General Posts

A new Ohio law has eased restrictions for drivers of three-wheel vehicles, and some lawmakers say it will spur economic growth. House Bill 429, which went into effect earlier this month, changes the license requirements for auto cycles. The legislation allows motorists — who have a conventional driver’s license — to operate three-wheeled auto cycles. Prior to the law’s enactment, drivers had to obtain a motorcycle endorsement or license to operate the vehicle. Ohio Rep. Niraj Antani, Ohio House Speaker Clifford Rosenberger and other lawmakers toured Polaris Industries in Wilmington on Monday morning. The company manufactures products like snowmobiles, ATVs, military vehicles and the three-wheel auto cycles. Lawmakers said it didn’t make sense to require drivers to have a motorcycle endorsement when the vehicles have a steering wheel and operators “don’t straddle” the seat. “The potential is unlimited,” he said. “We think a lot of people will buy these.” Justin Jones, of Ride One Power Sports in Springfield, said the business sells auto cycles including the Polaris Slingshot. The store expects more customers interested in buying one of the speciality vehicles. The law “opens up the opportunity to anyone who has a normal driver’s license,” Jones said. Source: Dayton Daily News

Desert Storage is the newest sponsor to announce support for Arizona resident and seven-time land speed record holder, Valerie Thompson. Desert Storage is attempting to redefine the self-storage business category with a variety of solutions for customers facing the challenge of moving and downsizing. Desert Storage provides air conditioned drive-in storage access, covered outdoor facilities for RV’s/boats/automobiles, wine storage, mailbox rentals and document shredding in a safe and secure environment. “When I needed a secure storage facility to keep our motor coach in Scottsdale, Desert Storage was an easy choice. They offer the widest variety of services at the best price,” said Thompson. “Scott Brawn and his staff at Desert Storage are very professional and attentive. They are my last stop after every race since they provide a well-lit cleaning/sanitary dump station and covered parking for our motor coach and motorcycle hauler. I never have to worry about security or access. They really take the hassle out of storing our most critical equipment,” added Thompson. Anosh Vasani, Director of Marketing for Desert Storage, says, “We are really excited to support Valerie in her endeavors. She is a great athlete and we look forward to her breaking even more records.” Thompson is an independent team owner/driver, fielding a record setting BMW S 1000 RR land speed racing motorcycle with plans to compete in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle class in 2017. In addition to 7-land speed records, she is a lifetime member of six-land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs, including the prestigious Bonneville 200 MPH Club and first female member of the Colorado Mile. She earned the title of world’s fastest female motorcycle racer with an average one measured mile speed of 304.263 mph and exit speed of 313 mph at the 2016 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials.

News about California Traffic Schools, Devil’s Patch, Georgia Highbars, Australian Young Drivers Training, and Vietnam Bans Motorcycles. To read the full details click here.

By Spitfire The stress seems less this morning as the riders headed out on a mostly flat course of only 184 miles from Wichita, KS to Dodge City, KS. 67 riders got a later than usual start (9:00) which gave people a chance to eat breakfast, take showers and dry some of their clothes out. We only had 9 pages of instructions. We left on a 6 lane freeway which is always a bit interesting as the bikes mix with traffic. At mile marker 23 I found the first bike pulled over. Anthony Rutledge, #11 was just tightening his kickstand to avert potential disaster. He said he always looks and listens for anything that might come loose. We continued on. The terrain was flat with vast fields. An occasional tree stood out of the earth like an invitation to seek shelter from the hot sun. I thought about one of my favorite TV shows, Little House on the Prairie and how each show taught a life lesson. I wondered why the TV shows we have now no longer do that? My day-dreaming was stopped abruptly by some serious dips in the road that caused me to stand up on my footboards to absorb some of the energy. I hoped the person behind me noticed me bounce! The long stretches of road gave me great opportunities to get pictures of riders. I leave after everyone else has gone out on the course and then I pass the riders to get ahead a little bit so I can stop to help and fall back again. I do that leap frogging all day. After lunch we found some great opportunities for pictures as a freight train with graffiti on it rolled by. I pulled over to wait for some riders to go by

This is a veterans charity event and a taste of Louisiana. Don’t miss the action or the music. Always a good time… Be there, be there, be there!

By Spitfire Today’s route would take us across Missouri starting in Cape Girardeau and ending in Springfield. Elevations were 300 to 1700 feet. 66 motorcycles lined up this morning to attempt another day. We had started with 91 but one never made it out of the parking lot so it was disqualified. The official number of starting bikes was 90. 7 have dropped out of the race and 17 are still working on the bikes or waiting for parts. This morning one of them did not make it from the parking lot to the road. One of his fork springs popped out and he and his bike went down. Unhurt, many rushed to his aid to bring him back to the lot for another day of working on the bike. At mile marker 3, #34, Peter Reeves was struggling with his magneto. Mile marker 8 we found #16, Chris Knoop working on his shifter…again. We saw many more along side the road helping each other or with Cannonball crew. We watched for a thumbs-up letting us know we could continue on. Just this one day my husband, Tony Pan from Milwaukee came to spend the day with everyone. I typically leave after everyone is out of the parking lot. I ride faster than the antique bikes on my 2008 H-D Street Glide so I pass riders to get up further in the pack knowing that I will need to stop and check on someone. I also try to get up a ways to hear what is happening at gas stops and check my phone. At the first gas stop, everyone seemed to be in a great mood. We laughed as Cris Sommer Simmons explained that she was the only one left from her team so she had teamed up with

This week we have action from Daytona, Las Vegas Bikefest, JIMS, Royal Enfield, FEMA, the MRF, and a raft of others. Click here for all of it.

The rebirth of the Indian Scout and introduction of the Scout Sixty delivered a fresh breed of powerful middleweight cruisers to the industry. And Kuryakyn’s new Sprint collection designed by John Shope of Dirty Bird Concepts takes the aggressively styled platform to a whole ’nother level. Read more.

I wrote this piece a long time ago. It was never submitted for publication because I figured that, in the light of such unorthodox outrageousness, this story would be rejected. But I think its time has come. The images were shot with film, which most of mine was ruined in a flood. These few were salvaged from that disaster and I apologize for them. Read more.