Domestic Fuel

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) proved once again this year that ethanol and motorcycles do mix well together.

This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features the 71st Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally held August 8-14 in Sturgis, SD.

RFA Director of Market Development Robert White and his father Jere White, Executive Director of the Kansas Corn Growers, talk about the importance of reaching motorcycle lovers with information about ethanol. You’ll also hear comments about ethanol from Buffalo Chip Campground owner Rod “Woody” Woodruff, Mrs. South Dakota Lori Visker, Survivor star Rupert and a biker from Australia.

Pictured here giving away ethanol “Fueled with Pride” tee shirts at Sturgis are – from right to left – are Robert White, his fiancee Denita Elliss, and Doug Brandmahl, a biker from Virginia. Lots more photos from Sturgis can be viewed in the 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

The 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is over and that means a lot of bikers went home more aware of ethanol and hopefully better informed about how it performs in their bikes and what it does for our economy. To get a wrap up on how it went for the ethanol promotion sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association I spoke with Robert White. Here’s Robert with a guitar that was given away during one of our t-shirt distribution sessions.

Robert has been on duty at Sturgis the past two years. He’s seen interest in ethanol grow each year. Bikers are very patriotic people and the fact that ethanol is an American made fuel resonates well with them. He also says, “We’re simply highlighting that fact that ethanol works well not only in these vehicles but all the ones they have back home.” That’s a lot of people back home to spread the word to since there are over a half million people who come to the rally!

You can listen to my interview with Robert here: Robert White Interview

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Riding all the way to Sturgis, SD from Richmond, Virginia was Doug Brandmahl. He was one of the participants I spoke with during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Doug says he’s been to Sturgis before and it’s worth all the pain in his butt to get there. He says he hadn’t thought much about ethanol before since it’s blended in all gasoline in his state. He’s seen a lot more E85 stations on his way out to Sturgis and has been happy to learn more about it. I asked him if ethanol has caused any problems with his bike and he says that “As fast as we burn it out coming here it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference.”

You can listen to my interview with Doug here: Doug Brandmahl Interview

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

As Sturgis winds down I thought I’d share a comment from one of the attendees. He was wearing a Dekalb cap so I figured he might just know something about corn and perhaps ethanol.

Joe Randall is from Missouri and was in the crowd that gathered to get some t-shirts. He says his son is on the family farm and he’s glad to see ethanol on display fueling the Sturgis Rally. He says “they run the corn through the ethanol plant, and then after that they take the mash to the feedlot.” Sounds like he knows how this renewable fuel works!

You can listen to my interview with Randall here: Randall Interview

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Bikers come a long way to go to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Probably none came any further than these folks from Queensland, Australia. They got some nice t-shirts from the on-location ethanol team.

I asked them what they thought of using renewable fuels like ethanol. The answer, “I guess we’re really going to have to do something about an alternative fuel because I don’t think that the oil resources are going to last forever so we’ve definitely got to look somewhere else for our fuel needs.”

You can listen to my interview with our Australians here: Australians at Sturgis Interview

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

The ethanol team got a helping hand this week at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally from Jere White, Executive Director, Kansas Corn Growers Association. Here he is handing out promotional t-shirts.

I sat down with him to get his thoughts on this promotional opportunity. Jere says the audience is a little different than might have been considered in the past but when it comes to the E15 issue it was found that some of the push back came from boaters and bikers. The Sturgis event is the largest gathering of bikers in the country and he believes that after several years of promotion and education a difference is being made. Jere rode his own motorcycle to the event which he has converted to run on E85 and it is performing well.

You can listen to my interview with Jere here: Jere White Interview

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally sponsor Interstate Batteries likes seeing ethanol as a sponsor too since both companies are energy oriented.

According to Mike Ragan there’s also a tie through the fact that both are working on more environmentally friendly means of producing energy. In my interview with him he describes how they’re changing some very old technology. He also made a point of saying that batteries are the most recyclable part of a car. He says eighty percent of a battery can be recycled including the casing.

Interstate Batteries sets up a battery testing tent at the Buffalo Chip in which they stock some of the most popular battery sizes. While we talked a bike rolled in, got its battery tested and replaced.

Listen to my interview with Mike here: Interstate Battery Interview

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

The Traveling Wall by AVTT was on display at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This wall contains names of those who have lost their life in service to our country, defending our freedom. I met Charlie Weatherly and John Barron both of whom work for AVTT and travel with the exhibit. Outside of the interview with them which you can listen to below John told me that he’s been using ethanol mixed fuel in his motorcycle for years and has never had any problems with it.

AVTT (www.avtt.org) is a veteran-owned project that travels the USA to provide a forum for communities to HONOR-RESPECT-REMEMBER all who have sacrificed their lives for our country’s freedom. In so doing, AVTT also honors all Veterans and those currently serving, by letting them know they will never be forgotten. AVTT is funded through sponsorship fees, donations, and sale of merchandise at events. Donations to support AVTT’s mission are qualified charitable tax deductions through The Traveling Wall Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.

Learn more about the Traveling Wall in my interview: Traveling Wall Interview

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Here’s Lori Visker, Mrs. South Dakota, with two of the guys on the team that’s promoting Ethanol, Fueled with Pride, at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I met Lori last night during an industry partners reception and we chatted about her participation in the rally and ethanol. Like me Lori is a first timer at Sturgis and she brought her own bike to ride.

When it comes to ethanol she knows that it is important to the economy, especially in rural America. She says it helps us take care of ourselves and the environment.

Listen to my interview with Lori here: Interview with Mrs. South Dakota

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

The owner of the Buffalo Chip Campground is Rod “Woody” Woodruff, seen here at a press conference during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The focus of the concerts and events is The Chip as it’s called.

I visited with Woody in his office and learned how he got this event started out here on the property that’s just three miles outside the city of Sturgis. Woody was born in South Dakota but had moved to San Francisco. He came back and wound up staying. He says the city fathers were kind of fed up with the Rally and he thought it would be “just like throwing a keg party in high school,” so he started one just outside of town.

Woody says the relationship with the Renewable Fuels Association as a sponsor of the Rally was a natural fit. He says that a long time ago a local co-op told him he should use the fuel. “I’ve been using it in my own vehicles for however long that’s been and exclusively.” He says he even notices getting better fuel economy!

Listen to my interview with Woody here: Interview with Woody at The Chip

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

His name is Rupert Boneham but everyone knows him as Rupert, winner of Survivor. Rupert is one of the folks I’ve had the pleasure to meet here at the 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. In the photo he’s being interviewed on the street before the Legends Ride. I ran into him again out here where I’m staying at the Buffalo Chip Campground.

Rupert has a charitable organization called, “Rupert’s Kids” which is “dedicated to serving an easily overlooked population of youth: those that have become too old for the youth social service system, but are not old enough for the adult social service system. We teach these youth valuable skills and trades, while also empowering them to discover their inner strengths, passions and interests.” I heard him speak about the work his organization is doing and the fact that they’ve never taken any government money. That message alone was well worth bringing to your attention. With donations lagging due to the economy he’s turned to some very creative ways to create funding that includes his own branded video games.

Rupert is from Indiana and is also a big supporter of home grown fuel like ethanol!

Listen to my interview with Rupert here: Interview with Rupert

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Each year at the Legends Ride, now in its 4th year, photographer Michael Lichter, takes a photo of the participants in front of the famous Franklin Hotel in Deadwood, SD. He gets a little higher angle than I did but these are the folks that were about to take off on their bikes for the ride yesterday.

Rfa’s Robert White has his bike here and took part in the ride. At the end of this video clip you’ll see him wave as he rides by me on the street.

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

During the Legends Ride activities here at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally a press conference was held. The lineup of speakers included personalities like Rupert, one of the winners of Survivor. Also on the list was Robert White, Renewable Fuels Association.

I recorded Robert speaking to the standing room only filled room of media. You can listen to Robert’s statement here: Robert White Press Conference

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

The opening event for the 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is the Legends Ride that starts in Deadwood, SD and ends at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis. Here’s RFA’s Robert White (right) being interviewed on the street over the Legends event PA.

I recorded him describing the importance of this renewable fuel to America. You can listen to the interview here: Robert White Interview

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album