When Rodney Barkalow (General Manager for NOLA Harley-Davidson) decided that he wanted to combine a Harley-Davidson style pre-Sturgis kickoff party with a Motorcycle Awareness Campaign message was  certainly a win win for EVERYONE.

   It all started just a few short weeks ago when Rodney called Jeff Haydel (NOLA MAC President) and wanted MAC to participate in the pre-Sturgis kickoff party on Saturday July 14, 2012 and that MAC would get some donations and proceeds. Jeff rallied his troops and it was ON.. I mean, it was REALLY ON.

 New Orleans Harley-Davidson sponsored 300 lbs of Boston butt pork roast (eventually turned into pulled pork), a-whole-bunch-a-baked beans and some buns to sop up the juices.

Paul Gisclair (Sgt. at arms, NOLA MAC Chapter) offered up an all-nighter chef service when Nick Couch offered up his award winning 10ft. HUGE cooker /smoker (not 25ft) was just the begining of the 16 hour slow cooked process that turned the BEST BBQ pork that ever graced the parking lot of a Harley-Davidson tarmac.  Listen, when I say it was awesome, words can't describe the flavor.  Put that on a plate with some baked pork and beans and some B-READ, good ole classic rock music in your ears that was the right tone and kick back with some friends..  hawwwww... you know what I'm talkin 'bout, Yea? 

Oh sorry, got caught up in the moment.  By the time I got to Pauls house early that evening Paul and Jeff already had it on slow cook.  The smells were INCREDIBLE and when he lifted the hood on the pig-cookin engine; the steam, sizzlin sounds and aroma was almost overwhelming.  All Paul had to do was gimme-dat-look and I knew one more step would not be good for me, I backed off.  As the night pressed on, other MAC members showed up at Pauls house to lend a hand or offer their support.  From what I was told, there was a pork pulling frenzy with meat cleavers and tongs Saturday morning to prepare for the days event.   ahhhh-Eeeeeeee...

Carl Hope (MAC NOLA Chaplin/local chapter CMA vice President) volunteered to use his truck to pull the cooker all the way from Westwego on the Westbank into the parking lot around 10:30 am.

As the cooker got nessled into it's corner, the party at New Orleans Harley-Davidson promptly started at 11:00 and by 11:45 MAC NOLA vounteers were in full swing offering up pulled pork plates to hungry party go'ers and would-be donators.  There was live music from Cypress (A local favorite classic rock band) as well as other vendors that seemed like a perfect blend of entertainment and subtle delights (Tinder Box - Cigars) and in-house tatoo parlor for those that wanted some ink.

Jeff Haydel, "THANK YOU Rodney Barkalow and the New Orleans Harley-Davidson team for putting on such a cool and properous event (raised $400.00) as well as graciously donated an additional $100.00 to the Motorcycle Awareness Campaign. It was evident that your teams hard work and marketing strategy despite a little bad weather, paid off.  I would also like to thank the all vounteer force of the MAC NOLA team for contributing your time and efforts to cook and serve the food to so many people."

Please be sure to stop by New Orleans Harley-Davidson and thank them for a job well done.

Left to Right: Dennis, Jeff, Linda, Jane, Jerry (Uncle Jerry Jr.), Uncle Jerry, Carl

Until next time, stay safe and help spread the MAC message and promote motorcycle awareness to the motoring public. Our goal and all of our efforts are directed to that end.  Our interest is to provide a safer riding environment for anyone who rides a motorcycle.