From I-5 follow Hwy 20 east towards Sedro-Woolley.  Turn right at the West State Street stoplight continue to Metcalf St. and turn right, go 1 block south and it will be on your right hand side. From Hwy 9 north coming into Sedro-Woolley.  Turn right at the light onto West State Street and continue to Metcalf St. turn right, go 1 block south and it will be on your right hand side. From the North or East. Turn left onto Hwy 9 south, turn left at the West State Street light, continue to Metcalf St and turn right, go 1 block south and it will be on your right hand side.

It is that time of year when we are eagerly looking forward to the riding season with what we hope is warmer weather approaching. Most of us have not ridden much over the winter and our bikes have been sitting. It is important from a safety and reliability standpoint that you take some time to go over your bike before you jump on it and take off. Don’t expect your bike to be the same as you left it after a time of sitting idle in a cold garage. The truth is that most riders don’t really know how to check out their bikes before they start the new riding season. So, your HOG chapter put together a way to help you learn how..

On Sunday February 8th we held a Skagit Safety Service Seminar. I was surprised that so many people showed up. It is obvious to me that we need to make this a regular event and I am working with the guys at the dealership to make this happen. 

There were three goals for the seminar:
1. To help people get a better understanding of their bike
2. To eliminate problems on the road before they happen
3. To get to know our service guys at Skagit Harley

Rob and Josh in the service department did a great job setting up some examples of typical problems they see on a regular basis. We all went back into the service department and went through our pre-ride checklist, item by item. We not only talked about what to look for but they showed us how to do it. Rob and Josh showed us examples of what is right and what is not. They even told us a couple of tech tricks that any of us can do. Overall it was really fun and highly educational. We want to thank them for the preparation they put into this. They made us feel welcome and did a great job explaining things so we could all put them into practice.

Click here for a copy of the pre-ride checklist to download whenever you need one.  I encourage you to print some out and put them wherever you keep your bike. 
Until next time Ride Safe.
Howard Bono, Safety Officer

In my continuing series of interviews with people who have been important to our club, I’ve chosen Fred Smith, owner of Skagit  Harley Davidson for over 33 years, to give us some insight on his motorcycling background and successes.

PAUL: What made you decide to become a Harley-Davidson dealership owner?
FRED: When I was thirteen years old I built my first motorcycle which was actually a mini bike.  My test track was Interstate 5 which at the time was just dirt being contoured and waiting to be paved.  Two years later I started work part time after school at Evergreen Honda in Everett, Washington.  After 10 years with Honda I was ready to try something different and in 1975 I took a job as the Parts Manager for Everett Harley-Davidson.  After work and on weekends I would ride different Harleys to get familiar with the product I was selling.  It was a time for me to get a taste of the torque the V-twin produced and I soon found out what the thrill of riding a “Hog” was all about.

PAUL: Being an owner what has been your most memorable events over the years?
FRED: There have been so many memorable events over the 33 years since I started Skagit Harley-Davidson.  Of course becoming a Harley-Davidson Dealer in 1976 is at the top of the list.  And in 1983 I received a very special award from the Harley-Davidson Motor Company.  They produced 50, limited edition, gold plated FXSB Low riders to be awarded, and Skagit Harley was 1 of only 50 dealers in the world to receive one.  On my office wall are some awards and plaques that are reminders of some special events.  In 1985 Skagit Harley-Davidson received the Bar and Shield Circle of Excellence Award.  This was awarded to Skagit Harley-Davidson for being the District Leader in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.  Another plaque was given to me by the Skagit Harley-Davidson employees in 1995.  The plaque reads as follows:  “The Employees of Eagle Industries are proud to recognize Frederic J. Smith for 20 years dedicated service in establishing the finest Harley-Davidson Dealership anywhere”.

PAUL: What role does NCHOG play for the dealership?
FRED:NCHOG members have shown support for Skagit Harley-Davidson and have been willing to help out when needed for special events.  Likewise we show our support for NCHOG by donating time and materials that help the club succeed.  The members of NCHOG exemplify the image we want our new customers to follow, and that is one of the reasons why we pay for their 1st year local membership in the chapter.

PAUL: What was the first bike you ever owned, and aside from the dealership floor, what bike do you ride now, and how often?
FRED:My 1st bike was a homemade mini bike and will always be my favorite.  When I ride in Washington, my 1995 FLSTC is my favorite ride and I generally put about 4,000 miles a year on it.  When in Arizona I ride my 2000 FLSTF and have averaged about 3,000 miles a year.

PAUL: For fun, can you recite the names of all past Director’s from NCHOG?
FRED:You say this question is just for fun but I’ve got a feeling that you are really testing me for Alzheimer’s!

PAUL: Where and when was your “Best Ever” motorcycle trip?
FRED:Lorie and I rode through Arizona and Utah with our destination being Zion National Park.  The trip and scenery were just about perfect.

PAUL: What is a motorcycle experience you would rather forget?
FRED:Maybe it was in 1978 when I was escorting Charlie Thompson the President of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company down Highway 20 to Clinton.  Charlie had ridden from the Milwaukee factory, stopping at various dealerships and he needed to catch the 1:00pm ferry or he would miss his visit with the next dealer.  I was leading a group of about 20 customers on a beautiful summer day when all of a sudden my Harley lost power.  We all stopped and determined that the coil had burned out and I wasn’t going any further.  Charlie and I shook hands, said goodbye and he continued on to the ferry with one of my customers leading the ride.

PAUL: What future plans do you and your wife, Lorie, have?
FRED:Lorie and my future plans include being healthy and happy.

Look forward to the next interview, the history guy, Paul