Blind Spots

By Don 'Numbersman' Schaffer

 Today’s safety tip is a short one, but is intended to help you avoid one of the more common causes of rider injury.  Blind spots.

A motorcycle is already a small target to be spotted by motorists without our causing ourselves to be even less visible.  Where are you invisible?  Recently an attorney acquaintance of mine was nearly killed in a totally avoidable accident.  He spent months in the hospital and walks with a cane years later because of a momentary failure to observe proper spacing.  He was heading south in the left lane of a four lane road through his home town of Northbrook.  Yes, he was only a couple of miles from home.  He was following a truck at a reasonable stopping distance as he went through an intersection.   What he did not realize was that stopping distance was not the problem.  He was in the right track, and was totally invisible to the northbound car that turned left as soon as he passed the truck, running right into the following bike.

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Reminders for  2012

By Ric “CLUTCH” Case

Happy New Year Top Cats!

I trust everyone had marvelous Holidays, however you choose to celebrate them.  We have so many things to be truly grateful; family, friends, and the Sisterhood and Brotherhood of Top Cats.   Let me be one of the first to wish my entire fellow Top Cats a Happy New Year, with more and greater rides than ever.

I know you value your membership, so attend a GRASS, for a refresher or so that you can maintain your current membership qualifications. Remember as a new Top Cat you have a year to take GRASS to retain your membership privileges or else you have to reapply for membership.  That next available class will be Sunday March 25^th, 2012 at Keller and Williams office in the Harris Bank Building located at the Northwest corner of Route 53 and Northwest highway (enter at the rear of the building) starting at 8AM with a ½ hour social of coffee, donuts, and bagels. For all Senior Road Captains (GOLD Rockers) and Road Captains (WHITE Rockers) the meeting will be Sunday January 22^nd, 2012, same time, same place.

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How Do We Become Better Riders?

One of the most important things that motorcyclists can do is to continually strive to become better riders. Every time we climb on our bikes, the goal should be - that at the end of the day we’re better riders. The desire to constantly improve helps us to grow and develop. If you say to yourself that there is nothing you can learn - that you know everything there is to know - that you are the best rider you can be – then it’s time to stop riding – you’re an accident waiting to happen. Now I know some of you reading this will take issue with that last statement, but I believe it and I hope that you’ll be open to what I have to say.

I think we can all improve our skills in a number of ways. Tom Malia addressed this last year with his safety tip  about a riding course that Dennis Dougherty, Tom and myself took together on the back roads of Wisconsin. I think that becoming a better rider is a valuable topic and worth revisiting as we enter the winter and can substitute the time that we ride with time for learning.

Rider Improvement Step 1

We all know our weaknesses, in life and in our motorcycling skill set. Take some time this winter and make a list of things that you’d like to improve on. Then when you ride in the spring pick one thing from that list to work on.

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Welcome to the website world of the Top Cats-Illinois! As you browse our pages, you will gain an understanding of who we are, what we are about, and where we are going.  What you won't gain is a solid grasp of who we are as people, who we are as riders, and who we are as members of this outstanding organization, Top Cats - Illinois.   Let me explain.....

Originally, Top Cats – Illinois was formed by a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who were business men and women.  Their purpose was to enjoy business networking and the sport of motorcycling.  Over the past decade and a half, Top Cats has evolved into a first – class group of motorcycle enthusiasts who enjoy conservative and safe riding, socializing, networking, and community involvement.

Today, any visitor to a Top Cat meeting, or a Top Cat event, will quickly realize that our group is one that easily welcomes newcomers, embraces safe riding, and provides opportunities for great riding adventures in a safe environment.

As people, our members are business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs (Top Cats) who are riders, co-riders, or non-riders.  All, however, are motorcycle enthusiasts.  And...they all have three important ideals in common; business networking, safe motorcycling, and community involvement.

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Illinois State Police Begin

'BIKESAFE' Program

Carlton R. Marcyan

During the past several years Top Cats – Illinois has been cultivating a strong relationship with the motor officers of the state police. Sergeant Rich and Troopers Liz and Ben have presented at our general meetings several times with each more interesting than the last. One topic always discussed is the introduction of a motorcycle safety program that doubles as a community outreach to motorcylclists.

BikeSafe is traffic safety initiative to reduce crashes and fatalities for motorcyclists. It is also a partnership between the Illinois State Police and other local police departments. It is a proactive approach to engage motorcyclists before they do something unsafe and to partner them with a motor officer for the purpose of an assessment of their existing skills. The program actually began in the UK and is well received by its biking community. North Carolina brought it over the Atlantic; Illinois and some additional states are now adopting it.

Although there has been some delay commencing the program, it was finally launched with a “dry-run” a few weeks ago at the DesPlaines located Chicago area, state police HQ. Trooper Liz Diaz was the classroom instructor for this all-day program that covered practical tips for better and safer motorcycling.

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A Word from Our President

Mike Bradbury

For most of us, the end of the riding season is coming to a close.  I say most of us as there are always the hardiest of riders, with or without their heated clothes, seats, gloves and handlebar grips, with determination that I see riding during the colder months.  They are the 4 season riders.  I find it inspiring when I see these guys (and gals!) out when it’s 32 degrees.  Sometimes they look like the Michelin Man character but, perhaps regrettably, I am rarely inspired enough to join them on those days.   Sometimes comfort wins out in the overall equation.

Now this is the time we all squeeze in all the riding we can!  We may start thinking of storing our bikes or making the changes we want, dream about and can afford over the winter months.  But no… NOW is the time to keep riding!  Please, any road captains and senior road captains and those who want to become one please put together a ride.  For those inspired members who are not road captains yet, see a Senior Road Captain for mentoring and for help.  Fall colors are coming and we need to see them on our bikes on a ride!

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