OFFICIAL SITE - Quick Throttle® Magazine - Northwest Edition - 2008 EVENT UPDATE: WHAT’S IN, WHAT’S OUT, WHAT CHANGED, AND WHY.

As we approach the beginning of the 2008 event season there are a great many changes, cancellations and updates from last year’s schedule. With the rumor mill in full spin and the “drive by media” chalking up all of these changes to poor business resulting in money and sponsorship shortages, we thought it would be timely to help set the record straight. Contrary to the “gloom & doomers” the sky is not falling! Let’s take this event by event to see what’s changed, and tell you where and why.

GOVERNOR’S RUN:
This event is CANCELLED for 2008. After 25 straight years, most of it spent as the “Big” event on the Kitsap Peninsula. This event is in hiatus until 2009. The event is a victim of its own success. It attracted as many as 2000 riders as well as several thousand more attendees at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds each year. The problem is that for all 25 years the event was being organized, planned, promoted and managed by the same Goldwing chapter and the same people year in and year out. After a hugely successful 2007 event the chapter was just totally burned out and asked the State Goldwing organization to take it over. They are but not in time to have the event in 2008. It also looks like it will not be kept on the Kitsap Peninsula or at the fairgrounds when it does return in 2009. Since the State chapter feels it needs to be more centrally located. Locally we will sure miss it.

MILD TO WILD:
This show in its 19th year was almost scrubbed due to the desire of its long time promoter, Chaz Marten to sell the show and retire. When the deal hit a snag he decided to answer the bell one more time and the show will go on as planned at the Tacoma Dome. Following this year’s show there is a deal in place to sell the show to a long time employee and keep it going another 19 years at least. See their ad on page 16 for full details. We will also have a discount coupon courtesy of Quick Throttle in our enlarged April season opener issue.

CHILDREN’S RIDE:
This local ride, the biggest charity ride in the NW will come off as planned but with major changes. Normally the ride ended up at Seattle International Raceway for a full day of all Harley Drags. This year however that will not be possible as SIR was sold last fall and the new owners for reasons known only to them cancelled their contract with AHDRA and thus there will not be a motorcycle event at SIR the day of the ride. The new destination is the White River Amphitheater for a concert. Artists to be named later. Date is June 29th.

KING OF HEARTS RIDE:
This ride is CANCELLED for 2008. It will definitely be on the 2009 schedule. The ride which was the brainchild of the Fleck Family was started as a tribute to their father who died from complications of heart disease several years ago. The ride was a staple on the Kitsap Peninsula for several years and was one that we always looked forward too. During the 2006 ride Steven Fleck suffered a stroke but attributed his feeling poorly to the heat and finished the ride. The day after the ride he suffered yet another stroke and then a massive stroke 2 days later. His recovery has been slow but steady and Steve, his wife Janet and brother Mike & his wife (new parents) just felt that to do it right they needed more healing time. When I spoke with Janet she asked that I mention that all you guys who think strokes only happen to old guys that you better think again as Steve is a young guy and it hammered him. Blood pressure, weight, diet, stress & family history and more come into play so if you have any of these risk factors seeing a doctor is a really good idea! Steve has his custom painted Harley sitting in his living room as an inspirational reminder and he, Janet, Mike and the rest of the Fleck Family GUARANTEE that the ride will be back in 2009 bigger and better then ever. I would take that to the bank!

HAWGS & PAWS RIDE:
This ride is CANCELLED. Again personal issues with the organizers as well as a desire to change the venue dictated that they needed more time to do this one right. It will be back on the schedule for 2009.

IRON HORSE RODEO:
BACK and better then ever after a 2 year hiatus. See their ad on page 23.

JOURNEY FOR FREEDOM:
As of press time it was appearing less and less likely that this ride would be taking place this year. The main principle has relocated to Southern Oregon and that along with organizational issues will probably result in no ride this year.

100 YEARS of MOTORCYCLES:
Has moved its date and its venue from Rosalia, WA. in mid August up to July 25-27th at the Spokane County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. This change may result in less nationally known, big name builders making the show prior to Sturgis.

ROADHOUSE RALLY - POST FALLS, ID:
This event is CANCELLED. It will be “replaced” by smaller events done at other times. Concern was proximity of other area events to their date as well as Sturgis, 100 Years of M/C, etc.


QUICK THROTTLE® MAGAZINE - NORTHWEST EDITION Your Free Local Monthly Motorcycle Magazine!
NATIONAL HOME ABOUT US ARCHIVES BIKER FRIENDLY BIKER GALLERY BIKER NEWS EDITORIAL EMPLOYMENT FORUM OUR ADVERTISERS RIDE & EVENTS CALENDAR ADVERTISING INFO H-D's FOR SALE LINK TO US SUBSCRIBE	As we approach the beginning of the 2008 event season there are a great many changes, cancellations and updates from last year’s schedule. With the rumor mill in full spin and the “drive by media” chalking up all of these changes to poor business resulting in money and sponsorship shortages, we thought it would be timely to help set the record straight. Contrary to the “gloom & doomers” the sky is not falling! Let’s take this event by event to see what’s changed, and tell you where and why. GOVERNOR’S RUN: This event is CANCELLED for 2008. After 25 straight years, most of it spent as the “Big” event on the Kitsap Peninsula. This event is in hiatus until 2009. The event is a victim of its own success. It attracted as many as 2000 riders as well as several thousand more attendees at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds each year. The problem is that for all 25 years the event was being organized, planned, promoted and managed by the same Goldwing chapter and the same people year in and year out. After a hugely successful 2007 event the chapter was just totally burned out and asked the State Goldwing organization to take it over. They are but not in time to have the event in 2008. It also looks like it will not be kept on the Kitsap Peninsula or at the fairgrounds when it does return in 2009. Since the State chapter feels it needs to be more centrally located. Locally we will sure miss it. MILD TO WILD: This show in its 19th year was almost scrubbed due to the desire of its long time promoter, Chaz Marten to sell the show and retire. When the deal hit a snag he decided to answer the bell one more time and the show will go on as planned at the Tacoma Dome. Following this year’s show there is a deal in place to sell the show to a long time employee and keep it going another 19 years at least. See their ad on page 16 for full details. We will also have a discount coupon courtesy of Quick Throttle in our enlarged April season opener issue. CHILDREN’S RIDE: This local ride, the biggest charity ride in the NW will come off as planned but with major changes. Normally the ride ended up at Seattle International Raceway for a full day of all Harley Drags. This year however that will not be possible as SIR was sold last fall and the new owners for reasons known only to them cancelled their contract with AHDRA and thus there will not be a motorcycle event at SIR the day of the ride. The new destination is the White River Amphitheater for a concert. Artists to be named later. Date is June 29th. KING OF HEARTS RIDE: This ride is CANCELLED for 2008. It will definitely be on the 2009 schedule. The ride which was the brainchild of the Fleck Family was started as a tribute to their father who died from complications of heart disease several years ago. The ride was a staple on the Kitsap Peninsula for several years and was one that we always looked forward too. During the 2006 ride Steven Fleck suffered a stroke but attributed his feeling poorly to the heat and finished the ride. The day after the ride he suffered yet another stroke and then a massive stroke 2 days later. His recovery has been slow but steady and Steve, his wife Janet and brother Mike & his wife (new parents) just felt that to do it right they needed more healing time. When I spoke with Janet she asked that I mention that all you guys who think strokes only happen to old guys that you better think again as Steve is a young guy and it hammered him. Blood pressure, weight, diet, stress & family history and more come into play so if you have any of these risk factors seeing a doctor is a really good idea! Steve has his custom painted Harley sitting in his living room as an inspirational reminder and he, Janet, Mike and the rest of the Fleck Family GUARANTEE that the ride will be back in 2009 bigger and better then ever. I would take that to the bank! HAWGS & PAWS RIDE: This ride is CANCELLED. Again personal issues with the organizers as well as a desire to change the venue dictated that they needed more time to do this one right. It will be back on the schedule for 2009. IRON HORSE RODEO: BACK and better then ever after a 2 year hiatus. See their ad on page 23. JOURNEY FOR FREEDOM: As of press time it was appearing less and less likely that this ride would be taking place this year. The main principle has relocated to Southern Oregon and that along with organizational issues will probably result in no ride this year. 100 YEARS of MOTORCYCLES: Has moved its date and its venue from Rosalia, WA. in mid August up to July 25-27th at the Spokane County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. This change may result in less nationally known, big name builders making the show prior to Sturgis. ROADHOUSE RALLY - POST FALLS, ID: This event is CANCELLED. It will be “replaced” by smaller events done at other times. Concern was proximity of other area events to their date as well as Sturgis, 100 Years of M/C, etc. *CHECK OUR RIDE & EVENTS CALENDAR AS WELL AS OUR WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.*
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