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Motorcycle group apologizes for others

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  • Tara Bozick •
  • Originally published January 13, 2009 at 6:39 p.m., updated January 13, 2009 at 6:39 p.m.

Editor, the Advocate:

To: Victoria area residents and parade participants.

The Harley Owner's Group (HOG), Five Points Chapter (Victoria) would like to thank Victoria Parks and Recreation Department for allowing us to participate in the 2008 Holiday Parade again this year. Our group looks forward to riding in this parade, as well as other parades, each year.

Our Victoria Chapter HOG group works all years to promote Victoria and the surrounding communities. We donate all monies from "poker runs" to various charitable organizations throughout the year, we sponsor a scholarship to Victoria College twice a year, we hold a book drive and a school-supply drive each year, we deliver special gifts to the children in the local hospitals at Easter and at Christmas and we sponsor several families each year at Christmas in hopes they have a special Harley Christmas to remember a lifetime. In addition, each year, our HOG group holds one of the largest blood drives in the nation, The Tony Borowicz Memorial Blood Drive, which we have named and dedicated after a special club member and which has won several awards on a national level.

Our members always act and ride responsibly in any event we attend. We know that our behavior in public is a reflection on all motorcycle enthusiasts. Our group follows the parade rules, our members decorate their motorcycles with Christmas and lights and we limited our entry to 15 motorcycles.

We are disappointed, as well, that another motorcycle group did burn outs and revved their engines so loud and long that it upset and hurt parade spectators. We also realize that while some people may have enjoyed the motorcycles, there were others who found this type of behavior obnoxious.

In closing, our apologies to Travis Smith and Sean Campbell, who wrote previous Letters to the Editor regarding the loud motorcycles. We tried to contact them personally through the telephone book as well as directory assistance. We know it was not our group who angered them; however, we sympathize with their complaints. We hope that the reflection of a few does not reflect on all motorcycle riders and that the people of Victoria and the surrounding communities will understand.

Dr. John Barber, director, Five Points Chapter Harley Owner's Group

Steve Kennedy, past director, Five Points Chapter Harley Owner's Group

Tim Euton, owner, Victoria Harley-Davidson

Victoria



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Comments

  • shootist shootist Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    The HOG chapter IS trying to seperate themselves from the other riders in the region. I personally know a number of them and their attitude is they are above everyone else. I'm not saying they're all like that, but there are those who do feel that way. For those who think H-D's are always loud remember one thing, factory exhaust is very quiet. I ride a H-D Electraglide that makes less noise than a great number of pick-up trucks. One line of thought is with loud pipes if other drivers can't see you because they're busy talking on their cell phones hopefully they can hear you. Lastly if it's too loud ... maybe you're too old. Turn your hearing aid down.

    January 15, 2009 at 9:18 a.m.
  • mimi312 mimi312 Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    I'd rather hear 15 Harley's rev their engines for 30 minutes than hear 30 seconds of the thumping noise that some people pass off as "rap" music at all hours of the day and night, 365 days out of the year!

    Yes, the local HOG does give a lot back to the community! Yes, Harley's are LOOOUUUDDDD! But it's not something that we hear continually as with the punks driving up and down the streets with their music blaring!!!

    For my part, I enjoyed the loud Harley's and the fire engines at the parade! So did my kids!

    January 14, 2009 at 5:46 p.m.
  • BMF1 BMF1 Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    First off the group of people that everyone is making a big deal about had a police escort next to them the whole time and nothing was said during the parade. 2nd "burn outs" at no time did this happen on the parade route. Loud exhaust yes there was a bit of exhaust rapping and every kid loved it and isnt that who this is for, the kids and they loved every bit of it. 3rd what about those fire truck sirens i know my bike is no where near as loud as that thing. 4th the hog club is so safe that the had a under age child with no drivers liscense riding on club rides and even in past parades here in victoria. And last hog club you do alot for victoria but so do alot of other people and "we limit our group to 15" you couldnt get more members to ride than that,could you? apologies not welcome or accepted

    January 14, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.
  • Hicktoria Hicktoria Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    You guys do not have to apologize to anyone. Txhunter if you do not like it, do not attend. That simple. It amazes me how some people complained about "loud" bikes. The next thing you know there will be some type of lawsuit coming out of this. Makes me wonder why I even served this country at times. By that, I am referring this generation destroying what I put my life on the line to preserve. Makes me sick! Whaaaaaaaaa the motorcycles are too loud...

    January 14, 2009 at 2:13 p.m.