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AMA Pro Stars Join Fans for Barber Track Walk in Support of Local Tornado Victims

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (June 15, 2011) – This Saturday evening, June 18, road race fans can get an inside look at what it takes to navigate the challenging 2.38-mile Barber Motorsports Park, thanks to those who know it best: AMA Pro racers. AMA Pro Racing, Barber Motorsports Park, and ZOOM Motorsports have teamed up on a special event that not only gives fans a rare opportunity, but also raises funds for those affected by the devastating tornadoes that hit Alabama and other areas of the South in late April.

 

Photo by Brian J

 

The walk will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday following the day’s Barber Superbike Classic activities, and $10 Track Walk tickets can be purchased at Gates 2 or 10 upon Saturday entry, or in Lot E prior to the start of the walk. Participating fans have the option of walking the entire track, or just sections of it.

 

A huge number of top AMA Pro racers have already signed on to accompany fans around the beautiful Alabama circuit, headed up by reigning AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes, his Monster Energy Graves Yamaha teammate, Josh Herrin, and Hayes’ wife, HT Moto Yamaha rider Melissa Paris. The powerhouse Rockstar Makita Suzuki SuperBike duo of Blake Young and Tommy Hayden will likewise put sneakers to pavement on behalf of tornado victims, and the list of participating riders doesn’t stop there.

 

Roger Lee Hayden and Ben Bostrom will represent the National Guard/Jordan Suzuki crew, and they’ll be joined by Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo (Team Latus Motors Racing), SuzukiScoopFans Racing’s Elena Myers–known for notching the historic first AMA Pro win by a female just last year–Danny Eslick (GEICO Powersports/RMR Suzuki), Vesrah Suzuki’s Cory West and Taylor Knapp, young-gun Cameron Beaubier (GP Bike Parts), and Y.E.S/Pat Clark/Graves Yamaha’s Chris Clark and Tommy Aquino.

 

Even injuries can’t stop at least two additional riders from participating in support of the local community, as Chris Ulrich will join M4 Suzuki teammates Martin Cardenas, Dane Westby, and Santiago Villa, and Jake Holden will represent the Jake Holden Racing crew. Ulrich and Holden are both scheduled to sit out the Barber double-header while recuperating, but with the help of a pit scooter or two, they’re determined to be present Saturday evening.

 

SPEED TV announcers Greg White and Scott Russell (a Superbike legend at home and abroad) will likewise be joining fans on the walk, all proceeds from which will directly support tornado-relief efforts through the Christian Service Mission, a local non-profit organization that connects resources with community needs. With additional participating riders being announced during the Barber Superbike Classic itself, expect Saturday’s Track Walk to be a stroll to remember.

 

Additionally, this year’s Barber Superbike Classic is a tribute to the men and women of the Alabama National Guard; visit www.barbermotorsports.com for special ticket offers for military personnel, as well as for regular tickets and event information.

 

To learn more and be a part of AMA Pro Racing, please visit www.amaproracing.com and join us onfacebook.com/AMAProRoadRacing and twitter.com/AMAProSBK.

Fans, former employees to celebrate Brut snowmobile

Brut? Brutanza Engineering? Bring back any memories?

Bilde

Photo credit: Brad Goodenbour

“BROOTEN — Summer isn’t the time many people think about snowmobiling, but Brad Goodenbour is among dozens who are looking forward to an event this month celebrating the heritage of a sled that helped revolutionize the sport four decades ago.

In the early 1970s, Brooten-based Brutanza Engineering introduced a liquid-cooled, two-cycle snowmobile with a variety of other innovations that soon began to dominate races in the Upper Midwest. After three years, the company sold out to Scorpion. But from 1972-74, the “Brut” snowmobile made an impression that remains strong today.

Goodenbour grew up in St. Louis Park but he had family near Brooten. His uncle owned a Brut, and the sport grew on Goodenbour even more after he moved to the area to take over his grandparents’ dairy operation. He enjoyed collecting just about anything associated with Brutanza, and today he boasts almost a dozen operational sleds and a trove of sales literature, magazine articles, stockholders reports and other artifacts.

So he naturally became the point man for a group of collectors and former Brutanza employees who have banded together to remember the snowmobiles and those who designed and built them.

The Brutanza Snowmobile Reunion will happen June 25 in Brooten. At least two dozen collectors have said they’ll each bring from two to 10 sleds each. And many of the 50 employees who worked at Brutanza — including quite a few who still live in the area — plan to attend as well.

If you like vintage snowmobiles, particularly this one that is native to Central Minnesota, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime get-together.

“There are some chat sites for Brut collectors on the Internet, and I got to talking with some other people and they found out I lived in Brooten,” said Goodenbour, 48, who began gathering all things Brut about 10 years ago after seeing a vintage snowmobile show in Glenwood. “They started asking me things like where the factory was and stuff like that. One thing led to another and we figured it would be a great idea to have a reunion if somebody would step up and line something together. So that’s what I did.””

 

(Via .) sctimes.com

Read the full, original post: Fans, former employees to celebrate Brut snowmobile | St. Cloud TIMES | sctimes.com

IWA Season Opener in Moose Lake, MN

Iwa

“The International Watercross Association (IWA) kicked off its racing season June 4th and 5th in beautiful Moose Lake, MN.

Over 50 racers from throughout the upper Midwest come together for each and every IWA event making the competition fierce and the action fast!  The crowd was blessed with two wonderful early June days full of sunny skies and warm breezes as the IWA racers took to the water.

In the Stock 600 Drags, we had a first time winner, #779 Laura Henderson.  Laura and her Husband Rob made the trip to Moose Lake from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin.  This is Laura’s second year racing her Snowmobilers.com, Prilosec OTC Ski-Doo with the IWA and her excitement was a treat for the entire crowd and pit area.

The Stock 800 Drags were dominated all weekend by #176 Krista Maki-Zurn aboard her GLH Performance Ski-Doo.  Krista went un-defeated for the weekend with hardly a serious challenge in a single heat.  Krista is no stranger to winning races though, she is the reigning World Champion in Stock 800 Drags and looks like she’s on track for a repeat performance in 2011.

The Mod Drag class features the fastest sleds in the World on the water.  These highly modified machines reach speeds of up to 80 MPH in the 400 foot drag course!  Leading the way at the 2011 Moose Lake Grand Prix was hometown hero Clint (Bubba) Fjosne.  Complete with “Bubba” T-shirts and full regalia, the #222 fan club was out in force and Bubba didn’t disappoint.  He narrowly edged #413 Chad Maki at the finish line, earning the first Mod Drag victory of his career.

When the ovals began on Sunday, the whole pit area was buzzing with anticipation.  As drivers worked their way towards the finals, the crew members worked diligently to keep the machines prepared and the entire crowd could feel the tension growing.  The first oval final of the day was Semi-Pro Stock and it was a flag to flag “beat down” on the competition by #517 Arthur “Bud” Coen aboard his KMA Racing Ski-Doo.  Bud had the field covered all weekend long and when he got the opportunity to win his first final in Semi Pro Stock, he seized it!  I’ve known and watched Bud’s racing career from the time he was just a 5-year old kid working with his Dad and Brother in the pits and it was a really neat experience to see him win his first race.

When the Semi-Pro Open final lined up, I told our flag man Kris Hicks, “Be on your toes, this is going to be one heck of a race”.  As they completed the first lap it was the #134 Ski-Doo of JT Kosnitch in the lead and he would hang on for his first IWA win!  JT’s GLH Performance Ski-Doo was lightning fast and was also pulling double duty this weekend!  JT was quick to thank Shawn Zurn of GLH Performance for tuning his sled and giving him a piece that he could win with.”

Read the full, original blog post! Links are below!

International Watercross Association

(Via .) snowgoer.com

IWA Season Opener in Moose Lake, MN

Support federal legislation to prohibit the funding of discriminatory motorcycle-only checkpoints

Ama

Own a motorcycle? Ride it? Make sure you aren’t being unfairly targeted!

Urge your Representative to support today!

The New York State Police implemented a law enforcement checkpoint targeting motorcyclists during Americade, the world’s largest motorcycle touring rally held in Lake George, NY. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) finds this program discriminatory and inappropriate.

Furthermore, the AMA understands that the York County sheriff’s office and the Kennebunkport police departments in the state of Maine conducted motorcycle-only checkpoints (MOCs) the weekend of June 10-13.

In a previous alert, the AMA informed the motorcycling community that the Arlington County Police Department of the Commonwealth of Virginia implemented a MOC during Rolling Thunder on May 28. For more information on this, click here.

Beginning with the state of New York in 2009 and then the state of Georgia’s use of MOCs and now Maine and Virginia, the AMA has been out front on this discriminatory issue from the beginning.

Regarding the state of Georgia, it was the only state to receive a grant in the amount of $70,000 from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) program to create MOCs. The grant will be used to conduct one or more roadside motorcycle-only checks in accordance with what was outlined in the Request for Applications. The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) will oversee the day-to-day operation of the program.

The program in question is the Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstrations Grant (DTNH22-10-R-00386). Although the grant has been closed to new applicants as of August 13, 2010, you can view the grant notice here. In addition to the Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstrations Grant, other NHTSA funds are being spent on these MOCs.

On October 26, 2010, the AMA sent a letter to Georgia’s former Governor Sonny Perdue requesting he suspend the implementation of the grant until questions raised by the motorcycling community are addressed. The former governor did not respond to AMA’s letter. Therefore, the AMA sent another letter, dated February 15, 2011, to Georgia’s newly-elected Governor Nathan Deal. To see AMA’s letter, click here.

The AMA cautioned riders traveling through the state of Georgia that the GSP may mobilize the MOC during Daytona Bike Week. On March 9, the GSP did just that on I-95. To view a video of the MOC in operation, click here.

On the federal side, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and some of his colleagues sent a letter, dated September 30, 2010, to the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The congressional letter urged LaHood to suspend the grant program that would expand the highly criticized practice of creating motorcycle-only checkpoints by law enforcement agencies. The AMA strongly supports this important letter.

To see the congressional letter, click here.

On March 3, 2011, Rep. Sensenbrenner introduced H.R. 904. This bill would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from providing grants or any funds to states or local governments to be used for any program to create MOCs.

On May 25, 2011, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and 12 of his colleagues sent a letter to the leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in support of including H.R. 904 in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill.

To view the letter, click here.

The AMA has formally questioned the discriminatory practice of this program, administered by the NHTSA. The AMA sent a letter to Administrator Strickland on August 9, 2010, urging him to suspend the grant program until questions have been addressed. To view AMA’s letter, click here. To view Administrator Strickland’s response, click here.

While law enforcement officials may defend the program as a safety measure, there is no substantive proof of its effectiveness. The practice, first modeled in the state of New York, has drawn the ire of thousands of motorcyclists nationally.

The AMA believes that the best way for NHTSA, states and local jurisdictions to reduce motorcycle crashes is to employ proven strategies, such as rider education and motorcycle awareness programs that decrease the likelihood of crashes from occurring in the first place. These strategies must be research-based.

H.R. 904 is critical to ending the discriminatory practice of MOCs. The motorcycling community needs you to contact your U.S. Representative now to ask them to cosponsor H.R. 904 to end funding for MOCs. Just follow the “Take Action” option to send a pre-written e-mail directly to your Representative.

Be sure to forward this to your motorcycling friends! The AMA needs motorcyclists to unite against MOCs.

AMA Pro Flat Track World Finals Returning to SoCal Glory

Ama

 

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (June 10, 2011) – AMA Pro Racing and the Bellino-Morgan partnership are proud to announce that an agreement has been reached to bring professional flat track back to Los Angeles. On October 15, the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship will culminate in the AMA Pro Flat Track World Finals at the Fairplex in Pomona, where the best of the best in the flat track world will meet to decide which riders leave with crowns.

 

Long the traditional setting of the year-end event, the challenging half-mile is a welcome addition to the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track calendar and the perfect place for AMA Pro Racing to crown its series champions.

 

“AMA Pro Racing couldn’t ask for a more fitting finale to what’s already been a fantastic Flat Track season,” said AMA Pro Racing COO and Managing Member David Atlas. “We’re proud to add another quality venue to our season calendar, and we’re immensely enthusiastic about both the Bellino-Morgan partnership and a return to the glory of Southern Californian tradition.”

 

Bob Bellino, of Circle Bell Motorsports, is well known as the promoter of both the returning Sacramento Mile and the second-annual Calistoga Half-Mile; Chris Morgan, of Motorsports Ventures, is the West Coast Director of DirtCar, the sanctioning body for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

 

“Chris has an extensive background in motorsport promotion,” said Bellino. “We met when he came to Northern California to promote the series of World of Outlaw races held this spring, and we hit it off right away. Our ideas about promoting races and giving the race fan the best value for their dollar are very similar.”

 

“We’re excited about the creation of the world finals concept and the opportunity to play host to the final round of the AMA Pro Flat Track calendar,” said Morgan. “We look forward to combining the history of Pomona, the excitement of AMA Pro Flat Track, and the star power and glamour of Los Angeles into a grand finale for the 2011 AMA Pro tour.”

 

The 2011 season marks the first since 1999 that more than one National has been held in the Golden State, and the AMA Pro Flat Track World Finals will undoubtedly be a night to remember. The evening with crown not one but two AMA Pro Flat Track Champions, as both the Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship and the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship will be decided at the Fairplex.

 

The event will also mark the end of Chris Carr’s Farwell Tour, as the seven-time Grand National Champion will be stepping away from a full-time assault on the points race at the end of this year. If early season race results are any indication, however, Carr could very well be in the hunt for his stunning eighth title when the “Rolling Thunder Show” descends on the Fairplex in Pomona this fall.

 

The deep cushion of the Fairplex half-mile was a staple on the Grand National Series for years, running spring and fall races in 1992 through 1995 and returning briefly to the schedule in 2009. Among the current crop of riders, only Chris Carr (1993) and Henry Wiles (2009) have posted wins at Pomona. Historically, the track has favored the hard-charging “cushion masters,” and AMA Hall of Fame inductee Scott Parker-who posted a legendary six wins at the circuit-is the only rider who’s ever repeated there.

 

The addition of the AMA Pro Racing Flat Track World Finals expands the 2011 calendar to twenty-two races, culminating in a Western three-race swing that comprises the Calistoga Half-Mile National on October 1, the Yavapai Downs Mile II on October 9, and the AMA Pro Racing Flat Track World Finals at the Fairplex in Pomona, October 15.

 

For tickets to and information about the AMA Pro Racing Flat Track World Finals, visit www.FlatTrackWorldFinals.com or call (707) 703-3633.

 

To be a part of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship, visit us at

www.amaproracing.com/ft and join us on www.facebook.com/AMAProFlatTrackSeries andwww.twitter.com/AMAProFlatTrack.

 

AMA Press Release!

Hoverbike – the Twin Rotor BMW Boxer Powered Flying Motorcycle

Pretty interesting concept. Think it’ll “take off”?

“If Chris Malloy’s Hoverbike works as it’s designed to work, there’s going to be a long line of customers waiting for a chance to get on board, this twin rotor BMW boxer powered hovercraft will do more than give you the feeling of flying, you’ll BE flying.

Hoverbike rf

The carbon fiber Hoverbike weighs 231 pounds with a maximum takeoff weight of 595 pounds. On just the primary fuel tank it has a range of 92 miles at 80 knots (92 mph), with a theoretical top speed of 172 mph and a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet! So far, all tests have been tethered so these performance figures are somewhat speculative, but if he gets into the next phase of actual untethered flight, we’ll know whether those numbers can be achieved.

Hoverbike hovering Hoverbike chris malloy Inventor Chris Malloy

Control is by the motorcycle style handlebars, twist grips control rotor thrust and deflection of the air vanes which provides forward and reverse, turns are controlled by turning the bars, somewhere in the near future are gyros for stability and explosive parachutes to bring the craft down in the event of engine failure or the rider can wear a chute, too. Counter rotating rotors eliminate the need for a tail rotor.

Malloy says the Hoverbike is actually designed for utilitarian purposes like search and rescue, power line inspection and the like, but I can’t see this staying out of the hands of thrill seekers who have always dreamed of a bike like this. He figures it will be classed as an ultralight in the US eliminating the need for a pilot’s license.

Personal hover type vehicles have a long history of great designs that never make it to market because they always seem to come up short in actual flight testing, but if there’s ever been one I would like to see make it to production, this would be the one.

Link: Hoverbike via Gizmag “

 

(Via .) thekneeslider.com

Original post: Hoverbike – the Twin Rotor BMW Boxer Powered Flying Motorcycle

Yamaha’s Retention of Ben Spies for 2012 Very Smart Move

Pretty good post from MotorcycleDaily.com regarding Yamaha retaining Ben Spies through 2012.

“The announcement that Yamaha has signed Ben Spies to a contract extension through the 2012 season (see the official press release here, with some quotes from Spies and Yamaha management), comes as no surprise. Spies has performed well for Yamaha since capturing the WSB title in 2009, and MotoGP Rookie of the Year in 2010. The transition to the 1000cc bikes next year should only make Spies more competitive.

Spies2

Spies has extensive experience racing 1000cc superbikes, both in the United States and at the WSB level. Although the MotoGP bikes will be substantially lighter than their WSB counterparts, the huge torque and power offered by the 1000cc machines will be familiar to Spies, and also erase any disadvantage he currently has as one of the largest, heaviest riders in MotoGP.

You can follow this link to the MotoGP website for a look at the different riders currently competing in MotoGP. Spies is a big guy … nearly 6 feet tall and listed at 71 kg (156 pounds). Heavier than virtually every other MotoGP competitor except for Marco Simoncelli, Spies is arguably at a disadvantage aboard the 800cc bikes currently being raced. Indeed, Simoncelli and Valentino Rossi, another one of the larger riders (although lighter than Spies) have argued that the total bike and rider weight should be subject to a minimum, equalizing the rider/bike total weight for all participants. For comparison purposes, Dani Pedrosa is slightly more than 110 pounds, roughly 50 pounds lighter than Simoncelli.

There is no question that rider weight will be less of a factor when the 1000cc machines take the grid at the start of the 2012 series. Spies, already doing quite well aboard an 800, could potentially become one of the dominant riders of the coming 1000cc era.”

(Via .) Motorcycledaily.com

Original post: Yamaha’s Retention of Ben Spies for 2012 Very Smart Move « MotorcycleDaily.com – Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews

Triple Back Flip?

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