Oil Drippings: News and Opinion

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

Some American Legion Riders in SoCal had a hard time swallowing a restaurant’s request that they remove their vests when inside the establishment over the weekend. Davina’s Cabo Grill and Cantina in Oceanside, CA has a blanket policy requiring members of all motorcycle groups to remove their identifying vests, and merely asked the vets to comply like anyone else.

Instead of politely agreeing with the policy by leaving their vests on their bikes or hanging them over their chairs, the restaurant said the riders became verbally  abusive.

Carlene Warren, the president of the American Legion Riders Chapter 328, said it was “really appalling to be treated that way” given the military landscape of the region. The San Diego “Union Tribune” has the story here.

While I certainly thank veterans for their service to the country, being a vet and wearing patches to prove it doesn’t give you special privileges. The policy may be aimed at “one percenter” gangs but if it applies to one club, it needs to apply to all. If the story is accurate, these vets were jerks. They should be setting an example, not making a scene.

—

The fire departments in Harwinton, CT responded to a “traffic accident” call Saturday evening on Hill Road (Route 222) to find a smashed Suzuki tangled in the wires between two guard posts and no rider to be found – despite an extensive search of the area.

Thomaston P.D., which also responded, determined that the bike had been stolen in New Britain in July 2012 and that the license plate had been stolen in Southbury in August 2012.

The site of the crash was on a sharp descending curve, so it’s easy to understand how the rider went down. Given the background of the bike, it’s also easy to see why the rider fled – with some injuries, no doubt. T.P.D. checked area hospitals but didn’t turn up anyone having been treated.

—

More to read:

– In an effort to tap into all the tourists, Las Vegas Harley-Davidson plans on building a new $18 million flagship store on a 5.25-acre site at the south end of the Strip.

 The 50,000-square-foot dealership will be near the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign and next to McCarran international Airport. The “Las Vegas Review-Journal” has the story here.