On March 4, 2000, a date that will always be significant to the ISRA riders of the Pacific Northwest, the first meeting of the NORWESTARS ISRA Constellation was convened. It happened at a Red Robin hamburger joint in Burlington, WA. They were brought together by inquiries from the ISRA and Roadstar forums on the Internet. A motorcycle show in the adjacent shopping mall made for a good renedezvous point. Never having met before, somehow the founding fathers & mother of this organization spotted one another intuitively, or maybe it was Ken Barney's "Star" shirt? But nonetheless, it became obvious from the excitement of the conversations that this was the beginning of something wonderful. Present were Mike & Yun Lan Weller, John Wynstra, Ken Barney, and Matt Walker. These initial members discussed names, BAK kits, exhausts, models, rides, rallies, and held their first elections. Thus named, NORWESTARS ISRA Constellation, the election, between mouthfuls of mushroom burgers, resulted in the first officers: President, Matt Walker, Vice President, Ken Barney, Secratary/Treasurer, John Wynstra. No longer able to politely hog the tables at Red Robin and not anxious to depart such great company the new constellation members rallied at Skagit Powersports. They walked and talked about the Yamaha star line, NORWESTARS, cam replacement, in general enjoyed the companionship. Before they went their separate ways they agreed upon a group ride the following day.

Sunday was supposed to be a beautiful Pacific Northwest day but it started out cold and foggy. Ken Barney met Matt in Everett and rode together to the rallying point in Arlington, while Mike & Yun Lan and John Wynstra rode independently, John having the farthest to ride. Then it happened, at the Shell station they lined up four Road Stars. A first for any of them except for a showroom floor. After coffee and more bike talk, Mike led the way on their expedition. They travelled through the farmlands of Skagit valley the sun starting to make its appearance. They rode into the sleepy little tourist village of La Conner and parked the steeds in a row at the center of town. They were an impressive sight, Ken imperial with a bevy of after-market items, John black and soon to have flames, Mike & Yun lan's blue and white Canadian Silverado, and Matt's ugly box protruding from the rear fender. Mike & Yun Lan bought a disposable camera to capture the moments of the day. That's when they spotted a lone rider on a black V-star ride into town. Soon they were headed out with Doug Sifford, newest NORWESTARS member, in their ranks. They then stopped at the Farmhouse Inn for chow after high-fiving a pack of some 20-30 Harley riders. NORWESTARS enjoyed their second meal together and had a helluva lot of fun with the waitress, dropping pens and trays full of water. After filling the tanks with food they headed out to Deception pass through a winding, hilly road. It was a Pacific Northwest defining day: deep blue sky, evergreens reaching majestically to the sky, white capped peaks of the Cascades and Olympics standing guard on the horizon. They parked in a line at the overview, now five star bikes. They walked out on the bridge, not for the acrophobic, pausing to watch a hawk ride the currents up. More pictures and then back to the mounts to follow Doug to Mt. Erie.

Mt. Erie: A tight, one-lane road of switchbacks up to the top. The summit, though heavily wooded, offers a grand vista of the Skagit valley and Cascade Mountains. It was time to head back. Matt took point down the hill. In first or second on the descent it was a cautious ride down, what with the blind turns and steep corners. It about halfway down when it happened, rounding a steep blind corner a truck appeared, Ka-thud! Matt was down; his foot pinned under the Road Star. Before he could ask for help, John hoisted the 700-pound bike up and was rolling it to the shoulder. A little roadside repair, a bruised shoulder and elbow and the new President was on his way. They regrouped at the bottom and Ken escorted him most of the way to his house in Everett. Despite the catastrophe, the first ride was a great event.

Now almost one month after that first meeting NORWESTARS has grown to 17 members. It is one of the biggest and fastest growing constellations in ISRA. Several events are being planned for the summer of 2000, Dan Scanlon is creating a web page and a new patch designed. This organization is truly on the threshold of being a spectacular association. Inquiries can be made to Matt Walker.