He started working at the age of 10, cutting grass and raking leaves. Starting at the age of 16, he worked in a grocery store. He worked in the grocery store until his high school graduation. Right after high school, he went straight into the United States Navy. He served in the Navy from 1967 to 1970. In the Navy, Jimmy fueled helicopters aboard the USS Iwo Jima LPH 2. After his Navy service, Jimmy started working for the United States Postal Service (USPS). He retired from the USPS after 35 + years. He then drove a school bus in Dayton, TX for 13 years.

Jimmy - Thank you for your service to our country and your community. Enjoy the 2021 Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas.

We are in the last month of registration for the 2021 tour. Registration will close on February 28, 2021.

After registration closes, the list of tour riders will be finalized.

Tour flags (placards) will be mailed-out during the second week of March.

The Picture Submission Portal (PSP) will open on March 15, 2021. It will close on November 15, 2021.

If you have not registered yet, use the button below to register. Feel free to forward this newsletter to folks you think would enjoy taking part in the 2021 Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas.

There is a Google Map on the website. You can see the tour stops by clicking the pins on the map. You should also be able to save the map for your own route planning. To research each stop, go to the Tour Stops page.

Several folks have looked at the map on the tour website and told me that tour stop # 44 is missing. It's not missing, it is just not on the map. Why? Because tour stop # 44 is the only mobile tour stop on the tour. Lone Star Rider's (Rex Covington) trailer is tour stop # 44.

How do you find his trailer to take a picture with it? I will arrange a couple of dates for him to be at a specified location where you can find him. However, you can also find his location by going to his GPS tracking page. He carries a GPS tracker that updates about every 15 minutes. To go to his tracking page, click the button below. You can contact Rex via email at rexjc@mac.com.

Visit the Tour Shop and checkout the great tour gear we have to offer.

Mark your calendars. Plans for a Sept 11th weekend event in Kerrville will be developed.

Events being considered are:

More info to come...

The 2021 tour flags (placards) and envelopes have been purchased. They will be mailed-out during the 2nd week of March.

One thing I learned, from the 2020 tour, is that delivery times from the postal service can vary significantly. Some folks received their flags within a couple of days and some folks got them three weeks later. If you haven't received your tour flag by April, please let me know.

You can start taking pictures at tour stops after you receive your tour flag. The Picture Submission Portal (PSP) will open on March 15th.

When you take pictures of your bike and tour flag at tour stops, make sure that your tour flag number is visible in the picture. If you are in the picture, be sure that your fingers are not covering the flag number. Some of the 2020 tour riders were great photographers. If you are not such a great photographer, checkout this link for some tips on taking good pictures with your mobile phone.

When you upload your pictures (in jpeg format), do not use a low resolution format. You do not have to rename the picture (jpeg file). If you decide to rename your picture, do not use the # symbol in the name. For some reason, the software that captures the jpeg file does not like the # symbol.

When you stop to take a picture, I recommend that you attach your tour flag to your bike's windshield or handlebars. Folks that attach the flag to the back or side of their bike are more likely to forget to stow the flag in their saddle bag before taking off. When that happens, the flag flies off the bike and folks contact me for a replacement. There will be a small fee ($3.50) for me to send you a replacement flag during the 2021 tour.

If you want an opportunity to win a prize, submit receipts (up to 3 per specified sponsor) during the tour.

In accordance with the rules for participation, receipts from specified tour sponsors earn additional points. The receipts must have been issued on or after March 15, 2021.

Be sure that the name of the sponsor or non-profit, date of purchase, and amount of purchase/donation is visible on the pictures of receipts that you submit. Write your flag number on the receipts. A couple may split a receipt for lodging or food by writing both of their flag numbers on the receipt. The split receipt needs to be uploaded twice (once for each participant).

To make donations to Lone Star Rider's Fund Raising page for the American Diabetes Association (ADA), submit a picture of the receipt you receive via email from the ADA. When you fill-out the on-line donation form, put your name in the "name recognition box" and in the personal note box, enter a note to state that you are participating in the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas.

Moto Liberty is one of the great sponsors of the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas.  

You do not have to have made a stop at Moto Liberty to be in the drawing.  I will provide the owner of Motor Liberty with the flag numbers of all of the registered riders.  She will then draw from those numbers to select the winner.  After she selects the winning flag number, I’ll provide her with the name and contact information for the number drawn. The drawing will take place in the store.

The idea and funding of this drawing was originated by the owner of Moto Liberty. Thank you Audrey for being such a great supporter of the tour!

2020 Tour Rider # 447 in two states at the same time. That's one powerful bike!