Why They Ride

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-17T18:54:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas from the guys at Why They Ride! We've reduced the price to make it a great solution for stocking stuffers. For you motorcyclists in the cold climates, hang in there this winter!

Catching Up

2010-12-17T18:28:00.010-05:00

We've enjoyed several bike trips this year that were very special to us. Yet another trip to the Dragon at Deals Gap was in order since we missed our annual visit in '09. We also rode over a thousand miles on the Trans-America Trail on dualsport bikes (more on that later). We attended Rockerbox in Milwaukee, the Rockers Reunion in Indy, and, of course, Mods vs Rockers in Chicago. Another highlight was our never-miss pilgrimage to Mid-Ohio's AMA Vintage Days (we brought the cafe's this year). We're also thankful that the events surrounding the Indianapolis MotoGP weekend are just down the road from us: The IndyMile, EnduroCross and the GP.

Rally For ANNA

2009-11-24T13:43:00.006-05:00

We had the pleasure of attending the 6th Annual Rally for A.N.N.A. in Rensselaer, Indiana. It's a motorcycle benefit ride that helps families affected by neuroblastoma. Through the Anna Fund, the Healey family raises money and awareness to help find a cure for the childhood cancer. The charity was named after Anna Olivia Healey. A.N.N.A. stands for Anna Needs Neuroblastoma Answers; learn more at www.annafund.org or watch this video!

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial Era

2009-09-01T06:29:00.007-04:00

The world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway is celebrating a century of existence in motorcycle and auto racing. Its well-earned reputation as one of the oldest and most exciting Speedways hits you the moment you enter the gates. This year, during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, we paid homage to the track by stickering up my W650 with a vintage script, wing and wheel. We're proud to live and work so close to a place of such historic importance in the world of racing.

Psychedelic Helmet Illustration - "Headtrip"

2009-08-15T17:28:00.003-04:00

Here's a helmet we illustrated for Icon Motosports. It's an Icon Alliance SSR shell with our far-out graphics on it dubbed, "Headtrip." Buy one, you'll be safer and will look groovy. You can also wear one when you go chasing rabbits. :) The bike in the pics is our beloved Wilkinson Brothers Flying W bobber.

The Flying W: 'Bout Done

2009-07-30T20:50:00.005-04:00

Our new bobber is days away from being done done! Here are some preview pics of our first viewing since the parts and pieces were all put together.

The guys at Ardcore Choppers did an awesome job. Keep an eye out for mo' vids and pics.

Sweet

2009-07-20T14:58:00.000-04:00

Rally for ANNA

2009-06-28T16:06:00.006-04:00

Just got back from the Rally for ANNA yesterday. Good people, great cause. The Healey family has been leading a charge to help fund research and help families affected by Neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. (Click here to learn more). This event, centered around a 75-mile ride through rural, northwestern Indiana, drew hundreds of bikes and riders on its 6th consecutive year. Next summer, if you're looking for a good ride and want to support an absolutely worthy cause, ride to Rensselaer and join the fight against childhood cancer.

Delivery Motorcycle

2009-06-06T12:26:00.003-04:00

A recent order of DVDs from the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort prompted us to make a run to FedEx; my W650 served as the utility vehicle to deliver the box to the nearest hub. It's great to know that folks who've ridden in and around the Deals Gap area are able to purchase our moto-documentary right at the heart of the Dragon on US129. Thanks to Ben and Brad down there for their support!

MOTOPAK Luggage

2009-06-01T08:09:00.006-04:00

Need a good tank bag, tail bag, or saddle bags? We've used MOTOPAK luggage for the last few years and had great luck with them. They function well, look good and it'd be tough to beat the value (great bang for the buck).

Rockers Reunion Indy 2009

2009-05-18T09:18:00.005-04:00

We dig vintage bikes and the nostalgic atmosphere they create when a whole slew of 'em gather. The Ton-Up Indy guys hosted their 3rd Annual Rockers Reunion at the Melody in this last weekend so we fired up the old bikes and rode in. Lotta good folks there and some very cool bikes.

The Top Ten States

2009-04-30T10:15:00.002-04:00

It's cool to see that our moto-documentary has found its way to folks all across the U.S. Here's the top 10 states that have purchased the most DVDs. Thanks everyone!

1. Florida
2. California
3. Tennessee
4. Virginia
5. Ohio
6. Texas
7. Indiana
8. North Carolina
9. Georgia
10. Kentucky

Nate the Painter

2009-04-25T01:05:00.005-04:00

The fella who's painting our custom chopper rides one of the most unique XS650's we've seen. Nate, a painter for Ardcore Choppers, is a rider. And we don't mean the kind that wears high-dollar leathers or patches that prove how many miles he's ridden in so many hours. He doesn't claim allegiance to a European moto-brand or belong to popular touring groups, but he does log many, many hours in the saddle. He's a rider that talks himself into riding when it's probably too cold to enjoy it. His bike leaks a bit, has dings in the rear wheel, has less than an inch of travel on the front forks and a rigid rear end, but it exudes so much more style than insanely expensive, billet-bedazzled V-Twins. Its simple authenticity and intentional homage to the 70s turns heads everywhere it goes. Watch the vid!

Tip: Click HQ to watch in high quality if you're on a high speed connection.

Positive Feedback

2009-04-19T12:13:00.004-04:00

We're thankful for the good people who've emailed their thoughts about Why They Ride. It's a good feeling to know that our moto-documentary has touched the lives of others and inspired folks to get out and ride. Here are some recent notes we've received:

"Hey, great DVD! I have watched it 4 times and I am continuing to enjoy it!"

"I just finished watching Why They Ride and I really truly absolutely loved it! The documentary has such heart. So many parts just made me smile ear to ear. What I really liked was that the documentary was so inspiring about humanity and the beauty of life as well as about motorcycles."

"The DVD was wonderful. It was far better than some big budget productions I have seen. The soundtrack was great."

"I viewed the movie last evening and truly enjoyed it, particularly the human interest segments that you included. It's easy to tell that you had fun putting this together."

Thanks to all who write and share their thoughts!!

In case you haven't seen 'em...

2009-03-29T09:11:00.003-04:00

Ready for Spring?!

2009-03-05T08:11:00.009-05:00

Coming soon: March 20th marks the first day of Spring in 2009. There have been a few warm days already here in the Midwest and we've taken advantage of them...fully. The bikes have been out quite a bit during this wintery beginning to 2009, but we're reeeeeally looking forward to milder temps and salt-free roads.

Hey, if anyone reading this is planning a trip to the Dragon for the first time, check out Why They Ride. It'll give you a nice preview of what to expect. And, if you've been to the Dragon, our moto-documentary is sure to get the blood pumpin' and remind you why you're gonna return to Deals Gap!

Here are some scenic pics we recorded on our journey through the Deals Gap area that are sure to have you pining for the Smokies:

New Chopper Website Launched

2009-02-12T08:10:00.003-05:00

As mentioned in the previous post, our graphic design shop was in the process of buildin' a new website for Ardcore Choppers, a custom bike builder in Indianapolis. Well, it's live! Check it out.

The owner of Ardcore, Jon Ard, knows what he's doing in the welding and fabricating department. His passion for motorcycles and motorcycling is clearly evident, which really makes the shop's builds successful.

Motorcycle Meeting

2009-01-26T11:15:00.007-05:00

Our day-job is graphic design. Casey and I run a design shop in Indy aptly named, Wilkinson Brothers, Inc. which serves a big ol' range of clientele: Construction, Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, Technology, Tourism and more. But, an industry that gets us amp'd up is Motorsports. One of our clients builds custom bikes and unique parts & accessories with a specialization in creating killer XS650 bobbers/choppers. A recent meeting was set up to go over design direction and technical aspects of a new website, so a ride was in order.

We pulled up to share a parking space with Nate, a talented painter and guy to contact at Ardcore Choppers (it's owned and operated by Jon Ard, hence, "ardcore"). Like us, he fully takes advantage of sunshine despite the Indiana winter temps. If the sun comes out, the roads thaw, and the numbers creep toward 40 degrees...it's a heatwave. Especially if the thermometer has been in the negatives for too many days.

Nate's bike is a custom Yamaha XS650-powered Ardcore chopper (below), featuring their very own "Top Fools" exhaust, Ardcore frame, and other goodies. Of course, Nate painted it.

Keep an eye out for the new Ardcore Choppers website soon (www.ardcorechoppers.com); until then, you can see our temporary landing page for a sneak peek of how it's gonna look.

Yep, we love our job.

The Dragon via Google Street View

2008-12-31T09:18:00.016-05:00

After viewing killboy.com, a blog we religiously visit, we learned that the infamous Dragon at Deals Gap has made the cut in having its own Street View within Google Maps. This, to us, is very, very cool. Not trying to oversell it here, because it still requires patience to slowly click and creep through the highway, but what a neat way to peruse the curves that are much praised and debated. Check out these pics and read more below...

Above: Our good friend and Dragon photog, Darryl Cannon shot this in 2007; the very car whose funky 360-view, 11-lens camera recorded Highway 129 on both sides of the North Carolina/Tennessee border.

Above: This "view" shows a portion of the inviting asphalt, consequential shoulder, and flowing curves.

Above: This shot beckons me. A nicely cambered roadway tucked right into the Smoky Mountains; hard to beat. Contrary to much negative assumption in the riding community, you can actually experience views like this without hundreds of bikes, campers, or leaf-watchers in your way (more on that below).

Above: One of our favorite scenes. Over a decade ago, this was one of the views that most impressed us. It really sunk in why this road was gonna be memorable. The bend above shows how tight some of the curves are (this one is near Parsons Branch).

So what will come of this news that the Dragon is viewable on Google Map's Street View? First, it'll get a lot of "hoorays" and "hey, that's cool!" But, of course, as we have found with our moto-documentary, it will stir up a lot of debate. For some reason, when the Dragon reaches the headlines, the scoffers emerge. Some folks will click through a curve or two and self-confirm their opinion that there are a million better roads in the country (though they've never ridden the Dragon). Some will spend time critiquing the driver of the camera car, accusing him of crossing the double yellow...not knowing the camera also shoots backward, making it look like it's traveling the wrong way. As this news makes its way across blogs and forums, irrelevant comments will quickly appear about how there is no way to ride this road without a parade of Harleys holding up others, or that there are too many sportbikin' squids that will kill you by lane crossing at every turn. Sigh.

Hopefully folks will learn from honest motorcyclists that while there is danger (which is important to be aware of), the Dragon can wholly be enjoyed when its quiet, when there are no police, and when there are only a few vehicles found on the entire 11-mile section of 129. In Why They Ride, you'll see a segment that warns of danger and you'll see views of the road where no cars or bikes are seen for curve after curve after curve. There are no claims that it's the best road in the universe either, but we believe it must be one of the most special motorcycling roads out there. There, you'll find the intimacy of you, your bike and the road (pure motorcycling), but just as fun is the fellowship with the many motorcyclists who see the value of the Dragon and its surrounding area. Often, the focus is placed on the mere 11 miles...not the hundreds of miles of roads immediately around them and the good people that ride them.

If you're curious about what it would be like to walk the Dragon, check out its new Street View and watch out for squids riding 100mph crossing the double yellow on blind curves and don't click too fast because one of the 50 police cars may ticket you. Just kidding. :) Enjoy the sunshine, the curves, the trees, and the mountains...

Who's Watchin' Why They Ride

2008-12-22T11:54:00.008-05:00

Back in October '08, we posted a map showing states and provinces who have purchased Why They Ride. Since then, more folks have joined the growing audience, so we've updated the map. Click on the map for an enlarged view.

The stars show the Top Ten; the orange represents those who have purchased WTR. Alright, if you know anyone in VT, HI, WY, ND, UT, ID, ME and DE that is into motorcycling, well, send 'em a link to WTR (please). If they buy one, we'll orange-in their state. :) And, if they purchase a copy in December of this year, they'll get free shipping.

Thanks, again, to those who send in their comments and post our website in forums. That helps get the word out about our moto-documentary and this grass roots effort.

Why I Ride In the Winter

2008-12-02T00:47:00.010-05:00

Why? Because riding's fun. But it's cold here in Indy; real cold. Don't even wanna think about being chilled to the bone on a bike. It's a bummer. But, every once in awhile, the temps will start to edge up above freezing and there's hope that things will align for the opportunity to ride. Things like: Sunshine (no matter how cold), non-icy pavement, and mood. Yep, ya gotta be in the mood to get over that initial shock of coldness. After that, it's usually a blast.

I'm reminded of why riding bikes is such a neat thing when challenges of dodging suspect black ice arise or when you feel fellow motorists looking on with a stare that usually accompanies head-shaking and scoffing. I completely understand their position, really. I'm not one of those bikers who puff up and claim "car people just don't understand motorcyclists." Nope, in frigid circumstances it's strange, silly, and sometimes unsafe...but somehow still fun.

Here's a pic of winter-riding with my legs doin' some outriggin'. Had to deal with some face-chapping but the suede work gloves and glass goggles helped extend the ride time. With 50 screaming CC's and a lotta weight over the rear tire, this hog reached top speed with no prob.

Stay warm and safe (and stuff someone's stocking with Why They Ride!)

Fight Cabin Fever!

2008-11-16T10:33:00.003-05:00

During the cold, winter months when you're pining for the warm sunshine in the Great Smokies, curl up with a good viewing of Why They Ride. It'll take you there.

And check out the latest review of WTR in the current issue of RoadRUNNER magazine. From their pen: "It offers lots of laughs, a few tears, and incredible riding footage in the beautiful Smoky Mountains."

Why They Ride: Worldwide

2008-10-19T15:05:00.009-04:00

As of today, our motorcycle documentary has reached 38 United States, 7 provinces in Canada, 3 Australian states, 2 countries in the UK, and a university in Hong Kong. The feedback has been amazing, proving to us that the overall theme of Why They Ride is much more universal and far-reaching than its setting. Thanks everyone!

Above: Orange locations have purchased a DVD from the WTR website.

Now, as you can see in the map above (click on it to enlarge, if necessary), there are some states in America that have not purchased a DVD from the WTR website. If you have a motorcycling friend or family member from any of the absent U.S. States, tell 'em to check out our site and view the trailers! We'd appreciate it. :)

Thanks to all who write in with their thoughts. We very much enjoy hearing from fellow motorcyclists!

Wilkinson Brothers in the News

2008-10-07T20:23:00.017-04:00

We're thankful to have been featured in the Indianapolis Star last month, click here to read the article. This pic was taken by our good friend and Indianapolis Star photographer, Steve Healey. In preparation for this article and for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, we designed and screened these shirts the night before the photoshoot. :)

A big thanks to those who have helped us spread the word! Check out some of the folks who’ve put Why They Ride in front of tens of thousands of motorcyclists (click here to view the full WTR news release about this):

Casey's Article Featured in BMW Owners News Magazine

2008-09-29T23:18:00.013-04:00

During the making of Why They Ride, Casey's BMW R1100GS was the pack mule. It hauled all of the camera equipment and even became a platform for me to hang off and film from while Casey piloted it. We remain indebted to its ample cargo space and sure-footed capabilities. So, as a member of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, Casey penned an ode to his bike in a behind-the-scenes look at our moto-documentary. Click here to read the full story from the September 2008 issue...

MotoGP is Coming! MotoGP is Coming!

2008-09-04T08:18:00.031-04:00

If you have seen our documentary, you'd probably guess that the Wilkinson Brothers would be fans of MotoGP. As motorcycle enthusiasts and fans of racing, how could we NOT be? As I've said to many, if you're a fan of the basic elements of good racing (varying road courses, rivalries, a lot of overtaking, intense speed, and the defying of physics), then MotoGP should get yer motor runnin.'

This is certainly a time when we are proud to be Hoosier motorcyclists. It should really be no surprise that the highest tier in motorcycle competition would want to make a stop at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but I'm sure dialing in the logistics between the organizers and MotoGP owners was no small task. We have to give a tip of the helmet to Mel Harder, the Senior VP at IMS for orchestrating what will, or has become one of the most historic invitations in motorcycle racing history. To boil it down: The oldest motorsport world championship in existence is coming to the Racing Capital of the World at the largest sporting facility on earth. Makes perfect sense to us. We're thankful for Mel's vision and hard work in seeing this through.

Living just minutes from the track, we've immersed ourselves in the excitement leading up to MotoGP next week. See our journey that started over a year ago...

Get used to seeing more of this: Bikes and the Circle City. It's sure to be a common sight in mid-September!

We second that "thanks." Thank you, thank you, thank you. This day, back in the summer of 2007, we rode in the Motorcycle Rally that led us to a lap around the famous oval. We parked our bikes in the infield, walked into a room and heard the official announcement of MotoGP at Indy. See our video and photo presentation of the whole experience by clicking here.

Somehow, some way...the Red Bull folks back some exciting motorsports. Rock on.

Casey's GS sitting proud in the plaza right under the Pagoda at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Then came the inaugural lap to be completed by 2006 MotoGP champ, Nicky Hayden, on April 7th, 2008. He would get a quick lesson in 1909 technology and ride this Indian around the new MotoGP course.

Corey riding his Tuono just past the yard of bricks. We were thankful to have been among the first 30 or so motorcyclists to make a lap around the new MotoGP layout at IMS. Yeah, we've pretty much completed more laps here than Valentino Rossi at this point, so...

Then came came the three days of testing this July (2008). See the pics below...

Here, the bikes would pass the start/finish line at 190-something miles per hour. I could feel it in my chest when they blasted by. It was amazing to see how soon they started hanging off the bike to begin the process of turning it into turn one.

The third day belonged to the AMA Red Bull Rookies Cup riders. The young teen racers show up to two semis full of bikes and an Alpinestars van carrying their leathers. These kids earn their rides and time on the bikes through a strict point system that involves their performance on and off the track.

Yep, it's a big deal to us. Indianapolis, MotoGP, the history, the motorcycles, racing...it's a special event in so many ways and we're gonna wallow around in it as much as possible! (And, yes, we have tickets to the Indy Mile as well...so much top-tier racing we've got to squeeze in in a few days, but we're up to the task.)

Oh, and if you're wondering where the vids are that we shot at the Speedway, here they are:

We've Gone Vintage

2008-08-13T09:25:00.011-04:00

After our yearly visit to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio, we're usually itchin' to buy a nostalgic ol' bike. Well, this year we returned from Mid-O and took a spin through eBay, Craig's List and the other various listings, looking for a good deal and cool bikes. Craig's List ended up being the fruitful source and here's what we ended up with:

I found a 1972 Triumph Bonneville and Casey found a '73 BMW R50/5. You can't beat riding through rural Indiana on two vintage machines without being in a hurry, without being tempted to wheelie off from stop signs, and enjoying the comfort of early-seventies ergos. It's a frequent occurrence when we stop that someone walks up and asks what year the bikes are, then reminisces about bikes of their past. They're like time capsules being revealed to passersby, triggering memories of riding with fathers or buddies and what times were like back then. We dig that.

Back to the Gap 2008

2008-07-30T08:02:00.012-04:00

Our annual trip to the Smoky Mountains fell on July 10th through the 13th this year. In the pic below, you'll see our bro-in-law, Chris, our dad, Darryl, myself and Casey. It seems like a short span of time but we crammed in hundreds of miles of beautiful mountain roads and definitely got our fix. It was great to see many of the people we met during the making of Why They Ride as well as some of the local characters we've known for years.

We were glad to see Ben and Jessica at the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort and it was a treat to see the brand new baby girl of Brad and Beth, owners of the Resort. Congrats!!! This will bump the population to 8 now? :) These folks are always very hospitable, helpful and offer a mean Dragon Burger (order the onion rings with it...mmmmm).

Of course, a ride through the Dragon wouldn't be complete without seeing Darryl Cannon and his team of Killboy photographers. When we stopped to talk with him, he had just taken a break from action photos to shoot pics of a fella proposing to his gal on the Dragon. (She said yes!)

We also stopped in on Francois at his new shop, Dual Sport Touring, in Friendsville, TN. It was great to catch up with him and check out his inventory. We tried on riding pants, rain gear, looked through catalogs, etc. He gives great advice and steers us motorcyclists in the right direction.

We're reminded of why we make the annual pilgrimage by how welcome we feel every time we go. Even a quick run-in with a Forest Ranger at high speeds ended with a handshake and a smile. While there will always be controversy and debate about the Dragon and Deals Gap, we'll always claim it as our motorcycling home away from home. There's just too many miles of roads, good people, and wonderful little towns sprinkled throughout those mountains to drown out skeptics who only focus on the minute negative aspects. I think I'll go watch the movie again to relive the scenes and trigger more moto-memories.

National Ride to Work Day: July 16, 2008

2008-07-16T10:26:00.008-04:00

Today's ride in to work felt a little different. Felt like we were part of a national movement! According to Ride To Work, a non-profit organization, it is National Ride to Work Day. They support, advocate, and raise awareness for the use of motorcycles and scooters for transportation. Check out their site, you can donate to the cause and for certain levels of donation, receive a nifty tee, pin, sticker and more.

Reviewed & Interviewed by Sojourn Chronicles

2008-07-09T17:58:00.014-04:00

One of the first people we sent a DVD to was Brent Miller, an accomplished journalist who uses words and photos to share his observations. His work and website, Sojourn Chronicles, is "a travelogue for life...sometimes on a motorcycle!" In the recent past, he has reviewed DVDs and books about motorcycle adventures (including an interview with Ted Simon who penned Jupiter's Travels), so we thought he'd consider viewing our moto-documentary, then share his observation.

We were happy to hear he enjoyed the documentary and wanted to record an interview to accompany his review. It was a treat to welcome him to our design studio here in the burbs of Indy and talk shop (he's exploring engaging ways to communicate via the internet and new media...something we have in common). He also happens to be a motorcycle enthusiast, piloting his Suzuki V-Strom on side roads and backroads around and beyond his Cincinnati-area home.

We wanted to share with you his website, his review and the audio from our interview. Check it out by clicking here. For a sneak peek, here's a snippet of his thoughts about Why They Ride:

"This film will entertain you, and you'll probably watch it once by yourself, and then ask your family to watch it with you a second time, saying, 'Watch this. It explains why I ride.' It is a pretty good film that explains motorcycling like no other film I've seen."

Above: From left to right, Corey Wilkinson, Brent Miller and Casey Wilkinson.

Above: Casey, (left) and Corey. Photo by D. Brent Miller of Sojourn Chronicles

Women's Sportbike Rally

2008-07-03T15:46:00.009-04:00

Ladies, if you're into riding sportbikes (and/or other types of bikes) check out the 2008 Women's Sportbike Rally on August 22 thru the 24th in the Smoky Mountains. It's a chance to enjoy motorcycling with like-minded women on some of the country's most beautiful riding roads. We were able to become good friends with co-founder and coordinator, Stephani McIntyre, when we were asked to design the WSR logo. We admire Stephani's efforts in raising funds and awareness for Tiffany's Melanoma Foundation. It was at this event that we met Judd Weirbach, father of Tiffany, the sportbiking girl who used motorcycling as a way to fight her overwhelming symptoms of cancer. Our interview with Judd in Why They Ride was a powerful testimony to the passion Tiffany had for motorcycles and a great example of how motorcycling can mean much more than mere transportation for some folks.

Find Our DVD at Wing Ding 2008

2008-07-03T15:16:00.004-04:00

Heading to the Wing Ding in South Carolina? If so, look for Mitch and Marie at the Woodwing Art booth. They are the couple we featured in the documentary riding the maroon Honda Gold Wing. When we first met them in the Smokies, they were in the early part of their 35-day trip to New England and Canada all the way from the New Orleans area. They'll be at the Wing Ding from today to the 6th (July 3-6th in Greenville, SC). They create custom wooden signs and plaques for Goldwingers, both trikes and bikes. They'll also be selling copies of Why They Ride: A Moto-Documentary. Save a little on the DVD by avoiding shipping cost; buy one at Booth #333 and say hello to Mitch and Marie for us! Check out their site to see some of their creations or check out the pics below!

Deals Gap: Where's the Apostrophe?

2008-06-25T11:18:00.020-04:00

During the making of Why They Ride, we learned a lot about the history of the Dragon and Deals Gap, NC. One of the more interesting, trivial things was why there's no apostrophe in "Deals Gap" on maps and road signs. It was indeed intended to be a possessive title. Since its inception in 1890, the U.S. Board of Geographic Names (we'll call it "The Board") has discouraged the use of the possessive form.

The Board gives no reason for this decision; it's a geographical mystery. There are myths and theories, of course, one being that apostrophes will look too much like they're indicating a formation in the topography. Their own website suggests the reason is "ownership of a feature is not in and of itself a reason to name a feature or change its name." I reckon they take that possessive thing seriously.

If you're still intrigued, check this out: In the last 118 years or so, only five natural features have been approved by The Board to use apostrophes. Martha's Vineyard was allowed the use of an apostrophe after the residents fought for it in 1933. The other apostrophe recipients seem to rightfully deserve one as it may change the way it's read: Ike's Point, John E's Pond, Carlos Elmer's Joshua View (overlooks a stand of Joshua trees), and Clark's Mountain (referring to the importance of the Clark of Lewis and Clark fame). Pikes Peak does not contain an apostrophe on maps or signs either.

So, if you're typing or writing the location, Deals Gap, I wouldn't worry so much about the apostrophe. Grammatically you'd be correct in saying that it was Mr. Deal's gap in the mountains and geographically you'd be correct if you left the apostrophe out. Seems the The Board just doesn't want to allude to Mr. Deal owning the gap but will acknowledge that people call it his gap.

To learn more about the history of the Dragon at Deals Gap, see our special features here. Our interviews with Doug Snavely are more about how motorcycling evolved there than grammatical details, I promise!

Tom and Jerry: One Year Later

2008-06-18T18:08:00.014-04:00

If you have seen our documentary, you've met Tom and Jerry, a father and son from Wisconsin. When we first interviewed them over a year ago, they were riding through Indy headed to the Smoky Mountains together. When we learned they'd be coming back through Indy this month, we jumped at the chance to have lunch with 'em and shake hands again.

We've been asked how we know these guys and here's how the planets originally aligned... While looking through online forums to prepare for our filming at Deals Gap, NC, I saw a random post that read: "First timer to the Dragon." We thought this guy might be a good subject to interview to get a good before-n-after perspective of the Dragon. It was Tom asking for advice on where to stay in the area, saying that he would be riding there with his Dad on their first trip to the Smokies. We were very surprised to learn that they happened to have planned their trip the same week as ours. They were even passing through Indy the day before we would leave town. Perfect. We intersected their route, had lunch in the Circle City, then filmed the "before" interview. We'd catch up to them a couple days later for their "after" interview in North Carolina.

We were thankful that the timing worked out so well, but even more thankful that they were some of the most genuine people we've met. They played such a special role in our documentary.

We couldn't thank them enough for their time...but they still insisted on buying lunch. We met up this last Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on a carbon copy of the day we first filmed them. After lunch, we parted ways and wished them well until we meet again. Couldn't help but think how blessed they are to be riding together in good health and good spirits. On the way out of the Speedway, we wondered if we'll still be riding with our Dad when he's 75 yrs old? We certainly plan on it.

Sweepin' the Nation

2008-06-18T17:01:00.003-04:00

After two weeks since the release of Why They Ride, DVDs have been sold and sent to 29 of the United States as well as Australia and Canada. Which state has purchased more copies? Good ol' Tennessee! See if your state ranks in the top 5 below:

1. Tennessee

2. Florida

3. Indiana & Texas (tie)

4. North Carolina & Ohio (tie)

5. New York

Michigan, South Carolina, Georgia, California, and Pennsylvania are close behind. If you don't see your abbreviation in the following list of supportive states, by golly, visit our site and represent your part of the country by purchasing a DVD! :) AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, and WV.