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The Hudson Valley Chapter's busy schedule now accelerates as winter
grinds toward it's end. Our 2008 season began with the very successful anniversary party held January 26th at our national
road run headquarters, Riedlbauer's Resort in Round Top, N.Y. Our host owner Peter Naussbaumer and family not only provided
a first class dinner but also helped to keep a wonderful atmosphere for us throughout their facility. As Hudson Valley members
arrived from as far away as northern New England, Pennsylvannia and New Jersey, the atmosphere became a small AMC national
with excitement. I need to thank Mary Barkman for her help in organizing this event. We had a little chuckle over her directions
to the resort. I also want to thank Chris Atwood for providing wonderful evenig entertainment with his dance ensemble; again
great job guys, this all helped our third year take off.
Getting down to new bussiness. There is a whole new turn of events involved with our
national road run. We would like to invite everyone to join us in the Hudson Valley Chapter's celebration of the 100th anniversary
of Walter Davidson Sr.'s formal visit to the Hudson Valley, June 1908, for his participation in the national FAM endurance
run. "A brief history"
The Federation of American Motorcyclists was a forerunner to the AMA today. I also need to mention that
Walter Davidson Sr., was one on the then very young motor company founders! The national 1908 endurance run actually began
here on Main Street Catskill, N.Y.; covered a good section over the Catskill Mountains down into Kingston then Newburgh hence
covering the Hudson Valley South into Brooklyn to finish out on Long Island, N.Y. The sixty three entrants of various US motorcycle
manufacturers were all expected to cover a course of 356 miles total. Keep in mine that our roads in the Hudson Valley of
1908 were rough, rocky and at times covered in mud, very severe condition to say the least. A course a few could reasonably
hope to complete. Truely an endurance run on these early machines. Our own Hudson Valley member, Tom Svack, Big Jim Mc Cauley
and Rod Pink, all professional AMA enduro riders can definitely bring you up to speed on such a test of man and machine! As
most of you are now aware Walter Davidson Sr.'s granddaughter, Jean Davidson will attend our Rhinebeck National to take part
in our program there. Jean will speak at our banquet, offer her book signing, also promoting her children's safety program
,Yell and Tell. Jean has also agreed to come early and attend our road run to take part in our formal 100th anniversary celebration
event to be held in Catskill, N.Y., Wednesday afternoon, June 11th; opening ceremony 4:00pm ending at 6:00pm. We are currently
working out a designated arrival and set up time for our road run to climax in Catskill prior to the event. Due to anticipated
crowds of spectators and participates, the overall plan of action is to close down Main St. for our event and ceremony on
the actual site of the 1908 photograph of Walter Sr. now 100 years later his granddaughter, Jean at the same location. Needless
to say the excitement is already brewing here with the Catskill Village officials helping us every way possible. This should
prove to be a road run AMCA members will remember and talk about for sometime to come. Any updates and additional imformation
will immediately be posted on our Hudson Valley web site :www.hudsonvalleychapter.com, as well as our roadrun chairman, Steve Barber web site:www.the74shop.com. Please sign up and help us show our
distant AMCA members a great time. Hope to see everyone there. We will also keep you abreast of things at next meeting
to be posted. I hope everyone is well and ready to enjoy the spring. We have quite an action packed summer planned for everyone.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dan Henke, Pres.
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