americade university – hear from the best in motorcycling. Free with your wristband!
FEATURED SPEAKERS & SEMINARS
KNIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE – AN ABSURD NIGHT OF TALL TALES
If you put 5 famous motorcyclists around a table, include a goofy gameshow styled host, and ask them to tell their best stories in front of a big audience, you’re in for a good night. This is back by popular demand. The “Knights” include Alonzo Bodden (famous comedian and avid motorcyclist), Greg Drevenstedt (Editor-In-Chief at Rider Magazine), Momma D (Renowned Motorcyclist, Author, and MMA Instructor), Bill Dutcher (Founder of Americade, former H-D exec, and avid adventure motorcyclist), and hosted by Fred Rau (Motorcycling Legend and member of the million mile club)
TUESDAY, 6:30pm-8pm
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There’s not much more to be said about this other than this: The last time we did this, people begged that we do it again. Just be there.
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FRED RAU: A History of Motorcycle Advertising
The Good, the Bad, and the Truly Ugly. This (very) funny and entertaining presentation will cover 155 years of M/C ads from someone at the center of motorcycle media for the past 50 years. Don’t miss it.
WEDNESDAY 7PM-8PM
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Fred Rau is the former editor of Wing World, Road Rider, and Motorcycle Consumer News magazines and has been leading tours of New Zealand for over 15 years. He is also the author of The Motorcycle Touring Bible, with over 75,000 copies sold, and has served as an MC at Americade for the past 30 years.
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Momma D: S.O.S. Roadtrippin’ Tips
Get ready to learn & laugh when Momma D interjects her common sense life-tactics and humor to help make you be a better you, in out of the saddles. Momma D will share ideas from her life & extensive riding throughout the world that you can use after you continue back into your day-to-day life. So whether you’re rollin’ with a group or alone, all you need is to show up with an open mind & a funny bone.
Thursday 7PM-8PM
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Momma D – a momma who breaks all stereotypes. This 130-pound, 6-foot-tall, postmenopausal, African-American motivator loves Country music, rides a motorcycle, yet, has no tattoos or piercings. She is a published author of the book 50 States of Consciousness where she shares her journey through all 50 States, not once–but twice on two different motocycles. Momma D has been featured on magazine covers & in several movies. She’s ridden to Fairbanks, Alaska 5 times, and through Canada, Brazil, Morocco & Spain. “Don’t go to your grave with regrets & Keep Shinin’ Baby” are words Momma D lives by.
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SEMINARS
BIG APPLE MOTORCYCLE SCHOOL: Tips, Tricks & Techniques of the Best Riders
What makes a good rider? How do we improve? George and Diane will help you find the answers in this lively, interactive seminar for all levels of riders. Join them on a journey focused on YOU. Together they’ll bring you to the next level of riding without leaving your seat.
TUESDAY 9:00AM
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George Tranos and Diane Ortiz have been married and riding together (on separate bikes) for more than 30 years in the U.S., Europe and South America. They have trained thousands of people to ride through the Big Apple Motorcycle School, which they founded together in 2006. Accomplished motorcycle journalists, they have a book about their experiences coming out soon.
RIC REMZ: Motorcycle First Aid
Know what to do and what not to do at the scene of an accident. Ric Remz, motorcycle enthusiast, retired New York City FDNY Lieutenant Paramedic, & MSF/National SafetyCouncil instructor will provide a basic overview of what to do and what not to do at the scene of an accident or medical emergency until trained medical personnel arrive.
TUESDAY 9:00AM
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Ric Remz has been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and is a retired Paramedic Lieutenant from New York City’s FDNY as well a former MSF Instructor/Rider Coach, National Safety Council Sidecar/Trike Education Program Instructor and 1st Aid/CPR instructor.
ROBERT BELLASSAI: Cornering for the Street Rider
Cornering & Braking for the street rider: The seminar will cover the basics and some advanced techniques of cornering and braking for everyday street riding. We will discuss: factors to search for when approaching curves, evaluating different types of curves, finding the correct path of travel for successful cornering, counter steering, speed definitions, evaluation of different curve types, the four step turning process, complications in a curve, and proper brake control under various riding conditions.
TUESDAY 10:00AM
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Rob is an accomplished MSF RiderCoach with over 15 years teaching experience for the following certifications: NYS Certified MSF BRC I, BRC, II, Advanced Rider Course, & RiderCoach, employed by On The Road Again Motorcycle School and is Red Cross CPR & First Aide Certified. Rob is a Life Member of the American Motorcycle Association (member since 1991) and was the Rider Educator for the New York Long Island Chapter-K Goldwing Road Riders Association (GWRRA). Rob has 45 years of continuous riding experience including a solo 5-week cross country (New York – California – New York) motorcycle trip.
ROBERT BELLASSAI: Group Riding Do’s/Don’ts
With the rise in motorcycling interest and organized club sand organizations, many more motorcyclists are experiencing the enjoyment and fun of group riding. Without the proper training, group riding can not only be an unpleasant experience but down right dangerous and in some cases fatal. In this presentation, we will discuss various techniques and strategies to make a group ride safer and more enjoyable. Some of the topics to be discussed include: rider & motorcycle preparation, riding with the group, hand signals, use of CB radios, riding formation, and specialty vehicle considerations.
TUESDAY 11:00AM
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Rob is an accomplished MSF RiderCoach with over 15 years teaching experience for the following certifications: NYS Certified MSF BRC I, BRC, II, Advanced Rider Course, & Scooter RiderCoach, employed by On The Road Again Motorcycle School and is Red Cross CPR & First Aide Certified. Rob is a Life Member of the American Motorcycle Association (member since 1991) and was the Rider Educator for the New York Long Island Chapter-K Goldwing Road Riders Association (GWRRA). Rob has 45 years of continuous riding experience including a solo 5-week cross country (New York – California – New York) motorcycle trip.
DIANE ORTIZ: Fun on 3-Wheels
Explore the fun world of 3-wheeled motorcycles. Whether you have two wheels in the front or in the back, already have a motorcycle or just thinking of getting one, join Diane for a free-wheeling look at why more and more riders are choosing to ride on 3-wheels.
TUESDAY 11:00AM
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Diane Ortiz has been riding motorcycles since 1991 and is the founder and president of the Big Apple Motorcycle School in NY. She’s ridden various two and 3-wheel motorcycles across America and taught thousands of people to ride. As a motorcycle journalist, instructor and consultant she continues to find the fun in riding and is devoted to sharing it with others!
BILL DUTCHER: The Founding of Americade: When, Why, & How?
Hear from the founder of Americade, Bill Dutcher, about the beginnings of Americade as he relives 37 years of memories. It’s a crazier tale than you may imagine, told by one of the more fascinating people in motorcycling.
TUESDAY 1:00PM
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Bill created the first Aspen-cade East in May 1983. Despite his lifetime in the motorcycle industry, it took nearly 2 years to make it happen and he will share the challenges, as well as some amazing Americade people, unforgettable moments, and historic images collected along the way.
TARA PACHT: One Woman’s Journey Into Joining the Riding Community
From learning the lingo, choosing your ride and the importance of not falling off after the first mile 🙂
Tara will discuss her decision to become a rider at 48 and how she brought this up to her husband, a rider of 25 years. Topics will include: buying her first bike, making custom riding gear, learning what a farkle is and getting back up when you stumble.
TUESDAY 3:00PM
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Tara is a new rider in our community having 2 years on the road. Active in Girl Scouting for over 20 years, she is currently serving as Board Chair and President of The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains.
RIC REMZ: Group Riding
Group riding is as different from individual riding as day is from night. It is important to realize riding in a group is a team effort. Ric Remz will dicuss the roles and responsibilities of the members of the group and who goes where.
WEDNESDAY 9:00AM
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Ric Remz has been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and is a retired Paramedic Lieutenant from New York City’s FDNY as well a former MSF Instructor/Rider Coach, National Safety Council Sidecar/Trike Education Program Instructor and 1st Aid/CPR instructor.
MOMMA D: S.O.S. Roadtrippin’ Tips
S = Self-awareness , self-preservation, surviving stupid people
O = Observation of your surroundings, Open Range, Oh Sh*t
S = Steadiness, Safety, Smile – you survived to ride another day.
WEDNESDAY 10:00AM
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Momma D – a momma who breaks all stereotypes. This 130-pound, 6-foot-tall, postmenopausal, African-American motivator loves Country music, rides a motorcycle, yet, has no tattoos or piercings. She is a published author of the book 50 States of Consciousness where she shares her journey through all 50 States, not once–but twice on two different motocycles. Momma D has been featured on magazine covers & in several movies. She’s ridden to Fairbanks, Alaska 5 times, and through Canada, Brazil, Morocco & Spain. “Don’t go to your grave with regrets & Keep Shinin’ Baby” are words Momma D lives by.
MARK SUPLEY: The Rise and Fall of Board Track Racing
Motorcycle Racing on a Wooden Track–What could go wrong?!
Bicycles started racing on wooden tracks called velodromes in the early nineteen hundreds. Motorcycles were used for the bicyclists to ride close behind in order to block the wind and develop more speed. As the motorcycles became more developed, it was decided to have them race as well. The velodromes were not large enough, so motordromes were buildt to accommodate the higher speeds. This seminar will discuss the Rise and Fall of the Board Track era–a most exciting time in motorcycle history.
WEDNESDAY 2:00PM
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Mark Supley has been a motorcycle fan since the age of 14. He started by building a mini-bike using a lawn mower engine and some water pipe. He eventually bought a 1965 Kawasaki 125 for $35 that needed repair. He took the transmission apart and found the problem–a 10 cent part that a dealer wanted $125 to look at. That was a lot of money for a paperboy! That started the bike fever that still persists today.
Supley raced Scrambles, Short Track, Hillclimb, Sand Drag Racing, Ice Racing on two wheels and sidecar, and tried Observed Trails Competitions.
Supley went on to win a national award for Best Restored Antique at an Antique Motorcycle Club of America with his 1926 Harley Davidson. He is also an accomplished author writing the book Capital Region Motorcycling published by Acadia Publishers.
JESSE PACHT: Conquering the Trans-America Trail – A 5000 mile Off-road Experience
Jesse will discuss how he planed his cross-country trip, how you can plan your trip, and will present a slide show of his TAT experience. Included topics for discussion will be: choosing riding partners, bike set-up, equipment choices, electronics, riding gear, routing, trail safety, etc.
WEDNESDAY 5:00PM
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Jesse Pacht is a street, adventure, and dual-sport rider with 25 years in the saddle of various bikes. With an emphasis on adventure travel these days, he finds himself leading waves of riders into the woods on wild excursions. Jesse attends rallies and riding classes whenever possible and is an advocate for riding safety.
RIC REMZ: 3 Wheels: Are They For You?
2 wheels or 3 wheels? Trikes or Sidecars? Riding on 2 wheels or 3 wheels is very different and trikes are different from sidecars. Ric Remz will dig in the the advantages of each.
THURSDAY 9:00AM
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Ric Remz has been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and is a retired Paramedic Lieutenant from New York City’s FDNY as well a former MSF Instructor/Rider Coach, National Safety Council Sidecar/Trike Education Program Instructor and 1st Aid/CPR instructor.
FRED RAU: Touring New Zealand
Learn what it’s like to tour the #1 bucket-list destination for motorcyclists. A discussion and slideshow about what it’s like to tour New Zealand by motorcycle with the country’s oldest, largest, and most-experienced motorcycle tour company, with Fred Rau as your personal guide.
THURSDAY 10:00AM
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Fred Rau is the former editor of Wing World, Road Rider, and Motorcycle Consumer News magazines and has been leading tours of New Zealand for over 15 years. He is also the author of The Motorcycle Touring Bible, with over 75,000 copies sold, and has served as an MC at Americade for the past 30 years.
See the World Again with Edelweiss Bikes!
Experience the motorcycle trip of a lifetime with Edelweiss Bike Travel – worldwide the #1 in guided motorcycle and scooter tours.
Edelweiss Bike Travel offers guided, self-guided and custom tours as well as motorcycle rentals.
Hear about how you can discover the world with Edelweiss Bike Travel and explore the most fascinating routes, ride on the newest motorcycles and enjoy the guidance of experienced Edelweiss tour guides.
THURSDAY 1:00pm
DONNA WEIGLE: Navigating Stage 4 Cancer on my Harley
Donna Weigle is a woman of action and tremendous courage. As a stage IV cancer patient, she rode her Harley 6,198 miles across the country. She will share her story of navigating her cancer journey while navigating her way across the country to raise awareness about ovarian cancer.
THURSDAY 2:00PM
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Donna lives on an island off the coast of Maine and runs a small health center serving her island neighbors. Donna has been battling advanced stage ovarian cancer since 2016. Despite her cancer, she finds purpose in every day. Motorcycle riding is her greatest joy.
CRANKY FRANKIE Motorcycle Journalism 101
As long as there are people riding motorcycles, there will be people who want to read about riding motorcycles. Learn the basics of sharing your passion for riding via newspapers, web sites, blogs, and so much more. This will be a fast paced, fun, interactive session. Vroom, vroom!
THURSDAY 3:00PM
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Frank L. “Cranky Frankie” Palmeri is an award winning journalist who loves riding, reading, and writing. Frank has been published in many motorcycle publications and writes a column for his local newspaper. He’d love nothing more than to help share his passion for motorcycling so that others can spread the word about our fantastic hobby/vocation/lifestyle.
BILL DUTCHER: Riding – Dynamic equilibrium in action.
In his “previous lives,” Bill was a licensed professional motorcycle racer who also competed in most branches of our sport, including roadracing, iceracing, motocross, TT scrambles, flat track, indoor shorttrack and enduros. His road and off-road riding has taken him as far south as Tierra del Fuego, and as far north as you can go on the East Coast, northern Labrador, plus a couple of rides through the Alps. He will share some of the lessons learned in those experiences, as well as some colorful images, for your entertainment and possibly future benefit.
FRIDAY 9:00AM
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Bill created the first Aspen-cade East in May 1983. Despite his lifetime in the motorcycle industry, it took nearly 2 years to make it happen and he will share the challenges, as well as some amazing Americade people, unforgettable moments, and historic images collected along the way.
JON DELVECCIO: Trail Braking for Cornering Confidence
Even experienced riders can doubt their corner abilities. After struggling through a curve, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong or how to fix it. Properly using the misunderstood or dismissed trail braking technique solves these four cornering problems: anxiety, excessive speed, traction loss, and steering errors.
FRIDAY 11:00AM
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Jon operates Street Skills LLC motorcycling school. He created the world’s first and only online advanced cornering course based on his book Cornering Confidence: The Formula for 100% Control in Curves.
BOB LAFORD: Planning for a Long Distance Ride
Whether a long trip is 150 miles to Americade or that bucket-list trip of a lifetime that is years in the making, come listen to some tips that the speaker has gathered over the years on what works well in planning and execution of that two-wheeled journey you have on your mind.
FRIDAY 1:00PM
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Bob Laford is a Life Member of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, currently serving a Chapter Officer is his local chapter of the RKMC. In his over 30 years as a member, he has served in a variety of leadership capacities within his local chapter as well as with the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club.
Having traveled throughout the eastern United States and Canada, as well as in Europe, Bob enjoys the roads throughout the Northeast the best, putting many miles on his motorcycle with his wife Diona.
The Second Impact: Navigating Insurance Coverage, Medical Bills & Wages
Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, LLP is a personal injury law firm dedicated to helping the community as well as provide legal assistance to those who have been wrongfully injured as the result of negligence or abuse.
FRIDAY 2:00PM
So Much to Do–So Little Time
(All about the Lake George Region 365 days a year!)
The Lake George region offers 4 seasons of spectacular attractions for tourists. Kim Saheim from the Lake George Chamber of Commerce will present about all there is to do in Lake George, not just at Americade, but all year long.
FRIDAY 3:00PM
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