Boxer Shorts September, 2004 - 2 of 4
Damn Yankees Go Wild at Burn'n, Smok'n Heath Fairgrounds
by Victor Cruz
"One advantage to being one of the largest clubs is that when we need someone with a pyro license, chances are we'll have one..."
AS MANY AS 280 motorcyclists on the first August weekend flocked in from places like Pennsylvania and Long Island to ride the willies of super curvy Rt. 8A, greet and meet new friends, exchange advice and stories, bask in the blaze of a rolling tractor-pulled bonfire, crimp necks from a stellar fireworks display and listen to the mournful, plaintive notes bellowing from a Scottish bagpiper in a special "Year of the Chief" Damn Yankees Rally campout tribute to Heath Police Chief Lorin Gowdy.
There was much celebration, as he would have
wanted it, and anyone looking hard enough
at the cold clear night stars could see Lorin
Gowdy's commanding hand at the till of the
Big Dipper, grilling chicken and sausages
over the Heath Fair-grounds' moveable feast
of a bonfire. The 8th annual Dana Lewis-inspired
event was blessed with ideal riding weather,
bug-free 44-degree nights, smiley happy people
and excellent eats. After much fanfare and
ballyhoo, the event raised a whopping $4,000
donated to Heath firefighters, teachers,
librarians and infamous church ladies.
Friday night produced satisfying made-to-order cheeseburgers, onions and eggplant served up with marinara sauce. On Saturday the local townsfolk rolled out wood-burning grills, serving fresh half-chicken chunks, lightly oiled vegetable salad al fresco, and sweet baked beans: a welcome sight after day-long rides and hardcore motorcycle field events such as Scottish Trials, Bite the Weenie, Two-up Balloon Toss and Slow-Mo Race. Said Bob Iverson, winner of the balloon toss, "Last time I had this much fun was on my wedding night." His 14-year old daughter Leanne rode passenger on his Cagiva Gran Canyon. "She told me that she missed her big chance to hit me in the back of my head with a water balloon in front of a cheering crowd no less."
What's more, there was Pete Monroe skillfully
operating the taps of an unlimited Molson
beer supply. For $15 and a red souvenir mug,
campers could drown themselves or wash their
bikes in beer for all anyone cared.
Doug Morrison led a special GS ride complete with mud crossings, Gary VanVoorhis led an endless loops ride, and Dana's annual mystery ride took riders to the Buddhist Peace Pagoda in E. Leverett. There was something for everyone, and anyone left holding a bag of remorse or loneliness could seek solace by petting a one-eyed dog named Divet, who himself took off on a sidecar joyride through Vermont, a turd's throw from Heath.
There was music in the air, a live band that broke out in a-capella singing, hyperactive sparklers that acted as preamble to some contraband fireworks donated by the late Chief, and a taxidermic brown bear with a beer can sticking out of its mouth. Iron Butter Paul Pelham danced a jig while wearing Chace Wessling's arctic frog-green trench coat. A Moto Guzzi club joined the fray, but it's anyone's hard guess whether they'll return to join us next year.
~ Victor Cruz, with photos by Roy Bertalotto
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