DON FORRESTER, #071 (KS) - an early day photo ...
A young man, his motorcycle (a thumper), his racing trophies,
and his dog - circa 1956
WELCOME TO OUR HISTORY PAGE!
By Jack Robinson #000 FSSNOC Director
This is just a "thumb-nail"
version of our considerable history. Join me, if you like
... let's go for a Thumper ride!
It all started late in 1985, this idea of a club for
Four-Stroke Single Cylinder Motocycle Owners. As you can see by the
photo, I was riding a brand new factory-fresh Honda XL600R, and note
if you will, the "Motard" conversion ... 17" Metzlers on both ends,
Clip-On stubby handlebars, and a sporty low-mount front fender ... all
of these modifications were years ahead of the "Motard Movement" of
the last few years.
Anyhow ... back to History. William Least Heatmoon,
author of BLUE HIGHWAYS, started that particular book with a statement
that said, "Beware of thoughts that come in the night." ... The idea
of a Thumper Club came to me in that very fashion. I remember it was
in that half-awake, half-asleep time, probably in the early morning
hours when all thoughts make sense and there are no impossibilities.
It was while in this euphoric mood mode that I decided
to assimilate a nationwide coalition of motorcyclists who shared that
same strange, almost unexplainable fancy for the Four-Stroke Single
Cylinder Motorcycle. Not content with that basic decision, I continued
on to the major decision of committing $5,000 (yet to be earned!)
and/or three years of my time to this project. At this point, I'm tossing
and turning, unable to go to sleep, yet not really willing to wake-up,
probably fearing that my inspiration wouldn't endure the harsh reality
of daylight! Finally I decide to proceed, but with the theory that I'd
evaluate my progress at that point where the three years or the 5,000
bucks ran out, whichever happened first. With that truce in mind, I
happily drifted off into a deep sleep, awakening in the morning refreshed.
I remember that morning very well! My feet had hardly
hit the floor before I had a plan of action. The club would be called
the FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB, the now-familiar "FSSNOC"
acronym (pronounced Fizz-Knock or the letters F - S - S - N - O - C)
was an almost instant by-product of the lengthy title.
Our first member, a definite mile-marker in any club's
history, wasn't to happen until April of the next year, 1986. I had
related my dreams and plans to a fellow worker at the Honda-Yamaha motorcycle
shop where we both worked. His reaction was something like, "Uhhhh,
yeah, that's really cool. Well, I better get back to work ..." and he
walked away. Not what I wanted to see and hear! Later that same day,
he approached me with his folded fist extended, knuckles-up, and, grinning,
said, "Go for it! Count me in. I'll be member number one, here's my
twenty bucks!" WELCOME TO THE CLUB, PHIL VIGO, #1 (KS) !!!!
Incidentally, that is how I came to be FSSNOC #000,
or "Triple Zip" as Bud Cox, #077 (KS) labeled me.
After that rather heady moment of getting the first
member, our club grew at a slow rate. The dollars went at an alarming
rate. I remember spending $680 for an ad in two or three issues of CYCLE
magazine and realizing only two memberships. That was a heart-breaker!
I quickly learned to beg for cheaper rates in those publications that
would listen and react with compassion.
May 15, 1986 ... a RED LETTER date! RICHARD MARSHALL,
#005 (WA), became our first Out-Of-State member. I was ecstatic! Dick
remains an enthusiastic member to this day.
January 1, 1987 ... After our first year in "business",
we had signed on 103 Thumper enthusiasts! In July of that first year,
we had introduced the "FSSNOC", our club newsletter. Issue #1 was a
10 page, 8 x 11 inch booklet, featuring an XT250 Yamaha on the cover.
I remember pricking my fingers repeatedly with those dern metal staples
that held these simple publications together ... ahhhh, good stuff!
Issues #1 - #2 - #3 ... The Good Old Days!
In the summer of 1987, our newsletter was renamed THUMPER
NEWS to more closely reflect its purpose and content. In 1988, we started
the C A M List, meaning Contact Another Member.
This was a list of members who wanted to be available to other members
for social and service purposes.
Current Day Issues #75 - #76 - #77
THUMPER NEWS has grown from that ten page leaflet to
a magazine style publication suitable for your personal library or coffee
table. Page count is usually 36 to 44 pages featuring want ads, trip
stories, road tests, event schedules, all put together in a warm vintage
style. As I write this we are at our seventy-seventh issue!
Rallies and events started in 1986 and continue as we
speak, see the Events Section of the Site. To date FSSNOC has hosted
more than sixty-five events throughout the USA, including an event at
Tok, Alaska in 2001 and two tours of Old Mexico in '91 & '92.
Our 1st Rally at Longton, KS - 1986
As we approach the new year (2007) we are looking forward
to signing-on our five-thousandth member and beyond ...
I hope you've enjoyed this mini-version of the last
twenty years of FSSNOC growth and activity. It will be an ongoing
goal to add more historic information to this site as time and space
allow. The important thing to remember is ... we wouldn't be where we
are today without the considerable efforts and contributions of those
early members, many who are still active participants in the club to
this day. Let me use this opportunity to express our heartfelt THANKS
to all those members who have supported our club through the years.
Little did I know that the "thought that came in the night" would have
such an impact on my life and on the lives of our members. In light
of that, my comment would be, Listen to ... and Live Your Dreams!"
Jack Robinson, FSSNOC Director, #000
