Camden County H.O.G Ladies of Harley

Sandy F.
Audubon, NJ
Legal Secretary

Last October I celebrated 15 years as a member of Camden County HOG and LOH. My husband George and I have been married for 26 years. We have two sons. Christopher, age 25, returned home a year ago after living in western PA for the last 4 years. Michael, age 22, a Private First Class in the Army recently returned to the States after a 15 month deployment in Iraq. He is currently stationed at Fort Polk, LA. Not long ago my stepdaughter Melissa reunited with her father and I was blessed with three granddaughters: Valencia, Daphne and Penelope. Melissa and her husband Matt, a Staff Sergeant in the Marines, live in Havelock, NC.

George bought our first Harley, a 1980 Sportster in 1993. I can't help but remember the day we picked it up. It was Good Friday and the bike was just sitting there under a tarp. It was a basket case. I wasn't sure about George's decision to buy it at all, especially when it took almost an hour just to get it started! George attended HOG meetings that summer and we joined the club in the fall. My first ride with the club was to the NJ State HOG Rally in Wildwood. We have been riding together every chance we get ever since.

During the winter of 1994 George totally rebuilt the sportster. It was a great bike but we quickly grew out of it. On a visit to Nick's in '97 I noticed a brown bike sitting in the 'showroom'. Our first motorcycle rally - to Laconia in June of '98 - was on our new bike, a 1980 FLH. What a difference in the ride! And thanks to Dave, a former rider and great friend, we now had saddlebags that held more than just a tool kit. It was on this trip I became a true biker riding through wind, rain, torrential downpours, mudslides, every day in every state all week long. The scenery was breathtaking. And the sights and smells on the road were incomparable.

During 1998 I served the club as activities officer. I've been club photographer off and on for years too. In 2001 I was asked to co-chair LOH. I had the pleasure to serve as LOH officer for 5 yrs through 2005. In 2002 with the help of my co-chair Fran Lamb, LOH adopted a charity, the American Cancer Society. The County HOGs participated in The Relay For Life for 5 years. Club ice cream rides were revived and expanded as well.

At one time I considered getting my motorcycle license. I got my permit and even rode the FLH a couple of times (with George riding bitch) but never followed through by taking the test. I have no desire to have my own bike. Quite honestly I enjoy riding on the rear seat. And George likes me there too. I always have my camera with me but taking pictures isn't why I like the back. I watch the road. I watch the four wheelers. I give hand signals and I pass signals back when in a group. I do what I can to make the ride safer and more enjoyable for George and myself. Besides which, since we bought the Classic in '04 I am not comfortable handling such a large bike.

For now I'm happy to ride - anywhere, with anyone. The club has changed a lot over the years. And so have the members. Some have retired and moved away, some have moved on for personal reasons. And some are riding that great highway in the sky waiting for the rest of us to join them one day. George and I have enjoyed riding to such destinations as Laconia, Myrtle Beach, Sturgis, Americade and Milwaukee with our HOG family. We rode together and dined together. We have shared not only lanes, condos, and rooms, but some really great times together. And many of you have become close friends outside of the club. Thanks for the fun, thanks for the laughs, and thanks for being there.

What else can I say - let's go ride!

March Features
Each month, Camden County Harley Owners Group and the Ladies of Harley like to feature some of the women in our club that not only set the bar for new club members, but act as mentors. This month we are proud to feature these Ladies of Harley.
Lady Rider		Lady Passenger
Hometown: West Berlin, NJ. Job: Team Lead - Barb's Harley-Davidson Philadelphia Airport Store Favorite Movie: Adam Sandler's Movies - Happy Gilmore Favorite Cause: Deborah Heart and Lung Role Model: My Mom Bikes I ride: My first bike was a Wideglide & I'm on my second Ultra Classic Favorite Place to Ride: Curvy Bendy Roads Name: Debbie B. Q: What motorcycle(s) do you own/ride? A: 2009 Ultra Classic Q: How often do you ride? A: When the weather is nice, everyday! Q: How old were you when you started riding & how did you learn to ride? A: I was 46 when I started and I took the Rider's Edge® Class Q: Why did you start riding? A: My Husband was getting a bike & since I don't like being a passenger, I wanted my own. Q: What do you like most about riding? A: How good it makes you feel, the feeling of Freedom. Q: What do you find most challenging about riding? A: Traffic! Trying to anticipate what the cars around me are going to do. Q: What's your favorite place to ride and why? A: From Philadelphia, up the Delaware River to Port Jervis. The scenery, the mountains, the river crossings and all the curvy bendy roads. Q: What's one of your best riding stories? A: I took a trip to Sturgis with my husband. There were so many "Wow's" like approaching the Missouri River when it appeared as if we were going to ride right into it. Riding up the mountains approaching Mt. Rushmore and catching glimpses of it through the trees. My favorite was "Iron Mountain" Road and the Pig Tail bridges. Riding in Custer State Park. Q: Who do you ride with? A: My Husband, my friends and Camden County Harley Owner's Group. Q: Do you have any female riding role models? A: Angelle Sampey - American Prostock Motorcycle Racer and 3 time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion. Q: What's the best thing about being a female rider? A: I have the Jersey Girl Syndrome, my husband fills my tanks unless I'm on an Iron Butt Ride. Q: What kind of reaction do you get from others because you are a female rider? A: When I first started riding I would hear a lot of "You Go Girl" and see a lot of thumbs up. Q: What advice would you give to other women who are interested in riding? A: Take a Safety Course and ride as much as you can to gain better skills. Q: How do you fit riding in with your other responsibilities? A: Riding pretty much comes first. The housework can wait. Q: How did your family react to your decision to ride? A: My Husband encouraged me to ride. My brothers and sisters were shocked. They asked my Husband "What did you do to my sister?" Q: What else about the Harley-Davidson experience appeals to you? A: The camaraderie amongst the riders. Q: How many miles have you logged in the HOG mileage Program? A: When I first got my Wideglide I didn't sign up for the program and logged over 20,000 miles on it. When I got my 2004 Ultra I signed up and logged over 83,000 miles on it before trading in on my 2009 Ultra. I only have 400 miles on it so far. Q: What would be your dream bike? A: My 2009 Black Ultra Classic loaded with Chrome! Well, maybe a Crossbones to have fun riding around town with......		Sandy F. Audubon, NJ Legal Secretary Last October I celebrated 15 years as a member of Camden County HOG and LOH. My husband George and I have been married for 26 years. We have two sons. Christopher, age 25, returned home a year ago after living in western PA for the last 4 years. Michael, age 22, a Private First Class in the Army recently returned to the States after a 15 month deployment in Iraq. He is currently stationed at Fort Polk, LA. Not long ago my stepdaughter Melissa reunited with her father and I was blessed with three granddaughters: Valencia, Daphne and Penelope. Melissa and her husband Matt, a Staff Sergeant in the Marines, live in Havelock, NC. George bought our first Harley, a 1980 Sportster in 1993. I can't help but remember the day we picked it up. It was Good Friday and the bike was just sitting there under a tarp. It was a basket case. I wasn't sure about George's decision to buy it at all, especially when it took almost an hour just to get it started! George attended HOG meetings that summer and we joined the club in the fall. My first ride with the club was to the NJ State HOG Rally in Wildwood. We have been riding together every chance we get ever since. During the winter of 1994 George totally rebuilt the sportster. It was a great bike but we quickly grew out of it. On a visit to Nick's in '97 I noticed a brown bike sitting in the 'showroom'. Our first motorcycle rally - to Laconia in June of '98 - was on our new bike, a 1980 FLH. What a difference in the ride! And thanks to Dave, a former rider and great friend, we now had saddlebags that held more than just a tool kit. It was on this trip I became a true biker riding through wind, rain, torrential downpours, mudslides, every day in every state all week long. The scenery was breathtaking. And the sights and smells on the road were incomparable. During 1998 I served the club as activities officer. I've been club photographer off and on for years too. In 2001 I was asked to co-chair LOH. I had the pleasure to serve as LOH officer for 5 yrs through 2005. In 2002 with the help of my co-chair Fran Lamb, LOH adopted a charity, the American Cancer Society. The County HOGs participated in The Relay For Life for 5 years. Club ice cream rides were revived and expanded as well. At one time I considered getting my motorcycle license. I got my permit and even rode the FLH a couple of times (with George riding bitch) but never followed through by taking the test. I have no desire to have my own bike. Quite honestly I enjoy riding on the rear seat. And George likes me there too. I always have my camera with me but taking pictures isn't why I like the back. I watch the road. I watch the four wheelers. I give hand signals and I pass signals back when in a group. I do what I can to make the ride safer and more enjoyable for George and myself. Besides which, since we bought the Classic in '04 I am not comfortable handling such a large bike. For now I'm happy to ride - anywhere, with anyone. The club has changed a lot over the years. And so have the members. Some have retired and moved away, some have moved on for personal reasons. And some are riding that great highway in the sky waiting for the rest of us to join them one day. George and I have enjoyed riding to such destinations as Laconia, Myrtle Beach, Sturgis, Americade and Milwaukee with our HOG family. We rode together and dined together. We have shared not only lanes, condos, and rooms, but some really great times together. And many of you have become close friends outside of the club. Thanks for the fun, thanks for the laughs, and thanks for being there. What else can I say - let's go ride!