Boxer Shorts, September, 2004 - 3 of 4

The YB's August German Food Fest
and Meeting Minutes

by Bruce Ferguson, Secretary and Clerk

It was a cool but clear and beautiful summer evening. The venue for the annual buffet dinner held August 18 was the Grill at Pinecrest Country Club, Holliston, MA. (Pinecrest was among the candidates explored when a replacement was being sought for Ma Glockenspiel's. It was ruled out, however, because they couldn't top Stone's banana rum secret sauce.)

Other than six two wheelers, the parking lot at the Pinecrest was full of mostly cages, reflecting those who had come straight from work, a consideration for those significant others who eschew the wind in the face routine, or perhaps in anticipation of some suitable libations. After all, comestiblemeister Fred Kolack and his galloping gang of gourmands had planned a Germanfest with all the fixzins. Undt this meant that ve vould be expected to be libating ze bier. Ya?

Inside at the bar, the atmosphere was warm and cozy as 47 members and guests reintroduced their significant others to their riding brothers. Appetizers included strawberries and grapes, cheese und krackers and miniature potato pancakes served with a dollop of applesauce. The main course featured: sauerbraten (a really nice pot roast in a robust gravy); viener snitzle (breaded, pan fried veal cutlets, smothered with delicately braised mushrooms); bratwurst (with a crisp skin over a juicy, flavorful wurst); cole slaw, undt sauerkraut (made by Fred himself, with apples and onions among his special secret ingredients). Desert featured generous wedges of decadently rich Black Forest cake and robust coffee. (Sorry Dr. A.)

After dinner, the first order of business was a spirited round of applause for Fred for organizing such a wonderful event. Then Fred actually wandered into the room and was given a second round of equally enthusiastic applause.

Chuck Clapham commandeered the floor to make an impromptu presentation of his trauma shears to Rob Nye. No one was clear what that was about, with the possible exception of Chuck. Or not.

Kit recapped the Damn Yankees' Rally at the Heath, MA Fairgrounds. This year's rally was dedicated to the memory of the late Chief of Police Lorin Gowdy. (In law enforcement parlance, Chief Gowdy was the YB's rabbi.) A record 270 attendees from as far away as North Carolina, Ohio, and New Jersey joined the usual crew from Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Vermont. Together these guests helped the YB's raise over $4,000 to support the Bay State Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice as well as cultural, educational, and civic efforts in and around Heath, There were accolades for the Damn Yankees Rally Meisters Dana Lewis and Rob Nye, and the damn volunteers who made the rally such a great damn success.

The rally weather was clear, but cold. (After all, Kit promised sunny, not warm) The church ladies' brought hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, eggplant, egg salad, and their heavenly pies: apple, blueberry, and chocolate walnut.

Dana led a group ride to visit the New England Peace Pagoda, Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo Nipponzan Myohoji Sangha, 100 Cave Hill Road Leverett, MA.
Doug Morrison introduced Scottish Trials, in which motorcyclists ride their bikes over various obstacles set on a steep grassy slope. Newbie Brian Johnson, a.k.a. Windjammer, stole the show on his R80/7. Aye laddie, that showing wasn't too bad. Bob Iacobucci and Paula Minton ran their traditional series of field events including slow races, can tosses, balloon splash downs, hot dog munch-ing, dog kicking and general beer drinking and sun soaking. John Barry with his sidecar monkey Carl Sosociable displayed the impressive handling capa-bilities of his four-wheeled BMW. The Heath volunteer fire department served a bar-becued chicken dinner with corn on the cob, salad, corn bread, and Beemer Baked Beans.

Dinner was capped off with the haunting wail of the bagpipes, followed by the mobile bonfire. Musical vespers were provided by a local country and folk swing band, Small Change, that was hired by the Chief. During intermission, there was an impressive fireworks display, also sponsored by the Chief.

The BMWMOV will be hosting their annual Green Mountain Rally at Camp Silver Tower, on the Middlebury Gap, at Ripton VT on September 10, 11, and 12. This rally is always a high point of the season. The MOVers provide a simple but hearty supper of chili, chowder, corn bread and such on Friday, breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday, and a turkey dinner with all the fixin's on Saturday evening. Other features include a bonfire, a copious supply of fresh apples, an old time popcorn machine, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and real Vermont maple syrup. Oh yea, the riding around central Vermont at this time of year is not so bad, either.

The BMWRA Rally will be held in Canaan Valley, West by God Virginia, September 17, 18, and 19.

The YB's final campout of the season is the Wacky Hat, October 1,2 and 3 at Jamaica State Park, Jamaica, VT. Bring your own grubstake or forage for road kill. There will be cozy cook fires, and ample opportunity for bench racing this past season's rides. A prize is awarded to the individual who has the, well, wackiest hat.

Other fall season events, include: The Borella's Fall Campout and Pizza Ride, The Ride to Gould's Sugar House, and Karl Sosociable's Vanilla Bean Ride.

Next up, Tin Butthead Mike Andrews announced the results of the 2004 Tin Butt 500 Rally but determined that he needed to review his results before making them public. Since the finishers were not present, this was not a problem.

Kit introduced 2 new members: Brian Johnson, from Agawam, MA, who rides a 1978 R80/7 and was the Master of the Scottish Trials Course at Heath this year; And Chace Wessling from Hingham, MA, a Sagittarius who rides a 1998 F650ST all over the place, including out to Spokane, WA. Chace's mother, Cynthia, was also introduced. Cynthia took the opportunity to thank the YB's for ensuring her daughter's safe return from the Pacific North West. With dedicated and capable young riders such as Chace and Brian joining our ranks, the future of the Yankee Beemers looks bright indeed.

The 50:50 awards were netted $44 each to Pamela Hubley and to Newbie Chace who promptly donated her winnings to the gratuity pool.

Next month's meeting will once again be Sunday brunch, September 19, 2003, at Stones, full breakfast at 8:30, meeting at 9:30! Be there, unless of course, you are at the RA rally in WV. In which case you will blamed for everything.

Bruce

Next page Boxer Shorts index

ClubInfo Home © 2004 Yankee Beemers, Inc. Submissions or corrections to Webmaster