AIM-Can

This article originally appears in the 45th Edition of the

Busted Knuckle Chronicles 2008

Hi my name is Cliff Hammond and I am the National President for the Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists in Canada. I first became involved in AIM at the local level in Prince George, BC. 13 years ago. The whole concept of riders helping downed riders hit a soft spot with me as I am a survivor of a motorcycle accident I had in 1986 in Toronto, Ontario. I have to date undergone 34 surgeries and counting.

Two years ago I had the privilege of becoming the National President for A.I.M.CAN. This year I am actively seeking to bring the organization into the computer age by updating the A.I.M.CAN website and making it easier to contact and communicate with all our members. If anyone wishes to contact me you can email me at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Once again we find ourselves locked in winter’s cold embrace with our noble steeds safely stored in the barn. If you are like me winter is a time to reflect on the past years events and rides.

The year started out with every intention to hit all the big functions (dreamers) like Slack Alice’s, the Pig and Fin, Toad Rock, and then of course the Boogie Bash. Then “Murphy” reared his ugly head and one thing or another got in the way.

I received an invite from the Kelowna chapter to attend A.I.M.’s 20th anniversary BBQ at the 4 mile Ranch, unfortunately Nicki had to work so I had to go stag. I very much enjoyed meeting some of the founding members and participating in
honouring and thanking them for their years of service to the riding community.

We did manage to make it to Toad Rock for the first time and we were very impressed with the event. I had talked with Mary (the owner of the campground and event organizer) via email and she left Nicki and me a couple of complementary tickets at the gate. Thanks Mary! What a great time we had. We got to catch up with old friends and made a lot of new friends. The bike games were a lot of fun to watch and Nicki sure enjoyed the Green Jell-O slide! (She was green all over for a day or two!)

The next event was supposed to be the Boogie Bash on the August long weekend, however
(Murphy again!) the RCMP decided they did not want us big bad bikers to have our event in Rock Creek and refused to issue us a liquor licence.

Not only did it annoy the event organizers but also the town of Rock Creek who very much wanted us to return to their town. The upshot of the whole thing was that we had to postpone the event until the September long weekend and have it at the old 8 mile ranch (now the heartland ranch) which because of the last minute changes knocked our attendance in half! (Thanks a lot RCMP!)

Now that being said Nicki and I still had a blast at the Bash. Dale (the Kelowna president) arranged for us to stay in a travel trailer which was
awesome. It was not until the last night that I figured out, with the help of a new friend, how to warm up the trailer. Lol. The plus 3 temp was a bit too cold for poor Nicki.

Although this was the 2nd Boogie Bash that Nicki had attended it was the first one that she got to participate in the bike games. We entered into the 2 up slow up race and I won the plank race. The wienie bite was the one Nicki was the most nervous about but what a champ! She bit it on her very first try! That’s my girl!

After the long ride back to Prince George both Nicki and I have come to realize that although we love riding the bike, the long trips on it have to go the way of the Dodo, because we both have injuries and
medical conditions that make it extremely painful to ride long distance any more. Oh well I guess the next best thing is to trailer the noble steed.

Well I guess its time to shovel some of the filthy white stuff and dream of the next year’s events.

PS: don’t forget to take some time this holiday season to remember our fallen brothers and
sisters and keep in touch with their families.

Remember they are our families now and forever.
Cliff
You’re grateful National President (AIMCAN)
CLIFF HAMMOND (SHOTGUNN)
PS: See who we caught working - as usual