Death Monkey 2006: The Ultimate Rally: Archive

Joe: First Vehicle for DeathMonkey MC

Today is a grand day for our motorcycle club. We have now an actual moped. Although it is not an original Honda Monkey, it is the next best thing. A copy made by korean children in factories known for their brutality and high quality mopeds. A real Jincheng.

Our clubs explosive expert and I were forced to drive through wind and snow beyond the boundaries of civilized life. Somewhere in backwoods was a bike for us.

We have put our money where our mouth is and bought a bike. This is a major step toward Gibraltar, where the only free european monkeys still roam.



Soon, very soon, we'll launch website for our club and start spreading the news.

Bob: Welcome to the DeathMonkey site

First parts of the Death Monkey site are now up and running!

The design has a retro 70s look that was inspired by Ilkka's original logos. Here are some of them:

Joe: Bringing in the Blogs

I just uploaded all the old information I have posted to Suicide Surfers during the fall and winter. From now on this will be the official channel for the information about MC DeathMonkey and related issues.

Joe Suicide
El Presidente

Bob: Monkey One test driven

I had the honor of getting to ride Monkey One, the first of our noble steeds on the frozen streets of Espoo today.



Sorry for the crappy camphone picture, but that was all we could get. In any case, I was actually surprised by the ergonomics. If you discount speed, there should be no problems in getting from Helsinki to Gibraltar.

Very cool experience!

Joe: Next week

Next week is going to be a busy one for the members of MC DeathMonkey. Here is a list what is going to happen:

• Monkey One needs to get all necessary insurances etc.
• We'll have to find someplace to get our vests made.
• This website shall get larger. Technical information and member introductions should be added.
• Some kind of launching party will be organized.

There are several reasons to celebrate. First to mention is that we have a bike. Second is our gloriously retro website. Third is the booking made for our support vehicle. And last but not least is that the president, yours truly, will quit his lousy job and start living like a true human being again.

Joe

Bob: Would the Monkeys fly?

The Ultralight Flying Scooter site sells kit for making a Honda scooter an ultralight aircraft (powered parachute, actually).

 

For Just $3,975.00 you can get started in owning your own Ultralight Flying Scooter Flight Kit !!!

NO Pilot's License Required! Wouldn't you like to drive your 2006 Honda Ruckus scooter down the highway, then take it out to a flying field and make it fly like an airplane? With The Ultralight Flying Scooter Flight Kit you will be able to make your 2006 Honda Ruckus scooter fly and amaze everyone when you take-off!

Of course here in Finland it would need to be registered as experimental, and the pilot would need an Ultralight Pilot's License. But still, this would make the way to Gibraltar much smoother.

Who'll be the first monkey to conquer the skies?

Via Boing Boing.

Updated 7:39Z: found a Finnish intro on powered parachuting, Harrastuksena Moottorivarjoliidin.

Joe: "Next week" is here

Since I had some spare time today, I started calling to insurance companies to get the first monkey roadworthy. Offers from three major companies were as follows:

Pohjola 162€
Tapiola 136€
If 119,95€

Guess which one was chosen. Of course the sales person on the phone didn't tell me about hidden costs, so at the counter was revealed that there is an additional 10€ registration fee, but since it wouldn't change a thing, I stuck with the plan and got it done.

Tomorrow will be a good day to find out about the vests. Ike did send me version of a club logo, so basically we have everything we need, except the provider, to look like a genuine motorcycle club. As a president, I am very proud.

Launching party will be held 21.1.2005. Location and program are still bit open, but we are on a safe side, if I tell you it will include alcohol and making new friends. So far only one female has shown even slightest interest in participating, so everyone has to bring their own chicks.

Joe
El Presidente

Bob: Death Monkey on other forums

I guess we ought to track what others are saying about our little project. Here's couple of first findings:

Harley-Davidson Club Finland: Monkeyllä pitkälle:

Kantsii käydä vilkaisemassa, muutama puolituttu järjestää seikkailun:

http://www.suicidesurfers.org/about/deathmonkey-2006/

Kasataanko porukka?

MonkeyMania.com: DeathMonkey 2006:

Kesällä 2006 ajetaan helvetillisen pitkä ralli mankeilla. Reilut 3000km pölyä, hikeä ja mahdollisesti kyyneleitä. Nyt kun nettisivut ovat virallisesti auki ajattelin tuoda projektin tämänkin yhteisön tietoisuuteen.

MC DeathMonkey ottaa mielellään vastaan kommentteja, kritiikkiä ja luovia ehdotuksia. Myöskin osallistumisesta voi keskustella. Edellyttyksenä ainoastaan riittävä ikä, halu omistaa manki ja helvetin luja tahto.

Keep those referrals rolling!

Joe: Honda/Jincheng/Usatec

To make it clear to everybody, we are going to use other bikes than original Honda Monkeys as well. Reason to this is quite simple. You can't buy new Honda's anymore and Jincheng/Usatec monkeys are practically same bikes. If we need to resort in buying these "copies", so be it.

Although Honda Monkey is the legend, we can't afford being too picky what comes to bikes in  this project, so I hope the fanatics all over the world will forgive us. For us it is much more important to get our rally on the road than start arguing which brand is the best.

Joe Suicide

Bob: New site features: route and team

Before Bob the Green Monkey heads to Africa, there have been some feature updates to the Death Monkey 2006 site:

The DM06 team is now shown in Team area. We'll add prospects and hangarounds a bit later.

Also, as promised for the spectators of the rallye, The Route is now shown as a Google Map. You can zoom around and check the points of interest on the map. As the rally gets closer the competitors will also appear on the map:



There is also a countdown timer on the top-right corner of all Death Monkey pages showing the time left before the starting gun is fired.

Joe: Vests and Badges

Ike, who has done great job planning clubs logo, just delivered me a new suggestion for a club badge. This is one of those things that separate amateurs from professionals in hard and cruel world of monkey riders. All members will get their badges soon, but getting the vest is everyones own responsibility.
It is still under discussion how prospect and hangaround members will be marked. All ideas will be taken under consideration.

Joe Suicide

Joe: Badges are on their way

We should get the badges as seen below before the MP06 exhibition. First set goes to Skoll, Bob, Ike and yours truly.

Joe

Joe: World Is My Oyster

I am happy to announce that my vest and rest of the badges have arrived. Outcome looks and feels quite good, which can't be guaranteed when buying products over the phone. In my opinion our badge looks enough, but not too much, like "real" motorcycle clubs counterpart . This is exactly the look I was hoping for, but you can judge it by yourself.


Joe