beach just a few minutes from our hotel.

We did pretty much the same things all the tourists do, the beach, the lighthouse, the restaurants, and of course, the bars. The little rental mopeds were ideal. No gear, heck, barely any clothing required, just throw your junk in the trunk and buzz on down to do whatever strikes your fancy. At first it felt strange with no helmet or jacket, or even long pants – just in case. Within a day or so the convenience had won us over and the freedom was wonderful.

The only protective gear required - SPF 30

Of course we come away with a collection memories from Key West that reflect it’s quirky character. From drag queens and pole dancers, mojitos, and buckets of beer, divas and derelicts, great music and friendly watering holes.

Strong winds made scuba diving and such uncomfortable, but were ideal for sailing.

Eat, drink, go here. Eat some more, drink some more, go there. You never tire of the sights, though a nap now and then is almost mandatory. Thank the good Lord for the breeze, we would have melted without it.

The sunset sail - a Key West tradition. Wind + champagne = FUN!

We stayed just a block from Duval Street, the main tourist drag in Key West. Most everything is within walking distance including some of the best restaurants. While the days are great and full of things to do, the sunset brings the transition to the night when things get lively. Once the sun goes down, the city lights up and the party kicks into high gear.

Photo-Jackie-rules-the-night-on-her-moped

The mopeds were not just for daytime - they're just as much fun for cruising around once the sun goes down.

So, with all said and done, if I lived in Key west, one of these little putt-putt bikes would probably be my primary transportation. I’d save the motorcycle for rides which it was worthy of. Since it’s hardly likely I’ll be leaving my mountain home, I leave the mopeds to thrive in their natural habitat. The Smoky Mountains require a bit more grunt to go anywhere and the idea of covering any distance on one makes me consider another drink. In Key West, you’re always considering another drink regardless.

You don't need much of a motorcycle to cruise Duval Street as it will be parked most of the time while you fill your personal fuel tank.

As the photos show, and you already knew, Key West can be a lot of fun. I can’t rate it as a top motorcycle destination though, too congested, no place to ride, and the pace is too laid back for the excitement two wheeled travel deserves. My motorcycle vacations will stay where the road winds on and on, the wind is regulated by your throttle hand, and you try to avoid the sandy spots.

Rob Kinsey – Motocross Art with a Passion and Focus

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Wayne Busch

Rob Kinsey Painting - www.robkinsey.com

Rob Kinsey is an artist with a passion for the sport of motocross, defining himself on his website as ‘motocross racer, fan and award-winning artist’.

"Unadilla" by Rob Kinsey

Art and sport have been important to Rob for many years. He qualified as a technical illustrator in the 1970’s and his artwork has developed in parallel with his participation in motocross. He competed in the British Motocross Championships from 1977 to 1981 and still rides in Vintage Motocross events.

Rob Kinsey painting - "Steve McQueen"

He specialises in painting with acrylic on canvas and produces high quality prints using the Giclée process, which ensures that the colours do not fade over time.

Rob Kinsey with one of his motocross paintings

“They are all painted with a passion,” says Rob, and he combines his passions for art and motocross with business acumen. He sells pen and ink drawings, prints and original artworks through his e-commerce website to a world-wide customer base of riders, fans and motocross businesses.

Rob Kinsey painting - "James Stewart"

To help make his creative enterprise even more successful, Rob attended a business development course close to his home in Derbyshire, England. The ‘Focusing Creativity’ workshops helped Rob and other creative entrepreneurs todevise business strategies which combine their creative talents with smart business thinking.

Rob Kinsey with painting

“I went on the course feeling that I should diversify my range of artwork away from just motocross because I felt vulnerable by having all my eggs in one basket,” said Rob. However, by the end of the course, after having considered a range of factors such as his competitive advantage, market segmentation and pricing strategies, Rob decided that his best option was to play to his strengths and focus on motocross art. “The course encouraged me to focus on what I’m passionate about and to capitalise on my position in the world of motocross” said Rob. “The message I came away with was ‘Believe in yourself and don’t worry about only working in a niche market – simply become the best motocross artist in the world!’ from the aptly named Focusing Creativity course” said Rob.

Rob Kinsey painting - "Magoo"

Despite being a one-person enterprise, Rob’s business strategy is similar to that of some of the biggest corporations. Jim Collins identified that the most consistently successful companies use the ‘Hedgehog Concept’. (The hedgehog is supremely good at one defensive position, and it survives by sticking to its winning strategy.) Businesses using the Hedgehog Strategy have identified the one thing at which they can be world-beaters. This results from an objective understanding of what you can be best in the world at combined with the thing you are deeply passionate about.

Rob Kinsey painting - "Anaheim 86"

This focused strategy worked. Within a year he was appointed as the ‘Official Artist to the 2007 Motocross de Nations’ in Maryland, USA. This accolade will give him the opportunity to exhibit and sell his works of art in the VIP and Press buildings at the event, which is the ideal marketplace at the very heart of this international sport.

www.robkinsey.com

Rob Kinsey has achieved world-class status by focusing on his niche market, concentrating on his specialist creativity and being driven by his passion.

More about Rob Kinsey Art – http://robkinsey.com

Video (NSFW) – Motorcycle Crash At Tail of the Dragon – Analysis

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Wayne Busch

(Not Safe For Work – profanity) One of my favorite videos form the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap at the North Carolina / Tennessee border. There’s just so much wrong here, but could a more skilled motorcycle rider have pull it off?

Excessive speed and crossing on a yellow line are not atypical illegal practices on this notorious stretch of road and for these guys it was a big mistake that ended badly. But the more I look at it, the more I think it could have turned out differently.

It looks like the first rider could have reacted better. It appears he panics, sits up, fixates on the target ahead, and just grabs a handful of brakes. Unfortunately, he grabs the wrong brake (both of them do) locking the rear wheel and loosing grip just when they need it most. Rookie mistake, I’m not seeing the dive that would have come with better use of the front brake, and that’s why you now see so many new bikes with linked anti-lock braking systems.

Had he pitched into the turn I suspect a more skilled rider could have scrubbed off enough speed to make the next bend, though it would still have been hairy and left a nasty stain on the seat. I’d take going down trying to make the turn over just riding into the abyss any day. Even on an overweight behemoth of a bike like these Harleys, shifting your body makes a huge difference in negotiating a curve, and might have saved the day. Then again, it’s easy to judge from the safety of my comfy chair.

Bottom line, the “Dragon” bites another rider, though he did everything he could to provoke it.

See blog post “Move Your Ass to Save It” for tips on avoiding a similar fate – http://smokymountainrider.com/?p=131 and other mountain riding tips in posts nearby.

Waterproof Testing – America Rides Motorcycle Pocket Maps

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Wayne Busch

Making the most of the recent cold weather, America Rides Maps does some serious product testing of their Motorcycle Pocket Maps.

See them online at http://americaridesmaps.com

Can You Pass This Motorcycle Traffic Test?

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Wayne Busch

Photo - riding the crowds at the Leesburg, FL rally

Urban Warfare - Riding the Crowds at the Leesburg Rally in Florida

I grabbed this out of a post on the Motorcycle Enthusiasts Group on LinkedIn as it caught my eye. It’s an excerpt from the book “Sport Riding Techniques” by Nick Ienatsch which you can find on Amazon here . I own a coy of this book, it’s one of my favorite resources and one that will benefit any rider.

Traffic is rarely a problem on the great motorcycle roads in the Smoky Mountains, at least the roads I favor. It’s hardly urban warfare, in fact it’s rare to see more than a handful of other vehicles. Still, the test is a pretty good judge of whether you will survive very long on a motorcycle.

How do you score on the test?

Title: Sport Riding Techniques
Author: Nick Ienatsch
Chapter 9: Urban Survival
Page: 105

Section: Should everyone ride a bike? No!

== START QUOTE ==

Frankly, some car drivers should never ride a motorcycle in traffic. I’m frequently asked by concerned parents/spouses if their loved one would be safe riding a bike in traffic, and judging a driver’s habits in a car helps to gauge his or her risk on a bike. Apply this test to any driver who wants to become a rider:

1. Are you always being encroached upon by other drivers? If so, you’re driving in too many blind spots and are unaware of how to drive in someone’s mirrors.

2. Do you honk your horn daily just to survive? Your horn should be your last line of evense. If you constantly rely on it to get through traffic safely, you aren’t reading traffic patterns well, and you’re in the wrong place – - probably in someone else’s blind spot.

3. Is every other driver on the road out to get you? It’s okay to think they’re out to get you, but drivers who really believe it drive in a timid manner. They don’t maintain their place in the flow of traffic, and are constantly taken advantage of by more aggressive drivers.

4. Does stopped traffic frequently surprise you, forcing you to brake hard every time you drive? If so, your eyes are too low and you aren’t looking far enough ahead of your car.

5. Do you have trouble accelerating onto a freeway to merge smoothly with traffic? You won’t survive on a motorcycle without a good deal of aggression and an ability to fit into traffic smoothly.

6. Are you honked at often? Drivers who get honked at usually aren’t paying attention, are daydreaming at traffic lights, or are changing lanes without looking or signaling. If you can’t stay totally focused on your driving, don’t try riding.

7. Are you constantly the recipient of road rage? Drivers get angry when their safety is threatened, and recipients of road rage are often doing something that distorts the normal flow of traffic badly enough to endanger lives.

8. Do you drive below the posted speed limit for safety? Those who do have no idea of how traffic really flows and are confusing speed with safety, a mistake that will have tough consequences on a motorcycle.

9. Do you neglect your turn signal switch? Communicating with other drivers reduces surprises, and your turn signal is a primary source of communication. If you don’t use it in your car, you aren’t truly working with traffic around you.

10. Do you believe everyone on the road is crazy and that it’s only a matter of time before one of these crazy drivers hits you? If you feel accidents are inevitable and your turn is coming, stay in that Volvo station wagon.

If you answered yes to one or two questions, you might be trainable. If you answered yes to more than a few, you may not enjoy or survive a motorcycle in traffic. It’s okay to be paranoid and believe that everyone on the road is poorly trained, but if that outlook distracts you from what you’re doing at the handlebar, then you must realign your priorities to quit worrying about aspects you can’t control and totally master those you can.

== END QUOTE ==

Posted by Chris Hultberg
Re -Posted by Tony (C. Anthony) Ladt

Thanks for posting this guys. I’m going to pull out the book this weekend and enjoy it again.

"Safety Improvements" coming to NC 215? I wonder.

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Wayne Busch

Photo – Enjoying a ride on NC 215

Thanks to federal stimulus funds, NC 215 in Transylvania County, NC, will be receiving $2.3 million in “safety improvements” in the form of 17 miles of new guardrail. The new guardrail will run from the the intersection with US 64 in Rosman to the Haywood County line near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Work is scheduled to begin September 28, 2009, and be completed by August 1, 2010.

Whether or not guardrails are “safety improvements” is controversial for me. They may be “safer” for cars, though I’m not so sure guardrails add any safety for motorcycles. In fact, I think they may be more dangerous. They are designed for cars, not motorcycles, and hitting one on a bike can be catastrophic. A friend hit one and it tore a chunk out of his leg so large he died. I’d prefer to take my chances going over an embankment into the trees. From what I’ve seen of accidents on the Blue Ridge Parkway, they may stop the bike – the rider goes over them (if he’s lucky).

NC 215 is one of the premier roads in the Western North Carolina mountains, one of the local classics, one leg of a ride known as “The Devil’s Triangle” on America Rides Maps “5 Classic Rides Around Maggie Valley, NC” as well as “The Best Rides South of Great Smoky Mountains National Park – EAST“. Few other roads not only intersect the Blue Ridge Parkway, but offer the long range views, the quality, challenge, and an hour of uninterrupted blissful riding. I hate to see it changed.

In addition, there have also been rumors of plans to “improve” the twistier sections of the road, plans which would widen and straighten the curves and remove the landmark “Alligator Rock”. It doesn’t seem sensible to put in guardrails now, only to come back later with improvements which will require they be moved to accommodate them. Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to do it all at once, if and when it happens? Hate to see a great road “improved”.

Wayne@americaridesmaps.com

>> Go To America Rides Maps.com – http://americaridesmaps.com

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