Kooskia, Idaho, USA (August 14, 2024) - Zachary DeMoss was last seen riding with a group of bikers Sunday, according to the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office. He last contacted his fellow riders at Kooskia, and gave the group a head start. DeMoss’ motorcycle was last seen pulled off U.S. Highway 12 at Eagle Mountain Trailhead around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the news release.
DeMoss was riding a black Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 with “ape hanger” handlebars and a large spike on the end of each handgrip. His motorcycle had black Harley saddle bags and camping gear loaded on the back.
Zachary DeMoss with his Motorcycle
The back left turn signal was slightly hanging off but still worked. The motorcycle had Montana license plate with the word “HOGG.” DeMoss is described as 24 years old, Caucasian, 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds. He was last seen wearing a bright white helmet with black designs on it and a bluish-grey long-sleeve under shirt with a leather vest on top of it.
When his phone is dialed, it goes straight to voicemail, and there has been no activity on his bank cards since his disappearance, according to the news release. Anyone with information about DeMoss is asked to contact the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office at (406) 258-4810 or the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 983-1100, extension 0.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. (August 12, 2024) - The Harley-Davidson motorcycle company is undertaking a review of its corporate policies after filmmaker and anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck accused the iconic motorcycle manufacturer of embracing the “woke agenda of the very far left” which do not align with the values of the company’s core customers.
Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company
Sources claim that Harley-Davidson's presence at the legendary Sturgis motorcycle rally this month has been noticeably diminished, with many motorcycle enthusiasts boycotting the company’s tent and activities in protest of policies exposed by Starbuck.
“Harley-Davidson has been a proud American institution for more than 120 years. United We Ride defines how we run our business, treat our people, and underscores our commitment to freedom. As a responsible company, we are committed to evaluating our policies, strategies, and activities to ensure they are relevant to our business,” the company said in an email to employees viewed by Bloomberg.
Arkansas, USA (July 1, 2024) - A chase between a man riding a Harley-Davidson cruiser and Arkansas State Police is making it's rounds on the net. In the video below, the man is not wearing a helmet or any other protection as he is chased by state troopers.
He squeezes through traffic which slows the troopers down a bit, but that gives him a commanding lead. Pretty soon, the motorcyclist is long gone. The troopers soon backtrack their search to where the motorcycle is parked at a private residence, but he is nowhere to found. After searching the area for awhile, the troopers leave and then finally catch up with him while he is on foot.
Covington, GA, USA (March 26, 2024) - An organized motorcycle ride involving 75 to 100 riders ended badly in Newton County Sunday after a lead rider crashed into the rear of an SUV. At least two motorcycle riders were seriously injured in the accident.
According to preliminary information provided by the Georgia State Patrol, the permitted motorcycle ride set out from Fayetteville and was headed to Augusta on Eastbound Interstate 20. The State Patrol said the accident occurred between exits 90 and 92 when a lane captain in the middle lane, who was riding “at a higher-than-average rate of speed” in an attempt to keep the group of motorcycles together, crashed into the rear of an SUV that was also in the middle lane.
Numerous other motorcycles then crashed into each other to avoid the collision between the lane captain and the SUV. Two riders were taken from the scene by air ambulance. According to the GSP, “both individuals were alert, conscious and breathing when they were transported.
I-20 was shut down for about 90 minutes while an investigation was conducted by the GSP and the Covington Police Department.
On this day, January 6, 1978, Burt Munro died of natural causes, he was 78 years old. Born Herbert James "Burt" Munro, Bert in his youth, was a New Zealand motorcycle racer, famous for setting an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville, August 26, 1967, a record that still stands today. Munro was 68 and was riding a 47-year-old machine when he set his last record.
Working from his home in Invercargill, he worked for 20 years to highly modify the 1920 Indian motorcycle that he had bought that same year. Munro set his first New Zealand speed record in 1938 and later set seven more. He travelled to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats, attempting to set world speed records. During his ten visits to the salt flats, he set three speed records, one of which still stands today.
Movie Trailer
His efforts, and success, are the basis of the motion picture The World's Fastest Indian (2005), starring Anthony Hopkins, and an earlier 1971 short documentary film Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed, both directed by Roger Donaldson.
Early life
Munro was born in 1899 in Invercargill, New Zealand. His twin sister died at birth and Munro grew up on a farm in Edendale, east of Invercargill. Munro's interest in speed began at a young age, riding the family's fastest horse across the farm, despite the complaints of his father. Trips via train to the port at Invercargill were a rare source of excitement, and the arrival of cars, motorcycles and aircraft added to Burt's eagerness to join the world outside of his farm. As Munro's family discouraged his endeavors outside of farm life, he became constantly bored with daily routine, and at the outbreak of World War I, he intended to go to war as soon as he was old enough, for a chance to see the world.
Munro remained on the family farm until the end of the First World War, when his father sold the farm. At that time, Munro worked on the Otira Tunnel construction until recalled to work with his father on a newly purchased farm. After this he became a professional speedway rider, but returned home to the family farm at the start of the Great Depression. Finding work as a motorcycle salesman and mechanic, he still raced motorcycles and rose to the top of the New Zealand motorcycle scene, racing on Oreti Beach and later in Melbourne, Australia. After World War II, Munro and his wife divorced, and he subsequently gave up work to reside in a lock-up garage.
Challenges:
Munro's Indian Scout was very early off the production line, being only the 627th Scout to leave the American factory. The bike had an original top speed of 55 mph. But this did not satisfy Munro, so in 1926 he decided to start modifying his beloved Indian. The biggest two challenges for Munro to overcome while modifying his bike were his lack of money and the fact that he worked full time as a motorcycle salesman. He would often work overnight on his bikes, he had a 1936 Velocette MSS as well, then he would go to work in the morning, having had no sleep the night before.
Because Munro was a man of modest means, he would often make parts and tools himself instead of having them professionally built. For example, he would cast parts in old tins, make his own barrels, pistons, flywheels, etc. His micrometer was an old spoke. In its final stages, the Indian's displacement was 950 cc, as built it was 600 cc and was driven by a triple chain drive system. The "Munro Special," as Munro called his bike, is now owned by a motorcycle enthusiast in New Zealand's South Island, and is on display at E Hayes & Sons, Invercargill. There is also a second motorcycle purported to be the original "Munro Special" in Te Papa Museum, Wellington.
Bonneville Salt Flats and Speed Week:
The Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah, are known worldwide for their many miles of flat, compacted salt, perfect for testing speed machines. During Speed Week, usually in mid-late August, vehicle enthusiasts from around the world gather at Bonneville. Munro travelled to Bonneville ten times, the first time for "sightseeing" purposes. In the nine times he raced at Bonneville, Munro set three world records, in 1962, 1966 and 1967. He also once qualified at over 200 mph (320 km/h), but that was an unofficial run and was not counted. Following the misspelling of his name in an American motorcycling magazine in 1957, Bert Munro changed his name to Burt.
Personal life:
Munro had four children—John, June, Margaret and Gwen—with his wife Florence Beryl Martyn, whom he married in 1927. They were divorced in 1947. Having suffered from angina since the late 1950s, Munro suffered a partial stroke in 1977, and was admitted to hospital. He found his co-ordination had diminished. Frustrated, but wanting his motorcycles to remain in Southland, he sold both machines to a local dealer. Munro died of natural causes on 6 January 1978, aged 78 years.
Records:
In 1962, he set a world record of 288 km/h (178.95 mph) with his engine bored out to 850 cc (52 cubic inches)
In 1966, he set a world record of 270.476 km/h (168.066 mph)
In 1967, his engine was bored out to 950 cc (58 cubic inches) and he set a class record of 295.453 km/h (183.586 mph). To qualify he made a one-way run of 305.89 km/h (190.07 mph), the fastest-ever officially-recorded speed on an Indian. The unofficial speed record (officially timed) is 331 km/h (205.67 mph) for a flying mile.
In 2006, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
