European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 19, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Black leather by John Miliar staff writer pure instinct drove Joe Quot mad dog Quot Daniels to react the Way he did. He jumped into action knowing Only that a brother he had never met needed help. Daniels a commissary worker in Kaiserslautern Germany was visiting with old friends at the seventh Harley Davidson american military motorcycle rally when the rally s Rock music was interrupted by a plea for help. A motorcycle was broken Down about 10 Miles away from the Karlsruhe rally and its rider needed help said Mark Burns who made the announcement about 11 . Quot we were inundated with volunteers a said Burns the assistant National manager for cafes sport vehicles centers in Germany. Mad dog took the camper top off his pickup truck and Harley Davidson enthusiasts inspect the lineup of hikes. About 2,500 people attended the three Day rally. A biker with latest in earrings. Harald Wolf of Grafe Wohr Germany polishes his Harley. Drove several other bikers out to the stranded motorcyclist. To him the Effort was t a problem. Quot i figure a Guy was out there it was cold and he needed help Quot he said. And it did t Hurt that Quot i had a truck and he had a mad dog said that s the kind of trouble he s used to seeing bikers respond to even though he and others who travel the world s roads on two wheels know most people think otherwise. The perception of mayhem that would most certainly result from several thousand bikers partying on a military installation is what doomed staging the annual rally in Stuttgart Germany last year said Burns whose cafes concessions sell Harley Davidson motorcycles and other vehicles. Quot in essence they worried about what might happen at a rally a Burns said about military officials in Stuttgart. Quot i Don t think they realize what a Good natured Bunch of Guys they Are a he said with a gesture to mad dog. Quot the Harley people just look a Little rough and ready but they re All Good Guys at after successfully hosting More than 2,500 leather Clad guests for the weekend rally earlier this month Judy Figueroa believes the event May help shatter a common misconception that bikers Are bad news. At least in Karlsruhe. Quot the people we met Are All professionals and the majority of them Are definitely military a said Figueroa special events coordinator for the military Community. Quot but they re All fun Loving people with one Basic interest. That s Why it s called a rally. It brings people together that have one major interest. And that s what these people air Force master sgt. Dave Taylor agreed. We re not a Bunch of rapers villagers and burners Quot said Taylor a Harley rider and construction superintendent at Lindsey air station in Wiesbaden. Quot we just enjoy the lifestyle. Hell we work for a Bill Harrigan a retired army sergeant first class who works for the european spat e Agency said there s very Little difference Between bikers and the rest of the world s population. Quot what s different we have two wheels instead of four we like to eat drink and dance just like everyone else. Quot but Harrigan known As Quot or. Bill by fellow bikers said Quot there s something special about a Guy a or a woman a on a Bike. Even if she s just Riding it to go to the Corner store for Figueroa said it was t easy persuading local military and City officials to allow the rally. Quot they were concerned about trouble Quot she said. Quot they were concerned about using the Airfield for camping they thought there would be major fights raging out Here that there would be partying late night till 4 German officials she said Quot definitely did t want us to do Regina Lehmann a contracting officer who helped set up vendors and services for the event said City officials were concerned about Quot the fumes that All of those bikes were going to create and the noise because we re situated in a residential and As expected she said Quot people were complaining about the noise before anyone showed but despite the worries Figueroa thought the rally would be fun for participants As Well As Benefit the Karlsruhe morale welfare and recreation program by raising Money for other Community activities. In the end it raised More than $16,000 for the Community. Quot people drank people partied Quot Figueroa said. Quot at the campsite they were up till 4 or 5 o clock in the morning. But my night guards did t have a problem with soldiers from various units in Karlsruhe volunteered to be Courtesy patrols at the rally and helped with things like Entrance fees and Security. Quot we wanted to keep this a controlled event but not a police event Quot Figueroa said. One of the volunteers was sgt. 1st class Audie Mercado of the 72nd signal in in Karlsruhe. Quot it s not what i expected it to be Quot he said after spending the first night at the rally. He had expected the stereotype Quot the image a rough Tough motorcycle what he found were a lot of people shaking hands and slapping backs. Mercado said he saw one leather Clad biker who used to work for him. Quot you might see a Guy during the Day and he s wearing bus and at night he s dressed like a at the end of the three Day rally Figueroa talked with military police. Quot we did not have anyone who was picked up for disorderly conduct Drunken driving or that Type of thing a fact that left the maps Quot extremely pleased and surprised Quot she said. By saturday morning mad dog Daniels had had enough and was getting ready to get in his pickup truck and leave. I be got to go get my Bike Quot he said and quietly drove and except for the Roar of All those motorcycles that s just about How the weekend went. September 19, 1991 stripes Magazine 5
