FIFI Firing All 4 Engines

This Memorial day I was lucky enough to watch as the Commemorative Air Force ran up all four engines on “FiFi”, the B-29 Bomber. It’s been a few years since she’s seen the skies due to her age. Fortunately, as an airplane, new-er parts can replace those which failed, but she still maintains the integrity of what she was built for 60+ years ago.

I was lucky enough to witness the nearly 1,000 motorcycles that took to the highway from a Vietnam Memorial to a WWII Memorial several towns over. To see so many riders, many of them Veterans themselves, on the road as a way of recognizing those who’ve passed and those who serve, was an overwhelming feeling. The freedom to be on the road myself, on my own two wheels, feeling the wind rush around me… I am thankful.

Our histories tell our stories. Someone, somewhere in your life, was in a battle. The uncle who never talks about what he saw, but wears his unit patch with pride. The cousin who jokes about all the weapons he’s trained on, but you don’t hear from him for months. The grandfather who flew a B-24 in Italy, once down to two engines coming over the Alps, unsure he’d ever make it back, but so thankful he did. The friend who worked in the trauma units, repairing wounded soldiers, now who savors the quiet ease of a home-town doctor’s office. You yourself may have a story to share. Your experience, your thoughts, your actions.

It’s the day after now. We keep moving forward and try not to forget.

The time trials are a feat of wills and control over a bike. It comes down to experience handling a two wheeled instrument on the road.

So imagine being in the air, flying fast, breaking the sound barrier. Hitting mach 1 for the first time in 1947, Chuck Yeager did just that. In 1953 Jackie Cochran became the first female pilot to do the same.

We may not see speeds that quick on the ground, but we sure try.

We shared display space with Performance Motorcycles – an Army bike that saw military action, a Ducati, a couple of racers… we were in an elite crowd!

The stunt show performers took to the air on Saturday and managed to get a little recognition for attempting to land without the ramp late in the afternoon. Not really. The winds of West Texas shifted and knocked the guy out. He was lucky and he’ll have a story to tell. On Sunday the winds whipped up worse and pulled the stunts.

But! There was the Basin’s Biker Beauty contest, the Best Bike Contest, and a Slow ‘Yo Roller Bike Ride… watching a Kawasaki ZXR balance and roll the slowest against a Harley or two was quite the spectator sport.

We chatted up the West Texas Motorcycles.Net guys while watching Sunday’s broadcast of MotoGP on their screen.  It’s a growing forum for riders like me who live in the wilds of West Texas. This covers anything west of DFW/Austin/San Antonio and east of El Paso. With more events and air shows coming up over the next few months, we’ll be keeping tabs as we’re on the road.