Festivities

Sun Welcomes Crowd for New Year’s Day Motorcycle Ride

By Contributing Writer, 1-02-06

	Rick Myers and the Myers Flyer, a lawn mower engine-powered Schwinn bicycle. Photo by Jim Beyer

By Jim Beyer

What a difference a year makes. In 2005, the temperature was 15 degrees and only 13 motorcyclists rode on the annual New Year's Day Ride. This January 1, Missoula, Mont., was having a heat wave. At midday, the temperature rose to nearly 50. About 100 people rode 66 motorcycles from the Rhino Bar to Harold’s Club in Bonner.

The annual first-of-the-year-ride is organized by the Montana Legends, a dis-organization of antique motorcycle owners. Their motto is “Legends in their own Minds� and they have been holding the early winter ride for 22 years. The Legends wear distinctive Hawaiian shirts with a buffalo skull logo silk-screened on the back. The Legends freely admit that they stole the logo idea from Charlie Russell.

As strange as it seems, riders have traveled hundreds of miles to participate in a seven mile motorcycle ride on highways with questionable traction. Steve Lewis rode his Harley-Davidson from Mt. Shasta, Calif., for the privilege to telling his friends that he spent New Years Day in Missoula. A dubious honor to be sure.

Phil Rodriguez explained his reason for leaving Debbie, his wife of 23 years at home in Spokane, Wash. on New Year’s Eve. “It’s the beer,� he said. “Actually, it’s the camaraderie. I love coming over here to hang out with my friends and ride my bike.� he confessed.

His neighbor and riding partner, Al Blum said his friends asked if he was going to the Lucky Lawrence’s Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, New Years Day Ride. “What, go on the new ride? Heck no, I’m going on the original ride.� Blum has been coming across two snowy passes for over 10 years in order to spend the last evening of the old year and the first day of the new year in Montana. One year, Blum rode his Harley Sportster from Spokane to Missoula in order to win the Legend’s Long Distance rider trophy.

The Montana Legends award trophies to riders who have traveled the furthest, have ridden the furthest, have ridden the oldest bike, are the oldest riders, or are the youngest riders. The Legends present the “Legends’ Choice� trophy to one rider per year based on no discernible criteria. These “valueless� trophies are constructed out of old broken motorcycle parts. Perhaps as a testament to the creativity, winners actually display their trophies, instead of tossing them into the recycling pile.

	Jim Reilly, of Butte, and his trophy. Photo by Jim Beyer

Jim Riley of Butte, Mont., won the “Legends’ Choice� because he was a triple trophy winner. He was the oldest rider, in his 70s, came all the way from Butte and rode the oldest motorcycle, a 1959 Harley Davidson Hummer. Riley has come to the ride several years in a row, but always left before the Legends could give him something to take home -- besides a belly full of beer and green chili.

Bill Stionoff, of Joint Effort and Uncle Bill’s sausages fame, cooked up a ten gallon pot of green chili for the Rhino Bar. Kevin Head at the Rhino puts out a buffet brunch for the riders every New Years Day. The food and coffee are his way of thanking the hundred or so bikers for patronizing the Rhino on what is normally a slack day. Karen Keely, the owner of Harold’s Club also lays out a spread of food to help the cold riders warm up. Harold’s Club has been the end point of the NYD ride for 18 or 20 years. The Legends appreciate her generosity and graciousness in giving shelter from the storm.

Over the last 22 years, the Montana Legends have never cancelled a ride because of the weather. Some years it was so warm they threatened to call off the ride because it was too nice out and not a challenge. Other years, it has been so cold or snowy that only a few fool-hardy riders endangered their bikes and bodies. The thermometer didn’t break zero one year and only three men braved the icy chill. Other years, barely-plowed, fresh snow slowed the motorcycle procession to parade speed. A few riders have crashed but have not broken anything more serious than a turn signal or mirror.

Polson firefighter, Tony Porrazo said the motorcycle ride was a lot more fun than jumping into Flathead Lake. “Yeah,� he said, “we may be stupid, but at least we’re wearing clothing and stay on the street.�

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