Do you ever have an itch that you just cannot scratch? When and if you can get to it to try get some relief, it is less than desirable and you end up with more frustrations about not getting said relief. Then you just wish there was something you could do to make the itch go away. Right now, as we are rolling into March, that is how I feel about riding. We made it through the coldest and generally toughest part of winter. An occasional rip here and there on a nice day was a nice way to scratch, but the incessant yearning for being able to hit the road and put on some miles is still there…the itch. The only solace at this point is that time is on our side and it is way closer to reality now than it was going into December. I just have to keep telling myself and my family that riding season is right around the corner. Apologize another time or two for having PMS and hope that those close to me continue to understand this time of year and don’t hold it against me for being more growly than normal.
Some of the things on the Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa event list in March will most certainly help with the lack of ability to rack up any miles. Gatherings are plentiful this month starting out with the 1st Sunday being the Parts Girl Promotions Swap Meet in Cedar Rapids. Joe and Kim put on a great one day gathering here, and have about the most parts in any one place in Iowa for sure. If you are looking for anything for old or new, this is the place to find it. This year due to holiday, Cedar Rapids is the only Parts Girl swap meet, so make sure you get there! The next weekend on the 14th, also in Cedar Rapids is Metro HD’s 31st annual Pancake Breakfast. Not a bad reason in mid-March to get together with some like-minded souls and enjoy some flapjacks! Later in the month is the Omaha Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Swap Meet in Fremont, Nebraska on the 20th through the 22nd. This is THE place for parts and pieces for old iron. This is one of the earliest AMCA judging events in the nation and is quite a sight to see some of these old motorcycles get fired up and then inspected by the judges. They must run to get judged, so there are no “mockup” motorcycles being judged at an AMCA judging event. This is always a great place to see old friends from all over the Midwest and the country, and to make more! The final weekend of the month then is the Chopper Show in Mason City. Last year Dewey with the SOGMC had the awesome idea to try to get some of the old school choppers together and we figured why not gather them at an event already happening in Mason City. It worked out amazingly and the Chopper Show was a great success. In 2025, the first year for the event, in honor of motorcycle legend Charlie “Chopper” Gilmore, the winner received an award for best chopper from Chopper! The crowd favorite and best chopper of the show was a bike owned by another legend, Dick “Slider” Gilmore. Chopper got to award his blood and club Brother with his Chopper award, and this year, Slider will be handing out the award. Why not make it a traveling trophy, and each year have the previous winner crown the new chopper champ? Hell, we may even take the show on the road and move it to different locations in the future! Make the rounds around the state! I cannot think of any better way to keep the history of days gone by and the art of the chopper going than to get as many people to see these amazing machines in as many places as possible. Hope to see you at these March events!
Until we meet again! Keep your eyes peeled for hazards on and off the highway. The world is a sketchy place anymore. Be safe
Vernon
Proud Editor/Owner Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa
Proud Owner Thunder Guns and Thunder Guns West
IMDA Board Member
COC Liaison
Quote of the Month: “The reason I’m drawn to it is – both the off-road racing and the motorcycles on the track – it takes a lot for me to quiet my brain and anything that requires 100% of my attention and focus I find very soothing and that is the closest I get to being content.” Dax Shepard
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