helicopterjim R.I.P.

Not quite as cool as the jets but I am flying the one one the left side ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgRIpxsHXHU

Another post from a very kind gentleman whom we have not yet met but has moved to Canada from Italy and wishes to be part of the Stradavarious gang! The only way I know to pay homage to Bill is: Ti ringrazio Signore, per avermi dato l’impeto del vento, l’abbraccio del sole, del freddo e della pioggia. Ti ringrazio Signore, per avermi fatto vivere la pace grande della notte, quando tutto si nasconde e diventa più vero Ti ringrazio Signore, per avermi dato il bisogno di pregarti, perché tu sai cos’è salire un monte gettare il cuore in un filare d’alberi, e respirare l’aria gelida di quando si va forte. Ti ringrazio Signore, per il cielo, le campagne, i fiori, per averli fatti vedere a me così diversi e belli, e così tanto miei. Ti ringrazio Signore, per aver dato ogni volta alla mia casa, la gioia del ritorno. Ti ringrazio Signore, per quell’amore con cui hai accolto quelli che non sono ritornati. Amen Thank you Lord, for giving me the impetus of the wind, the embrace of the sun, the cold and rain. Thank you Lord, for letting me live the great peace of night, when everything is hidden and becomes more real. Thank you Lord, for giving me the need to pray you, because you know what is climbing a mountain, throwing the heart into a row of trees, and breathing the cold air when it's fast. Thank you Lord, for the sky, the countryside, flowers, to have made them as different and beautiful to see to my eyes, and so much mine. Thank you Lord, for giving each time to my house, the joy of return. Thank you Lord, for the love with which you have accepted those who have not returned. Amen Riposa in Pace Bill... Ciao.

Here is a very kind and appropriate post from the Stradavarious site from a co-rider and friend of Bill's ODE FOR BILL We were the better for knowing you, Bill Riding the curves, riding the hills You loved to ride on a sunny day If it was wet you were game anyway You liked to smile, you liked to laugh Even when Foreman was passing gas Febreeze you brought on the trip for him To freshen the room when lights went dim You shared your room with me on this trip You and Kiwi, it didn't matter a flip We had our laughs, we had our talks As we perused the Guzzis on our walks You laughed that night, until there were tears I will remember it well for the rest of my years There was the time that the toilet wouldn't flush Kiwi claimed "I did it!" with nary a blush Off he went with nothing to hide Returning the plunger wet, with grate pride You came up with the term Foremanate As Kiwi spilled wine on a Yankee mate We enjoyed your tales, your torn rotator cuff Complained a little, but not too much I feel like I've known you for way more years I loved riding with you, going through the gears Stories you told us from Montreal to Russia Of a cross country trip, BC to Nova Scotia Your smile will be greatly missed, your chortling laugh As some joke was told, a story about a Kiwi gaff You made me feel a part and very welcome To this group of Guzzista, my dear friend William I was with you when you rode your last ride But I can hear you say, with nothing to hide "I did what I loved, I enjoyed you guys The curvy hiways, the blue blue skies The freedom I felt, I wanted it to stay If I had to go, this would be the way I went quick, friends, don't let it weigh On your minds, I really enjoyed that day!"

It is with deep regret that I have to report the passing of Bill Halsworth on Sunday June 24th, 2012. Bill was involved in a terrible crash while riding back from the Moto Guzzi rally in John Day Oregon. I should have reported this earlier but I have been away flying and I did not think about posting here. My apologies. Bill was riding a 2000 Green V11Sport and has been riding Moto Guzzi's for many years. He was also the founding force behind the www.stradavarious.ca site and was the main man in getting many Guzzi rides organized in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia! Bill's Memorial will be Sunday July 8th at 1 pm at Valley Yamaha/Moto Guzzi, 44310 Yale Road West, Chilliwack, BC V2R 4H1 (604) 795-4403. The Memorial is open to anyone and you are encouraged to ride your bike if you wish to attend! I am truly saddened by his passing as we have ridden together for many years.

Copied this from the international pilots group on facebook where I saw it posted, The year is 2016 and the United States has just elected the first woman president. A few days after the election the president-elect, whose name is Debra, calls her father and says, "So, Dad, I assume you will be coming to my inauguration?" "I don't think so. It's a 10 hour drive." "Don 't worry about it Dad, I'll send Air Force One. And a limousine will pick you up at your door." "I don't know. Everybody will be so fancy. What would your mother wear?" "Oh Dad," replies Debra, 'I'll make sure she has a wonderful gown custom-made by the best designer in Washington." "Honey," Dad complains, "you know I can't eat those rich foods you eat." The President-to-be responds, " Don't worry Dad. The entire affair will be handled by the best caterer in Washington; I'll ensure your meals are salt free. You and mom just have to be there." So Dad reluctantly agrees, and on January 20, 2017, Debra is being sworn in as President of the United States. In the front row sits the new president's dad and mom. Dad, noticing the senator sitting next to him, leans over and whispers, "You see that woman over there with her hand on the Bible, becoming President of the United States." The Senator whispers back, "You bet I do." Dad says proudly, "Her brother is a Helicopter Pilot!"

Would it help if we all wrote a letter to the prosecutor telling him what a fine upstanding citizen you are and that without your licence we will all suffer?

TOUCH IT!! TOUCH IT ALL OVER!!!!!

Hahahaha! For some of us it's a coma if we DON'T get a pass-out!

How did Austin Mini's do so well in their day? Light weight! Good drivers! There was nothing said about the ability of the rider on the 996 but sometimes Ducati's that make it to the track are piloted by posers rather than racers but we don't know that either. I reckon Gianfranco simply rode the wheels off a very light bike with a broad flat powerband and the other riders did not have his skills to let their more powerful bikes defeat him. ...... and he rode an MGS-01 at Daytona - not a V11.

So if spring has sprung - has the grass riz?

A married couple were on holiday in Jamaica. They were touring around the market-place looking at the goods and such, when they passed a small sandal shop. From inside they heard the shopkeeper with a Jamaican accent say, 'You foreigners! Come in. Come into my humble shop.' So the married couple walked in. The Jamaican said to them, 'I 'ave some special sandals I tink you would be interested in. Dey makes you wild at sex.' Well, the wife was really interested in buying the sandals after what the man claimed, but her husband felt he really didn't need them, being the Sex God that he was. The husband asked the man, 'How could sandals make you a sex freak?' The Jamaican replied, 'Just try dem on, Mon.' Well, the husband, after some badgering from his wife, finally gave in and tried them on. As soon as he slipped them onto his feet, he got this wild look in his eyes, something his wife hadn't seen before! In the blink of an eye, the husband grabbed the Jamaican, bent him over the table, yanked down his pants, ripped down his own pants, and grabbed a firm hold of the Jamaican's thighs. The Jamaican began screaming: 'You got dem on de wrong feet Mon!

Feck - it is the same up the coast in BC! Next guy who goes on about liquid sunshine is going to have a shine® about his eye!

I'm tired of helicopters and the wife - need an extra hand there?

I've been bitch slapped by pretty much every bike I've ever had - for pretty much every reason to be bitch slapped .....

What everyone has said so far is valid - except it is a Moto Guzzi! If you want it - buy it -don't ask about the price - otherwise I'm not sure you want it! Guzzi's are not just a bike - they are either the bike you want - or not! Look at the bike - read about it in this forum - research it on the internet but if you really want it - you will buy it!

Ponder the V11 - yes. Just don't pander! I sent a picture of my Rosso Mandello to a friend of my sisters who does not know anything about bikes and she thought it was sexy - no interest in bikes at all and that is her comment! That is one of the 1217 reasons why I love my Guzzi!

ROMAN gods!!!

Try this - who cares about the bevel box anyways .....

They look a lot like STAINTUNES but I can't say for sure ....

10,0000!!!!!

By the way - the AVRO Flying Saucer was made in Canada by AVRO Canada - about the same time as the AVRO Arrow supersonic interceptor - read more HERE AVRO ARROW

I don't know either but the factory Ducati race exhausts are equal length to where they join whereas the MGS-01 has unequal length before they join. When I raced a Ducati 900SS many years ago I built exhausts that were equal length, some with balance tubes, some without, some 2 into 1 exhausts with equal length and some unequal before they joined and I was slow with all of them. As I said - I don't know!

Chilliwack, BC, Canada - 0.84 Euro Lynden, Wa, USA - 0.72 Euro

Ohh you'll be sent to hell for that one, Dutchman!!!! ARSE!!! Just so you don't end up there alone Jaap!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD RIDE!!