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Snowmobile sales, interest up

“Snowmobile sales increased 10 percent worldwide during the 2010-11 season, and more units were registered than the previous year, according to a release by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association.

Sales of new snowmobiles in the United States were up 5 percent, with 51,796 units sold. The average price decreased slightly to $8,397. New unit sales in Canada were up 8 percent with 40,878 models sold. Canada’s average price was also down slightly to $9,361. Sales in Europe and Russia were up 20 percent, with 30,389 units sold. PG&A sales in North America increased 7 percent.

The number of snowmobiles registered across all ISMA regions also increased. The U.S. saw a hike of 50,158 over the 1.5 million from 2010. Canada experienced a jump of 20,168, to bring its total to 602,902, and European registrations rose to 530,000.

The www.GoSnowmobiling.org website also saw an increase in visitors. The site attracted more than 3 million visitors on the site during the season, with 18 percent saying they do not own a snowmobile but are interested in purchasing.

The survey also found:

• The average age of a snowmobiler was 43 years old, though the median age is tracking lower to include additional Generation Y customers entering the market.

• About 65 percent of snowmobile buyers purchased their first sled this past season.

• On average, snowmobilers rode 1,141 miles each, which is 10 percent more than during the 2009-10 season.

• The majority of snowmobilers in North America are club and/or association members. “

 

(Via .) powersportsbusiness.com

Snowmobile sales, interest up

Operating Snowmobile Trail Grooming Equipment

“Trail groomers are big (expensive!) machines that have tremendous capability to power through and over deep snow that would swallow any other vehicle — well, except for a snowmobile. Over the past few years, I’ve become more interested and intrigued by trail grooming equipment.

This is the Pisten Bully trail groomer that I drove last winter. It’s an impressive piece of equipment.

 

I climbed behind the controls of my snowmobile club’s Pisten Bully 100 for a few hours last winter and smoothed out some of our trails. With my good friend Keith Gutzwiller, who is one of our club’s groomer operators, riding shotgun, I was excited and nervous running the controls of this big red machine that has more flashing orange beacons and bright flood lights than a UFO. I learned that there’s a lot a groomer operator has to keep in check, otherwise he can screw up the trails, get stuck or worse.

 

Driving at the correct speed is important so that the drag can do its work. Drive too fast and the drag won’t have time to pack the snow into a smooth path. Move too slowly and you’re wasting time and fuel. You also have to control the height of the drag so it smoothes the moguls. Take too shallow of a cut and the trail will still be rough after you make a pass; cut too deep and you’ll over-work the machine and maybe get stuck. Keith told me to set the front of the drag down so it barely cuts into the snowpack. And then there are road crossings ….

 

Correct timing of when to raise the drag is important in order to leave a smooth transition from the trail surface to the road while not dragging snow out onto the roadway. Reach the other shoulder and again good timing is important in order to make another smooth transition.

 

Rolling across a cornfield, I accidentally let the PB’s track on the passenger-side drift a little off the beaten path, and we almost got stuck. Fortunately, with Keith’s expertise, he was able to coach me through what could have become a heckuva predicament. We rolled on.

 

Hanging off the front of the 10,000-pound groomer is a blade that can be manipulated in eight different directions. I used it to cut down 3-foot berms that had formed in some of the corners after sleds had ripped through the turns.  Just like the drag, it’s important to set the blade right so it cuts deep enough to do the work, but not so deep that it lugs down the tractor while the drag is still doing its work simultaneously. While the blade is an important tool to build smooth trails, I learned that most of the work is done by the drag.

 

Here is some information and links to more information about snow grooming equipment:

 

Pisten Bully has German roots and its first groomer was built in 1969. The PB 100 was introduced in 1999 and it’s since been replaced by the Trail Bully model. Pisten Bullys have one endless track on each side.

 

Tucker Terra Sno-Cat groomers have four, all-rubber tracks that the company says makes its orange rigs more maneuverable than two-track systems. The company is based in Medford, Oregon.

 

With one continuous track on each side of the cab, Prinoth groomers, based out of Italy, are similar to Pisten Bully equipment. Prinoth took over Bombardier’s trail grooming division in 2005.

 

Many snowmobile clubs operate tractors from John Deere, Kubota, Case, New Holland and others that are outfitted with special track systems from companies like Soucy, Camoplast and Mattracks. These systems run upwards of $40,000 and they make those heavy machines into surprisingly capable snow groomers.”

 

 

 

(Via .) blog.snowgoer.com

 

Original post: Operating Snowmobile Trail Grooming Equipment

Yamaha confirm Ben Spies contract extension – Yamaha Racing

“Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Ben Spies have signed a one year extension to the current rider agreement that will see Ben Spies continue as a Yamaha Factory Racing rider in 2012.

Spies

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said “We are obviously delighted to announce the continuation of our partnership with Ben for the 2012 season and we hope that he will remain at Yamaha for many years to come. Ben has shown his ability to successfully compete at the highest level; firstly by becoming Yamaha’s first World Superbike champion in 2009 and then attaining the status of Best Rookie in 2010 with the Tech3 Yamaha Team.

His transition to the Yamaha Factory Racing team in 2011 has just begun and we have every confidence in Ben’s abilities and high potential for the future. This timely decision now allows us to concentrate on the present championship and, in parallel, to prepare for our 2012 MotoGP program with the change to the 1000cc bikes.”

“I am very happy to say that I will remain a part of the Yamaha family,” said Ben Spies, “and that I will continue in the MotoGP series for 2012. This is a privileged time of my career riding for the most successful team in recent years at the very highest racing level. Yamaha has been great in supporting me through World Superbike and on to MotoGP and I want to thank them for all they have done, and for giving me their trust to continue in MotoGP in 2012. I especially would like to say thank you to Lin Jarvis and Masahiko Nakajima for their support.””

 

(Via .) Yamaha-Racing.com

Motorcycle sales showing signs of picking up after two-year slump

“Motorcycle sales have been on the skids for some time, but things may be looking up. If the first quarter of 2011 is any indication, Las Vegas streets may soon echo with the sound of screaming eagles as more riders take to two wheels to beat rising commute costs or just for the joy of it.

Garythompson

In 2009, 655,000 motorcycles were sold nationwide, a drastic fall from the previous six years, during which more than 1 million cycles annually moved off lots. In 2010, though, the numbers dropped even more when annual sales fell to 440,000 nationwide.

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, which represents power sports manufacturers, street bike purchases increased 7 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the same quarter a year earlier. Sales of scooters and dual-sport models increased 50 percent and 24 percent, respectively.”

Read the full, original post @ lvrj.com

(Via .) Motorcycle sales showing signs of picking up after two-year slump – Business – ReviewJournal.com

Tucker Hibbert Steps Up to Help Justin Morneau Knock Juvenile Arthritis Out of the Park

Justin Morneau to hold third annual casino night to fight arthritis

Minnesota’s action sports superstar Tucker Hibbert steps up


St. Paul, Minn. – Justin Morneau, in conjunction with the Minnesota Twins and the Arthritis Foundation Upper Midwest Region, will host the third annual Justin Morneau’s Casino Night. This event will take place Sunday, June 12 from 6 – 10 p.m. at International Market Square.

Tickets to the event are sold out but you can get in on the action through the online auction. The auction includes items ranging from gift certificates to professional sports memorabilia. One featured item is a custom autographed Monster Energy race pullover from Minnesota’s Pro Snocross and Motocross athlete Tucker Hibbert.

Hibbert stated, “I’ve been riding snowmobiles and motorcycles since I could walk so my joints have taken a beating. I made the choice to be a racer and deal with pain but kids don’t choose to have juvenile arthritis. My hope is that through events like Justin’s Casino Night and the constant work of the Arthritis Foundation, kids struggling with arthritis can have the opportunity to live pain free and be active.”

The online auction closes Saturday, June 11. Funds raised support educational and therapeutic programs for children and adults living with arthritis including a family support group, newsletters, and scholarships for Camp M.A.S.H. (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting) and the Juvenile Arthritis Conference.

Direct Link to Tucker Hibbert’s Item: https://cgi.ebay.com/Tucker-Hibbert-Autographed-Monster-Energy-Race-Coat-/190540750316?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5d1d1dec#ht_595wt_907

About Juvenile Arthritis
There are more than 50 million Americans living with arthritis, including more than 300,000 children. Juvenile arthritis is a general term for all types of arthritis that occur in children and more than 5,000 children in Minnesota live with a form of juvenile arthritis. Children may develop juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or childhood forms of lupus, ankylosing spondylitis or other types of arthritis. Children can be diagnosed as early as six months of age. Juvenile Arthritis is one of the most common chronic childhood illnesses, occurring nearly as often as insulin-dependent juvenile diabetes.

About the Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation is the only national, nonprofit health organization helping people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases – the nation’s number one cause of disability.

For more information contact Kelsey McDonough at 651-229-5365 or [email protected].

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. Our website is arthritis.org/chapters/minnesota.

Motorcycle Riders: Snap Photos Outside Best Western Hotels and Be Entered To Win Big Rewards, Free Nights

“PHOENIX (June 6, 2011) – To kick off motorcycle riding season and introduce two-wheeled travelers to Best Western’s three new types of hotels, Best Western International , the World’s Biggest Hotel FamilySM, announced a photo contest for motorcycle enthusiasts who visit any of the chain’s 2,200 BEST WESTERN, BEST WESTERN PLUS or BEST WESTERN PREMIER hotels inNorth America.

Bw

Motorcyclists who visit a Best Western hotel and upload a photo of their bike in front of a Best Western sign will be entered to win and each week between now and July 15, three winners will randomly be chosen to receive 5,000 Best Western Rewards points.

One grand prize winner will be chosen at random to receive 65,000 points, good for room nights, gift cards, airline miles and more,in celebration of Best Western’s 65th birthday in 2011. To commemorate the launch of the three new types of Best Western hotels, the first rider to submit a photo in-front of all three different BEST WESTERN, BEST WESTERN PLUS and BEST WESTERN PREMIER signs will win a $650 travel card – good for use at any of the chain’s 4,000 hotels worldwide.

Participants must upload their digital photos to Best Western’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BestWestern between now and July 15, 2011 to be eligible to win prizes.

“We want motorcycle riders to know that there’s a Best Western hotel for every type of trip they take with the introduction of BEST WESTERN, BEST WESTERN PLUS and BEST WESTERN PREMIER hotels, and we welcome them to come and stay with us,” said Dorothy Dowling, Best Western senior vice president of marketing and sales. “This photo contest allows new and existing Ride Rewards members to experience the special amenities and services we offer exclusively to riders. What’s more – one lucky rider will win 65,000 rewards points which can be redeemed for up to a week of free nights at participating hotels, gift cards, airline miles and much more.”

Photo contest entrants must sign up or be existing members of Best Western Ride Rewards®, the industry’s only free loyalty program for guests traveling by motorcycle. Best Western Ride Rewards members will automatically earn Gold Elite status when the sign up, allowing them to earn 10 points for every U.S. dollar spent on qualified room rates and 10 percent bonus points with each qualified stay at any Best Western hotel. Motorcycle travelers can register for Best Western Ride Rewards by visitingwww.bwrider.com or calling 1-888-BW2BIKE.

As part of its partnership with Harley-Davidson®, Best Western has more than 1,200 Rider-Friendly® hotel locations in North America which provide services such as a special Harley-Davidson rate, a clean wipe-down at check-in and a bike cleaning station. Additional benefits at some properties include reserved parking spaces, bottled water and lip balm.

As a complement to Ride Rewards, enthusiasts can also use the Harley-Davidson Ride Planner tool to map and plan rides, and book a Best Western hotel along the route.

Keep up with the photo contest by following Best Western on Twitter @TheBestWestern, hashtag #BWBikerPhoto.”

(Via .) usridernews.com

Motorcycle Riders: Snap Photos Outside Best Western Hotels and Be Entered To Win Big Rewards, Free Nights | USRiderNews

Snowmobile sales increase, Gen Y starts sledding, ISMA reports

“Snowmobile sales rose 10% worldwide last season thanks to good snow accumulation, colder winter weather and an increase in interest by Generation Y, says the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA).

Sleds

Sales of snowmobiles in North America, Europe and Russia totaled 123,063 compared to 111,492 units sold in the 2009-2010 season.

U.S. sales rose 5% to 51,796 snowmobiles being sold, up from 48,599 the previous season. The average price of a snowmobile decreased to $8,397.

The upward trend continued in Canada with an 8% increase in sales to 40,878 new sleds sold compared with 37,670 snowmobiles sold the previous season. The biggest percentage increase came from Europe and Russia where sales jumped 20% to 30,389 new snowmobile sales.

Registration numbers, a good measure of how many people are using their snowmobiles each season, increased too, hitting 1,550,158 snowmobiles compared to about 1,500,000 in the previous year. Canadian sled registration increased to 602,902 from 582,134 in 2009-2010. ISMA attributes the increase in snowmobile registrations to states and provinces seeing an expansion of their clubs’ membership numbers and new trails being developed.

ISMA says estimates indicate that snowmobiling generates $28 billion in economic activity each season.

The association also notes that the median age of snowmobilers is starting to track lower thanks to increased snowmobile interest from Generation Y. The average snowmobiler is now 43 years old. ISMA notes that there are more than 80 million Gen Y residents in the U.S., ranging from 19-35 years of age. Some would argue that figure also contains some of Gen X.

ISMA statistics also show snowmobilers rode 10% farther this season than in the past season. Snowmobilers averaged 1,141 miles compared to less than 1,000 miles the previous season.

By American Snowmobiler“

 

(Via .) Snowmobile sales increase, Gen Y starts sledding, ISMA reports – Cool News – American Snowmobiler Online Community

AMA Pro Racing – Road Racing News – Herrin Scores Clean Sweep of Road America Daytona SportBike Double-Header

“ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 5, 2011) – Sunday’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike action at Elkhart Lake’s beautiful Road America track immediately launched into one of the high-speed, seven-rider freight trains the class has become known for. Within minutes, though, a red flag flew and the action came to an abrupt temporary halt, as Team Latus Motors’ Jason DiSalvo — who’d been dicing with Race 1 winner Josh Herrin (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha) and Celtic Racing/Fast by Ferracci’s PJ Jacobsen for the lead — spun out of the race before the field had completed Lap 3.

DSB1Photo by Brian J. Nelson

The red flag flew soon after to give the ambulance clear track to retrieve DiSalvo from the infield. DiSalvo was up and walking, but was taken to the track clinic to get a doctor’s assistance in pushing a dislocated right shoulder back into place.

On the restart, Jacobsen rocketed back into the lead with Herrin, Danny Eslick (GEICO Powersports/RMR Suzuki), Dane Westby (M4 Suzuki), Cory West (Vesrah Suzuki), Cameron Beaubier (GP Bike Parts), and Tommy Aquino (Y.E.S./Pat Clark/Graves Yamaha) bearing down on him, all separated by less than a second. When the second red flag few (following crashes by Jake Holden and Jason Farrell), it resulted in a few minutes of downtime followed by a restart that spit out roughly the same front running order, Herrin taking the holeshot but soon ceding it to Jacobsen.

Beaubier, who rose high in yesterday’s race before getting sucked back into the chase group, made another attempt at front-runner status by sliding into third ahead of Eslick, but Eslick quickly turned the upstart around, West following up by pushing Beaubier back yet another position. Herrin, meanwhile, was sticking close to Jacobsen’s rear wheel, even as Eslick scouted for a way around the Yamaha rider. Just corners later, however, it was West who made a big move, first stuffing Eslick to take over third, then sailing past both Herrin and Jacobsen to take over the lead.

What followed was a series of lead changes so quick and frenetic that race-watchers couldn’t look away for a second, and the drafting action up the front straight impressed even the racers, Herrin later commenting, “At one time, we were five- or six-wide going down the straightaway. I looked to my left and was like, ‘damn.’”

West’s lead fell first to Jacobsen, then Herrin, Herrin taking over the front spot to lead an astoundingly close seven-rider freight through Road America’s turns and multiple straights. Soon, though, it was Eslick in the lead, heading West and Westby, the latter moving up to take his own turn at the front, and in later laps Beaubier again jumped forward briefly to head the pack. With just a handful of laps remaining, though, the field lost another major player, as Jacobsen was suddenly seen riding his bike onto the grass with an apparent mechanical.

Jacobsen’s departure still left seven riders in the lead group, at least five of which looked entirely ready to take the win, but with two laps to go, it was Herrin who shot from fourth to first. A challenge by West went badly wrong, the rider going wide and sliding back to sixth as Westby tried to challenge Eslick for second. Westby’s assault went considerably better, the M4 rider taking over the lead just after the white flag flew.

Pulling up beside Westby on the straightaway, Herrin slid by enough to cut into the turn and reclaim the lead heading for Road America’s back section, but within turns it was Eslick at the front, leading Herrin, Westby, Aquino, and West through the final corners. As the final-approach drafting battle began, however, Josh Herrin roared up from behind, slingshotting past to claim the victory by .093 seconds.

Herrin was followed across the line by Eslick, Westby, Aquino, West, Beaubier, Fernando Amantini (Team Amantini), Tyler Odom (Don Odom Racing), Paul Allison (Triple Crown Industries), and Tyler O’Hara (GP Bike Parts Racing), and he’s now followed in the points chase by absolutely everyone, having taken over the points lead with 127 to West’s 115. DiSalvo sits in third with 110.

For flag-to-flag coverage of today’s Daytona SportBike and National Guard SuperBike races, plus highlights from AMA Pro’s other classes, tune in to SPEED TV tonight from 9 to 11 p.m. PST.

The AMA Pro Road Racing Championship next heads for Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, for the Barber SuperBike Classic, Round 5 on the season calendar. For tickets and information, visit www.barbermotorsport.com/ama or call (877) 332-7804.

To be a part of the AMA Pro Road Racing Championship, visit www.amaproracing.com and join us on Facebook (facebook.com/amaproroadracing) and Twitter (twitter.com/AMAProSBK).

Josh Herrin, 1st: “I think I just have a fast bike. There’s no real perfection to drafting in a straight line, I just had the fast bike today and I have to thank my guys — they know how to build fast bikes. It was a great race, lot of close racing, and I’m just glad we finished another race weekend strong and get to head over closer to my house now for Barber. I was just trying to stay patient, not get too antsy. I knew we had a fast bike today, knew we could gain time on straight and were pretty quick in the Carousel, so I was just waiting for my shot at it and didn’t try to rush it. “It’s nice to be in the lead, but kind of crappy the way that it happened. I knew we could get up there, but I definitely didn’t expect it to happen this soon. But the championship is pretty close now, so it’ll be a fun year.”

Danny Eslick, 2nd: “When there’s five, six guys going for it you get a huge draft and you can get in there deep [into Turn 5]. It was just an awesome race, I don’t know what to say. I can’t wait to get home and watch it … it had to be spectacular for the fans and everyone watching. I definitely wanted to be leading…. I tried a few times to get by Dane through the start-finish line and it wasn’t working, so there was no way I was going to get by him. You can kind of feel when someone’s drafting up behind you. I didn’t feel it, didn’t feel it, then Josh came sling-shotting by me. It was definitely my best finish at Road America, I had a great weekend, and I’m looking forward to moving on to Barber.”

Dane Westby, 3rd: “All the guys did pretty much same thing the first couple corners, so I didn’t really think about [the red flags] too much. I knew [Herrin and Eslick] were going to come back by on the straight, so I was just trying to set up the brakes. When the white flag came out, it honestly surprised me a little bit. But it was close racing between me and the guys, and everything worked out great.” For details results from today’s racing, visit https://results.amaproracing.com.”

(Via .) AMA Pro Racing – Road Racing News – Herrin Scores Clean Sweep of Road America Daytona SportBike Double-Header