Do the Ms in M&Ms stand for motorcycles?

Every now and then we are found by bikers from other areas, just this week two of the entries in the On-Line bike show are from out of state. Some of them are full of real enthusiasm and pride.

Kathy Hale from Pleasant Hill, MO is just one of the many folks who love their bikes. She sent me more pictures than I could use forcing me to make a decision on just how to show her bike. Then I saw it, she somehow managed to send enough of them to tell a short story about herself and the bike a 2001 Silveroda Roadstar.

She received the paint work as a gift from her husband Lee, it’s painted and airbrushed with the M&Ms well known characters. With all of the pictures she sent there were several with Elliott Sadler the driver of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series #38 M&M's Ford Taurus with no explanation. It was pretty obvious to me that there was something missing. I emailed Kathy and asked her to tell us a little more, so in her words:

“First of all I started riding when I was in the 4th grade I'll let you figure out how old I was. My brother and I rode mini bikes with our cousins. That year for Christmas I remember getting up and going into the living room and there under the tree was this thing covered with a big sheet. It had my name on it and so I ripped the sheet off and there it was my first very own green mini bike.

Then on my 13th bday May 1973 my dad took my friend and I to Union City, Tenn. to the Honda dealership there. I got my first real motorcycle. It was a Honda XL-70, orange with black stripping and lettering. Now I could get rid of my CT-70 and I was up town! I recently seen a XL-70 on eBay for $1000 oh how I wish I could have gotten it!! My birthday present was purchased for $432. What a difference!!!

I turned 16 and turned in the bike for a car. Up until I met my husband in 99. He had a 99 Heritage Softail. I rode with him and really enjoyed being back on the bike but something was wrong with this picture! I didn't like being on the back of the bike! I hated it! I was not in control and you know how women are! :)

So I went and took my written test thinking, no big deal I have grown up on bikes I can do this with a breeze. I didn't pass it! But wait I forgot to tell you I didn't read the manual.

After 3 times taking the test and not reading the manual I was upset and ready to hang it up. But hubby says YOU HAVE TO READ THE BOOK!! I did, I passed. Passed the driving with no problem on my 2000 Sportster.

Road for a while, then traded the Sportster in for my wonderful Roadstar. Found it on a bike trip to Springfield, MO. We were just going to eat! I will keep this bike forever it's me and it's mine!! It was solid black until the paint job!

I have 2 daughters and they rode with us. I wanted something that they would think was fun and I have always loved the M&M's characters. I wanted something that no one else had! I gathered up alot of different pictures that I had collected and took my ideas to Hawg Wyld in Lee's Summit, MO. Were there I met up with Chris the owners son that was 20 at the time. Told him what I had in mind and from there we talked every other day until it was done and I went and took pictures of the progress as he was working. I was so excited!!! The paint job was my Christmas present from my husband that year! What a great present! I loved it!

There are over a 100 M&M's on the bike and the blue guy is on there for my youngest daughter Billie that plays the sax.

The licensee plate now reads MNMZ.

We watch the races and I loved Kenny Shrader's M&M's car. Now Elliot Sadler is the driver of the #38 M&M's car. So the bike was missing on thing and that one thing was my goal, to get him to sign my bike. I watched his web site and found out that he was going to be in Fayetteville, Ark. It was cold and a 4 hour drive from our house. We loaded up and off we went. Got there early and found out what time and where he was going to be. We met up with Mr. Alococer that worked for M&M's and he called his boss which was with Elliot and just landed at the airport in Ark. Told him he had a lady that was from Kansas City and wanted to know if he would sign her bike. He said he would love to. When they got to Walmart there in ARK he said he would meet with me first in the back of the store!

When he arrived he came straight to the back we had a 20 min private session with him. It was really fun. He said he has never road a bike. He made his mom a promise never to ride one and never has. But he sat on it so we could get pics. He said he grew up on go carts. So now that was over and we headed back to Pleasant Hill, MO! I wish he was a cousin! He made the comment out of all the things that he had autographed for his fans that this was the coolest! YES!!

Hubby started riding when he was 16. He had a 73 Yamaha 500. In 97 he had a Honda Valkyrie tourer, 99 Heritage Softail, 2001 Screamin Eagle Road Glide, and now he has his 2003 100th Anniversary Road King.

I have a beauty shop and my daughter and her friends this last summer painted it to match my bike. They said it needed to match!! So now there is hardly a week that goes by without one of my customers bringing me something with the M&M's theme!! It's great I love it and I am having so much fun with my bike and all the M&M's stuff!!!

My next goal is to have a tv commercial with the M&M's fighting over the bike (who gonna drive it) Blue is going to win!!! hehe There's nothing wrong with dreamin. Hey one dream came true! I got Elliot's signature!

Hubby's name is Lee. Didn't think I should leave that one out!

Talk to you later,

Kathy “