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News Flash
Shayna Texter named Motorcyclist’s Post
Woman Racer of the Year
Shayna racing photo -Flattrakfotos.com, Insert photo by
Larry Lawrence
Shayna recently earned the distinction of being the first
female to win an AMA Pro Singles Grand National when she
took top honors at Iowa’s Knoxville Speedway.
Congratulations from the Motorcyclist's Post to Shayna for
her great racing accomplishments.
Malcolm Smith for President!
New Sweatshirts with Motorcycle Awareness
Message
CheckTwiceSigns.com
has just released a new sweatshirt with a motorcycle
awareness message aimed at the non-riding public, These
highly visible "message" sweatshirts are available at
www.CheckTwiceSigns.com.
Pete Giammalvo aka Sideways Pete
Passes Away
“Sideways Pete”
P
eter
Giammalvo in the winners circle at his short track on Rte 12
in Winchendon, MA with the nights winners. Pete was the
“Spark Plug” that kept the sport of motorcycle flat
track alive in New England. Peter suffered a Stroke on
December 24th and passed away while being treated at MA
General Hospital in Worcester, MA on Tuesday the 27th of
December. Pete was 52 years old at the time of his passing.
Funeral arrangements posted below.
I’m sure I speak for many when I say that Peter’s passing
will be leaving a huge hole in the sport of motorcycling in
New England. I man who leaves a legacy of accomplishments in
the sport he loved and brought to countless thousand is a
man that never really dies! Peter Giammalvos legacy will
live on, the mark of true greatness! On behalf of all our
readers I would like to give my sincerest condolences to
Pete’s wife Connie and family and his countless friends. God
Speed , “Sideways Pete”!
FMX rider Jim McNeil dies at
Texas Motor Speedway Freestyle motocross rider Jim McNeil
passed away today from injuries sustained in a crash during
practice for a Freestyle MX
demonstration for a NASCAR race at the Texas Motor Speedway.
The 32-year old McNeil was a regular on the FMX demo circuit
and the Red Bull X Fighters tour. More info as we get it.
Motorcyclist's Post Cartoonist Releases 3rd Children's Book
on Motorcycling
BIKERS are
ANIMALS 3 - On the Roadby MC Post Cartoonist Paul Jamiol
is the 3rd in a series of
children's books that brings youngsters into a world of
cartoon animals who love to ride their motorcycles and be
with their friends.
In his first two books, the author
introduced his cartoon animals on “cool” motorcycles to show
children and their parents that those involved in
motorcycling are intelligent and caring.
In his third book, using detailed and
vibrant illustrations, Jamiol takes children even further
into his cartoon world with a riding adventure that is fun
and which has his menagerie of riding critters planning and
working together to make their ride possible.
Their journey takes them from their homes
and into the city, then they head out of the city and hit
the open road for a ride to the mountains. Their destination
is a cabin on a lake, courtesy of one of their riding
buddies, for an overnight stay. As with an actual motorcycle
ride, there will be different roads traveled and stops along
the way. This adventure will expand a child’s imagination
with a unique vision of a group of critters doing what they
love to do most – ride their motorcycles with their friends.
A child will feel that he or she is
welcome to ride along with these critters, and will also
learn that working together, respect and friendship are
paramount with this cast of characters.
This is not just a book for kids in
families with motorcycles. It's for young ones everywhere
who gaze at a passing rider on a motorcycle and are curious
about what this “thing” rolling past is all about.
Jamiol’s characters run the gamut of the
animal world as do their choices of motorcycles. They are
young and old, and male and female. They like each other,
respect each other, and have fun doing things together but
are not afraid to do things on their own. Their independence
stands out even in a large group.
With Bikers are Animals 3 – On the
Road, the message is clear... doing things together
with friends, respecting who they are and not what they are,
and riding down a road unafraid, are good things. For the
child to get that message through a motorcycle ride that's
totally fun, reinforces this message.
The author encourages parents to join
their kids on this ride and meet the characters. This is a
reading adventure parents and children can share together,
over and over again.
The whole Bikers are
Animals series are also available at Google eBooks for your
Android or Mac device.
Harley-
Davidson recalls more than
308,000 motorcycles
Harley-Davidson is recalling
more than 308,000 motorcycles to fix a switch
problem that can cause failure of the brake lights
and possibly even the rear brakes themselves.
The
brake light switches can be exposed to too much heat
from the exhaust system. The brake lights can fail,
and the problem also can cause fluid leaks and the
loss of rear brakes.
Affected
models include Touring, CVO Touring and Trike
vehicles from the 2009 through 2012 model years.
Owners
will be notified by Harley
of the recall. Dealers will install a rear brake
light switch kit free of charge.
Shawn
Farnsworth (1975-2011) Pro Hillclimber Succumbs to Injuries
By: Larry Lawrence
(Photo by Jeff Whitehead)
Shawn Farnsworth, the 2009 AMA Pro
Hillclimb Unlimited Class Rookie of the Year who raced for
Tom Reiser's Harley-Davidson team, died Monday in Dayton,
Ohio. He was 36.
Farnsworth crashed Sunday in the AMA Pro Hillclimb
Championship season finale at the Devil's Staircase in
Oregonia, Ohio. He was airlifted to Miami Valley Hospital
with critical injuries. He succumbed to his injuries last
night.
Farnsworth was a third-generation hillclimber and his family
was well known in the hillclimb community for promoting the
sport. The Farnsworths promoted the national hillclimb held
in Canaan, New Hampshire.
Farnsworth is thought to be the first pro hillclimber to die
from an accident in a national competition.
"Shawn's loss is not just a loss for our family and for New
England Hillclimbing, but for the sport as a whole," said
Shawn's older brother Michael Farnsworth, himself a former
pro hillclimber. "He meant so much to so many people. He was
friends with everyone from the top pros to the guy coming
out to try his first hillclimb. He was a great guy who just
wanted to help people get into the sport."
Farnsworth was one of the leading hillclimbers running with
one of the best teams in the country. He finished third in
the Unlimited national standings in his rookie pro season of
2009 and won the national at his home hillclimb in Canaan,
N.H., last year. He was ranked fifth in the class coming
into yesterday's event and reportedly clocked the third best
time on his fateful last climb. An empty spot on the podium
was left open in honor of Shawn in Sunday's awards
ceremonies at Oregonia.
"Shawn had a broad smile and encouraged and mentored other
riders," said Jeff Whitehead, of ProHillclimb.com. "At the
Jefferson Climb this summer I asked Pro Sport rider James
Green how he managed to win his first hillclimb and he said
(referring to Farnsworth) 'I won it by listening to the
boss. He's like a father to me.' That's what kind of
influence he had on other riders. I don't think you'd find a
single rider out there who wouldn't have a good thing to say
about Shawn. He's going to be missed."
Farnsworth's hometown was Rumney, New Hampshire and he was
married to Yarrow Farnsworth. The couple has two boys,
fourth-generation racers Sheldon and Roman. The family has
not yet made funeral arrangements..
Cycle News
Shayna
Texter wins Knoxville Pro Singles Main!
Photography By: Larry Lawrence
Shayna Texter makes history
in Knoville, Iowa as she becomes the first female to win an
AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Pro Singles Main Event.
Video of Shayna Texter on top of the
podium after becoming the first female to win an AMA Pro
Racing Flat Track Pro Singles Main event.
Ki
llington
Classic Postponedto 2012.
Killington
VT - Due to serious damage from Hurricane
Irene, the
9th annual Killington
Classic, scheduled to start Sept 8, has been postponed
until 2012. The
event headquarters at the Killington Resortand
many of the roads
insouthern
Vermonthave been
temporarily closed due to flooding. (Rolling
Thru Vermont, because of its HQ location in
northern VT, will continue as scheduled, this
weekend.)
Americade
Inc., charged with managing the Killington Classic,
deeply regrets having to postpone this classic event
until 2012.
"We
have never postponed or cancelled any event in our
company's history" said Christian Dutcher,
Americade VP. "We've run over40
events* without a postponement or cancellation but
this was an unprecedented natural disaster. The
Killington Region was very eager to not disappoint the
many preregistered attendees for the event. There were
even reports that major roads would be open in time,
in contrast to the media's sensationalized stories,
but after sifting out the reality from on-the-ground
information, there was simply no choice but to
postpone it to 2012."
He
continued: "however, because the Killington Resort is
part of a large well-established corporation, and
because the Town of Killington is vital and
resourceful, we know that they'll rebuild very
quickly, but not quite quickly enough for a large
event only8 days
away."
2011 World
Championship of Custom Bike Building - RESULTS
Many internationally known custom builders headed to
Sturgis to compete in the 2011 World Championship of Custom
Bike Building but it was a relatively unknown customizer
that took the top honors.
After working on his bike for 2-1/2 years Ken Tabata, of
Tavax Engineering, Yao City, Osaka, Japan, appeared in
Sturgis and now he is preparing to leave as the 2011 World
Champion of Custom Bike Building. He describes his winning
bike, TAVAX2011V, as being designed to look like a Cheetah
about to pounce, all dynamic movement and power.
TAVAX2011V effortlessly combines sculpted aluminum
bodywork with one-off cast pieces that form the suspension
and replace the stock engine and transmission covers. At the
rear of the bike the swingarm pivots from behind the rear
cylinder, arcing over the transmission, and carrying a
linkage system operated single shock, a design similar to
that found on many modern sports bikes.
At the front of the machine the suspension begins at the
axle as a leading link fork, which then changes via a pair
of links to finish as a Springer fork.
To demonstrate the performance potential of his bike Ken
has forgone tall and wide wheels, favoring instead a pair of
Marchesini 17in sport bike rims carrying floating rotors and
Lockheed brake calipers.
Taking a less complex styling route, Larry Houghton, of
Lamb Engineering, secured second place with Son of a Gun.
Based around and eBay find 1951 BSA single cylinder engine
and Talon motocross wheels, Larry built the rest of the bike
himself often collecting material from the scrap bins of
friends in the engineering trade. His careful recycling of
material meant that he was able to build a World Class
custom motorcycle for less than $9,000, including the gold
candy of silver metalflake paint.
When it comes to building bikes Satya Kraus' motto is
always for the bike to have everything it needs and nothing
it doesn't. It's an ideal he has ably demonstrated on Bolide,
the bike with which he placed third in the World
Championship of Custom Bike Building.
He achieved his aim by putting a 93ci S&S Shovelhead
motor in a one-off frame carrying a mono-shocked swingarm,
telescopic forks and 17in Alpina spoked wheels shod with
Metzeler sport bike tires.
Sport bike influences are also readily evident in the
styling of the winning bike in the Performance Custom class.
Jim Giuffra and the girls of AFT Customs rebuilt a 1970
Honda CB750 as cafe racer inspired custom complete with
RaceTech suspension, Beringer brakes and numerous one-off
pieces. The influence that cafe racers are having on the
current custom scene can also be seen in the design of the
top placed Production Manufacturer class bike. Best known
for its line of Chops and Bobbers, Darwin Motorcycles has
built what it describes as an American muscle bike. Powered
by a 132ci S&S X-Wedge V-twin, the RLX carries a full range
of top spec components including Ohlins suspension, Beringer
brakes and BST carbon fiber wheels.
A first in 2011 for the World Championship was the entry
of a sidecar outfit and it was this outfit, Abnormal Cycles'
Union, that took the honors in the Modified Harley class.
The Model 'U' powered outfit features a stock frame fitted
with a custom sidecar body and a leaf spring Indian style
front end, which includes a pair of handlebars created to
also look like a leaf spring.
Top 3 of the Freestyle class: Satya Kraus of Kraus Motor Co
(left) (3rd place), newly-crowned World Champion Ken Tabata
of Tavax Engineering (center) and Larry Houghton of Lamb
Engineering (2nd place).
Production Manufacturer
1st place, Darwin Motorcycles (USA)
Production Manufacturer
2nd place, Kiwi Indian Motorcycle Co (USA)
Production Manufacturer
3rd place, Zero Engineering (USA)
Performance Custom 1st
place, AFT Customs (USA)
Performance Custom 2nd
place, Fuller Hot Rods (USA)
Performance Custom 3rd
place, RK Concepts (USA)
World Championship Freestyle Class Results
Business Name
Bike Name
City
Country
Builder Name
1st
Tavax Engineering
Tavax 2011V
Yao City, Osaka
Japan
Ken Tabata
2nd
Lamb Engineering
Son of a Gun
Salisbury, Wiltshire
United Kingdom
Larry Houghton
3rd
Kraus Motor Co
Bolide
Cazadero, CA
USA
Satya Kraus
4th
V-Twin Mechanic
SpaceSter
La Fontaine, Pavie
France
Bernard "Buck" Massart
5th
RK Concepts
RK S
Round Rock, TX
USA
Rafik Kaissi
6th
Garage65
Stargate
Viareggio
Italy
Marco Cinquini
7th
SE Service
Slugger
Skogas
Sweden
Stellan Egeland
8th
Fitil Metal Works / Moscow H-D
Skywalker's Caddy
Moscow
Russian Federation
Alexander Fetisov
9th
John Reed
Gold Yamaha
Morgan Hill, CA
USA
John Reed
10th
Roquechop Design
Minautore
Brownsburg-Chatham, Quebec
Canada
Philip Roquebrune
Modified Harley-Davidson Championship sponsored by
Harley-Davidson - Results
Business Name
Bike Name
City
Country
Builder Name
1
AbnormalCycles
Union
Bernareggio
Italy
Samuele Reali
2
Iacona Custom Cycles
Challenger
Brooklyn, NY
USA
Steven Iacona
3
Shaw Harley-Davidson
Nascafe Racer
Holmes Hill nr Lewes, East Sussex
United Kingdom
Shaw Speed & Custom
Production Manufacturer Championship Results
Business Name
Bike Name
City
Country
Builder Name
1
Darwin Motorcycles
RLX
Oklahoma City, OK
USA
Dar, Tim, Bryan, Justin
2
Kiwi Indian Motorcycle Co
Kiwi Chieftain 1950's
Riverside, CA
USA
Mike Kiwi Tomas
3
Zero Engineering
Type 6
Las Vegas, NV
USA
Zero Engineering
Performance Custom Championship Results
Business Name
Bike Name
City
Country
Builder Name
1
AFT Customs
Sentoh
Jackson, CA
USA
Jim Giuffra / AFT Customs Girls
2
Fuller Hot Rods
Rodan
Atlanta, GA
USA
Bryan Fuller and crew
3
RK Concepts
RK Spring Frame
Round Rock, TX
USA
Rafik Kaissi
Two-time AMA Grand National Champion Gary Nixon
Dies
Gary Nixon on the cover of the July 1970 Motorcyclist's Post in
the winners circle at Loudon.
Two-time AMA Grand National Champion Gary Nixon
died today at a hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. The man simply
known as "Nixon" was 70 years old. Nixon took ill while
spectating at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca and
was admitted to hospital after returning to his home in
Maryland. He suffered a heart attack on July 29 and died from
complications from that heart attack. He had been in ICU at St.
Joseph's Medical Center in Baltimore after undergoing surgery to
place two stents in his arteries.
Paul Jamiol's
Bikers are Animals Critters have
joined up with Belt Drive Betty in her effort to raise some some
money for the education and prevention of child sexual abuse.
They will be a part of the Biker Kidz 2012 Calendar.
Each page will have a BAA Critter introducing
a Biker Kidz. A portion ($10) of each calendar sale will
go to either the Little Warriors or the Katlynn Stinnett
Memorial Foundation. The buyer has a choice of which
organization to support or can buy two calendars and support
both.
The BAA Critters are extremely proud
to be a part of Belt Drive Betty's effort to help abused kids.
Owners Proud of Dealership's
History and Community Involvement SPRINGFIELD, June 10, 2011
- Tibby's Harley-Davidson of Springfield announced today that it
will close its store after over 55 years in business. The
owners, Jason and Jean Thibodeau, say Tibby's Harley-Davidson is
fortunate to have served many loyal customers over the years.
Tibby's Harley-Davidson opened in
1956 and sold their first bike in February that year, a 1956
Indian Fire Arrow which sold for $445 with $1.20 in sales tax.
Annual photographs were taken each year to show the progression
of the family and business. These photos can still be seen today
proudly displayed just inside the front door. Three generations
of the family have been employed at the dealership, along with
countless other talented individuals over the years.
Tibby's also sponsored the local
Harley Owner's Group (HOG) for over 25 years. This involvement
has resulted in tens of thousands of dollars of donations and
funds raised for local charities such as Cancer House of Hope,
and NEADS. One year they even purchased a thermal imaging device
for the Springfield Fire department.
Tibby's has also been proud
supporters of the MMA, the Melha Riders, and the Patriot Guard.
"The decision to close has been a personal decision for us since
many of the employees, HOG members and customers are considered
close friends. It's been a pleasure serving our customers and we
thank them for their many years of loyalty," said Jason
Thibodeau. Tibby's notified Harley-Davidson of its plans to
close June. Harley-Davidson, at this time, has no plans to
replace the dealership in the Springfield area. Customers can
find other nearby dealers by using the Dealer Locator tool at
www.harleydavidson.com.
Polaris Industries
Inc.announces
the acquisition of Indian Motorcycle
Polaris brings world-class
engineering, manufacturing and distribution to Indian’s rich
American heritage and historic brand
MINNEAPOLIS (April 19, 2011) — Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:
PII) today announced the acquisition of Indian Motorcycle. The
business was acquired from Indian Motorcycle Limited (“IML”), a
company advised by Stellican Limited and Novator Partners LLP,
U.K. Private Equity firms. Terms of the transaction were not
disclosed.
“We are excited to be part of the revitalization of a
quintessentially American brand,” said Scott Wine, CEO of
Polaris Industries Inc. “Indian built America’s first
motorcycle. With our technology and vision, we are confident we
will deliver the classic Indian motorcycle, enhanced by the
quality and performance for which Polaris and Victory are
known.”
With this acquisition, Polaris adds one of motorcycling’s
legendary brands to its strong stable of Victory cruiser and
touring bikes. Indian will operate as an autonomous business
unit, building upon the potent combination of Polaris’
engineering acumen and innovative technology with Indian’s
premium brand, iconic design and rich American heritage.
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Polaris.
Polaris will utilize its well-known strengths in engineering,
manufacturing, and distribution to complete the mission we
undertook upon re-launching the brand in 2006: harness the
enormous potential of the Indian brand,” said Stephen Julius,
chairman of Indian and managing director of Stellican. “Polaris
is the most logical owner of Indian Motorcycle. Indian’s
heritage brand will allow Polaris to aggressively compete across
an expanded spectrum of the motorcycle market.”
Novator Partners LLP is a London based alternative investment
firm founded and led by the investor Mr. Thor Bjorgolfsson. An
avid motorcycle enthusiast, Mr. Bjorgolfsson said “After a
troubled past, our goal was to bring the legendary Indian bikes
back on the roads. The initial phase of that project is done and
now our great partners at Polaris will carry on the work to
realize the full potential of this classic American brand.”
Conference Call and Webcast
Presentation
Tomorrow, April 20th at 9:00AM (CT), Polaris Industries Inc.
will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the
acquisition, as well as the first quarter 2011 financial
results. The call will be hosted by Scott Wine, CEO, Bennett
Morgan, President and COO and Mike Malone, Vice
President-Finance and CFO.
A slide presentation and link to the audio webcast will be
posted on the Investor Relations page of the Polaris web site at
www.polarisindustries.com/irhome>
approximately 30 minutes before the conference call begins.
To listen to the conference call by phone, dial 800-374-6475 in
the U.S. and Canada, or 973-200-3967 internationally. The
Conference ID is #36643140. A replay of the conference call will
be available approximately two hours after the call for a
one-week period by accessing the same link on our website, or by
dialing 800-642-1687 in the U.S. and Canada, or 706-645-9291
internationally.
Driver of car
that struck, killed motorcyclist gets two years' probation over
objection of victim's family
Boston, MA) The
Massachusetts Appeals Court has given notice to Attorneys for
the City of Boston and the Justice Riders, who filed suit in
July 2009 to strike down an "EPA stamp" Ordinance for
motorcycles or face a $300 fine, that they want "oral arguments"
early next month, before issuing a decision.
This is good news,"
said Paul W. Cote of Amesbury, one of the Plaintiffs in
the suit. "They could have ruled based upon the written
briefs submitted late last year and thrown out our petition
because no one has yet been cited under the hastily enacted
Ordinance as Superior Court Judge Spurlock did a year ago."
Bill Gannon of
Quincy, another Plaintiff in the suit and Director of Bikers of
Lesser Tolerance of Massachusetts (BOLT of MA) said, "The City
of Boston argued we had no standing and now, the higher Court
wants to hear more how the City is attempting to raid
motorcyclists wallets."
In June 2009, the
Boston City Council passed the Ordinance requiring an EPA
imprint or stamp be readily visible on all motorcycles in the
City, while operating or parked. Law enforcement could issue a
$300 citation if they could not locate the stamp.
Attorneys Joseph S.
Provanzano and Lauie McGhee of Peabody will argue on behalf of
the Justice Riders. Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Larry
Cahill of Medford, Mike Longtin of No. Easton, and Vince Silvia
of Haverhill.
Regarding the recent interview with Abbey, the letter seeks
to clarify indications that he believes there is no grass-roots
opposition to the Wild Lands designation. A Denver Post
article entitled "Western Republicans decry Obama wilderness
policy," states:
In an interview, Abbey said planning has already begun,
and designation of the first wild lands could occur as soon as
this summer in Idaho, Wyoming and Alaska. He denied that the
plan is unpopular in the West, citing letters of support from
recreation and conservation groups and the outdoor industry.
The same article indicated Abbey believes people are hearing
"rhetoric" from Western lawmakers, but no grass-roots
opposition.
The AMA and ATVA strongly disagree with Abbey's assertion
that there is no grass-roots opposition. To the contrary, there
is considerable and growing opposition to Wild Lands from those
who have responsibly recreated on public lands for decades.
As the AMA mentioned in an earlier alert, on Dec. 22, 2010,
Interior
Secretary Ken Salazar signed Secretarial Order 3310 creating
a new land-use designation called Wild Lands that essentially
allows officials in the BLM to manage public land as if it had
received a "Wilderness" land-use designation from Congress, but
without requiring congressional approval.
The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources held an
oversight hearing on March 1 entitled "The Impact of the
Administration's Wild Lands Order on Jobs and Economic Growth."
To view AMA's comments that were submitted into the record,
click here. To view an archive webcast of the hearing,
click here.
Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) of the Committee on Natural
Resources said, "The Wild Lands policy expressly circumvents
Congress' statutory authority to establish Wilderness areas."
A Wilderness designation is one of the strictest forms of
public land management. Once Congress designates an area as
Wilderness, nearly all forms of non-pedestrian recreation are
illegal. The AMA and ATVA support appropriate Wilderness
designations that meet the criteria established by Congress in
1964, but anti-access advocates have been abusing the
legislative process to ban responsible OHV recreation on public
land.
This new Wild Lands policy comes on the heels of a victory
when U.S.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) dropped his
effort, on Dec. 21, 2010, to pass a massive omnibus public lands
bill that would have inappropriately designated millions of
acres of public land as Wilderness. The very next day Salazar
signed Secretarial Order 3310 and the same day the 111th
Congress adjourned sine die. On Dec. 23, 2010, Salazar held a
press conference in Colorado announcing the new Wild Lands
policy.
With the new Wild Lands policy, anti-access advocates and the
administration are now seeking an end-run around Congress.
Salazar's order has far-reaching implications because the BLM
manages about 245 million acres of public land nationwide,
primarily in western states.
Federal lawmakers quickly called the Wild Lands policy a
"land grab" and a blatant attempt to usurp congressional
authority. The AMA sent a letter, dated Jan.11, 2011, to Salazar
asking him to explain whether the new Wild Lands land-use
designation will block traditional routes of travel for OHV use.
To view the letter,
click here. To date, Salazar has yet to respond.
The AMA and ATVA need its members and other OHV enthusiasts
to voice opposition to the usurpation of congressional authority
regarding public land designations to Abbey today. You can
follow the "Take Action" option to send a pre-written e-mail
directly to Abbey to voice your opposition to the new Wild Lands
policy
A Really Cool Video of
TT'97 with
Joey Dunlop onboard Honda (RVF750) RC45
on our Audio/Video page...click
here
“Hogslayer: The
Unapproachable Legend” Set for Release in 2011
SLINGER, WIS. (January 31, 2011) – Excitement is building among
racing enthusiasts for a new independent documentary about the
multi-world champion motorcycle drag racing legend – the
Hogslayer. Slated for a 2011 release date, the production
company, The Edge Ltd., is accepting additional documentary
materials and offering sponsorships on this exciting project.
Hogslayer: The Unapproachable Legend is the true-life story
of the dual-engine Norton dragster designed, built and raced by
John Gregory and TC Christenson of Sunset Motors in Kenosha,
Wis. The documentary chronicles the Sunset Motors Racing Team’s
unrivaled innovation and unbridled courage as they faced
unyielding challengers throughout the United States and Europe
in the 1970’s.The Hogslayer dragster is presently
on exhibit at the National Motorcycle Museum in the United
Kingdom.
The
project is currently being financed and produced independently
by The Edge Ltd., however the production company is offering
sponsorships to assist with the remaining funding and to share
in the premieres and distribution promotion of the
documentary. The Edge Ltd. is also offering an open invitation
for anyone familiar with the Hogslayer story to submit film,
photographs, publications and video of the dragster and race
team for inclusion in the documentary.For
additional information or to submit materials, contact James
Cutting, independent producer, The Edge Ltd., at 262-224-3777
or edgeltd@charter.net.
For the
latest Hogslayer news, become fans of the ‘Hogslayer
Documentary’ on Facebook, or to see the pomotional trailer
preview of the documentary, visit YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrdXSyVg1UU.
Dirt-Track Family Mourns the
Passing of Wayne Hosaka, Former Dirt-Track Racer and Creator of
Flattrack.com
Wayne Hosaka
with long time vintage racers, Tom Horton, Jeff Johnson and Brad
Holt (photo -
http://www.vft.org/ )
Let's Put Wayne Hosaka and other
Legends of Flat Track on the Daytona 200 Monument before it's
too late! Only 20 spots left for the
12X12 inch Photo Engraved Black Granite Plaques.
Let me sweeten the pie...a
$500 donation will alsoget you a paving brick with your name
on it. $100 or more gets a free one
year subscription to The Motorcyclist's Post.
We have until mid February to get the
first $1000 in time to have the plaque made in time for Daytona
Bike Week. I have donated the first $100 so just match my
donation and we only need nine more people to donate. Or how
about 1 or 2 hundred people at $10 or $20 and we can get a
couple more Legends of Dirt Track immortalized on this beautiful
Monument on Daytona Beach! God Speed Wayne Hosaka and Rick
Hocking
Classic Crowd - The Classic Crowd was out in full force
for the 2010 Larz Anderson Classic European Day held Sept. 11,
2010 in Brookline, MA. Check out the Post for coverage of this
well attended event and...
for additional Larz
Anderson Show photos
Click here
Here in Europe a major factor affecting the supply of new riders
to the market has been the introduction of various EU Driving
License Directives.
‘2nd Directive’ has been in force in Europe since 1996: Under
21s must take test on 120-125cc, then 33bhp limit for 2 years
Over 21s may take ‘Direct Access’ test on 500cc for unrestricted
license.
‘3rd Directive’ will apply from 2013: Seeking to encourage
progressive access by introducing additional 35kw (47bhp)
restriction until an additional test is taken on machine over
600cc. Age of Direct Access might be raised to 24.
Gen Y’ers want to get the bike they lust after now not in 5
years time. Unless new models are developed which fit within the
restrictions it is reasonable to predict that the 3rd European
Driving Licence Directive will push potential new motorcyclists
into abstaining for even longer.
- Insurance Costs:
The high cost of insurance is also a major factor affecting
sales in the 15 to 34 age
range. The soaring cost of litigation, expensive vehicle repair
bills and high volumes
of claims by inexperienced bikers has made the cost of insuring
motorcycles
prohibitively expensive for many young riders. There is a
significant difference in the insurance classification of
available models; for example the popular learners bike, the
CBF500 (group 9) and the 600cc supersports class (group 14)
which rules out the supersports for the majority without a
significant ‘No claims bonus’.
ACEM’s figures show that for a young rider the cost of insurance
can now easily outweigh the cost to purchase a machine and
unlike the initial purchase this is an annual cost.
- Lack of exciting entry level products:
Today the introduction of Euro2 and Euro3 EU emissions
regulations and changes in
both the European and Japanese licensing laws have meant that
the lightweight
supersport segment is practically un-catered for. As a result
some of the milder and
more forgiving 500-750cc machines have migrated into beginner’s
bike list. First
bikes tend to be 50bhp or less and 180kg or less. The further a
bike is above those
limits, the more cautious new riders appear to be about
purchasing.
The Suzuki GS500 and Honda CB500’s are now considered by many
the best choice
as a first bike: relatively light, inexpensive, not too much
power (consequently
cheaper to insure), and available new and used. The current
CB500’s/CG500’s offer a
sensible package but they are not evocative or highly desirable,
they do not inspire young
people.
This void of desirable products offered at entry level adds to
the licensing restrictions
in pushing young riders into abstaining.
The now discontinued 250cc two stroke and 400cc four stroke
class of ‘Lightweight Supersports’ represented a good balance of
looks, performance and affordability to fill the void between
the ‘learner’ bikes and outright supersports 600s. Other than
Kawasaki ’s Ninja 250 where are these products today?
The high re-sale value of 10 year old second hand Supersport
400s (RVF400’s still sell for 3k to 4k) suggests that many
consumers in this market already decide against buying new and
look for privately sold models instead; independently financing
the purchase, forgoing dealer warranties and after sales care.
Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
California
has new statewide law governing motorcycle sound
PICKERINGTON,
Ohio -- A new California law requires street
motorcycles registered in the state and built on or
after Jan. 1, 2013, to have an exhaust system label
certifying the motorcycles meet federal sound limits,
the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.
On Sept. 28, Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 435,
sponsored by Sen. Fran Pavey (D-Agoura Hills). While
motorcycle manufacturers have been complying with the
federal law since it was effective in 1983, the new law
now makes it a state crime to operate any motorcycle
registered in the state that was built on or after Jan.
1, 2013, that doesn't have a federal Environmental
Protection Agency exhaust system sound emissions label.
In addition, the
law requires aftermarket exhaust systems made on or
after Jan. 1, 2013, to display the EPA sound emissions
label, and therefore applies to individuals who seek to
replace the exhaust system on affected streetbikes.
Thousands of motorcyclists
utilized the AMA website at
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
first to oppose the bill, and then to urge
Schwarzenegger to reject it.
AMA Western States
Representative Nick Haris expressed major concerns about
the new law.
"Many EPA labels
are very difficult to locate on motorcycles," Haris
said. "This law could lead to a flurry of tickets for
motorcyclists who have legal exhaust systems with EPA
labels on their machines that can't be easily seen. It's
unreasonable to expect a law enforcement officer to
easily locate an EPA label, and it's simply unfair to
expect a motorcycle owner to partially dismantle an
exhaust system along the roadside to prove the label
exists."
Violators face
fines of up to $100 for a first offense and up to $250
for subsequent offenses. Judges have the discretion to
dismiss the fine for first-time offenders if the
violation is corrected.
Also, a violation
is considered a secondary offense, meaning a police
officer can't stop a motorcyclist solely because the
officer believes the motorcyclist is breaking the sound
emissions label law.
"Requiring that a
motorcycle display a readily visible EPA label isn't the
appropriate way to address concerns about excessive
motorcycle sound, which the AMA has pointed out
repeatedly," Haris said. "The only objective way to
determine whether a motorcycle complies with sound laws
is for properly trained personnel to conduct sound level
tests using calibrated meters and an agreed-upon testing
procedure."
In 1972, Congress
passed the federal Noise Control Act, which required the
EPA to set sound standards for a number of products. It
took several years, but the EPA eventually wrote rules
affecting all new motorcycles sold in the U.S. beginning
in 1983.
Those regulations,
which still stand today, required that all street-legal
motorcycles be limited to 83 decibels at that time, with
a stricter, 80-decibel limit imposed beginning in 1986.
The AMA has long
maintained a position of strong opposition to excessive
motorcycle sound. In September 2009, the AMA developed
model legislation for use by cities and states seeking a
simple, consistent and economical way to deal with sound
complaints related to on-highway motorcycles within the
larger context of excessive sound from all sources.
The model
legislation offers an objective method to evaluate
motorcycle sound based on the Society of Automotive
Engineers' (SAE) J2825 standard, "Measurement of Exhaust
Sound Pressure Levels of Stationary On-Highway
Motorcycles." For more information, click here:
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/legisltn/Model_On_Highway_Sound_Ordinance.pdf.
MC Post publisher
interviewed on Biker Lowdown Radio
Leo Castell, publisher of the Motorcyclist's Post
interviewed on Biker Lowdown Radio with hosts "LJ" James and
Chuck DeCost
Click hereand scroll down to
the Audio Clips
.
To Comment on the Motorcyclist's Post or
this site, Click
here
MMA Successful in Providing
Motorcycle Parking in Boston
From a
press release issued by Massachusetts Motorcycle Association
Mayor Tom Menino cuts rbbon with MMA District 1 Manager Richard
Schofield & MMA Vice Chairman Dave Elias
The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) is pleased to
announce that on Thursday, July 29th a “ribbon-cutting” ceremony
was held on Boylston Street in Boston celebrating the creation
of the first ever on-street parking spaces specifically for
motorcycles and scooters in the City of Boston. The
culmination of many hours spent by MMA representatives with the
Boston Transportation Department, a pilot program was launched
in the Back Bay.
The Mayor of Boston, Thomas M. Menino, and Officials from the
City of Boston Transportation Department were on hand at the
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, as well as representatives from the MMA
and the Scooter Community. Two of the first parking spaces
were reserved for the MMA in recognition of their efforts,
making the MMA representatives the first motorcyclists to
utilize these spots in addition to scooter community
representatives, MaryLee Belleville and Matt Smith.
Richard Schofield, MMA District 1 Manager stated, “On behalf of
the motorcyclists in the Commonwealth, I would like to thank
Mayor Menino and the Boston Transportation Department for
recognizing the need for providing parking for two-wheeled
vehicles in Boston”.
During the ceremony, Mayor Menino commented, "The purpose of
this initiative is two-fold. First, recognizing the
growing popularity of these vehicles in Boston, we are providing
those who drive scooters and motorcycles with similar parking
privileges made available to other motor vehicle owners.
Second, scooters and motorcycles are smaller, environmentally
friendly modes of transportation, contributing less to
congestion and air pollution, and requiring less space for
curbside parking. As a result, they may be a good
transportation alternative for busy urban areas like Boston and
we want to make sure that they are accommodated."
Mr. Schofield further added, “While additional revenue will be
provided to the City, these spaces encourage the use of more
fuel efficient vehicles, adding to the ‘greening’ of Boston and
its image as a World-Class City”.
The parking spaces were the culmination of many hours spent by
MMA representatives on behalf of motorcyclists at meetings in
Boston at the Transportation Department since the end of last
summer. A broad review was conducted of what other major
cities worldwide were doing to address the parking problem.
The result was a pilot program consisting of 39 parking spaces
dedicated for motorcycles and scooters, located in the Back Bay.
Only six, twenty-foot standard size parking spaces were removed
while 24, five-foot motorcycle spaces were provided in the same
space. Four Motorcycles and/or Scooters will park in the
same space otherwise occupied by a single vehicle, which leaves
the majority of the full-size spaces for the larger vehicles.
Additionally, 15 Motorcycle and Scooter spaces were created in
areas that cannot normally accommodate a car or truck.
Since multiple vehicles can now occupy the same space, the
Motorcycle/Scooter parking meter rate is 25¢ per hour vs. $1 per
hour for a standard size space. With 4 motorcycles or
scooters occupying the same space, there is no revenue loss to
the City. However, the additional spaces will provide
incremental revenue to the City.
This pilot program will be closely monitored by the city and by
the MMA. The success of this pilot program will lead to
more of these spaces being created throughout the City.
Dave Elias, MMA Vice Chair and Business Manager commented, "This
is a testament as to how Government and citizens can work
together for the good of all. Other 2 wheeled activists
tried to solve the parking situation in the courts and alienated
the city of Boston at the cost to the taxpayer. The MMA
has mended all those fences between the 2 wheeled community and
the City by educating, not litigating!"
The MMA encourages all Motorcyclists to use these spaces and are
reminded, "When in Town, Throttle Down".
Lanier Lobdell is not letting her
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) slow her or her motorcycle down.She’s traveling across the country this summer to offer
hope and inspiration for people living with this chronic
disease.Kicking off in her hometown of
Eugene, OR on July 10, Lanier will embark on the “Going
the Extra Mile Tour” on her six-cylinder Honda Valkyrie,
which is “road ready” thanks to just a few slight modifications
to her handlebars.
As a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast,
Lanier’s diagnosis over 20 years ago led to a specific set of
challenges when riding her bike. Affecting
more than 1.3 million Americans, RA is a chronic disease of the
immune system characterized by persistent and progressive joint
inflammation, causing pain, stiffness and functional disability.Ten years ago, with the support of her rheumatologist,
she started a treatment that has proven to successfully manage
her RA and allow her to continue doing what she so much enjoys –
getting on her bike and riding.
After leaving Eugene, she will stop in
Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Portland, ME to raise awareness
about RA through “meet and greets” with local Arthritis
Foundation chapters, working in collaboration with Centocor
Ortho Biotech, Inc., the makers of her current treatment,
REMICADE®.Lanier hopes that
her story will inspire others with the disease to seek
information and find the proper treatment.
Watch the video highlights of the 2010
Springfield Mile Flat Track event courtesy ofFast&Dirty.com...Click
here for video.
Some really cool old pics
Some really cool old pics from famed
Sacramento, CA racer and long-time Harley-Davidson dealer
Armando Magri.Several
photos in the pile are of Babe
Tancrede and Ben Campanele...Click
Here
The Motorcyclist's Post online guide
Here are a
couple of screen shots and quick primer to help you navigate...
This is full page
view...
Try different arrows and
areas...It's pretty easy to navigate.
Let us know what you think.
Bikers are
animals," a term that adults might use in the pejorative sense, has been
turned by writer and artist Paul Jamiol into a book for children that brings
joy and amusement while promoting safe riding...
Jamiol's community of motorcycle-riding fauna will keep young readers
enthralled. It answers some of the questions about motorcycles that
their parents may not be able to answer.
Ed Youngblood - Ed Youngblood's
Motohistory
BIKERS are ANIMALS - A Children’'s
Book on Motorcycling by Paul Jamiol is a children's
book on animals, motorcycling and motorcycle safety...
Paul creates a dozen colorful, unique, lovable critter characters riding
various kinds of very colorful, detailed bikes. Each character has a
personality and little story, and are as diverse as the bikes. Delightful
and entertaining! At the end of the book there are pages of his characters
that kids can color.His love for biking and the open road really comes through.
It's a perfect gift for your child or
grandchild.
Jen Grady - TheZoo
Bikers are Animals 2 review
Motorcycling cartoonist Paul Jamiol has done it again with “Bikers
Are Animals 2,” a sequel to his “Bikers Are Animals” published in
November, 2009. Sub-titled “The Rest of
the Crew,” Jamiol brings us another dozen endearing creatures who like to
ride motorcycles, including Classik, a coyote who loves antique
motorcycles, and Craig, an alligator who would rather ride than hang
around a hot swamp all day. As with the first “Animals,” there is a
coloring section with all the characters in line art. Jamiol's basic
message is one of inclusiveness, joy, and the absence of prejudice.
Every motorcyclist with small children or grandkids should gift them this
book. It is fun and character-building in an entertaining way that
children can enjoy. To read our review of Jamiol's first “Animals”
book, go to Motohistory News & Views 7/10/2009. Ed Youngblood - Ed Youngblood's Motohistory
Tiger Skins joins
forces with national number 24 Logan Myers for 2007
Team Motorcyclist's Post is proud to
announce that national number 24Logan Myers
will be running Tiger Skins number plates for the 2007 AMAFord Quality Checked Flat Track Championship season. Tiger
Skins numberplates are a product of
Imaginations Run Wild Graphics; a leading custompowersports graphic design and manufacturing firm based out of
York, PA.
The cutting edge firm produces vinyl
graphics and decals for a wide range of
applications including; photo and logo decals, vehicle/trailer
lettering &graphics, full-color banners &
signs, complete bike wraps, custom license
plates, custom T-shirts and sports apparel, and Tiger Skins
polycarbonatenumber plates.
Tiger Skins principal Deanna Graham
reports; "My brother, Paul Crumling(#2A), was a professional dirt track rider and the true pioneer
of whatnumber plates are today. After his
passing from a lengthy illness in 1999, I
made memorial decals to raise money for the AIR Fund and some of thelocal riders asked if I would make their plates. We've been
making vinylgraphics and number plates for
5 years, mostly for amateur riders, and now
we're growing with them into the PRO level
of the sport. When I talked toLogan and Leo I knew I wanted to get
involved with their program. Whatappealed
to me about these guys is the fact that they are one of the smallerteams out there with a very promising rider in Logan Myers.
They've hadtheir
share of bad luck and have shown great perseverance by staying in thegame through it all. On top of that, their ability and
willingness to provide anadvertising return
through The Motorcyclist's Post publication on mysponsorship investment really made it a no-brainer from a
businessperspective. I now look forward to
the start of the AMA GNC Season morethan
ever."
