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SISTER CLUB :
OAKLAND
MOTORCYCLE CLUB
OAKLAND,
CALIFORNIA, USA


THE GREATER VANCOUVER
MOTORCYCLE CLUB.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA,
CANADA
I was just a young tad, growing up in the very small town of MacGegor, Manitoba in the 1950's
Some older guy in town owned the only bike for miles around. It was an absolutely gorgeous
Harley, probably a 74 inch or possibly a 45, with a windshield, fringed leather saddlebags and a
fringed white leather solo springer seat. I was totally fascinated by this machine and used to
follow the guy around to beg a ride whenever I could. I am sure that this is where my life-long
love affair with bikes began !!
Shortly after I enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1959, and overcome with the fact that I was
making about a hundred and fifty bucks a month and figured my time had come, so down to the
local bank I went to attempt to finance the Triumph 650 twin that some used-car dealer in
Moncton, New Brunswick had taken in on trade and I had decided that I just had to have.
However, in those days the banks were notoriously tight-fisted with their loans, especially to an
eighteen-year old single sailor, and turned me down flat. What a bummer !!
Some years later, after lucking into a modest Lotto-Quebec win while stationed in Gander,
Newfoundland, I blew the whole works on a mid 60's Honda 350-Four. At last !!! - My first bike
after all these years ! Since then I have owned a 1973 Honda 750-Four, six Honda Gold Wings
including '75, '77, '79,' 81, and '83 (all fours, of course) and finally an '89 Six-cylinder 1500cc
model, all purchased brand new. In 1999 I finally got tired of being surrounded by the acres of
plastic on the Wings and decided to try the cruiser-style bikes and purchased a '99 Kawasaki
Vulcan Nomad
1500cc Vee-twin, which I immediately modified (to get rid of the plastic, of
course !) and to finally, at least approach, my childhood Harley dream bike, without having to
come up with the 30 grand, or so, which it would have taken to acquire the real thing.
Along the way, I started two Motorcycle Clubs , one in the Cold Lake, Alberta area, and
one in Edmonton, Alberta area, which are still going strong as far as I know. The Edmonton Club
(Northern Alberta Road Riders) will celebrate their 20th year anniversary and reunion in the
spring of 2000. Can't miss that one !!! I am currently, since 1983 a member of the Greater
Vancouver M/C.
January 2002, The Cycle Canada Motorcycle Show, Abbotsford, B.C. --
I spot a jet black Honda VTX-1800 Retro. WOW ! What a great looking bike. I try it on for
size - fits great !

April 2002, Honda demo day at local dealer. Get to take a demo model VTX-1800R for about
a 15 minute test ride. WOW Again ! Gotta get me one of these babies !

July 2002, I am the proud owner of a shiny new, jet-black '02 Honda VTX-1800 Retro,
complete with Hondaline accessories, including: windshield, lightbar, luggage rack,
passenger backrest and leather saddlebags. I immediately upon taking delivery, have a
custom made receiver-style trailer hitch installed, which, when the ball is not attached, is
almost invisible. Need the hitch because I am also the proud owner of a brand new pop-up
motorcycle tent trailer from Freedom Trailers
in Penticton, B.C.

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