INOA 2011

I went to my first INOA rally, it was held in Catskill, NY (East Durham actually) and is about 100 miles north of NYC. I was amazed at the number of Norton celeberites (T.C. Christensen, Jim Comstock, Leo Goff, Art Bone, Matt Rambow, Gary Bolduc, Fred and Ella Eaton, Kenny Cummings, Phil of Fair Spares, Charlie Meyers, Stan Smith to name, but a few) the total registered was about 416 give or take. The weather was in the mid 90s and climbing, but it didn't seem to matter; we rode every day about 100 miles in the hills and mountains of Upstate NY, the higher we climbed the better the fuel injected bikes (2***they were tuned for Colorado) ran and the cooler the ambient temp became; at one point in the mountains I was thinking that having a jacket would have been nice. The roads were good, not excellent, but good with some really good sections. I had recently sold my Mk III so I brought my '08 Ducati---perfect for those roads and a bit like bringing a gun to a knife fight...Although Hobot, who was there may disagree... I saw a brand new (old) Mk III CNW build delivered to its new owner. WOW what a machine!!!

A very well organized event with rides, riding skill competition, tech sessions, a BBQ and an awards banquet. I am going to try and upload the pictures I took, I leaned on a BSA 441 Victor only because I have one an wanted to see one done right. Next years rally will be held in Vermont, hope to see you all there.

The rallys are fun, but I always find that the best part is riding there and home again. I did meet some great people in BC last year. Vermont should be good, but there is not much in the way of twisty roads until Pennsylvania.

Greg

>From Chuck Contrino on British Iron plain text list...

The bit of bad news that I have to relay though hits close to home. Our
own Mike Taglieri was in a accident on his way home from the (Empire Norton)
rally, and is in Nyack Hospital with a broken collar bone and some broken
ribs.

Click to expand...

MIke's bike was about as ugly as they get before this going home surprise.
No idea on the details but glad its not immediately life threatening but sure can be after some seasons or years when the whiplash joints ligaments decay on upper cord/brain stem. The nerves from this area control the connective tissue maintenance, like tendons to elbow or blood vessels to brain and heart...

Mile thought he was insulting me by looking close at Ms Peel and pointing out all the "childish" features that will make real builders snicker and sneer : )
Pleased me no end as more effective reaction than I'd hoped for. Glad he'll recover and can poke at me and Peel some more.

hobot said:

>From Chuck Contrino on British Iron plain text list...

The bit of bad news that I have to relay though hits close to home. Our
own Mike Taglieri was in a accident on his way home from the (Empire Norton)
rally, and is in Nyack Hospital with a broken collar bone and some broken
ribs.

Click to expand...

MIke's bike was about as ugly as they get before this going home surprise.
No idea on the details but glad its not immediately life threatening but sure can be after some seasons or years when the whiplash joints ligaments decay on upper cord/brain stem. The nerves from this area control the connective tissue maintenance, like tendons to elbow or blood vessels to brain and heart...

Mile thought he was insulting me by looking close at Ms Peel and pointing out all the "childish" features that will make real builders snicker and sneer : )
Pleased me no end as more effective reaction than I'd hoped for. Glad he'll recover and can poke at me and Peel some more.

Click to expand...

Sucks to hear this...the accident part that is. Mike's been in the Norton community for a long time.

Last up date I got - pain drugged mumbled by Micheal - rear tire got squirmy [lost air] then lost control. Crashing and even dying is something I know I face every time I decide to ride and sometimes decide I'm not up for it and take a cage, ugh.
Michael went down about 6 yr prior in a ditch after going into back road gravel covered intersection and couldn't brake effective to end up with similar shoulder/rib injury. I'm a DC and can't tell ya how many male patients have a motorcycle event years prior we track down as cause of current suffering. In women its usually horse back riding or horse attending accidents, years prior. So Safe Journeys when ever ya leave safety of bed room...

On this note I can't recommend enough to place thin rubber magnet material over sites of direct injury, bad bruises, fractures, burns and cuts and even venom or poison wounds. Amazed me and patients but takes 10-12 hr to kick in but relief continues most a day w/o them, then can be fooled how fine area feels so leave em off a day - to find out the very hard way just how much they helped capillary beds to function right for anti-inflammation and healing speed. Slip under socks or ace wrap over or just tape an edge to flap free with motion but still induce the mirocurrents of cell healing metabolism.

Michael T. get well soon and thanks for all your practical techtips at the Empire Rally. Steins of beer in the AC bar for a buck, live music ,Awesome Tuesday night fireworks display, camping under giant trees with a trout creek at my tentflap door, swimming in pool, great foods ,peoples,bikes etc. Yay! The enthusiastic Mexico 2014 response to interest got me perked up. All good.

I want to thank everyone who attended the Norton Empire Rally; you made it all worthwhile. It looks like everyone had a good time in spite of the heat. We were all so glad that there were no serious accidents before or during the rally, but Murphy's law strikes again.

On his ride home, TSNR and rally committee member Mike Taglieri crashed. Mike is in pretty good shape, though. A bit banged up, with 2 broken ribs, a broken collar bone and a broken hand (one metacarpal). He spent Saturday night in intensive care, but is out of ICU and in a regular room now, but does not have phone service at the hospital (and the police have his cell phone). The doctor I spoke to yesterday said Mike might be released today.

Mike's sister Gina spoke to doctors late yesterday afternoon, and it seems like Mike will be released to an adjacent rehab facility. He is currently in Nyack Hospital, Rm 545A. Nyack Hospital, 160 North Midland Ave Nyack, New York 10960. If he is transferred to the rehab facility I will post that address. Please wait to send cards until we find out if and when he will be moving. I will be speaking to his sister later after she sees the doctors today.

We have not seen the bike yet. Mike's sister and I (and other TSNR members) are working with the police to get the bike and his other possessions released. Once we get all the info I'll reach out to our members that have already offered to pick up the bike.

Chuck Contrino
Rally Chairman

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/ ... 011054.jpg

Yes get well soon Mike hope to see and your Commando up and running soon. Well said Torontonian great time had by all week seemed to fly by. Great pics Roadscholar