Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas TRMOKAR July 2017_FINAL | Page 20

FEATURES THE LONG ROAD BY CHRIS GIBBANY This is the 18th year for The Smoke Out in Rockingham, North Carolina and I have always wanted to attend. With pets and other obligations, this has not been possible….until NOW! Our beloved dog of almost 11 years passed away in late December and a few months ago I found out some exciting news; “The Long Road” is leaving from Eureka Springs, Arkansas, just 45 miles from where I live!!!! “The Long Road” is a multi-day journey that consists of 1000+ miles and starts each year from a different part of the US and ends up at The Smoke Out. I would have never dreamed that when I bought my 1956 FL engine eight years ago that I 20 Thunder Roads Magazine of OK/AR would be doing this! I designed my Panhead in my head and it took my husband and I over six years to build it in a backyard shed. My bike has an open belt primary and just a small strip of leather screwed onto a metal seat pan. I was told that no woman has ever ridden a vintage, much less a hardtail vintage bike on “The Long Road”. After deciding to ride my vintage Harley on “The Long Road”, STA-BIL and 303 Products became my main sponsors. I love STA-BIL and 303 Products are the best I have ever used, especially the 303 Aerospace Protectant. Gold Eagle, makers of STA-BIL and 303 has been great to support me in all the events that I am involved with. I became a CRO (CoolRidesOnline) Champ in 2015 and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. CoolRidesOnline is the online community for Gold Eagle Brands. Avon Tyres has come on board as a sponsor since they remembered me winning the Garage Girls Ultimate Biker Makeover in 2014 and have sent me a new set of tires. I only run Avon MK II’s (both on the front and back) due to the enhanced rideability, not to mention the sheer factor that they look AMAZING on vintage bikes. Another sponsor of the Garage Girls Makeover that