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The idea started in 1956 when 4 Osman Rochester Shriners (Ed Lundquist, Elmer Halling, Bill Dodge, Ollie Schaeffer) had the Potentate’s permission to be his escort in parades with their Harley 125’s sporting red lights (2 in front –2 behind) and sirens. These four couldn’t make it to the 57 Imperial in Chicago, so Phil & Dick Halling, Jim Pruit & Doc Adams filled in for the trip and came back with great tales & ideas. They joined with the others to form the Cycle Patrol which was chartered by Osman in 1958 and the recruiting and planning began. They bought 10 Cushman 125cc Scooters for $420 ea and by 59 had increased to 15 (one being a tri-wheeler for Julius Dalsbo—w/flags and a storage box). Each scooter had fancy saddle bags, siren, flashing lights, windshields, and a large Shrine emblem in front below the headlight. Most owned their scooter but some shared – There was a $500 buyout if one left the group. Scooters were transported in the old “guts out” school bus. The first uniforms were hand-me-downs from the Osman Patrol: - yellow “Ike” jackets w/green braids over bloused red trousers w/yellow stripes on the outside seams and brown combat boots. A simple parade route was set, then altered many times after initial practices and parades. The crowd pleasing began. Among the first members to join newly elected Captain Ev Hicks were: Alphabetical: Dr Bob Adams, Bill Benjamin, Sam Crawford, Julius Dalsbo, Bob Dison, Bill Dodge, Gary Groteboer, Dick Halling, Elmer Halling, Phil Halling, Haven Hodge, Bruce Hohn, Ruger Keehn, Winston Lagerwall, Ed Lundquist, Bob Lynn, Jim Pruit, Glen (Bud) Rasmusson, Dr Ross Robertson, Ollie Schaeffer, Lloyd Stoddard, and Gordy Suk. Don Soderberg, Phil Meyer, Butch Rubenstein, Leo Priebe, and Bob Dison followed later when there was an opening. Sam Crawford was the first to pass to the “Great Camel Herders in the Sky” in May 62. His “send off” was a large rectangular cake with a floral picture of a motorcycle and several “hoisted toddies” by his “buddies”. The first Midwest Motorcorps competition was the 64 grand Forks (Kem) where the festivities were dimmed by the passing of Dr Bob Rasmusson from Kasson “just before” competition. The 65 Minneapolis (Zuhrah) Midwest competition results were not good but the breakfast ride to Hastings & back was scenic. Results were also mediocre at their first Imperial (All Shrines in North America) competition in Chicago (67), but the real eye opener was at the next Imperial in Atlanta (69). Outfitted with “67” Yamaha 180 cycles (after going through 2 other sets of Cushman scooters), and new uniforms (yellow jump suits), Captain Joe Dingle (66 thru 70) led the well oiled team to a “pasting” from the good-old-boys of the South who practice 10 months a year and knew their “spit & polish”. When the decision to get motorcycles was made, a majority of the original group bowed out of active riding to make room for the more “daring” newcomers. In 171 Captain Joe stepped down to become President of the Midwest Shrine Motorcorps Assn (Units from 12 Shrines in 5 States & 3 Canadian Provinces). Continuing to polish their crowd pleasing parade maneuvers and develop notoriety for their “close-knit camaraderie”, the Rochester Cycles captured their First “Overall High Point: trophy in Drill at the 72 Fargo (El Zagel) Midwest under Captain Dick Hawkins (71 thru 82). Hawk was a real taskmaster who led with a strong (clean bikes, good spacing & get-it-done) demeanor. Over time, each year of parading, practice and competition gave us at least one more item to perfect in our “Military Inspection/Drill Ride” routine making this group tough to beat. About 1967, the Cycles felt that in order to give more financial support to the “Shrine Hospitals for Children”, be able to purchase new equipment more often & give the Captain more control the following was necessary: (1) The club should own all the equipment, (2) Each member would have a vehicle that could tow a 3 place bike trailer and would pay for fueling the set of bikes at least one a year, (3) Purchase of a “47” Jeepster Classic for parade backup, (4) Ride more parades and ask for a larger gratuity ($300) for each, (5) Originate the Silver Compact Dinner as a major fundraiser, and (6) When a major purchase was in the mill (new bikes) each member was given a special assessment to cover any shortfall. In the 70’s with Hawk as Captain, new cycles every 2-3 years, and the building of our “barn” in 1977, the assessments came fast and furious. DeWitz & crew placed the barn on member Al Koenig’s property behind Midwest Specialized Transportation - 45th North & Hwy 63. –all helped shovel, grade, pour concrete & sign names. Al Koenig gave us a lease until 2000 for $1.99 – embedded in our “bar”. Prior to that time our “barn” was an old garage on Dingle’s “gentleman’s horse ranch”. Leo Priebe “our patriarch treasurer” & Bert Alexander were instrumental in putting together the Silver Compact Dinner and ramrodding ticket sales. Grand Prize was originally a “silver compact car” back when these were $2200 new. We sold 100 tickets for $100ea and put on a magnificent dinner, with refreshments & hors-de-ourves at the Rochester County Club. With rising prices of the 70;s, the car was changed to a cash prize, free refreshments were cut back, & we were forced to leave the county club for Sandy Point which had expanded in the early 80’s. Bob DeWitz also instigated a second fundraiser for couples at Sandy Point for about 3 years in the early 80’s and called it “Luau Night”. Each lady was greeted at the door with a fresh lei flown in from Hawaii, and a hollowed out pineapple with a fresh Hawaiian drink was served prior to the buffet of original Hawaiian recipes gathered by Butch & Tommy Rubenstein. Drawings and entertainment followed. These events increased our reserve for more stuff and our donations to the Children’s Hospitals. Throughout the years as the Cycles have increased their notoriety as the “ones to beat”. Thru their close-knitted comaraderie, they have developed valuable friendships. In 76 we were invited to Regina, Sask. for a Wa Wa Shrine ceremonial when we met a stern Regina cop who pulled the whole group of bikes over for several violations (including no helmet_ - Dick Lier (cop) and his wife Lucy have turned out to be great friends and hope they continue to be. The Khartum Motor Patrol from Winnipeg were our best friends when they had an unfortunate situation that caused embarrassment to the Shrine in 99 and we wish them well. Good hard working, but friends, competition creates good friends. 1983 brought a full year. Dave Hawkins (83 & 84) became Captain of the 45 member Cycles and took a 16 rider team to the Denver Imperial at Mile High Stadium where we brought home a 1st in both Drill and Obstacle Course competition. Later that year Dave was asked to join the Divan (Shrine Officers) which meant giving up the Captain’s job which he loved after 84. Dick Hawkins became 83 President of the MSMCA and we were the hosts for the MSMCA competition in St. Paul. Earl (Nose) Jorgensen was General Chairman for the “best we’ve seen since” Events. The Competition grandstand had a great sound system supplied by Ray (Razor) Hylland, Lots of activity on the Obstacle Course, the Breakfast ride (which we, as a group don’t particularly care for) covered the scenic river part of both Mpls & St Paul, past the Lost Spur in Eagan (Osman’s home) then on to the Thunderbird in Bloomington for the “eye opener’s”, entertainment Dixieland style, breakfast in style opened by a Professional singing in “Star Spangled Banner” & “Oh Canada”, topped off by a well run awards program MD’s by Greg Wennes, run by “Nose”, and Presided by Hawk with Dave herding the troops. Each night one member would take it upon himself to go off the deep end: 1st –Smitty, 2nd – Herbie, & 3rd – Captain Dave, after all the pressure was off. When Captain Herb Ney (85 thru 93) took the reigns, the Cycle Patrol was a well oiled machine but it needed his nurturing to stay that way. We altered the Drill routine switching formation quicker, --less repetitive but requiring more thinking. It is still in use with yearly minor additions to “spice it up”. During these 9 years membership was slipping – some went on to other priorities, several –a lot less active, & fewer members. A push to include more family friendly activities was initiated. We also drifted away from purchasing bikes every 2 to 3 years. In 86 we purchased 17 new “86” Honda 250 Limited Edition Rebels ($1900ea) that had to be rounded up thru 6 different suppliers coordinated by Wayne Streiff. For 3 years these were only used for competition while we rode our 83 Honda CMT 200’s for parades. With the rise of Osman insurance rates we were forced to sell the old set. With Wayne Streiff taking over as Quartermaster in 86 and help from Ralph Winkels the “86’s” were well maintained and still looked sharp when we spend a bundle (over $3100ea w/windshields, etc) for 19-“02” Black Labels. Our “04” assets now include 22 – 02 Rebels, our 47 Jeepster, 3/4T Ford 460 hauling truck, 2 trailers for the Jeep & 13 bikes, and a 2400SF cycle “barn” that we built but don’t own – All paid for by our hard work. As Leo Priebe said when asked for a Treasurer’s report – “Made a little, spent a little, and have a little left over”. He passed on in 91 of cancer, but we have his memorial showing in our trophy cases at the Shrine Room in the Holiday Inn South. For 6 years of Herbs Captaincy, we completed with 12 riders, and 3 years with 16, bringing back 7 Midwest Firsts and First’s in two Imperials—Atlanta (85) & Toronto (89). From 76 to 90 the thinking on competition was to look sharp for the military personal inspection, so each year until 85 we each bought a new suit to use first at inspection. This got tiresome so we rented Tuxedos for 4 years until we decided to use our new riding uniforms and have a special set put away each year for competition only—“We are cycle corps, let’s look like one”. When we changed, others soon followed –both ways. The elusive “overall high point” trophy evaded Herb’s tenure and we were at a loss to know why – until the Rapid City 93 competition when our 16 well trained members who went thru the routine flawlessly were beaten by a unit of 4 who just “took up time” wandering around the field for 7 minutes. The answer: -The “adopted” Imperial rules and scoring system encouraged a penalty system where “less of everything wins”. Less bodies & bikes to inspect, mistakes & spacing irregularities on the field, -means less deductions –Higher Score. This was OK when all the units were large. We & others questioned this system. Stands to reason that 4 good riders beat 16 of the same caliber – we had to be 4 times better at avoiding errors, or they 4 times worse. No credit was given for riding a varied, flashy, more difficult routine and the instructions to judges were almost nonexistent. In 93 & 94, Herb, Charlie Schleder, Dave Hawkins and Ken Chase from Khartum-Thunder Bay put all their lobbying effort, charm, & coordination to work to change the rules, judging, and By-laws of the MSMCA with the help of then MSMCA President Gordy Leach (Wa Wa, Regina). The new system was fair to all size units and stresses performance on the field by using Olympic style scoring on Difficulty, Variety of Drill, & Execution. Until 03, the Imperial still used an antiquated system of scoring so we had not participated. Sadly, in the Spring of 94, before he could see the results of his efforts, Herb Ney, who had just stepped down as Captain for other duties, passed away from a heart attack—Sharon, his wife, preceded Herb by a year, consequently Pete inherited many surrogate uncles from the patrol and continues to learn what worked inside the unit. Under Captain Steve “Smitty” Smith (94-97), the Cycles flourished in competition, taking the Midwest “Overall High point” trophy 3 years in a row before sitting out a year (97) as hosts. Smitty also served as President of the MSMCA in 97 and with the help of Denny Weestrand as General Chairman, Wayne Streiff as competition chairman, and all the troops, hosted a well organized competition, hospitality, & awards breakfast. The only down side to the Awards ceremony was the incompetence of our elected MSMCA Secretary who made an embarrassing mess out of awarding the trophies. This prompted Ken Chase from Kartum-Thunder Bay to run for that office. Under Ken’s guidance (CPA) the job regained respectability and computerized organization which he handed over to Charlie Schleder in 03 after the “first ever” combination MSMCA/Imperial combined competition in Minneapolis. In the Fall of 97 under Smitty & Wayne our construction crew made a major addition to the “barn” by adding 560 SF out the back and enlarging 3 doors to 12’W x 10’h. Cabinets & shelving have sine been added to organize the storage. 98 & 99 were Captained by Wayne Streiff who also maintained the job as Quartermaster. Wayne managed to wear just about every hat possible with the Cycle Patrol those years including calling each riding member for each parade. From 85 thru 02 Wayne had not missed a parade or competition and filled in as captain before and after his tenure: -a real tribute to the hardest worker we have had. Over the years our fees for purring on our crowd pleasing show in a parade has increased from $200 in the “60’s”, $300 in 75, $500 in 84, $600 in 93, to $750 in 02. Jim Kuhlman took over as parade chairman in 94 and it runs smooth with his special negotiating and promotional skills. If a small town in a little short on $, and he thinks it fits into our schedule, he takes what he can get and makes it up elsewhere. 00 & 01 Gary Schoenmann came forward to be our Captain in a time of need. One of our most competent riders, Gary was able to lead the Cycles to 2 straight Overall’s at Grand Forks & Duluth. It became apparent that our unit was going thru a dry spell in getting new members and was decided that we had to put some real effort into checking out our friendships for new members. As a result of “following thru” and assistance by Charlie (a past member) we gained 8 new members in 01, 10 in 02, and 4 in 03. By May 03 The Cycle Patrol dues paying, members numbered 70 with about half riding at least once a year—most likely making Rochester Cycle Patrol the largest motorized unit in Shrinedom (4 Nations). The Silver Compact continues to be our major fund raiser. The original 100 guests @ $100 in “73” netted about $6500 and provided a lavish dinner, hors-de-ouvres, & refreshments. By 02, the same net was achieved with 125 guests @ $150 using a slightly larger prize total. Food, drink, & tips keep escalating. Priebe ran it in the 70’s, Bobby DeWitz was chairman until 94, Bruce Ryan thru 98, and Charlie Schleder since. Around November 1st has turned out to be the best timing for this “stag” event where most guests are local businessmen who look forward to the yearly gathering to catch up on old friendships. This continuing fundraiser has allowed the “Cycles” to consistently donate over $5000 each year to the Shrine Children’s Hospitals and its auxiliaries since 76. Up to the early “90’s” we periodically asked each member to “chip in” for a special wheelchair or other piece of equipment that would help out some youngster with that need. Any member is asked to remind himself often that our motto is “What can I do to help.” –not, “What’s in it for me.” Or, “They owe it to me.” Others contributing greatly over the years to the success of the unit and not previously mentioned are: --Dick Armstrong as the unofficial photographer, --Randy and Dave Alexander for their long tenures as First Lt in competition maneuvers, --Steve Hinck as Secretary/treasurer (forever), --Bert Alexander for outlasting all active riders & riding every parade + competition the year of his 70th birthday, --Mark Anderson for allowing us to designate a meeting (Shrine) room for our trophies and selling a bunch of “compact” tickets, & --Denny Weestrand who is now permanent Director of Judges for the MSMCA Competitions. In 02, Pete Ney was elected Captain of the Cycles. With 22 bikes in the barn, it was possible to ride 2 parades in opposite directions at the same time. In our 23 parade schedule, we did this 3 times. In 3 other parades we had enough riders to send out 2 separate groups of at least 11-giving the city a super show. A greater accent was given to having members host a “picnic” after the parade. A member was also designated one parade to be the “organizer”. It was “his” parade. 02 had other 1st’s: --We had a “Ladies Appreciation Night” where each lady was treated to dinner & drinks at the Hubbel House in appreciation for their tolerance of the weekends we require of an active rider, --July 4 (4 parades) was designated past captain’s day to lead a parade as he wished, --Steve Groteboer developed our Internet site thru his company server: HYPERLINK "http://www.cyclepatrol.com" www.cyclepatrol.com, --We finally collected primary data on each member for a data base in MS Access for calling & mail lists, an annual insurance, equipment, & e membership reports to Osman. Unit history (such as this) and member ship was compiled by Charlie & others tip over. The Patrol is also proud of the 4 Osman Potentates that emerged from the unit: Bill Dodge, Al Downig, Dave Hawkins, & John Perkins. Past Masters of Roch #21 include: Dingle, Herb Ney, Schleder, Randy Alexander, Bob Nemac, & Rahn Lund. PM’s of other Lodges include: Dave Hawkins, Clarence Quanrud, & Jerry Scheevel. Not included are all the favorite “classic stories” that eventually grow like “tall fish tales” with each telling to any new members who will listen. Membership History –Rochester Cycle Patrol CP-ara CAT First Last Name |