A Tribute to Kevin, "The Torch"
Kevin Dimmick, BOLT member died on September 30, 2007
Jackie Suthers, State Director of BOLT of Nevada, wrote the following about Kevin:
Kevin was an amazing person to say the very least. Complicated but amazing.
When I first met him in May, 2001, he scared the living daylights out of me. He was gruff, in your
face, questioning why he was in Nevada and what these Nevada people stood for. His first question to
me was, and I quote, “What do you have that makes you BOLT material?” I was very forthright and
replied “Hell if I know. My man hates wearing a helmet, so do I and we thought we might make a
difference.” He hugged me. We’ve been friends since.
Do not get me wrong, Kevin and I fought on a regular basis. He was very, very smart - a real
intellectual. Me, not so much. Kevin became my translator. I would read something, make notes, and
Kevin would tell me what it was in simple terms. I also relied heavily on Monty to interpret law for
me. Yep, I was a woman with three teachers - Ted for logic, Monty for law and Kevin for everything
else. I am a very lucky woman.
There were many times that Kevin would call me and I would not answer - a phone call with Kevin
never lasted less than an hour. But there were many more times I did take his calls - I regret the calls
that I avoided. I learned more about HIV, AIDS, cancer, helmet laws, California law, NHTSA rulings
and more through Kevin. He would dumb it down for me - put it into terms I understood. I am going to
miss that so very much. Kevin could actually speak “Jackie” - a rare skill.
Kevin came to Battle Mountain once for a visit, and we had a great time. His bike broke down - a
gasket issue, so since he couldn’t ride, he had to help us with the garden - sunflowers, beets, potatoes
and onions. He really did have a good time. Then we went into the desert and he found a horned toad,
captured it and took it to a friend in California.
In June of 2007 the Motorcycle Rider’s Foundation had the Best of the West event in Elko, Nevada.
Don Blanscet and Kevin were coming out for it. Kevin said he was bringing a female friend. Knowing
Kevin, this sort of scared of me. You never knew what to expect from Kevin. He assured me that I
would like her. I didn’t believe him.
Turns out that once again Kevin was right. Ted and I REALLY liked Barb. She loved our animals,
gardens, Nevada, and we talked for a long time. We also found another side of Kevin. He no longer
had enough brass to be his own band, he worked very hard to make her comfortable, to be sure she
had a good time, and that she was the belle of the ball in his world. It was amazing, amusing and so
touching.
This is a side of Kevin we had sensed all along, but had only witnessed now and then. He would do
whatever anyone wanted, on his terms of course, but he was always there for a friend, and even for a
stranger. He just didn’t want it advertised.
In July of 2007 he called and told us he had lung cancer. He was rather okay with it. I was mad, Ted
was not pleased. Kevin had a plan. We went with the plan. HIV and cancer are very similar - they eat
away at you. Kevin had had HIV for a long time. The two would kill each other, or so we hoped. He
was right - HIV will kill cancer.
In early August he called us and said he wanted to get married. Okay, we planned a wedding. We had
met Barb and liked her. They were married on August 11, 2007 in Virginia City, Nevada. It was a
fantastic weekend. They were a great couple. Kevin was smiling and full of joy and love. Barb was
cute, a beautiful bride, and life was good.
It was a BOLT wedding. I told Barb she had married into a very big family - the BOLT family. Don
Blanscet almost got us thrown out of the chapel, Mark Temple took the photos, Sandra Temple, such a
lady, was the audience. A great day. I admitted early on that I cry at weddings, and Kevin asked me
to try not to. I did really well until the judge said ‘until death do you part’. Kevin had been dying since
I met him, and that really struck me hard. For the first time it occurred to me that Kevin was going to
die, and I really didn’t want him to. His reality and mine are very different. I just hadn’t seen that yet,
even though he had explained it over and over again to me.
When Kevin left us, his mother called me and I really didn’t want to call her back. I’m a mom too, and
losing a child is a pain I do not want to experience again, and a pain that I didn’t know I could deal with
for another mom. It turns out that Madge Dimmick is much like Kevin. Easy to talk to, smart and she
loved her son. Within five minutes, I wanted to ease her pain, knew Barb could, and I also knew that I
would do anything to help her. Madge Dimmick has her memories of Kevin, and she is willing to share
them with all of us. She asked me many questions about Kevin’s biker life and I shared what I could.
She told me things about Kevin I never would have expected.
But at the same time, Madge and I agreed on many things - Kevin was really intelligent. If it had not
been for the ADHD, he would have been an excellent teacher. We agreed that Kevin was loyal,
almost to a fault; very dedicated to what he believed in; an extremist - if he felt strongly about
something he would give that cause his all; but most importantly, Kevin was a true believer that hard
work and dedication would pay off.
Kevin also believed he was put on this earth for a reason. Madge, Ted, Barb and I agree that this was
true. He fought many physical battles, more intellectual battles, and he did serve a purpose. Kevin
made great strides in HIV research, cancer research, helmet law research, and, most importantly, he
left us all still fighting.
Now, Kevin has left us all physically. Like Quig, he lives in infamy. He was one of the first Bikers of
Lesser Tolerance members in California, he was an integral part of the Helmet Law Defense League.
He was a member of Bikers of Lesser Tolerance of Nevada. He earned tickets to fight the helmet
law. He fought in the courts to get his HIV POS license plate, which he won. He took on the Veteran’s
Administration to be sure he got what he believed was his due, and won again. He was working on
another angle to the helmet law nationally, and he had emailed Ted and me with other things to work
on in Nevada and nationally.
Kevin fought his cancer and on his own terms. He would not give up, and because of his faith we didn’t
give up on him. He took his medical treatment into his own hands, along with some great and
innovative doctors, and he literally blew the tumor in his lung apart. This was radical - just the way
Kevin wanted it to be. But all aspects could not be anticipated and the treatment was worse than the
cure and we lost Kevin.
I repeat, we lost Kevin physically, but we still have the mental and metaphysical Kevin with us. He will
be really angry if any one of us stops doing what we were working with him on due to his death. If he
sees us slacking, he will make it known that we are screwing up. How many of us want Kevin Dimmick
haunting us?
Kevin, you were loved, respected and admired in life, and are loved, respected and admired in death. I
just wish we could have said this to you before you had to leave. Personally, I am grateful that you left
in mid-stream. You were on your beloved bike, taking care of business and I am sure that you were
more shocked and angry than all of us that you had to leave.
You fought the good fight to the end. Thank you my dear friend for everything and everyone you gave
me. Just as you would want it, I am in your debt, and I like it that way. I bear your name on my arm,
right below your friend and mentor (and mine) and I will think of you often with love, anger and regret.
In the words of Colonel Zapata - “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” Rest now
dear Kevin.
Jackie
Kevin Dimmick, BOLT member died on September 30, 2007
Jackie Suthers, State Director of BOLT of Nevada, wrote the following about Kevin:
Kevin was an amazing person to say the very least. Complicated but amazing.
When I first met him in May, 2001, he scared the living daylights out of me. He was gruff, in your
face, questioning why he was in Nevada and what these Nevada people stood for. His first question to
me was, and I quote, “What do you have that makes you BOLT material?” I was very forthright and
replied “Hell if I know. My man hates wearing a helmet, so do I and we thought we might make a
difference.” He hugged me. We’ve been friends since.
Do not get me wrong, Kevin and I fought on a regular basis. He was very, very smart - a real
intellectual. Me, not so much. Kevin became my translator. I would read something, make notes, and
Kevin would tell me what it was in simple terms. I also relied heavily on Monty to interpret law for
me. Yep, I was a woman with three teachers - Ted for logic, Monty for law and Kevin for everything
else. I am a very lucky woman.
There were many times that Kevin would call me and I would not answer - a phone call with Kevin
never lasted less than an hour. But there were many more times I did take his calls - I regret the calls
that I avoided. I learned more about HIV, AIDS, cancer, helmet laws, California law, NHTSA rulings
and more through Kevin. He would dumb it down for me - put it into terms I understood. I am going to
miss that so very much. Kevin could actually speak “Jackie” - a rare skill.
Kevin came to Battle Mountain once for a visit, and we had a great time. His bike broke down - a
gasket issue, so since he couldn’t ride, he had to help us with the garden - sunflowers, beets, potatoes
and onions. He really did have a good time. Then we went into the desert and he found a horned toad,
captured it and took it to a friend in California.
In June of 2007 the Motorcycle Rider’s Foundation had the Best of the West event in Elko, Nevada.
Don Blanscet and Kevin were coming out for it. Kevin said he was bringing a female friend. Knowing
Kevin, this sort of scared of me. You never knew what to expect from Kevin. He assured me that I
would like her. I didn’t believe him.
Turns out that once again Kevin was right. Ted and I REALLY liked Barb. She loved our animals,
gardens, Nevada, and we talked for a long time. We also found another side of Kevin. He no longer
had enough brass to be his own band, he worked very hard to make her comfortable, to be sure she
had a good time, and that she was the belle of the ball in his world. It was amazing, amusing and so
touching.
This is a side of Kevin we had sensed all along, but had only witnessed now and then. He would do
whatever anyone wanted, on his terms of course, but he was always there for a friend, and even for a
stranger. He just didn’t want it advertised.
In July of 2007 he called and told us he had lung cancer. He was rather okay with it. I was mad, Ted
was not pleased. Kevin had a plan. We went with the plan. HIV and cancer are very similar - they eat
away at you. Kevin had had HIV for a long time. The two would kill each other, or so we hoped. He
was right - HIV will kill cancer.
In early August he called us and said he wanted to get married. Okay, we planned a wedding. We had
met Barb and liked her. They were married on August 11, 2007 in Virginia City, Nevada. It was a
fantastic weekend. They were a great couple. Kevin was smiling and full of joy and love. Barb was
cute, a beautiful bride, and life was good.
It was a BOLT wedding. I told Barb she had married into a very big family - the BOLT family. Don
Blanscet almost got us thrown out of the chapel, Mark Temple took the photos, Sandra Temple, such a
lady, was the audience. A great day. I admitted early on that I cry at weddings, and Kevin asked me
to try not to. I did really well until the judge said ‘until death do you part’. Kevin had been dying since
I met him, and that really struck me hard. For the first time it occurred to me that Kevin was going to
die, and I really didn’t want him to. His reality and mine are very different. I just hadn’t seen that yet,
even though he had explained it over and over again to me.
When Kevin left us, his mother called me and I really didn’t want to call her back. I’m a mom too, and
losing a child is a pain I do not want to experience again, and a pain that I didn’t know I could deal with
for another mom. It turns out that Madge Dimmick is much like Kevin. Easy to talk to, smart and she
loved her son. Within five minutes, I wanted to ease her pain, knew Barb could, and I also knew that I
would do anything to help her. Madge Dimmick has her memories of Kevin, and she is willing to share
them with all of us. She asked me many questions about Kevin’s biker life and I shared what I could.
She told me things about Kevin I never would have expected.
But at the same time, Madge and I agreed on many things - Kevin was really intelligent. If it had not
been for the ADHD, he would have been an excellent teacher. We agreed that Kevin was loyal,
almost to a fault; very dedicated to what he believed in; an extremist - if he felt strongly about
something he would give that cause his all; but most importantly, Kevin was a true believer that hard
work and dedication would pay off.
Kevin also believed he was put on this earth for a reason. Madge, Ted, Barb and I agree that this was
true. He fought many physical battles, more intellectual battles, and he did serve a purpose. Kevin
made great strides in HIV research, cancer research, helmet law research, and, most importantly, he
left us all still fighting.
Now, Kevin has left us all physically. Like Quig, he lives in infamy. He was one of the first Bikers of
Lesser Tolerance members in California, he was an integral part of the Helmet Law Defense League.
He was a member of Bikers of Lesser Tolerance of Nevada. He earned tickets to fight the helmet
law. He fought in the courts to get his HIV POS license plate, which he won. He took on the Veteran’s
Administration to be sure he got what he believed was his due, and won again. He was working on
another angle to the helmet law nationally, and he had emailed Ted and me with other things to work
on in Nevada and nationally.
Kevin fought his cancer and on his own terms. He would not give up, and because of his faith we didn’t
give up on him. He took his medical treatment into his own hands, along with some great and
innovative doctors, and he literally blew the tumor in his lung apart. This was radical - just the way
Kevin wanted it to be. But all aspects could not be anticipated and the treatment was worse than the
cure and we lost Kevin.
I repeat, we lost Kevin physically, but we still have the mental and metaphysical Kevin with us. He will
be really angry if any one of us stops doing what we were working with him on due to his death. If he
sees us slacking, he will make it known that we are screwing up. How many of us want Kevin Dimmick
haunting us?
Kevin, you were loved, respected and admired in life, and are loved, respected and admired in death. I
just wish we could have said this to you before you had to leave. Personally, I am grateful that you left
in mid-stream. You were on your beloved bike, taking care of business and I am sure that you were
more shocked and angry than all of us that you had to leave.
You fought the good fight to the end. Thank you my dear friend for everything and everyone you gave
me. Just as you would want it, I am in your debt, and I like it that way. I bear your name on my arm,
right below your friend and mentor (and mine) and I will think of you often with love, anger and regret.
In the words of Colonel Zapata - “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” Rest now
dear Kevin.
Jackie
Get Plugged In...
Don't miss the next ABATE meeting in the Sacramento,
CA area.
Mountain Mike's Pizza
8112 Madison Ave.
Fair Oaks, CA 95628 Be there by 7:00 p.m.
August 21, 2008
September 18, 2008
October 16, 2008
Some of the most knowledgeable people on the subject of
motorcycle safety, helmet laws, traffic stops and vehicle
equipment tickets will be there. There's no hotter spot
in Sacramento if you're into motorcycling. There is
always time for a question and answer session, and they
are responsive to your suggestions.
Let those who ride decide.
Let those who ride tell the lawmakers what to decide.
July 25 & 26
Northern California Regional A.B.A.T.E. Rally
Don't miss it.
Poker & Pasta FUNdraiser
September 14, 2008
The United States Freedom Fighter
B.O.L.T. of California Original site - Quigley's CalBOLT creation
B.O.L.T. of Nevada
Helmet Law Defense League - Advanced site for Freedom minded riders.
Biker Friendly
MMA of California
ABATE of California
Bikers Rights
Bikers USA
Search for Code, court cases and decisions.
Findlaw
LexisOne
Supreme Court of the US
California Vehicle Code
Findlaw
LexisOne
Supreme Court of the US
California Vehicle Code
The best deal in California is the California Vehicle Code book. This is a taxpayer
subsidised book and is probably worth over $40.00
You can walk into the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and buy one for $9.00
I bought one of the leftover 2003 books in 2006 and they only charged $3.00
Getting a Code book is a good first step in knowing with certainty if you are
following the law or violating the law; and making the police follow the law. You can
get it free online, but you can't take the online code with you on the bike to show the
officer or a friend what is in the book.
subsidised book and is probably worth over $40.00
You can walk into the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and buy one for $9.00
I bought one of the leftover 2003 books in 2006 and they only charged $3.00
Getting a Code book is a good first step in knowing with certainty if you are
following the law or violating the law; and making the police follow the law. You can
get it free online, but you can't take the online code with you on the bike to show the
officer or a friend what is in the book.
| A "must read" from Bruce Arnold at LDR. |
6-3-08
| BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE § 9884.7 (a) The director, where the automotive repair dealer cannot show there was a bona fide error, may refuse to validate, or may invalidate temporarily or permanently, the registration of an automotive repair dealer for any of the following acts or omissions related to the conduct of the business of the automotive repair dealer, which are done by the automotive repair dealer or any automotive technician, employee, partner, officer, or member of the automotive repair dealer. (1) Making or authorizing in any manner or by any means whatever any statement written or oral which is untrue or misleading, and which is known, or which by the exercise of reasonable care should be known, to be untrue or misleading. |
| CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS § 3372 False or Misleading Defined. In determining whether any advertisement, statement, or representation is false or misleading, it shall be considered in its entirety as it would be read or heard by persons to whom it is designed to appeal. An advertisement, statement, or representation shall be considered to be false or misleading if it tends to deceive the public or impose upon credulous or ignorant persons. NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 9882 and 9884.19, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 9884.7(1)(a) and (h), 9884.19 and 17500, Business and Professions Code. |
| OK. All that means, what? That means when you walk into any business in California that has a repair shop, and sells motorcycle safety helmets, ask them if they sell "DOT approved" helmets; if they say yes, the store has violated those laws. The store made a False and Misleading claim according to California law. Fraud. Making false or misleading statements. Helmet sellers have got to stop violating those laws, because they are perpetuating the hoax that the rogue law officers are using to violate the law and your rights. Selling helmets under false pretenses. You should not get a ticket for not wearing an approved helmet when approved helmets don't exist. And helmet salesmen should not be able to claim they sell approved helmets if approved helmets don't exist. The helmet sellers are helping to expand the problem the police are creating when they ticket you for wearing a helmet that doesn't meet the standard that only exists in the cop's imagination. Know of a California shop that claims to sell 'approved' helmets? File a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs. |
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To Richard Quigley,
from BOLT Founder Tony Sanfelipo, December 2006
My first recollection of Quigley is when he called me to inquire about my article that appeared
in Riders X-change Magazine in Florida in 1991. He liked the title, Where is ABATE, and he
liked the content even more. Quig was going through some painful withdrawal symptoms from
the biker’s rights community. It seemed his theory on how to fight mandatory dress codes
differed from the movement at the time. He liked some of the historical references in my
article about civil disobedience and confrontation.
Quig’s been a fighter all of his life. He’s been a BOLT person all of his life too. You can’t be
trained on how to do some of this stuff; it has to be embodied in your spirit, your makeup.
Cantankerous, moody, short fused….yeah; he’s all of that too. That’s what makes him
tick…intolerance for stupidity and a lack of compassion for bureaucratic blunder and
incompetence. Quig recognized long ago that he differed from most people fighting the helmet
law in that they were moderate in their approach. Never, ever accuse Quig of being a
moderate, in anything. Most bikers in California were satisfied with solely a legislative
approach, even if it took years to be effective. Most everyone agreed that the helmet law was
unwanted and a direct infringement on our rights. Those same people did not or could not
condone Quig’s direct action of disobedience of the law. Quig could understand why the police
and safety-crats felt this way, but he was astonished that fellow bikers criticized him and the
rights community counseled against such demonstrations. As Martin Luther King wrote in his
letter from Birmingham City Jail to his fellow clergymen, “Shallow understanding from people
of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.
Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
So was the frustration that Quig endured. Well meaning bikers, who just didn’t understand it
was proper and right to refuse to obey the helmet law.
Quigley knew that even though some bikers thought he was disrespectful of the law, and that
this disrespect would close some legislator’s doors, it was his very disobedience of an unjust
law that expressed the highest respect for the law. If legislators, bikers, law enforcement
agencies and the like couldn’t understand that, it was Quig’s task to take it to the institution
charged with understanding and interpreting the law. Thank God for Judge Barton.
Quig has come full circle and finally has the respect and understanding from most of the biker
community. He certainly has the respect of the court, and I would guess a few district
attorneys respect his intelligence also, although they probably won’t be inviting him out for
drinks or a few rounds of golf in the near future.
I love you Quig. You are all that there is to be in a freedom fighter. You’re right not to want to
be in the Hall of Fame, along with us mere mortals. You are so far above us. You’ve taught me
more in the last 10 years than I’ve learned in the 35 years I’ve been pretending to know what
I was doing. We are all pretenders in your shadow. Because unless we’ve invested our life
savings, abused our bodies into marathon sessions in front of a computer, suffered the
indignities and refusals from our peers, relinquished our pursuit of happiness for the pursuit of
justice, then all we were doing was pretending. There is a world of difference between right’s
activists and freedom fighters, and they should never be mistaken as the same. They are not!
You are my dear friend, my teacher, my brother; a true Freedom Fighter. God speed in your
quest for liberty and justice. And may all who come to know you, feel as I do about you. Your
name may not appear on some over-exalted list of patriots, nor on some plaque or certificate
at a national gathering of rights leaders. But there is a shrine to you in my heart, and it ignites
a fire in my soul that challenges me to be more like you everyday.
Happy Birthday Quig
Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo
Founder, BOLT
ABATE of Wisconsin
Sturgis Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame, 2002
from BOLT Founder Tony Sanfelipo, December 2006
My first recollection of Quigley is when he called me to inquire about my article that appeared
in Riders X-change Magazine in Florida in 1991. He liked the title, Where is ABATE, and he
liked the content even more. Quig was going through some painful withdrawal symptoms from
the biker’s rights community. It seemed his theory on how to fight mandatory dress codes
differed from the movement at the time. He liked some of the historical references in my
article about civil disobedience and confrontation.
Quig’s been a fighter all of his life. He’s been a BOLT person all of his life too. You can’t be
trained on how to do some of this stuff; it has to be embodied in your spirit, your makeup.
Cantankerous, moody, short fused….yeah; he’s all of that too. That’s what makes him
tick…intolerance for stupidity and a lack of compassion for bureaucratic blunder and
incompetence. Quig recognized long ago that he differed from most people fighting the helmet
law in that they were moderate in their approach. Never, ever accuse Quig of being a
moderate, in anything. Most bikers in California were satisfied with solely a legislative
approach, even if it took years to be effective. Most everyone agreed that the helmet law was
unwanted and a direct infringement on our rights. Those same people did not or could not
condone Quig’s direct action of disobedience of the law. Quig could understand why the police
and safety-crats felt this way, but he was astonished that fellow bikers criticized him and the
rights community counseled against such demonstrations. As Martin Luther King wrote in his
letter from Birmingham City Jail to his fellow clergymen, “Shallow understanding from people
of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.
Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
So was the frustration that Quig endured. Well meaning bikers, who just didn’t understand it
was proper and right to refuse to obey the helmet law.
Quigley knew that even though some bikers thought he was disrespectful of the law, and that
this disrespect would close some legislator’s doors, it was his very disobedience of an unjust
law that expressed the highest respect for the law. If legislators, bikers, law enforcement
agencies and the like couldn’t understand that, it was Quig’s task to take it to the institution
charged with understanding and interpreting the law. Thank God for Judge Barton.
Quig has come full circle and finally has the respect and understanding from most of the biker
community. He certainly has the respect of the court, and I would guess a few district
attorneys respect his intelligence also, although they probably won’t be inviting him out for
drinks or a few rounds of golf in the near future.
I love you Quig. You are all that there is to be in a freedom fighter. You’re right not to want to
be in the Hall of Fame, along with us mere mortals. You are so far above us. You’ve taught me
more in the last 10 years than I’ve learned in the 35 years I’ve been pretending to know what
I was doing. We are all pretenders in your shadow. Because unless we’ve invested our life
savings, abused our bodies into marathon sessions in front of a computer, suffered the
indignities and refusals from our peers, relinquished our pursuit of happiness for the pursuit of
justice, then all we were doing was pretending. There is a world of difference between right’s
activists and freedom fighters, and they should never be mistaken as the same. They are not!
You are my dear friend, my teacher, my brother; a true Freedom Fighter. God speed in your
quest for liberty and justice. And may all who come to know you, feel as I do about you. Your
name may not appear on some over-exalted list of patriots, nor on some plaque or certificate
at a national gathering of rights leaders. But there is a shrine to you in my heart, and it ignites
a fire in my soul that challenges me to be more like you everyday.
Happy Birthday Quig
Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo
Founder, BOLT
ABATE of Wisconsin
Sturgis Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame, 2002
| BOLT of California |
| A few scenes from the CHILI & CHOPPERS CHILI COOK OFF on March 8 |
| The Charlie Brechtel Band blew everybody away with the awesome sounds they are known for. |
| Band |
Babes
| Bikes |
Great weather, and a great party