Members
J. Courtney Olive, President
Fascinated with motorcycles from a young age, but forestalled from owning one until 2003, Courtney is making up for lost time. After all, motorcycling can buy time — time to eliminate distraction, focus on the senses, and enjoy solitude, or, make new friends, discover diversions, and of course take the road less traveled. Whoa there, Mister Sartre. At any rate, the road less traveled was definitely responsible for leading Courtney, born a Hoosier and raised a Tarheel, to Oregon. After living in Eugene and learning the law, Courtney made his way to Portland where he settled down with a supportive spouse. Good news, considering his stable of bikes reflects a scrounger lifestyle and fondness for time capsules. His first was an ‘81 CB750 Super Sport, which he got in trade for a beer. Current bikes in the quiver include a 919, GPz550, S3, AS2C, IT465 “retro motard,” and a YZ250 with a racing pedigree. Watch out for S.C.M.O.D.S.
Becky Ohlsen, SecretaryBecky left the womb backwards and momentum has carried her that way ever since. She bought her first motorcycle, an ‘81 Suzuki GS 450, in March 2004 despite not really knowing how to even ride a bicycle all that well. A couple of years later in a whiskey-befuddled state she let herself be persuaded to trade up for a 1988 Honda Hawk. She’s still in love with it. Another murky bar promise led her to pick up a 175 sloper and try vintage roadracing – more of that this spring. Becky rode a Honda SL175 to Knoxville TN on the famous 555 Ride. She’s working on a book about crashing and is a libra-scorpio cusp.
Dan Kerr, TreasurerDan grew up in Canby, hot off I-5 in the armpit of the Willamette Valley, where the Gypsy Jokers rode their Harleys, thumping through that small town on lazy summers evenings to the nearest biker bar. After a few years of Portland’s party and the call of the wild, Dan ended up in San Francisco, where he finally got his Harley and promptly turned it into a cafe racer. He bombed up and down I-5 himself, a man and his hog. This is where the road, a man, and his machine, gets the need to drag a knee or two. Later a lorry crashed him on a rice grinder into a leather mess. Dan got back on the hog upon returning to the States, but it wasn’t the same. He’s now rides a KTM-aniac in motoradical fashion, except when he’s pushing the front end of his CB200 into turn 3, or driving a mini-van with stars on the side.
Patrick Leyshock, Founding MemberPatrick Leyshock grew up around motorcycles but didn’t begin riding until 1996. He’s had a constant love affair with two-stroke motorcycles, on both the street and track. “You can take your displacement and shove it . . . how much power per liter do you make?” In 2000, Leyshock began a five-year stint with Kenny Dreer’s Norton enterprise, and co-founded the Sang-Froid Riding Club. His pet peeves include: Keys, arguments about oil quality and whether or not you can break a motorcycle in on synthetic, backpacks, people who stand in doorways, mayonnaise, bicyclists who walk around all day with one pantleg rolled up, people who set things on chairs, clove cigarettes.
Peter Kahn, MemberAfter learning to ride on the streets of Brooklyn, Peter set three initial goals: “Ride across the country, race motorcycles, and ride from Athens to London hugging the coast the whole way.” A mere eight months after buying his first bike, Peter left his life in NYC, rode his 650 Hawk to Portland, and started racing OMRRA events. Now he’s saving dimes, getting a structural engineering degree and perfecting his ethnic camouflage. Bikes: CBR F4, XR400, EX500, MR175
Steve Callan, Founding MemberBorn and raised in the suburban wasteland of Fremont, California, Steve Callan acquired his first motorcycle – a Sears Allstate 50cc – at the tender age of 12. Soon he was hooked on RD 400’s and moved to San Francisco to hone his urban assault tactics. Even though SF is the motorcycle center of the universe, he realized cheaper living could equal more motorcycles and moved to Portland. After meeting Patrick Leyshock and Zach Hull, SFRC was born. A mechanic by trade, Callan has owned, modified, and rebuilt many bikes. His stable of mounts now includes an SV 650, T500 Titan and a RMX250 for the dirty work. Riding and racing motorcycles is his first love when he’s not chomping on tasty ham hocks. Callan says, “Come ride with us and try to keep up!”
Munns Hole, MemberMommas don’t let your sons grow up to be motorcyclists! After being denied youthful motorcycle joy by his mother, Hole jumped in to the world of motorcycle shenanigans with zeal rarely witnessed before. Upon escaping her brutal regime of safety, he bought his first bike, a Suzuki Bandit 400. What followed can only be describe as a ridiculous slide into two-wheeled excess. Within six months of first throwing a leg over a motorcycle, Hole was road racing motorcycles, and winning too. He abandoned all other things in the pursuit of winning gold plated plastic trophies. A whole former way of life was left in the dust. Riding, racing, collecting and building motorcycles combined with crashing, burnouts, blowing up engines and hanging out with like-minded people sums up his out of balance way of life. When asked why he has 20 motorcycles, he answers “because I can’t afford 21”. Hole is married to the most awesome wife ever, who understands his condition.
Tim Webb, MemberGrowing up in Santa Rosa CA Tim had a normal childhood filled with fishing, playing in orchards and taxidermy. While in college, training to be a painter, he was introduced to motorcycles. In 1991 he took the plunge into two wheeled mayhem. Tim’s motorcycle training consisted of SF streets, battling traffic, epic lane splitting,being hit by cars, crashing, blowing up motors and repeatedly going on the 2am rides (because there is no traffic then). In 1998 Tim and then fiancee (now wife) sold a few bikes, packed up and left SF. “It was like a jail break”. Portland has been home ever since for Tim, his wife, and daughter. There is nothing like riding a motorcycle, big or small, especially around the Pacific Northwest.
17 bikes later, I’m like you but I am me.
T-Bag & Germ, Co-Members
Travis and Jared are two partners in crime who love riding motorcycles and evading arrest together. They have a very special bond. Shine on, you crazy kids!
Andrew Pignataro, MemberBorn and raised in Rhode Island, Andrew moved to Portland in December 2001 with no prior two-wheeled experience. He purchased his first bike a 1969 Vespa 150. Lusting for more, aided by his friend Tom and various SFRC members, Andrew “graduated” to the world of motorcycling. Three years later, an obsession with 2-strokes, one race season on a CB160, and a lot of seat time, Andrew continues to hone his skills. Current machines include a Aprilia Mille and a KDX220
Jeff Foster, MemberJeff Foster’s excuse is similar to many other motorcyclists – My dad raced motocross when I was kid. He got me a 1970 Honda XR75 when I was seven and now many years later I’ve moved on to a 2003 Honda RVT1000R RC51. It’s a lot more letters and certainly a bit more bike. What were we talking about again?? Foster’s passion for riding has taken him far and wide. On my first major trip, I went through two motors, three tires, say 10 countries and gained a wife and a son. That was a great trip. Since then, Jeff, Irene, and Alex have been joined by Emily who rides a XR as well. It’s not all fun and games though. When Foster’s not riding in the dirt or on the street, he can also be found turning laps with OMRRA on his candy blue 1968 Honda CB160 number 757. “Thanks for the XR, Dad.”
Chopper, MemberChopper’s innovative riding style and techniques are the subject of an upcoming book entitled “One or Zero: A binary approach to riding”.
Zac Christensen, MemberRaised on the dusty floors of the family muffler shop in Bend, Oregon, Zac Christensen meandered around Northern California, New Zealand, Mexico, Guatemala, Alaska, and Utah before settling back in Oregon. Presently, Christensen can be found in his FoHo garage or working for the man. Turn-ons: Honky Tonks, Portland Timbers, and taquitos. Turn-offs: LIDAR radar, crashing, hippies, and tassels hanging off chrome shit. Bikes: ‘02 Triumph Sprint-RS, ‘02 MZ Baghira (soooo motarded!!), Honda SL175, and a CB350F chopper.
Nate Alvord, MemberBorn and raised in the mountains of Montana, Nate grew up ski racing and borrowing dirt bikes when he could sneak out without his mother knowing. Early on a fascination with speed and motorcycles was established. But it wasn’t until an early life crisis occurred after moving to Portland from Vail, Colorado in the late ’90s that Nate found himself without steep slopes and snow at his disposal, thus a vacancy of adrenaline was created. Enter motorcycles!! With the support and constant badgering of club member Jeff Foster, Nate bought his first bike a 1998 VFR. Since then it has been two-wheel mayhem, including getting the whole family riding dirtbikes, and a recent fascination with motards… If you have a problem; Nate can identify it for you!
Jim Overstreet, MemberJim spent his childhood in Los Altos, California, and credits/blames a ride on a friend’s cafe’d KH400 Kawasaki triple with igniting the two-stroke lust in his impressionable young mind. At the age of 17 he bought his first motorcycle, a 1977 Kawasaki KE175. After a spending a few collegiate years in Santa Cruz, CA Jim found is way to San Francisco, and in possession of a much coveted garage space. A 1975 Yamaha RD350 was acquired, soon followed by a pair of exotic Yamaha two-stroke twins, and a brief fling with a Kawasaki H2. San Francisco proved to be a fun place to live, but a hard place to “grow up”, so in 2001 Jim made his way north to Portland, Oregon where he has developed a healthy addiction to mud and dirtbikes, and hopes to one day own a motorcycle larger than 250cc …… maybe even a four-stroke.
Zachary Hull, Founding MemberOregon born, Reed College, Portland Adult Soapbox Derby, law school, good friends, and, finally, motorcycles. There’s no such thing as a traditional path. Ride safe!