^3RD ANNUAL STEVE “DUCO” RATZ

MEMORIAL RIDE

SET FOR JULY 20, 2008

Mark your calendar for Sunday July 20, 2008—so you can make plans to participate in the 3^rd Annual Steve “Duco” Ratz Memorial Ride (poker run).

This growing event drew over 100 motorcycle enthusiast in it’s second year…a 50 percent increase from it’s inaugural ride in July 2006. We hope to double this amount in 2008, it would be great to have over 200 riders pulling out for a nice Sunday ride in the mountains of southern West Virginia and southeastern Kentucky.

Of course, after the ride we gather for good food, trophies for “best” and “worst” hand, door prizes, and a story or two about “Duco”.  And you’re invited to put in your two cents worth. The first two years this charity ride has made  generous donations to Steve’s favorite charity-The Boy Scouts of America. 

A pioneer in the motorcycle industry, Steve started business in Steve’s Duco Shop..hence the nickname.  Duco was a Dupont paint and body work  product.   He started selling Norton and Ducati motorcycles in 1961, Yamaha in 1963 and Honda in 1965.  Logan Motorcycles Sales is the oldest Honda dealer (same owner) in the State of West Virginia, and one of the oldest across the US And, according to Steve—“The longest Honda shop in the world- Guinness World Record.”

Steve passed away just before Thanksgiving 2005, but rarely a day goes by, that someone doesn’t come in the store (Logan Motorcycle Sales) and say…”I bought my first bike, right here—how is the old man.  People have fond memories of dealing with Steve—after agreeing on a price, many times he would give them a helmet, a riding outfit, pair of gloves or goggles. Or he would invite them to go riding with him. He loved to ride. It became a tradition to hit the road on holiday weekends-Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day. And in the winter months, an extended trip to Mexico.

He made a lot of friends close to home and around the world… riding between 30 and 35 thousand miles a year.  Traveling through all the continental US, including Alaska.  From Newfound Land, all Provinces of Canada, to Mexico through Central America to the Panama Canal. He truly believed and lived the slogan Honda coined in the early 60’s that helped change the image of motorcycling…”You meet the nicest people on a Honda.”

Register on the day of the ride, Sunday July 20, 2008, on the parking lot of Logan Motorcycle Sales.   “Riders with a Cause” will  map the ride and assist with registration., which is $10.00 per driver and $5.00 per passenger. Special memorial ride t-shirts will be given to registrants, while they last. Actual start time for the 2008 Ride will be announced at a later date.For more information contact Denny Frost or Smokey Armstrong at Logan Motorcycle Sales at  (304)752-4145 Ext 2126 or 2115