Who Doesn't Love a Blooper Reel?

Seriously, who doesn't love a good blooper reel?

Then again, some would argue that all our reels are blooper reels. 

Get Your Passport Ready

This winter's spurts of unusually warm weekends have forced me to clear a path through the garage and pry the bike out of hibernation. While letting the engine warm up I pondered destinations. Then I remembered....

The Oklahoma Passport Tour!

Keep It Local

Black Friday got you down? Yeah, that's one trend we'd just as soon see disappear.

But there is an holiday shopping alternative to the traffic and craziness at the mall. Keep it local this holiday season and enjoy these down-home events and pop-up shopping. You'll find locally made crafts- maybe even have a chance to shop inside a geodesic dome!

Viking Cruise jacket

She wants to keep this one

A Viking Cruise model jacket recently arrived at the TWO headquarters from Motorcycle House. First thing we noticed upon unpacking was that it was a "cruiser styled" jacket in a true women's cut. Many of these style jackets for women are simply smaller versions of men's jackets.

Take a Hike

The historic Lincoln Bridge
at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Rolling down the road is one of our favorite pastimes. But eventually all rides must end. And that's when the destination takes center stage. So where to go? A restaurant? The local dealer?

What about a nearby nature trail?

No... seriously!

Why I Ride.

Wow.

What a great video. If you don't ride you'll still enjoy this film- it is very well done.

We're Back!

After airing on Public television for a few seasons, Two Wheel Oklahoma branched off into commercial networks. Those national networks, as well as Europe and New Zealand will continue to air the shows, but we are proud to be back to KRSC (RSU Tv). Now you have no excuse why you would miss any of their travels. We are airing over the air in Oklahoma on 35.1, Dish Tv and Direct Tv on 35 and Cox channels 109, 110/HD 793

Rex and Brad getting schooled on "Brunch"

This Saturday (October 12th) at 10:00 am, RSU Tv will be airing a new episode. This is an episode that we're all very proud of and will mark the beginning of a whole season on that station. So, tune in Saturday morning and let us know what you think

The new schedule on KRSC (RSU Tv) is:
Tuesdays at 5:30pm
Wednesdays at 5:00pm
Saturdays at 10:00 am

Lost City Surprise

This morning Brad offered Good Morning Oklahoma viewers a sneak preview of our lost episode- a show about the area of Cherokee County near Lost City. Have a look...



The Clear Creek Abbey is a benedictine monastery located north of Hulbert, Oklahoma. To learn more visit www.clearcreekmonks.org.

Legends of Dirt

I was lucky enough to grow up watching motocross legends like Brad Lackey, Bob Hannah, Roger DeCoster, Heikki Mikkola, Jimmy Weinert and many others racing around the Southern California area. I rode in much, much lower classes on much, much slower bikes made by Benelli, Bultaco and Suzuki. But, I did have the all important Bell helmet and Preston Petty fenders that made me feel much faster.

Jammin Jimmy Weinert

A few years later, names like Jean Michel Bayle, Doug Dubach and Guy Cooper, on much more modern motorcycles, were staging some of the most exciting Motocross racing to date. I don't want to take anything away from the excellent racing that is going on today, but to see those guys running true works bikes back in the early years was quite a sight. 

The smell of burning castor oil still brings a tear to my eye.

Pop-Up Museum Appears in Tulsa

Mysterious Motorcycle Collection Appears in Downtown Window Display

A couple of weeks ago while driving through downtown Tulsa I noticed a motorcycle in a window.

This vintage motocross Maico was sitting inside a display window. The main reason I noticed it was the fact it's in one of my favorite Tulsa buildings- the awesomely cool Mayo Motor Inn. This classic example of Streamline Moderne architecture is essentially unchanged from its original form when it was built in 1950. In fact, it's so cool it was added to the National register of Historic Places in 2008.

TWO on KTUL

The folks at KTUL-TV in Tulsa invited us to come share some of our favorite adventures.

As they say in TV Talk Show Land, "Here's a clip..."

Back to Where it All Began

We started our television journey on a rusty bridge outside of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. That bridge, and the bumpy stretch of concrete leading west, is part of a very old roadway that predates Route 66. That first episode, originally aired April 2010 on OETA, introduced viewers across Oklahoma to us, our show and our unique approach to documenting life off the beaten path. 

So it seemed only fitting that our first stop on a new project would begin with a little known network of trails and backroads... and that rusty bridge over Rock Creek. 

Our new project is known as Forgotten Highways and our first documentary will be about the historic Ozark Trail.

Before Route 66 became America's Main Street there were several private efforts to cobble together cross-country highways. One of these was organized by the Ozark Trail Association and stretched from St Louis, Missouri to Las Vegas, New Mexico. Much of this road would later become Route 66, which has prompted some to call the Ozark Trail the "Mother of the Mother Road."

The Trail was marked by unusual stone pyramids. Only seven of these obelisks remain. The story of this road is a uniquely American tale of ingenuity, showmanship and greed that, at times, verges on bizarre. It's a story not many know about, and one that's well worth telling!

We are using Kickstarter to fund this project. Kickstarter has been around a few years now and has helped millions of people fund creative projects, unique products and great ideas.

The best part is you don't just pledge money. You become part of the project. Normally, these are funded by large companies that hold an interest in the product. Instead, we are letting the people take responsibility for getting it made or not.

To show our appreciation we offer you special recognition. Depending the amount you pledge we offer you exclusive content, bonus DVDs or even producer credit. Take a look, share it with your friends, tell everybody you know and pledge now!

Forgotten Highways - The Ozark Trail

The Indian Nations Rally Returns

There's going to be a bunch of motorcyclists converging on Greenleaf State Park this June. The event is called the Indian Nations Rally and it will be held June 7-9, 2013 at the Group Camp overlooking Greenleaf Lake.

If you have seen our third show (Episode 3: OK-10) you might remember the park, and more specifically the Group Camp area and its WPA era lodge.

Redbud Valley Road

Local Ride
When you only have time for a quickie.Do you have a favorite ride you'd like to share? Contact us for details on how to share your Local Ride.

One of my favorite nearby rides is found on the northeast edge of Tulsa near Catoosa. This ride is short, it's not an endurance test or kneedragger excursion. It’s only a few miles long but it offers some great scenery to enjoy– on and off your bike.

The locals call it Redbud Valley Road and it begins as 161st East Avenue north of I-44. The fun doesn't really start until you pass Pine Street and cross what used to be a notoriously rugged railroad crossing. About three miles later you'll make a sharp right and begin meandering along Bird Creek and the farmland outside Catoosa. Eventually you’ll pop out on OK-167 (which must be one of the shortest state highways in America) just north of the Hard Rock Casino.

Motorcycle Safety Classes

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation are offering free motorcycle safe riding courses. These classes will be offered throughout the year at locations across the state- and are free! But space is limited to only 30 riders for each class.

Please note this course is not intended for learning to ride a motorcycle- in fact you must already have an "M" endorsement to participate!

Dry Feet and a Warm Heart

Waterproof Boots a Comfortable Solution

 

Motorcycle boots come in almost as many varieties as motorcycles. Finding the perfect pair involves shopping for boots that fit your style of riding, how much protection you want and what you feel comfortable wearing. I think a lot of people want something that offers some crash insurance, but prefer not to look like a storm trooper from Star Wars when they stop for lunch. Tourmaster's Solution 2.0 Road Boots may be what you're looking for.

The Solution is a waterproof leather boot with an oil-resistant rubber sole. I've put a few thousand miles on a pair of these and have been pretty impressed. Especially when you consider these boots have a street price barely north of a hundred bucks!

As motorcycle boots go these would be considered "touring boots." They are comfortable, easy to walk in and easy to get on or off. I like the zipper-under-velcro closure and they also have a reinforcement on the left toes to prevent shifter wear. There's a handy pull-tab on the back of the boot that can snag on your pants, but it's awfully helpful for putting them on. The Tourmaster Solutions offer some ankle bone protection and will protect your feet from abrasion in the event of a spill.

Are these the best boots out there? Not hardly. But for the price they're pretty darn good. Are they better than riding in sneakers? You bet! Are they good choice for a track day at Hallett? Not really.

For that you'll just have to get used to the storm trooper look.


 

2013 Tulsa Press Club Newsie Awards

Vote for TWO!

Are these men Journalists?

Two Wheel Oklahoma has been nominated for a 2013 Newsie Award for Best Local TV Show. Wow!

Newsies are an annual awards gala sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club. Members nominate local media outlets and personalities for outstanding print, radio and television journalism. Wow again!

We were flattered- especially considering we couldn't even spell journalism before receiving this award. Brad and I want to encourage all of our fans (and all of their cousins, friends and parole officers) to vote for Two Wheel Oklahoma!

Vote: 2013 Tulsa Newsie Awards


Seriously, we're honored to be recognized by the Tulsa Press Club and listed alongside such illustrious local media. Whether we win or not, it's nice to be noticed. Now go vote!

Hidden Gem at Hallett

Most Oklahomans have probably never heard of Hallett, Oklahoma. Yet this tiny hamlet of of less than 200 people is well known throughout the motorsports community as the home of Hallett Motor Racing Circuit.

Hallett is a 1.8 mile long road course that snakes along the gently rolling hills of Pawnee County. Over the years Brad and I have had the pleasure of racing on, over and around this track in a variety of machinery- everything from dirt bikes to go-karts to street motorcycles to racing cars. It's a fun track and a great facility.

Boy Racer
Rex prepares to lap Hallett during an Alfa Romeo track day.

RIP: Bob Hall

We received a bit of sad news from El Reno, Oklahoma last week.

Robert "Bob" Hall, one of the owners of Sid's Burgers in El Reno, has passed away. I had the pleasure of interviewing Bob for our sixth show which featured Route 66 in Western Oklahoma, but it's more commonly referred to as the "Onion Burger episode."

Come Ride Along: Tulsa Toy Run

December 9th was a chilly morning. 

But not too cold for thousands of motorcyclists to descend on Tulsa's Expo Square for the 33rd annual Tulsa Toy Run sponsored by ABATE. We've been participating since 1999 and were proud to ride along again this year.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett led the procession along Cherry Street to the Blue Dome District. From there the gifts were handed over to eager marines representing Toys for Tots.

Here's a video showing a few highlights along the way. We hope you enjoy it- and wish all of you a happy holiday season and a wonderful 2013.