Franks Biker News May 25th archive

• Bosses move against head Comanchero - Lithgow Mercury - Bosses move against head Comanchero - DYLAN WELCH POLICE REPORTER - MICK HAWI'S reign as king of the outlaws might be coming to an end, with a recent secret council meeting of some of the most important Australian bikies deciding to force him out.
  Hawi, the Comanchero Motorcycle Club's national president, has been widely condemned following his alleged involvement in last month's airport brawl and a resultant legislative and police crackdown in NSW.
  A Hells Angels associate, Anthony Zervas, died in the airport brawl.
  As criticism of Hawi increased, senior members of more than a dozen clubs voted to oust the 28-year-old Bexley man from his top job at a meeting in Queensland last weekend.
  That meeting established a new charter or code of conduct, which sought to bring an end to the violence sweeping the outlaw club scene.
  Most of the people at the meeting hadn't been aware how young Hawi was, a club source said.
  "They said: 'We didn't know he was just a kid. They're going to send a message to the Comancheros to elect a half-decent national prez or they won't deal with them,' " he said.
  Three of the most senior members of the clubs in NSW were present at the meeting. They were Rebels national president and the most powerful bikie in Australia, Alex Vella; the Hells Angels' Guildford president, Derek Wainohu; and the NSW-based national vice-president of the Bandidos, John "Brownie" Fahey.
  Hawi, a father of two, is on remand after presenting himself to police last week to be charged with affray over the Sydney Airport brawl. He is due to make an application for bail at Central Local Court on Thursday.
  Several other issues were settled at the meeting, including a decision to return to the "old days" of keeping club disputes away from the public.
  "They're going to take it back to the old days when there was respect," the source said. "When there's a problem it's just between them and no one gets involved. All public places are off-limits. Members' families' houses are not to be touched."
  There was also talk that members' workplaces or businesses such as motorcycle shops or tattoo parlours would also be considered off-limits.
  "In the end it was a decision to bring an end to the violence, it was a vote on a policy of no more violence," another outlaw club source said.
  The other big topic of discussion at the Queensland meeting was the emergence of Notorious, the first source said. "They are really pissed off about Notorious. The whole meeting was about how they're calming things down and [also] how to get rid of Notorious."

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  Man hurt in motorcycle wreck traveling at 70 mph - Salisbury Post - A biker injured in an accident on Sherrills Ford Road Friday afternoon tried to do a wheelie while going 70 miles per hour.
  Todd Steven Greene, of 1120 Christie Farm Road, was taken by medical helicopter to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte following the 5 p.m. single vehicle wreck.
  Highway Patrol Trooper D.R. Brackman Jr. reported that Greene lost control of the 2002 Yamaha while attempting the wheelie.
  He went off the right side of the road, hitting an embankment and tree.
  Greene was thrown from the vehicle and came to rest next to a hose at 5385 Sherrills Ford Road. The bike travelled 133 feet, landing in the yard.
  Damage to the bike was estimated at $4,000.
  A spokesman for CMC had no information on Greene's condition. 

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  Biking season kicks into gear with blessing - Gazette -Elmira Star- With a thunderous roar, waves of motorcycles rolled out of the Southside Alliance Church parking lot Saturday heading to the Northern Tier during the eighth annual Motorcycle Blessing and Ride.
  About 200 people had registered for this year's ride, the most ever, said the Rev. John McConnell, church pastor.
  The bikers were riding to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon in Wellsboro and from there were going to a chicken barbecue at Mount Pisgah State Park, where a large pavilion was reserved, he said.
  Only moments before the sea of Harley-Davidsons, Hondas, Triumphs, Suzukis and Kawasakis brought traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue to a stand-still, McConnell had prayed for a blessing upon on the gathering.
  "It's a way to start off the biking season and pray for them, pray over the bikes, pray over the season when they'll be riding for safety, and that God's blessing will be upon them," he said.
  "It's a time when we as a church can reach out to the biker community and say, 'Hey, man, we love you, we want to bless your season and pray for safety,' and it's a way we can kind of love the community."
  That's one of the things that has brought Harley-Davidson rider Nancy Strobridge of Elmira to the event every year since it started, even though she is not a member of any of the churches involved in it.
  "Having the blessing, just to know that you're starting the season out on a good note, not so much a blessing of the bike but a blessing of the body, it just gives you a positive outlook for the rest of the riding season," she said.
  "Plus you get to see all your friends that you haven't seen all winter. It's kind of the first ride."
  Harley-Davidson rider Jody Stroell of Horseheads, who has been on motorcycles for 35 years and has participated in this ride for five years, agreed with the importance of the event's spiritual aspect.
  "It's dangerous riding motorcycles," he said. "It starts the season off good."
  McConnell said riders come from a wide area, noting it takes some people longer to get to the event than the actual ride itself. "They love to just come and get their season blessed," he said.
  Before the ride, the party-like atmosphere momentarily took on a somber tone when Lewis White of Pine City spoke of the death of his 29-year-old brother, Bruce White.
  "A month ago today, I lost my brother on Clemens Center Parkway in a motorcycle accident. It's been a rough month for me," he told the gathering Saturday.
  "I really wish you guys would just go out, be safe and come back in one piece. God bless everybody."

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  Bikefest picks up Saturday night - WPDE - This time last week we were reporting how Myrtle Beach's efforts to end the rallies seemed to have kept the Harleys out of town. But it was somewhat of a different story Saturday night with the Memorial Day Bikefest bikers.
  Of course, the sponsor of the rally is Atlantic Beach, more toward North Myrtle Beach. While traffic was steady during the day, by night, it was a near stand still when a lot of bikers and one-day visitors making it into town.
  While there's a lot more activity in the city limit's of Myrtle Beach than there was last week, there are some bikers -- just like at the Harley Rally -- who refuse to come in the city limits.
  "Like I've said," said Deborrah Walker, a biker from Virginia, "We've stayed in North Myrtle Beach so we wouldn't have to wear our helmets and we've gone and done everything we've wanted to do, basically, except go into Myrtle Beach," she continued.
  Eddie parrish, a biker from North Carolina said, Myrtle Beach "just don't want us. They're making it apparent in Myrtle Beach that they, you know, set the rules so we would not come... I tell you, it's gonna hurt more than they think it is."
  We also talked with some tourists and residents not here for Bikefest. Most say they don't mind the rally overall. What they do mind is some of the behavior -- the traffic and the scantily-clad women, many of whom aren't wearing much to cover up rear-ends.
  "They dress with hardly anything on. When we first got here somebody was being arrested in front of our condos and so again, we probably wouldn't come during this week," admitted Nancy Middleton, who is visiting Myrtle Beach.
  "I wouldn't bring my, if i had little children I wouldn't bring them down here in this," said Larry Holder, who is visiting family in Myrtle Beach.
  "We actually knew this a couple months ago when we booked here," said Michelle Gilmore, visiting Myrtle Beach, "But we really thought bike week would be North Myrtle Beach and that we wouldn't really have a lot of traffic down here."

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  Biker's Ride for Jason Cartwright's Family - WBOY-TV - GRANVILLE -- The Mountaineer Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. held the Cartwright Family Benefit Run at Bucket Head's Pub Saturday.
  "People give bikers a bad rap"...that was one comment expressed as people filed into the pub on Dents Run Rd.
  But Saturday, the American Bikers Aim Towards Education was not hosting the poker run just for fun.
  "So we could make a difference to his family," says A.B.A.T.E President Norman Palmer.
  The bikers rode in honor of Jason Cartwright who died during the Ronald McDonald ride in 2008.
  All proceeds were donated to his wife and five-year-old son.
  The organization says one if it's main goals is to give back to the community.
  "They needed the help," says Palmer.
  "It's always good to give back to the community and help each other if you can."
  And that's what the chapter hopes you'll remember the next you pass a motorcycle.
  The group has another benefit planned for Saturday, June 13th.
  The Ben Dittman Family Benefit Run will start at Mary's Pizza Shop in Blacksville.
  Registration is from 10-12; Last bike in at 5 pm.
  There will be live music, food and raffles.
  For more information call Diana Dittman (304) 879-5192.

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