York Wings: Hello, My Name Is...

The president of the club at that time was Jim Bently. You will note that I have written his full name here. Although most of us prefer to keep our identities private, Jim has had his name published in so many circles, particularly for his role as the originator of the Ride for Sight, that I felt it safe to do so here as well.

Before too long, the entire room was filled and I started to feel a little lost. I tend to be quiet by nature, perhaps a bit shy - aw, who am I kidding - I'm a serious introvert. As is typical in many clubs, I quickly became aware of the different cliques amongst the membership. I would try to force myself to join in on the different conversations, but there was no doubt that I was an outsider. So I tended to listen more than participate.

The meeting started when Jim called everyone's attention to the front. It was obvious that he commanded respect when the hum of many conversations quickly died down. There was the usual reading of the previous month's minutes, reports from various executive members, and of course the new business. Once the formal part of the meeting was completed, the socializing began in earnest. A couple of cases of beer were opened up, and for less than a dollar each, we could kill our thirst. Proceeds from the sales went back into the club social fund, and of course, for more beer. But the night was not done yet. After a brief intermission, a guest from the motorcycle industry would make a short presentation on a subject of interest to the club.

In fact, the club attracted many such presentations over the years I was with them. The most memorable meeting for me was when a local dealer brought a brand new Kawasaki Z1R for us to test out. I got to ride it unescorted anywhere I wanted, but just for ten or fifteen minutes to give the next in line their turn. Unlike today's organized demo rides where routes and speed limits are strictly controlled, I was free to fully experience what the bike had to offer. It was a blast to loft that front wheel while power shifting through the gears.

Before leaving that night, I joined the York Wings. Although it was one of the best things I ever did, it would take many meetings for me to finally fit in. I also brought my friend, Walter , into the group. Walter was not much into belonging to clubs then, still isn't today, but I believe once the ice was melted, he too found the experience very rewarding. Certainly he would have never made the pilgrimage to Sturgis if it were not for the friendships he had made within the club.