Usually local clubs have hosted these ISDE fund raisers, but that kind of petered out a while back. So Little Elvis concocted the damnedest plan. With out the local motorcycle clubs, he was faced with having the event in his own back yard. But what kind of event could you have in an 8 acre field? Well surprisingly enough he had one heck of a neat deal.

First off he arrowed a scenic 37 mile road ride and had a Poker Run. Then Little Elvis invited all his street bike buddies. Then he invited all his dirt bike buddies too and worked up a small grass track with a couple of jumps to keep us amused. In total 140 people showed up. 38 riders participated in the Poker Run. 50 riders signed the release papers so they could ride the Demo bikes on loan form Cycle Shed. Cycle Shed furnished a 200KTM and a 250KTM for any one who could write their name. The street bike guys lined up and rode the wheels off these bikes and did pretty good too. It was well after dark before the ambulance had to be called to scrape up the guy who missed the double jump. The ambulance driver knew just how to get there since he had spent all after noon riding the bikes too. See the Graceland volunteer fire department helped run the checks during the poker run and had their shiny trucks on display on the Suede Shoe Midway.

Brian Walker is sponsored by the Cycle Shed and was there signing autographs and kissing babies. Pat Flynn riding out of Lake City Honda brought his Harley and did the road ride. Myself I did the ride in my 66 VW type 3, and I’d bet there were motorcycles that weighed more than my little car.

See some where along the line the CMA got involved, that is the Christian Motorcycle Association, they came out in force on their big Gold Wings, Vista Cruisers, and Behemoth cycles. The CMA gang was plenty cool too, and we all stood around sharing biking stories and two kegs of beer.

During the awards ceremony everyone won a prize of some sort. The neatest was a Steve Hatch autographed Team USA shirt. Then there were some Rodney Smith autographed stuff and A Paul Edmonson Autographed jersey. Ty Davis sent some stuff, Thumper Racing sent a bunch of free stuff, Moose and Mooch and Stoughtons and Great Daves and Acerbis and all kinds of people pitched in money or goods.

Then the band Stuck in the Night started playing and the Wingers decided to start doing laps around the grass track on their huge road bikes. Then they had crash um up pick up truck races, then they had the two motor homes take a couple of laps and then the bands tour bus did a lap on its final tour of the ground.

One of the fire men summed it up for me when he asked Little Elvis:

“Look you’ve got dirt bikes and street bikes, Harley Guys, all those people from the CMA just what’s going on here, are you a preacher or something?”

“No not hardly! I’m just trying to do something good in our community so I can get to know all my neighbors, see we live in a rural area and there would be plenty of woods to ride our dirt bikes in, if we had permission. So I am giving half the proceeds of my extravaganza to the volunteer fire department. Then Indiana has two young riders going to Australia to the world championships! I want to help the boys defray the costs a little but most importantly is the sentiment that goes along with this type of event. . Now the two riders can go to the world championships, and the ISDE is the biggest event in their lives, and they will know that some body at home is watching, somebody cares how they do. “

The fire man was squirming backwards knowing he was getting more than he bargained for.

“None of the CMA guy’s knew anything about the ISDE! But now they have met a couple of riders, looked at some pictures, they were shown just a glimpse of something new and exciting to them. Maybe they won’t do any more than look up results on the Cycle News web page, but that’s 58 more hits on the counter and advertisers love that!

Little Elvis pressed forward and continued:

” But when Brian and Pat get to Australia and they are sitting there stuck in a big mud hole, they can look back in their minds eye, and actually see the faces of the people who care. I guess they can see the faces not here too, and that thought really blows me away”.

Little Elvis takes a step forward towards the volunteer fireman who is all ready press flat against his truck. But Little Elvis has him cornered and goes on with his speech in a lowered voice:

“See man I live under the power lines I’ve got a bank of 18 high voltage lines running right over my garage, that’s where I get my energy. I can rise up to the occasion and do more than just slide by on my belly. Brian Walker is my friend and he is going half way around the world to race his motorcycle! I just had to do something to show that I cared. Motorcycling is such a small cross bred lot that any time a friend a neighbor a brother has the skills to go to the worlds! I’m going to support him.

I’m reaffirming that Brian and Pat are doing the right thing, that motor cycle racing is a noble endeavor in life and that it really does mean something to ride your bike and try.

The fire man was sweating pretty heavy now and had just slipped his wallet out of his pocket and was trying to give Elvis a $20.00.

“No man I don’t want your money, besides I’m giving you guys money, $600 dollars to be exact! I’ve raised enough to give both Pat and Brian $300 each, It’s not about the money, They are not going to Australia for the money! All the money in the world won’t get you through the Six Day, you’ve got to have some soul you have to believe in what you are doing. That’s why you are volunteer fire man right? Because it is a grown up, community service that rewards you by making the world a better place, right?

Well actually it was the free uniforms and the badge that attracted me.” Blurted out the volunteer.

God bless, I love every one of you, thanks for coming, good night.”

Little Elvis stomped off barking into the bull horn about getting the pick up trucks ready for the jumping contest, and if any one has seen Horny the goat to please return her.