Hello Everyone,
August has been quite a month. I have truly been running like crazy. It all started with a trip to Sturgis, SD for the 60th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I was going to fly up to Rapid City with Branscombe Richmond of "Renegade" fame, for Indian Motorcycles. Branscombe is the celebrity spokesman and Vice President of Indian Affairs for Indian. As it turned out they could not get me a flight out of town for 4 or 5 days after the rally so I decided to make the drive instead. I'm so glad I did. This is an amazing country. You have to see it for yourself.
I left L.A. on Sunday, August 6th. I stayed in Las Vegas that night at The Orleans Hotel courtesy of my good friend Andy Lang. He is such a good friend. He always makes me feel welcome. The next morning, August 7th, I left really early and drove through Arizona, Utah and ended up in Green River, WY. I took a good sleep and left early the next morning, August 8th, for Sturgis. Little did I know we were actually staying in Lead, SD. Branscombe and his wife, Lei, arrived that night. We went to dinner in Deadwood for Branscombe's birthday. Next, we were ready to experience Sturgis.
Wednesday morning, August 9th, I attended the induction of the new members of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The breakfast was hosted by Indian Motorcycles and emceed by Branscombe Richmond. Branscombe asked me if I would speak at the event. He wanted me to be the speaker that inducts Peter Fonda into the Hall of Fame. I couldn't wait. The ballroom was packed to the hilt with THE people of the motorcycle industry. To name a few, Willie G. Davidson of Harley-Davidson, Mike Corbin of Corbin seats, Dave Nichols and Scott McCool of Easyrider magazine. I met the lady who helped organized the event 60 years ago. She told me there were 33 motorcycles and the town of Sturgis was scared to death. It went something like this.
Branscombe introduced me and I said to the audience, "I am only here because Branscombe has some pictures of me coming out of a motel in Louisiana with Jimmy Swaggert and I am trying to get those negatives back". That line came from my good friend Kenny "Bob" Davis. I then said, "Branscombe asked me if I would speak at the induction of Peter". "I said, Peter who?" He said, "Peter Fonda". I said, "Oh, you mean Bridgett's Dad". I then showed the audience a photo of Peter and me that was taken in 1968. I met Peter outside Delores drive-in in Beverly Hills. Kenny Rogers and The First Edition were taking our bus to San Diego for a concert. We stopped for some food to go and there was Peter on his Captain America chopper and even wearing the same jacket as Captain America. I signed a copy for Peter and he signed a copy for me. You can see it here.
Later that evening we all went to the Buffalo Chip where Peter was introduced as the newest member of the Hall of Fame. Then we watched as Robbie Knevel jumped his motorcycle over the Buffalo Chip stage. He did it for charity and it was a beautiful jump.
On Thursday, Branscombe and I spent some time at the Indian Motorcycles exhibit and then we went riding around South Dakota on these beautiful Indian Chief motorcycles. Also with us was Flint Carney. Flint is on the board of Indian Affairs with Indian Motorcycles. The 3 of us had a blast.
Friday morning, we, along with about 50 other riders, all met at the Indian Motorcycle exhibit for the Branscombe Richmond Ride to The Crazy Horse Monument. After some goofball leading us 150 miles (it was only 50 miles away) we finally reached The Crazy Horse Memorial. There were a few unhappy folks but all in all we were glad to finally be there. On behalf of Indian Motorcycles, Branscombe presented a $5,000.00 check to Ruth, the wife of the sculptor of Crazy Horse. It is still unfinished and it will be some time before it is finished so this money was a big help. He then presented $5,000.00 to the Lakota-Sioux educational system and finally $5,000.00 to the direct descendants of the massacre at Wounded Knee. That's $15,000.00 for Indian causes presented by Indian Motorcycles. That's quite a commitment.
Saturday was our last day in Sturgis. You have to see it to believe it. I was told there were 750,000 rally pins made for the folks who officially registered and they ran. The estimated that there were one million motorcycles in and around Sturgis for the 60th rally. They guessed at around 3 million people and in a town of 6,000, Sturgis, there were over 100,000,000.00 in cash in town for rally week. As I said, you have to see it to believe it. It was my first time in Sturgis during the rally and IT WON'T BE MY LAST!
My drive home took another three days. I got home on August 15th. I was a little tired. The night I got home my short film with Billy Bob Thornton, (the only 2 actors in the film) "The Last Real Cowboys" opened at the AMC Century Theatre in Century City. I had to go to that screening. Jeff Lester, our director, Rudy Gains, our writer and Susan Anton, our producer was there. I wanted Branscombe Richmond to see the film so I dragged him along. He liked it a lot. The movie showing at a regular theatre was the last step in the process to be considered for Academy consideration. Everyone keep your fingers crossed. It would be great to be considered and nominated.
Last year I had the male lead in the film that won the Academy Award for "Best Live Action Short". It was called "My Mother Dreams The Satan's Disciples in New York". I did not go to the award show. If "Cowboys" gets nominated I will be there and I will most likely take my Mom. It has always been a dream of hers to go to the Academy Awards.
Phyllis and I spent the 19th and 20th in Tehacapi, CA with our best friends Bob and Patty Souza. They have about 60 acres and we had a bar-b-que on Friday night. Several folks got up and performed. Bob talked me into getting up and doing a couple of songs. It was a blast. After breakfast Sunday morning and me helping Bob put things away that afternoon, we headed home. I had to get some rest, I had to go to Nashville the next morning a 4 AM.
Monday, the 21st, I flew to Nashville to do a practice session and get an education about driving a race car on a race track for The Mark Collie Celebrity Race October 11th. These are not go-karts, these are race cars. The are called Legends Cars. They do go very fast. I think the main thing is to stay off the wall. I did that. I'm driving the number 57 car owned by Earl Stuckey of Alabama. Earl has a lot of guts letting me drive his race car. I have included some photos for you to see just what it's like. I love the photo with Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn and Mark Collie, himself.
 "Mickey with Kix Brooks of "Brooks and Dunn" and our host, Mark Collie" |
 "Mickey getting strapped in by # 57 car owner/driver Earl Stuckey" |
 "Mickey driving Earl Stuckey's number 57 at The Mark Collie practice session" |
I had a great time in Nashville. Besides doing the driving school, I had dinner with George Flanigan of Deaton/Flanigan. They do music videos and George was nominated for an Emmy for the Hank Williams Jr. video for "Monday Night Football". I also spent a good deal of time with a new friend, Tom Sturdivant and his son Robby. They took me for the best eating in town. Tom, thanks for everything, especially the Krispy Kreme. I did a TV show on Monday, Talk of The Town and then headed back to L.A.
I got home at 1 AM Thursday morning. I had to be up at 5 AM for some early drive time interviews regarding the Toy Run I was hosting the following weekend. Had a meeting at 4 PM with a director for a new film and then I had to drive to Hanford, CA. I got into Hanford around 10:30 PM. I was ready to sleep. On Friday I did a guest spot with Branscombe Richmond and The Renegade Posse for the opening of The Palace Casino. God, they are a great band. I love playing with them. Came home Saturday just in time to pick up my motorcycle and get to Ventura, CA for the ABATE Chapter 13 and the Viet Nam Veteran's MC's Toy Run. We are doing Christmas in August for Interface. They work with abused and neglected kids. These kids need toys all year so we are trying our best to help these kids.
Came home Sunday and went to Orange Co. on Monday to shoot a PSA for Children's Hospital of Orange Co. I am hosting the first annual "CHOC Biker Run for Kids" on September 24th. If you're in the area we meet on the 24th of Sept. at Sloppy Joe's in the Irvine Spectrum Center at 8 AM. We leave at 9:30 on our ride for the kids.
I leave next weekend for Louisville, KY and The Fuzzy Zoeller Wolf Challenge. September looks like a big month but August was unbelievable.. Thanks to all of you who care about me like to read all of this baloney. I hope I put a smile on your face. I'll check in with April and try to do a chat session soon. Until then, thanks again and all my best and God Bless!
Mickey
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