Nick O’Kane from K&N was one of the many Drag Specialties vendors that stepped up to sponsor the ride. A trip through “Performance Alley” was one of the perks that attending dealers get to participate in. |
Kurt Peterson from S&S (left) was on hand to show some of the parts and pieces that Drag Specialties carries. |
As we see Dan Berkes from Dynojet doing, one of the great things about these rides is that it gives manufacturers a chance to answer your important questions. Plus you get a bagful of cool goodies to take home. |
As his brother Jose looks on, Eddie Tejeras (middle) from Vance & Hines gives Eddie Ellis of Easy Eddies a look at the new big-format Vance & Hines dealer counter catalog. |
Another stop in Performance Alley was to check out the latest from Barnett. They are a long time Drag Specialties vendor and avid supporter of events such as the Runnin’ the Ozarks ride. |
Let’s ride! Custom builder Jerry Covington and wife Kathleen from Covington’s Cycle City are ready to hit the road on Day 1. |
Only motorcycle riders look this happy at a gas station nowadays. From left: Gary Elliott (Drag Specialties), Jim Matchette (Drag Specialties), custom builder Don Hotop (Don Hotop Designs), Thomas “Ski” Maslowski from Avon Tyre, and Deidre Webber, Tom Motzko and Kathy Sommervold of Drag Specialties. |
Jason Spillars (left) and Blake Melton from RC Components were on hand with bikes featuring some of their latest wheel designs. |
The Klock Werks crew heads out. That’s Laura Klock riding the super cool blue Bagger on the left. |
Off we go. Everyone had a route sheet, which allowed people to ride in small groups. |
The Drag Specialties crew had pre-ridden the route and had all the lunch stops set up in advance. Note the special event poster hanging on the wall. |
Shannon Reinhart of Osborn Parts and Service (with passenger April Zerby) lifts a wheel for the camera. |
It’s an election year, so Burt Baker of Baker Drivetrain (left) had his bike outfitted with a message to the world to consider Brian Klock for President. |
Dan And Laurie Krueger just cruising along. |
Our groups kept some restaurants busy each day. |
Kurt Kleiv from Samson enjoys the great roads of the Ozarks. |
Long-time motorcycle dealers and riders Carl and Kathy Donelson rode over from their store in St. Louis to take part in the ride, as well as the great Hawaiian Luau. |
Sunrise Yamaha was well represented on the ride. From left: Timmy and Jeanette Holland with Annette and Jimmy White. |
Bet you didn’t know that seat maker Danny Gray is also an accomplished musician. He entertained the group at some of the evening events. |
Don Ho meets Metallica! This group rode down from the Sturgis/Rapid City area and then remembered they were supposed to wear Hawaiian shirts to the Luau. Luckily, the local Walmart had their sizes in stock, as well as the hats. From left are: Brian Gruhn of Black Hills H-D, Danny Gray from Danny Gray Seats, Dave Withrow from American Cycle/Bagger Magazines, Jeff Ulvestad and Jess Jurrens of Legend Air/Independent Cycle and Tom Motzko from Drag Specialties. |
Geno Lessig (right) with his crew from American Classic Motors enjoy the banquet at the hotel on the final night of the event. |
Relaxing at the banquet after two great days of riding are (from left to middle): Mike Pagniano, Deb Payne, Mary Kline and Dave Barnes from Cleveland Road Cycle, with James and Laurel Foresman of Daytona Harley-Davidson on the right. |
One of the fun awards given out at the banquet was for the rider that caused the most delays with his or her group. Bert Baker took the “Pokey” prize for making three stops to discuss traffic regulations with patrol officers. Here he displays the “paperwork” from one of those stops. |
Bert receives his prestigious “Pokey” award from Deidre Webber of Drag Specialties. |
Why did the turtle try to cross the road? That’s what Nick O’Kane from K&N is still wondering. That is just a souvenir that he is holding at the banquet. |
Ever careful on the road, Bill Collins from Bargain Barn was awarded the Safety Director prize for the ride.
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Brian Gruhn of Black Hills H-D (left), Eddie Ellis and Erik Moore from Easy Eddie’s receive Icon sweatshirts from Icon’s Brenda Trumbo riding the longest distances to the event. |
Ray Kaufmann (left), Parts Manager for Harley-Davidson of Appleton was the happy winner of a set of Michelin tires in a drawing held at the banquet. Presenting the certificate is Jeff Reid, Michelin Brand Manager at Drag Specialties. |
es, Drag Specialties is in the business of selling motorcycle parts and accessories to retailers around the world. But the company knows that success in this means setting the business focus aside from time to time and just getting out for a ride. Two years ago, the offer went out for Drag customers to join them for a ride around the Sturgis area. Last year, it was the Tail of the Dragon and the surrounding areas of the Great Smokey Mountains. In early June, the ride moved to the Ozarks area near the Missouri/Arkansas border with headquarters at the Chateau on the Lake in Branson, MO.
