What makes Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club Special; FRIENDS!

Managing F6Rider for the last nearly 4 years, I have made great friends. Friends like Lamont (who thought starting the VRCC from the F6Rider Site would be a good idea, it was). He’s tranquil and subtle but I have never met a more giving spirit. He spends countless hours helping folks, has a flair for organizing and though quiet in nature is a great communicator. He also knows his way around a Valkyrie.

Friends like Crash, who is the heart & soul of SoCal VRCC Chapter and quickly becoming the person who I first realized demonstrates the spirit of the VRCC organization when he touched our hearts at the Yosemite Ride-In with his emotional response to what we had accomplished there by helping the Rett Syndrome and Hepatitis Foundations.

I’d like to mention my friend RobW, who has taken over the operation of the SoCal VRCC chapter site for me.  He volunteers himself and Daryl, his wife for every task the falls before us in running not just the SoCal site but also the VRCC. Rob & Daryl do all that and their fun too.

Then there's friends like Gary and Sally, two sweet souls who provide guidance: Karen and I would be lost without them. And I mean literally lost as I am directionally challenged and without their navigational skills, I’d never make it to a ride-in without them. They have led us from simple day rides to multi-day rides as far as Colorado and back. They have focused for us what real touring is about and from them I’m learning to temper my fears and instead replacing those fears with anticipation for the next horizon. And I got to say it; Gary has a gift for picking interesting hotels!

Than there is Tigger who has enlighten me in motorcycle culture and more importantly educated me about the great Republic of Texas! My lesson from Tigger, grab hold of life and damn the torpedoes! And Mary who is such a great balance to Tigger. She is a friend who has shared some personal challenges with Karen and I and provided kind words just when we needed them, even though we’ve never met in person. These are two people I look forward to spending more time with.

Mosa & Dragbars, what can I say. These boys are adventure looking for a place to happen! From crossing the US like their going out for milk to their ever ready need to find humor and fun in every moment. BTW Mosa is the ever-constant eyes watching the VRCC message board being an early warning system alerting Lamont and I to potential problems just over the horizon. I hope to ride with these adventurers real soon.

Then there is Don H the “Connecticut Yankee” from Stamford who chronicled his journey from New England to Yosemite California and points in between. He shared his feelings for the country and the spirit of the adventure so eloquently as to make one feel they were right there with him. He is a gift to be treasured by the VRCC. His insight into the human condition is remarkable and he is a valued friend to Karen and I.

Adrian West is another respected friend, who has taught me about balance. Not in riding a motorcycle but in life, where you endure the sad and savor the joy. Never lose focus on the important things and do all things as best as your abilities will allow.

And Animal, who was the life-blood of the first VOA Montrose Ride-In and put all things aside to make sure everyone, had a spectacular time. And so they did.

Now Lamont gets out a lot more than I do and has met 100’s if not 1000’s of our members. I got an opportunity to go to New England where I met members from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. I spent some hours with these people and feel I’ve made lifelong friends! I met chapter leaders from 3 states, Randy "Rabbai"Govertsen from Connecticut, Olaf "MaineMan" Rankis from Maine and Steve "Smitty" Smith from Rhode Island.

In Connecticut where we met we talked about what the VRCC is becoming, that being a brother/sisterhood.  And personally I think it is more than just a Valkyrie association. Maybe it is that like people are drawn to like machines, or maybe it is the structure of our organization that puts respect in front of pride, caring before showmanship, and fellowship before accomplishments and finally sharing knowledge for the pure power of enjoying the Valkyrie experience to its fullest.

And there is the anticipation of meeting more VRCC members and Valkyrie Riders in the near future, new friends who will share their passion for a more spiritual means of locomotion. Not for mere transportation but for the thrill of the journey. The flight, ebb and flow of piloting a two-wheeled angel through sweeping turns and across super slabs. The heat of summer and the mists of winter, the discovery of new life in spring, and experiencing the colors in the fall in a 360-degree panoramic view only obtainable from the saddle of the finest motorcycle made*, the maiden we call the Valkyrie. 

Get out there, ride the dragon and experience the seasons. These may be some of the most memorable times of your life. Share the Valkyrie Pride!

oZ, a.k.a. Gale Scalzi, Co-Founder of the Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club… 
WebMaster@f6rider.com

*The Valkyrie, deemed the Cruiser of the Decade by Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine...

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