NOHVCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS WRAPS UP SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING IN PENNSYLVANIA

State Representative Dick Lepley hosts 11-member board for the business of managing and implementing future plans for the organization as well as a late summer street bike ride along Lake Erie

Dick Lepely's Pennsylvania oil history museum was the setting for this year's fall NOHVCC Board of Director's meeting. Watch for an upcoming article in the NOHVCC News regarding some of the proceedings that took place in this very "OHV-friendly" atmosphere.

Lewis Schuler (MI) is much more accustomed to blazing down a nasty, whooped-out Michigan sand trail on a high-performance dirt bike than cruising the streets on a big chopper. Dick Lepely's Street, Track 'N Trail dealership near Meadville, PA provided the super-clean machines for the BOD fun ride.

Mark Mitchell (NC) flattracks out of the driveway on his big Harley ride. However, no wheelies were ever recorded. 

On the morning of the ride, host Dick Lepely assigned bikes and helmets to all participants. Obviously, NOHVCC Executive Director Russ Ehnes is a favored friend since he got the sweetest ride in the bunch.

Dick and JoAnne Lepely were our tour guides for the street bike rides. Few of us realized what a hidden gem north central Pennsylvania is for touring on street bikes.

We made several stops at some interesting museums, many of which featured the rich history of the local oil industry.

Our gang got to see many historic oil rigs in actual running condition. The various types of engines and the unique technologies involved was fascinating for this group of gearheads.

Though our street ride was interrupted only once by a brief shower, we did run into some areas that had just gotten pounded by a thunderstorm. Here Tom Umphress and his wife Karen (who hauled their sport bikes out from Minnesota) navigate through an unplanned water crossing.

"The Birthplace of Speed!" That's what Mark Mitchell exclaimed when he stood upon the site where the very first oil well was built in 1859 near Titusville, PA. At that time oil was primarily used to make kerosene for lamps. It would be several more decades before the fuel would be used to power the first motorcycles and cars. Bet you didn't know oil drilling originated in the good ol' US of A.

While riding along the coast of southern Lake Erie, nearly everyone suddenly had the sensation that they had fallen into a giant jar of grape jelly due to the sweet smell in the air. In reality, we were riding through immense fields of dark, blue grapes and stopped at the winery in charge for a few samples of Pinot.

Board members got to skip a few rocks in Lake Erie during a lunch stop. Pennsylvania borders only a short stretch of the lake as Ohio and New York take up the majority of the southern coastline.

NOHVCC President Dan Kleen cruises his Honda Gold Wing through the forested roads of Pennsylvania. Dan is one of several in the group who is both a dirt and street rider.

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