Our 1972 motorcycle ride took us on a four-thousand-mile trip from Arizona to Canada and back. Some nights we camped out along the highway; other nights we found a motel. Some days the rain was fierce and debilitating… but every day was fun and filled with great experiences and amazing landscapes. Each of us rode a 500cc two-stroke motorcycle on the journey. We had no cell phones, roadside assistance coverage, custom ear plugs, or sound systems. The attractions of the open road, Canada, and Yellowstone Park were very powerful. None of us worried about breaking down or the costs of the trip. We were filled with youthful confidence in ourselves and our machines. The three of us had places to go and places to see. And we made it!

Franzen and Ross were no strangers to long motorcycle rides. In 1973, they rode 350 Yamahas from Nebraska to California and back. Along the way, they stopped to see friends and family. But this 1974 ride to Boston was different. Now, on the verge of adulthood, they grappled with school, work, and their futures—especially young love. Their long ride to historic Boston was fueled by romance and expectations of a happy future. The descriptive text in this book contains a glimpse at mid-70’s America, but it also assesses numerous coming-of-age moments for young adults. Their ride to Boston became a rite of passage they have never forgotten.

John Fleming, unlucky in love and weary of endless and meaningless talk, has had enough. The story is built around a compilation of suicide notes he has written to his therapists, family members, his loving dog, and his "beloved"...the mysterious woman who is the object of his eternal affection. The suicide notes (and poems) describe his painful dissatisfaction with the mental health system, American pop culture, the scripted nature of modern life, and what he believes is the inability of anyone to simply stop talking and listen. Darkly comic, Fleming’s story holds up a mirror to contemporary American society.

Performing live music in front of an audience is fun and rewarding. These stories give the reader a "behind-the-scenes" look at what we think it ultimately takes to become a popular and successful local musician—and why we enjoy music. In this compilation of memoirs and narratives, several musicians talk about their backgrounds, their motivations, their aspirations, and their successful and not-so-successful experiences. Think of it. Musicians are performing in your town, somewhere, probably right now, as you read this. Country bands, rock groups, jazz ensembles, community bands, solo acts, duets– they’re all good and they all love interaction with friends and fans. Live music is such a great part of the American experience. “Voices from the Small Stage” reveals our part in local music history.

In 25 richly illustrated profiles, champion motocross riders describe the experience, the winning bike, and its special features.

5000 Miles At 8000 RPM is the story of how CSC Motorcycles brought the Zongshen RX3 250cc adventure touring motorcycle to America, including detailed, behind-the-scenes reports on Zongshen's manufacturing and quality assurance, the US Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board certification processes, CSC's dealer-free path to market, and the planning and execution of CSC's customer-centered adventure touring approach. The book includes detailed tales from the 1700-mile CSC Inaugural Baja Run and the 5000-mile Western America Adventure Ride, along with a no-holds-barred review of the RX3's strengths and weaknesses. 5000 Miles At 8000 RPM includes more than 70 color photographs. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, this book is one you don't want to miss!