Tommy Thompson's 12th Annual Reunion Tour Cheeseheads invade the Big Apple

Posted 6/23/2006





Tommy Thompson, enjoys the Atlantis Princess cruise around Manhattan

As Wisconsin’s governor, Tommy Thompson initiated the Governor’s Tour at the urging of state senator Dave Zien. It was a way to promote Wisconsin businesses and tourism while riding the most popular Wisconsin product, Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Also, at the suggestion of Senator Zien, Thompson asked Hupy and Abraham investigator, Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo, to be his head Road Captain for the event. Tony had years of experience organizing and marshalling rides to Madison for the helmet law rallies.


Senator Mary Lazich admires an Orange County Chopper

Every year a group of devoted riders, with a special place in their hearts for Tommy Thompson, tour the asphalt ribbons of Wisconsin and neighboring states. Past tours have including the circumnavigation of Lake Superior, a visit to Washington D.C. to celebrate Wisconsin’s sesquicentennial, and the induction of head road guard, Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, followed by his wedding to ride nurse, Vicki Roberts, on top of Crazy Horse Memorial.

The law firm allows Tony time away from the office to coordinate the ride, and pays for the coveted road guard shirts. Tony’s wife, Vicki, is the founder of Accident Scene Management, Inc., and last year she asked Tommy Thompson if his ride could be a fund raiser for the important injury classes she teaches, which of course he agreed to.

2006 was special reunion ride from June 16th to June 23rd. The group started by taking the Lake Express Ferry across Lake Michigan, to avoid construction in Chicago. Cruising at around 30 knots, with sunny skies and smooth seas, it was a great way to start the journey.

The participants each paid a tax deductible $150.00 registration fee, benefiting Accident Scene Management, Inc. Not counting tolls, a few meals, gas or hotels, everything else was pretty much covered by the event. While in Williamsport, the group taste tested complimentary beer samples from Bull Frog Brewery and enjoyed an excellent meal. Afterward, there was a trip down the Susquehanna River on the Hiawatha Paddleboat. There were a number of Harley-Davidson dealerships that provided food and refreshments, including Schoch’s HD in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Owner, Rose Schoch is an 80 year old dynamo who was so thrilled to have the group visit that she personally made her signature chili for everyone, and it was great.

This whole ride was coordinated by Vicki Roberts Sanfelipo and Stormin Norman, of Staten Island, New York, with Tony “Pan” coordinating the road guards. They put together a mind boggling tour that left the participants breathless.


Tony and Vicki Sanfelipo, along with road guards and Ontario Provincial Police escort

Can you imagine bringing 100 motorcycles through New Jersey, crossing over the toll bridge into Staten Island, during rush hour? What a sight. Helping Stormin achieve this goal were New York firefighters Bill Eisengrein and Timmy Duffy, and friends Mark Ravello and Bill Roesch. Tommy Thompson met the group in Staten Island, for a four hour cruise around Manhattan. Paused off shore from Ground Zero, Thompson spoke about the attack on the Twin Towers and how he was one of the first cabinet members to visit the site.

New York City is not every biker's dream riding spot, so we left the scoots on Staten Island and used the ferry to commute. Everyone had two days to explore, using the subways, tour busses and just plain walking. Some visited Wall Street, while others made an early morning trek to the Today Show. Many of the women were content to shop on 5th Ave, while a small group visited Brooklyn and Indian Larry’s Legacy Cycles. There was an impromptu gathering of the tribe at La Mela, in Little Italy later in the afternoon. The food was great and we literally took over the restaurant including the sidewalk tables. What a party. The mood was much more somber the next morning as we visited Ground Zero for a tour presented by Tribute NYC and the September 11th Families Association. The tour guides were all people who were personally touched by the events of that day. In our group, led by guide Lt. Paul McFadden, Rescue 2, F.D.N.Y. retired, was Bill Eisengrein, the fire fighter memorialized in the picture of the firefighters raising the flag on top of the debris. We got the inside story on where the flag actually came from.

The Staten Island Hotel rocked into the evening with a great cocktail party for everyone that night. The next morning, a tired crew toured the Catskills, after a select few toured the Orange County Choppers shop while the rest dined on Cascarino’s Pizza, in Montgomery, New York. They claim to have the best pizza in New York, but then, we saw that advertisement on every pizza sign. It was good though. That evening, Mayor Jim Brown welcomed us to Rome, at Dick’s Harley-Davidson, a small dealership that looked like it was stuck in the 1950’s. They had a bikini bike wash, food and a band waiting for us, along with discounts on many items in their store. Once again, a weary bunch of bikers hit the highway in the morning, this time heading for Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Ontario. We had a breathtaking view of the falls from the observation deck of the Minolta Tower, 525 feet above the falls. Cocktails and music lent to a beautifully relaxing social evening.


Fire fighter Bill Eisengrein and Sen. Lazich listen to tour guide at Ground Zero

Friday morning photo call at 10:00 AM, for a group picture in front of the falls, was the only time we got wet on the whole trip. Governor Thompson flew in from Chicago early that morning, and was eager for the group picture. Unfortunately, he had to leave us once again, for a flight overseas. He is one busy man. The mist rolling over our shoulders was refreshingly welcomed by the now sun burned riders. We were met by K.G. Munro of the Ontario Provincial Police at Niagara on the Lake, who escorted us to the city limits of Toronto. There, we were picked up by a cordon of motor patrol officers led by Sgt. Andy Norrie, Winged Wheels Toronto Police Service. Entering Toronto on Friday afternoon during rush hour, 100 bikes snaking through traffic past sidewalks lined with people armed with cameras and video equipment, was one of the most bizarre things I’ve witnessed. A cabby later remarked to us while riding to Toronto HD dealership that he thought somebody from the Royal Family or something must have come into town with a huge motorcycle escort. We just laughed and said he was probably right.

The finale of the trip was the famous Biker Ball, hosted by Jerry and Cathy Weiner, who have a home in Toronto, and have been riding with the Tommy Thompson Reunion Ride since Tommy met them and invited them along back in 1999. Terrific music and great food greeted the riders at the Delta Chelsea Hotel for the ending party to this year’s ride. The Governor’s Reunion Ride is one of the best organized rides anywhere, and it benefits an organization that helps bikers. That’s another great reason to support it, because the money is used to help bikers. Watch hupy.com or accidentscene.net for information on next year’s ride.


Tommy Thompson thanks Stormin Norman at Niagara Falls

Tommy Thompson served 14 years as Wisconsin’s governor, before accepting a cabinet job as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He now works in the private sector, still involved in world health issues.

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