In an event with the almost-menacing moniker Rolling Thunder, almost half a million motorcyclists rumbled across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, snaked around the Mall and dismounted en masse near the Lincoln Memorial. Most of the bikers were clad in black leather, many sported Visigothian manes and beards and almost all straddled brutish, black Harley-Davidsons or H-D clones.

The bad-boy biker image began decades ago. In Hollister, Calif., on the weekend of July Fourth, 1947, a motorcycle rally became rowdy. Some drunken participants (restless war veterans among them) were arrested, and Life magazine ran a story featuring a staged photograph from Hollister of a belching biker perched on his machine’s footpegs, surrounded by beer bottles. In 1953, Columbia Pictures projected a highly fictionalized and sensationalized version of the event on the silver screen in the Marlon Brando film “The Wild One.”

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The Colonial Heights Sheriff’s Office Fifth Annual Special Olympics Motorcycle Ride rumbled through town and beyond Saturday morning. Funds from the event will help Martin — a topnotch bowler — and about 70 others train for and travel to statewide competitions.

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The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is holding its inaugural ride to the Nation’s Capitol for Motorcycle Awareness Month. Known as “Bikers Inside the Beltway,” the event will be dedicated to its creator, the recently departed MRF Vice President and long-time motorcyclists’ rights legend Michael “Boz” Kerr.

The MRF is encouraging bikers nationwide to ride their motorcycles to Washington DC for this historic event. We have reserved secure parking for motorcycles adjacent to the U.S. Capitol; this location should make for an impressive display of bikes.

We have invited all members of Congress to attend the event, but if you are planning to be here you should let your U.S. Senators and Representative know, and ask them to step outside for a photo op with you and a backdrop of motorcycles. The MRF’s DC staff will help coordinate any details and answer any questions you may have about arranging meetings with your members of Congress.

What: Motorcycle Riders Foundation “Bikers Inside the Beltway” National Motorcycle Awareness Month Ride and Lobby Day
When: May 14, 2009, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Where: Reserved motorcycle parking is along the 0-100 block of 3rd Street SW, only steps from the U.S. Capitol. A Washington DC map will be posted on the MRF website, or you can use this link for the map and directions:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101951183910759109860.000468b197cce57785d6b&ll=38.886707,-77.009418&spn=0.012193,0.01914&z=16

Due to the popularity of this event, the MRF obtained additional parking. We will meet at the 3rd street parking location at 9:00 am and walk one block to the staging area on the Capitol grounds where a smaller number of bikes will be parked.

Please contact jeff@mrf.org or call 202-546-0983 if you are planning to ride your motorcycle to this historic event, or if you have any questions about the event itself or local accommodations.

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

Tickets for the rally are available through www.ticketmaster.com. Headlining the event on Friday is Butter with special guest Suburban Key Party. Saturday will have Tuesday’s Gone, Tailgate Down with special guest Grant Austin Taylor, and Sunday the winner of the MAX-FM Battle of the Bands and special guest Bullwinkle will perform.

In addition to motorcycle exhibits and vendors, there will also be a tattoo contest, USO Freedom Ride Chopper Giveaway, children’s activities and a best bike contest. A full schedule for the three-day event can be found at www.bikersfortykesandtroops.org.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) and the USO of Hampton Roads. CHKD serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The USO of Hampton Roads provides morale, welfare and recreation programs for uniformed personnel and their families in the Hampton Roads community.

“Each year it gets more and more exciting to take part in the Bikers for Tykes Rally,” said Joe Thomas, GEICO regional vice president, “and this year we are especially proud to be a partner as we welcome the USO of Hampton Roads to our fundraising efforts. The work that The King’s Daughters and the USO do to ensure that children and families stay fit and healthy is invaluable. GEICO is proud to be a part of these efforts and help give back to our Virginia Beach community.”

For more information about the event, log on to www.bikersfortykesandtroops.org.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for 9 million policyholders and insures some 15 million vehicles.

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes.

GEICO Communications
301-986-3271

We keep hoping that we can announce the date, but with the clock ticking it is time to offer an explanation.

Since the new Congress went into session, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation has been working with United States Representative Judy Biggert (R – Il) and her staff to secure a site on the Capitol grounds for our event.

Due to unannounced changes in the rules to hold such an event (made by the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi), which went into effect this year, we have had to negotiate with officials of the Capitol. Because of the huge workload that occurs when a new Congress begins, our request was delayed. This is something that is entirely beyond our control.

Because of the rule changes, in all likelihood there will be some adjustments to be made on our part. We just can’t say exactly what at the present time.

In the last several weeks – working with the Sergeant of Arms of the House of Representatives – a spot in the Capitol complex came into consideration. While smaller than we would like, we have made a request to obtain it. That request is currently under review.  We are just waiting for confirmation from that office and we will announce the date. We have
every reason to believe that we will receive official confirmation soon.

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’ rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

The 469-mile scenic highway drew 18.25 million visitors last year, down from 19.29 million in 2007, according to statistics from the National Park Service.

The 2008 visitation was the lowest in the past eight years and the first time below 19 million during that span.

Parkway officials have not traced a cause for the decrease in visitors, and Scott Bell, the Park Service official who tallies visits, declined to speculate.

Campgrounds along the parkway’s first 106 miles — which includes Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties — saw fewer out-of-state visitors last year than normal, said Randy Sutton, an interpretive ranger for the parkway’s Ridge District.

Bikers along the East Coast usually flock to the ridge-top road, he said, but 2008 saw less motorcycle traffic, leading to a reduction in accidents.

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Join Bikers for Babies by revving up to help us give every baby a healthy start. Sign up and raise money at bikersforbabies.org.
$15 Registration includes pin and lunch.

On Saturday, September 27th, Bayside Harley-Davidson will host our 15th Annual motorcycle ride in Portsmouth. Join hundreds of bikers on our 80 mile police escorted ride.

March of Dimes – 757-361-0000 Susie Eaton email: meaton@marchofdimes.com

Join Bikers for Babies by revving up to help us give every baby a healthy start. Sign up and raise money at bikersforbabies.org. $15 Registration includes pin and lunch.

On Saturday, September 27th, Bayside Harley-Davidson will host our 15th Annual motorcycle ride in Portsmouth. Join hundreds of bikers on our 80 mile police escorted ride.

The Power is in your Hands..use it to save babies! Every year more than half a million babies are born prematurely, and more than a hundred thousand others are born with birth defects or other serious health problems. You can help by joining March of Dimes Bikers for Babies. Raise money, then get on your bike and ride! Know the power of riding to ensure all babies are born healthy!

March of Dimes – Greater Hampton Roads Division 860 Greenbrier Circle (Suite 502) – Chesapeake, VA 23320
757-361-0000 Susie Eaton, Community Director email: meaton@marchofdimes.com