Howdy. Just a quick note. We’re working to complete plans for the 25th annual party at the Buffalo Chip. I’d like to ask your help. We’d like to start a page or folder on the Chip’s website that shows a lot of the Buffalo Chip’s history.

Frankly, if I’d have known time was going to go by so fast, I would have probably taken some pictures myself. Instead, I need to rely on yours. We’d appreciate it if you’d forward some of your favorites so we can post them.

Likewise, we’re looking to recreate some of the really fun events we had over the years, as long as we can stay within present law. Fun things that come to mind are the old jet fueled dragster we used to use a torch to throw flames three or four hundred feet and melt down a pile of junk bikes, doing motorcycle jumps over the top of the flaming pile of bikes, the ill-fated but oh so much fun flaming outhouse jump, Robbie Knievel’s jump over the stage and into the audience on the same bike he set the world jump record with, the human bomb, the muddy motorcycle hill climb and on and on and on. I don’t remember them all, so please know we’ll appreciate reminders.

I look forward to receiving whatever suggestions or memories you’d like to share with us, and thank you for it.

On another note, I had a telephone call from a representative of the U.S. Postal Service a while back. It seems they want to unveil four new postage stamps in honor of motorcycling. I thought this was a particularly cool thing to have happen on our 25th anniversary. This is what the new stamps are going to look like:

Stay tuned for more developments. Til then, as always

Ride Free, Take Risks and we’ll see your smilin’ faces in August.

Woody, Carol and the Chip crew

Taken from United States Postal Service website: http://www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/2005/sr05_054.htm
January 3, 2006
Compiled by Jodi Boese

American Motorcycles .

In early August, during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD, the role of motorcycles in American culture will be recognized on four "American Motorcycles" stamps featuring digital illustrations of a 1918 Cleveland, a 1940 Indian Four, a 1965 Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide, and a circa 1970 chopper. The Cleveland, Indian and Harley-Davidson stamps are based on motorcycles in existence today. The circa 1970 chopper featured on the stamp was created by stamp artist Steve Buchanan in consultation with professional chopper builders. Although lacking various safety features such as mirrors and turn signals that are usually required under today's laws, this chopper would have been street-legal in 1970.

American Motorcycles (4)

With the issuance of the American Motorcycles stamps, the U.S. Postal Service recognizes the role of motorcycles in American culture with four stamps that feature digital illustrations of a 1918 Cleveland, a 1940 Indian Four, a 1965 Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide, and a circa 1970 chopper.

Cleveland 1918 The single-cylinder Cleveland motorcycle depicted on this stamp was built by the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Advertisements claimed that this motorcycle, which featured a 2.5-horspower, single-cylinder motor, could travel 75 miles on a single gallon of gasoline and reach speeds of up to 35 to 40 miles per hour. Weighing around 150 pounds and selling for $175, the Cleveland was both lightweight and affordable, making it a popular motorcycle of its time. The model for the "Cleveland 1918" stamp artwork is a 1918 Cleveland A2 owned by Penny Nickerson of Long Island, New York.

Indian 1940 The motorcycle depicted on this stamp was made by the Indian Motorcycle Company. The 1940 entry in a series of deluxe, four-cylinder motorcycles known as the Four, this streamlined bike featured skirted fenders that partially covered the wheels, a controversial design innovation that soon became an Indian trademark.
The model for the illustration featured on this stamp is a motorcycle owned by Michael and Larry Spielfogel of New York City. It is depicted in the deep red color often associated with Indian motorcycles.

Harley-Davidson 1965 With features such as whitewall tires, extensive chrome, large fenders, and spacious fiberglass saddlebags, the Harley-Davidson featured on this stamp is considered by many to be one of the company's most iconic motorcycles. Known as the Electra-Glide, this model was first manufactured in 1965, when its new features included a push-button electric starter. The model for the illustration featured on the Harley-Davidson 1965 stamp is a motorcycle owned by George Tsunis of Port Jefferson, NY.

Chopper c.1970 The name "chopper" derives from the process of removing, or "chopping," unnecessary or unwanted components from a motorcycle. The term often indicates an extensively customized motorcycle with such features as a stretched frame, stepped seat, and raised handlebars. Typically, the frame has been stretched with an extended-length fork leading to the front wheel. Especially prominent during the 1960s and 1970s, choppers follow in a tradition of earlier customized motorcycles that were known as "bobbers" for their shortened, or bobbed, fenders. The circa 1970 chopper featured on this stamp was invented by the stamp artist in consultation with professional chopper builders. Although lacking various safety features such as mirrors and turn signals that are required today, this chopper would have been legal to ride circa 1970. The digital illustrations featured on the American Motorcycles stamps were created by Steve Buchanan of Winsted, CT. The illustrations are based on existing restored motorcycles, reference photographs, and consultation with owners and experts; however, some colors and design features have been altered for artistic purposes or to maintain historical accuracy.