Congrats , Dave . .

 

Started to read this on my phone on the first of them month, but really wanted to see it all on the big screen, so I'm a bit slow to the keyboard...
But, congrats on the MoM posting. What great stories and a tourer that we could all strive to be, but hardly come close to matching.
Blessings and Prayers for your remission with the big C and continued health and wellbeing. God Bless.

Ride On
pc

 

Congrats, Dave! Well deserved, and you truly represent the riding community.

And a hell of a story.

Carry on!

 

Congrats, Dave. Well deserved!

 

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“Spartanden” aka Denny Fosburg hails from Michigan. He married Carol back on August 18, 1973 making it 48 years of marriage come this August. So far (knock on wood) life has been GREAT!Happily, when Denny would like to go for a ride, he just goes.

If Denny wants to go on an overnight, he just goes. Sometimes Carol would like for him to go further. I mean, whatever Denny would like, he has Carol’s full support and encouragement, no matter what motorcycle event he is involved with. And there are many, as you will see below.
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His wife Carol retired last year from MSU (Michigan State University) after 51 (count them) 51 years of employment. Carol started the Monday after she graduated from MSU and never left. Now, that is dedication.

When the grandkids came along, good ole Denny got bumped to the back of the line for Carol, it’s the Grand Kids FIRST! But no worries, Denny loves her immensely and would be lost without her. Theirs is a rare and wonderful match up indeed.
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Den and Carol have a son Matt and a daughter Jesse. Both are married with kids. Matt has 2 boys and Jesse 3 girls.
Fortunately, everyone gets along very well with one another. Equally as fortunate, the entire family lives close to one another, so popping in at a moment’s notice is truly a dream come true.

If there ever was an iconic diehard Spartan Fan, well, that would be Denny through and through.
There was a small restaurant / bar just off campus many years ago called “SpartanDen.” Sadly, they closed up. But only physically for they and the Spartans remain alive and well for Denny. As you likely have figured by reading the above, that is where Denny got his Forum name, “Spartanden.”

Denny is a diehard Michigan State University Spartan fan. He has had season football tickets since 1979 and season basketball tickets since 1981. This is the first year he has not been able to attend a basketball game since he purchased the tickets in 1981.

He has been to 7 of the 8 “Final Fours” the Spartans have been in.

He also attended the National Championship game in 2000! His son now has the football tickets and he takes his grandson to the games. He also still has the basketball tickets and likely will not give those up for quite a while yet.
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Back in the fall of 1970, Denny was sitting in a drafting class in a local community college and the guy behind him was listening to a (oh, get this…..) a (ahhhh) “…transistor radio.” For those of you who do not know what a transistor radio is, use the internet to look it up. That would be apropos. LOL!!! Sorry, back to Denny’s write up….this is too funny) well, when the “transistor radio” was turned on, they heard the Viet Nam war draft was going on. Ok, not too funny anymore.
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Denny turned to listen. Soon half the class was huddled around the radio, listening to the birthdays being called.
The drafting instructor walked to the back of the room where the radio was located and asked what was going on. Someone said, the stupid draft was going on.

(For those who are unaware, at that time, birthdays were called at random. The earlier your birthday is called, the more likely you will be drafted.)

The instructor walked to the head of the class and told the students that something had come up. He would have to leave. The instructor said to continue the project they were working on and briefly told them what they would be covering in the next class. Then he left.

As the class listened to the birthdays, Denny’s birthdate was called on the 17th round. Well, guess where Denny was likely headed? Viet Nam.

It dawned on Spartanden several years later what had happened. He realized what the instructor did. The instructor knew the students were more interested in this life changing draft call and the possibility of their going to Viet Nam than they were in drafting. So, the instructor left the room allowing the students to keen in on what could be a highly pivotal time of their lives. “Thank you, Mr. Robert. You are a true gentleman.” Denny was no draft dodger running scared to Canada with his tail tucked between his legs. No. NOT for Denny. He was unable to go to college full time due to financial constraints. And he was not married at the time.

Denny spent the next 8 years in the Reserves on an M-110. The M-110 is an 8” Howitzer. He finished his military stint as an E-6 section chief with his own gun. He named the gun “*** Kicker.” He even had “*** Kicker” put on the Howitzer tube. Denny was in A Battery, and gun 1 so they decided they were the *** Kickers of the Battery. Admittedly, they REALLY knew the gun in minute detail.

It was a proud accomplishment having mastery of the gun. They could lay the gun, get firing directions and pump out the steel well below the recommended times. And do it all very accurately, I might hasten to add.

Personally, Den was not in favor of the Viet Nam war, nor did he feel the government was really helping our military as well as they could have. But what Denny did have was a strong belief in our military and an obligation to do his part. So, to Den, the Reserves was the way to go to fulfill his obligation.

Spartanden spent 8 years, 1971-1979 in the Army Reserves.

Civilian retirement came a few years ago, in 2018. He took a year off before deciding he needed to get his *** up off the couch and get back to work being useful. He took up part-time work at Lansing Community College in the Auto Shop as a lab tech passing out tools to the students and helping them repair cars. Most of the kids are high schoolers and college kids and he found it interesting and fun to be around the kids. They have a good sense of humor. And it was refreshing to see such interest in technical classes and a career in a technical field.

Den’s first ride was in 1966 on a Suzuki 250 X6 Hustler with no license and no helmet. He rode 10 - 12 miles that day on country roads and knew for sure he was hooked on riding.

He got his own bike a year later in 1967. A 1965 Honda Super 90. Man, oh man, did he ride the hell out of that bike. Den popped in a 105cc kit and rode it even harder! Then he came up with a great idea to build an aluminum front fender in shop class to give him the clearance for dirt riding. HAH! High pipe, knobby tires and GET OUTTA MY WAY MOTHER Fer!!!! OFF he went………..
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To date, he has had over 9 bikes or so.

He moved from a Honda S-90 up to a 350 Kawasaki Enduro for several years then onto a 100cc Kawasaki Enduro, which he trashed. Then up to a 175cc Kawasaki.

After entering some Enduros, he really got the racing bug. This brought along the 1974 360 Husqvarna, a “real racing” bike.
Enter a 1976 450cc Husky, followed by a 1980 250 WR Husky, then off to a Brand Spanking NEW 1984250 OR Husky. Den was off racing EVERY weekend during the spring, summer, and fall.

Soon after, things started to fray. Carol said the money really needs to be re-directed from racing expenses into the house for repairs and other general upkeep around the house. So, Den’s racing adventures went onto the back burner.

Shortly thereafter, the house was looking better. He continued his own personal education, the kids were growing and their needs were met up until (and after all else was taken care of responsibly) 2004. HAH! This is when The Den purchased a 2002 Sportster. He slid into the saddle and rode, rode, rode, and rode it locally, long distance, and was really enjoying his newly rekindled riding life!!
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Come 2014 he started to think……..hmmmmm, this touring thing is really nice. He started checking out baggers and even had a picture of a Street Glide on his work computer. As luck would have it, a co-worker came by, saw the picture of the Street Glide and said he just ordered a 2014 SG.

Denny said, I wish you told me that before he traded his 2013 for the 2014 SG. The co-corker said “I still have it!”
Den asked if he could purchase it. The co-worker said yes and history was made. The Den sold his sporty and bought the 2013 SG which he rides to this day.
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Of all the motorcycles Denny owned, Harleys have been his favorite rides. Though the Husky 250 OR was GREAT and a FUN bike to ride in races and beyond, it was the Harley, (correction Harleys)that were the BEST for trips, yes local riding as well, and just general all-around FUN!
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Of all Denny’s long-distance rides, likely the one that stands out the most is when he took his ’13 Street Glide to Sturgis in 2015. Before the actual event itself started, Den rode the awesome roads. Riding all around as the vendors were arriving and setting up, afforded him FREE “NO WAIT” RIDING EVERYWHERE, all over Sturgis and the surrounding areas.
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Once the vendors were up and running and bikes were flooding in, he was proud to partake in the festivities.
After Sturgis, it was off to the famous Tail Of The Dragon, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cherohala Skyway, Skyline Drive and more top-rated biker roads.
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On Den’s way to Fort Royal, he blew his front wheel bearing. At 75 mph – 80 mph down I-81 in heavy traffic, the front bearing let loose and “…scared the CRAP OUTTA ME!” Unpleasant as it was, it could not have been planned any more perfectly. Only 2 miles away was the Shenandoah Valley Harley Davidson dealership. THAT was FANTASTIC!!! The dealership cleared a bike off the rack and changed out the front bearing right then and there.

This followed with an immediate inspection of the work done, a test ride and off Denny went. BETTER SERVICE could not have been had. THIS HD experience was AWESOME!!

Soon after, The Den cruised into Maggie Valley and enjoyed the well-known Wheels Through Time museum. That was a great place to visit, Denny said.

Another ride really stands out, maybe even more so than the ride shared above. Denny said, “I guess my most memorable ride is when my riding buddy and I made a trip to Rolling Thunder in 2012. That was a ride I shall never forget. We were two hours into the ride before we even started our bikes. Two full hours. I thought by then the crowd may have thinned out but boy, was I wrong!
There were still many people there cheering us on!! That was an impressive weekend for us!

As a side note, my riding buddy had a brother who was a state trooper. He was killed when some ******** tried to rob him and his date. I found the Police Memorial in DC and made a “surprise” trip there. We found his brother’s name. As I was standing behind him, he was surprised when I took out paper and pencil so he could make a “rubbing” of his name. “He was quite surprised I had done this for him.”
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Other great rides were up to northern Michigan, across the Mighty Mac and off to Milwaukee and the MoCo factory.
Gettysburg, Jack Daniels distillery, Pinehurst North Carolina to visit his brother, and many, many other smaller rides.
And he would be remiss without mentioning the ever so enjoyable rides in the local Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades. Awesome. Nothing short of love for our country, our military, and a huge feeling of awesomeness.

On an ever so shrinking bucket list he has Route 66 from Chicago to California to knock off. He had a ride planned around Lake Superior when COVID hit. So that is back on the bucket list as well as going out west and hitting the mountains and canyons that are beckoning to be ridden.

Spartanden belongs to a local American Legion Post and rides with the American Legion Riders. They have done many rides and fund raisers for a variety of charities. In addition, he helps with the Legion’s general upkeep.

In fact, he not only belongs to the American Legion, but The Den has been a member for 20+ years. Was the Post Commander, Assistant Director, Director, Secretary/Treasurer, Bar Manager, Road Captain and several other jobs around the post.

The Den is currently and has been for the last 10 years involved with the American Legion’s Honor Guard. The veteran who was in charge had a heart attack and died on a golf course. Nobody at the time was interested in heading up the unit. So, Denny volunteered. He says it is the most dreaded, honorable, and rewarding thing he has ever done.
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To be able to honor our veterans and their family makes him feel ever so humble. To present the flag to the next of kin “… gets me a bit teary-eyed. But I feel honored to be able to provide the service.”

Den also rides with the Patriot Guard Riders in a number of events. He deeply enjoys escorting and welcoming our Veterans back home. The feeling to assist in this manner defies explanation. As the saying goes, “If I have to explain it, you won’t understand.”
The Den claims there really isn’t anything special about him. He is just a retired old fart after putting in 10 years as a mechanic and 40 years in manufacturing. He fully retired from an aerospace engine manufacturing company in 2018.

He’s ’juss from good ‘ole America, raised on a small farm with strict parents that taught all the kids not to lie, cheat or steal. Do a good hard day’s work, always do the right thing, and do your chores.

His parents also taught all the kids how to think, use common sense, and be a good person. ALL the same values Denny taught his own kids.

The Den’s son works at the same company he retired from. His son is involved in the union, negotiating new contracts. The Den is often complimented on his son’s commendable work with both the union and management.

The fact that his son has developed common sense, is able to listen to others, understand problems, discuss issues to a full and happy resolution is, in Denny’s own words, “…one of the proudest things I feel I have done in my life.” Teach my kid the basic values of living.
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The passing “…on of a sense of respect, common sense, honesty, and a cool thought process. I hope that will be one of my legacies.”Denny has played a lot of golf in his time. He was forced to give up golf because his pivot knee was replaced in 2012 and he should not be twisting and turning on it that much anymore. So, he moved on over to flyfishing because one of his oldest buddies loved flyfishing and would take off for a week at a time by himself. Due to his friend’s heart health issues and his wife not being very happy about him being out in the woods alone, Denny enjoys fly fishing with his friend.
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Over time his friends heart issue has become less of a concern and his friend purchased a cottage on a lake. The joys of living on a lake have taken over so much, they do not fly fish as much but they still get out every once in a while.
In addition to being a diehard Spartan fan, Denny has also been a diehard NASCAR fan for over 40 years. His favorite driver was Davey Allison. He had tickets to MIS (Michigan International Speedway) for over 20 years. Most of those wonderful years were spent with his son (his racing buddy) and his grandson.
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Over time, changes were made to the racing format and the drivers became very young. Too young for Denny’s taste. Couple that with the rule changes and it was not like the old days. So, he gave up the tickets. On the last race he went to, he had his son and grandson with him. Three generations at the track! And his grandson enjoyed every minute of it and is now a fan!!

One of Denny’s latest hobbies turned out to be doing a little sewing here and there on a sewing machine. (Go ahead, laugh and get it over with. Denny said that, not me the writer.)
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The Den collected Hooters T-shirts for quite a few years.
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(So now who is laughing? LOL) A friend’s wife said she would take the T-shirts and make a quilt. Denny found the box of T-shirts, contacted his buddy and asked if his wife could help him put together the Hooters T-shirt quilt.
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Unfortunately, she had some health issues and was unable to help. Denny recalled another riding buddy whose wife did quilting. This gal showed Denny how to make a quilt. Denny borrowed a sewing machine and the rest is history. He now has a Hooters quilt.

In addition to the quilt, Denny made a variety of COVID masks for the family. He is planning on making a Harley quilt. And before you ask, yeah, yeah, he recently purchased a heavy-duty sewing machine with the intent of doing some tank covers, bags, patches, and a variety of other things. “Hopefully, the forum will not rag on me too much about my hobby!!!”.

 

Congrats, Denny!

 

Congratulations Denny.

Great write up.

 

Spartanden; that is AWESOME!

I have been the recipient of some of your common sense and wisdom here on HDF and now, I can see why. I especially applaud your service time, your devotion to the VFW and especially the Patriot Guard Riders! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I wish you many happy years in the saddle yet and hope you complete that bucket list (while making it longer and longer as you go.) Pssst; I'm secretly kinda jealous of your (ahem) newest hobby; there are many, many times I wished I had/could run a sewing machine. Keep up the good work and from the sound of the first round, I'll even go so far as to say you should raise a second brood of chilluns. We could use more common sense in the world!

Cheers!
Belch

 

Congratulations Denny! A well deserved accomplishment.

 

Congrats Denny, that was quite the write-up! Well done.
Mac