CCMC -- Elko 2001

Five Capital City MC members left the clubhouse on Friday, June 22 for a three-day ride of about 1,000 miles to attend the first-ever Elko Bike Jamboree. Riders left in two flights. The first at 5 am with Ted "Grits" Gilbert Mark "El Gallo" Leland and Lucky Dan. Later that evening, after the CCMC meeting, the Keene-Larson duo, Lulu and Sluggo, hit the road as well. By the end of the weekend they would become known collectively as the "Tumbleweed Gang."

The fact that the Keene-Larson Victory could get on the road at all was a tribute to the Capital City membership. Many, many "sidewalk supervisors" provided helpful suggestions and free advice as Sluggo installed a new clutch cable in front of the clubhouse. He would not have been able to make repairs were it not for a ride to the parts store on the back of Frenchy’s bike. Later in the trip, Sluggo, most grateful for Frenchy’s assistance, nevertheless described that ride as "probably the most embarrassing moment of my life." After fixing their bike and being advised to go straight home, the Keene Larson clan rode straight to Reno instead. There, they spent the night in motel room the size of a broom closet. It was reported that, among other luxury features, the bathroom door locked on the outside. Makes you wonder doesn’t it?

Once the gang reached Elko, the locals rolled out the red carpet for CCMC and the other bikers at what turned out to be a small but thoroughly enjoyable event. Among the highlights were a free concert by Brian Howe – former lead singer of Bad Company, Dyno bike-drags, trick riders, vendors, really great food at a local Basque restaurant called "The Star," and the friendly town and people of Elko itself.

Sluggo’s new cable lasted until the group was riding up a remote canyon outside Elko in the Ruby Mountains. Clutch-less, he got back to town. Along the way, however, Lucky narrowly avoided another happy encounter with the Nevada Highway Patrol. (The speed limit there is high, just not that high.) While the new cable went in, Ted and Mark volunteered to attend the wet tee-shirt contest a few miles down the road. The rest of the crew arrived for the finale when the winner squeezed the last of the applause out of the audience by, well; let’s leave something to the imagination.

Headed home, the group officially became the "Tumbleweed Gang." High winds sent one tumbleweed after another across the highway. And, while most were dodged, collisions with some were unavoidable. Later, stopping in the town of Lovelock, the group was still pulling stickers out of their clothes and off the bikes. Despite a few close encounters with crazed truckers and other drivers along the way, the "Gang" made it safely home. Start thinking about the Elko Bike Jamboree 2002 – the trip is worth it for the food at the Star alone. Oh yeah, the "Horseshoe" club wasn’t bad either – but that’s another story.

Copyright © 2003, Capital City Motorcycle Club, Inc.