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Orient Express Sponsors Celtic Racing in American Superbike Roadracing– DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 3, 2009)?Extending a successful roadracing partnership, Orient Express Racing and Celtic Racing have teamed up to compete in the American Superbike class with 2007 British Supersport Champion Michael Laverty.
Orient Express, a 2009 AMA Pro Racing contingency sponsor which has specialized in developing and distributing a wide range of sportbike performance products for 36 years, is a championship-winning force in professional drag racing and the title sponsor of AMA Dragbike?s Pro Street class.
On the partnership, Orient Express proprietor Skip Dowling, says, ?We?re excited to continue our involvement in roadracing and proud to be affiliated once again with Celtic Racing as it brings new, international faces to the U.S. Superbike scene. We welcome Michael Laverty to the World Center of Racing and wish him all the best in his American adventure.?
Celtic Racing?s main mission is bringing foreign riders to America?s roadracing stage. The team helped launch the successful U.S. career of former FIM Grand Prix racer and Welshman Chaz Davies. It has also supported Kenny Noyes and Alastair Seeley in their American debuts, worked with Florida-based roadracing veteran Michael Barnes and continues to groom promising American teenager P.J. Jacobsen on both sides of the Atlantic.
Laverty, a 27-year-old Irishman, had a successful debut on Celtic?s 2008 GSX-R1000, which runs a TiForce exhaust and is race-prepped with other Orient Express products. He finished third in his first-ever race in America and at Daytona, the ASRA Team Challenge Solo class, and posted the fastest lap of the race. A native of Toomebridge, County Antrim, Laverty?s brothers Eugene and John compete in the Supersport World Championship and British Superbike Series, respectively.
International talent scout and Celtic Racing owner Barry Gilsenan is thrilled about beginning the second year of the team?s Orient Express sponsorship. He?s also confident in his promising new rider: ?I?ve watched Laverty over the years and have been impressed,? says the former racer. ?We?re glad to offer him this opportunity to show off his talents in Celtic Racing colors.?
In addition to Orient Express, Gilsenan would like to thank William Myers and Blake Kelley, from WAM Cycles, for their bike-prep help, as well as Elf Lubricants and Rich Alexander, Jr. for their support and advice.
For more information on Orient Express Racing?s products, services and race-team activities, visit www.OrientExpress.com or call 800/645-6521.
MYRTLE BEACH WARS CONTINUE, MAY HARLEY-DAVIDSON RALLY TO MOVE TO N.C.– The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association is moving its May motorcycle rally to New Bern, N.C.In a press release issued this morning, the association said it had been welcomed by the mayor of New Bern and has a 40-acre site for the rally, which will take place May 15 and 16 — a shorter event than the ones that are usually held in Horry County each May and draw nearly 500,000 people.The New Bern rally will be held at the New Bern Fairgrounds at 3700 E. U.S. 70.
In the press release, Mark Cox, president of The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association said, ?We feel it is in the best interest of The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association and our customers to leave the Myrtle Beach rally venue…This new venue will allow us to get back to basics and offer our existing and new customers a rally experience they will appreciate without restrictions and with the ability to enjoy the freedom of riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.”
The dealers’ association said it had given the issue serious thought and decided to go where it would be welcomed. ?We are pleased and honored that you have chosen to hold your rally in our city, and we pledge our total cooperation in making your rally a most pleasurable and memorable occasion for all in attendance, said New Bern Mayor T.A. Bayliss III.
The dealers’ association said people can visit its Web site at www.chdda.com for more information.
— Lorena Anderson
MOTORCYCLING NEEDS RESPECT, THIS BILL IS CALLED, KILL A BIKER–GO TO JAIL– Last week Florida Representative Evers office filled HB 1161 as promised. This is the companion Bill to Senator Garcias SB 968which we discussed in a communication dated 02-10-09. Have yet to see the posting in the Florida State Watch area or an action alertgo out ?
Now that SB968 has a companion bill the task is going to be to get these bills heard and passed through their respective committee’s.Time is of the essence. Although we know that ABATE of Florida is working on these bills and B.O.L.T. (Bikers of Lessor Tolerance) supports them,we are concerned that the General Florida Motorcycling public is still uninformed as to the legislative status of these bills.
It is important that Florida motorcyclist contact their legislators and ask them to Vote For these bills
HB1161http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=41439&SessionId=61
–Rogue
BROKEN SPOKE LINE-UP FOR STURGIS– .38 Special Joins Hot Sturgis Lineup of Foghat & Kentucky Headhunters at Broken Spoke Saloon & Campground.
Sturgis, SD: .38 Special returns to Sturgis, to play at the Broken Spoke Saloon and Campground on 79 North, Thursday night August 4th. All Broken Spoke campers will get to see them for free as part of their $99 Sturgis Bike week package. ?I know .38 Special recorded an awesome live album when they were in Sturgis in ?99?, says Broken Spoke Owner Jay Allen. ?They always bring down the house and we are so excited to have them ?Back Where They Belong? – at the Spoke!?
The August 4th show, which is free to those staying at the Campground, will take place just 7 miles from downtown Sturgis on 79 North. The Broken Spoke Saloon at Sturgis County Line is a 45,000 square foot ride-thru bar, the centerpiece of the 600-acre Campground, in the shadows of Bear Butte.
.38 Special is an American rock band formed by Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant in 1975 in Jacksonville, Florida. By the early 1980s, the band began incorporating elements of blues-rock and arena rock into their sound, kicking off a string of successful albums and singles, including ?Rocking Into the Night?, ?Hold On Loosely?, ?Caught Up in You?, ?Back Where You Belong? and countless others.
In addition to .38 Special, Foghat is scheduled to play at the Broken Spoke Campground on August 3rd and Kentucky Headhunters on August 2nd. Many more Broken Spoke Sturgis shows are to be announced. All these shows are free for those buying the camping package.
To ensure you?ll see .38 Special for free, you?ll want to book your spot at the Campground for the Sturgis Rally. Camping is available at the Broken Spoke Saloon & Campground for just $99 per person, for the entire rally. Oversized 30-amp and 50-amp RV spots are still available at 2008 prices, and private, air-conditioned cabin prices have recently been lowered.
The Campground also features the World?s Biggest Biker Pool with hot tubs, bars, bikini-clad bartenders and live music, plus the Limpnickie Lot, the Cycle Source Ride, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall? and much more. Very few spots are left for the ?VIP 1st 500?, an exclusive pool party with food & drink, live music and celebrity guests available only to the first 500 people to book at the Campground in 2009.
Reservations can be made at www.BrokenSpokeCampground.com and by calling 8-SPOKE-ON-79 (877- 653-6679)
MYRTLE BEACH BIKE WEEK IS NOT MOVING– This e-newsletter is to inform all of you the Myrtle Beach Bike Week isnot moving.
The Carolina Dealers Association, which had a 10 x 30 booth to sellt-shirts at last year’s rally, announced they weren’t returning to MyrtleBeach and creating a 2-day event in New Bern, NC. This would be the 2nd year that they had abandoned the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.The Dealers Association never recognized the 10-day rally. They neverstayed more than 4-5 days. Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson is not part of the Dealers Association.
There were 400 vendors at bike week last year. The Dealers Associationnot returning is the equivalent of one bike week vendor not returning.
The fact that they are leaving has NO IMPACT on Spring Bike Week. Thedealers association has had little or no impact on the rallies for years. Bike Week is ON, May 8-17, and we look forward to you attending.
The City of Myrtle Beach has added ordinances and doesn’t want bike week. The City of North Myrtle Beach is welcoming bikers.Horry County is welcoming bikers. They have moved around some of thevending permits, but there is the same amount as last year.
All of the same great locations will be open this spring: Myrtle BeachHarley-Davidson; SBB Original; SBB 4 Corners; Beaver Bar; Broken SpokeSaloon; HB Spokes, etc…
Continue to check out www.mbbikeweeks.com, www.mbbikeweeks.blogspot.comand www.myrtlebeachharley.com for the REAL FACTS AND INFO about Bike Week.
SEE YOU IN MAY!
Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson
4710 S. Kings Hwy.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
www.myrtlebeachharley.com
Click here for store hours and map.
www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/804980.html
GRAND STRAND CITIES AID TO ATLANTIC BEACH MAY SUPPRESS BIKEFEST–ATLANTIC BEACH — In a first shift away from a 30-year tradition,Atlantic Beach officials entered an agreement Monday night with MyrtleBeach, North Myrtle Beach and Horry County that couples an array of aidfor the small town with harsh language about the future of the AtlanticBeach Bikefest.
The Town Council also voted 3-1 not to take up an operating plan for themotorcycle festival this year, drawing harsh reproach from Mayor RethaPierce.
“You just killed Bikefest,” Pierce said.
Technically, the Town Council has not yet done anything about itsBikefest, which annually draws more than 200,000 people to the GrandStrand. Town Manager Kenneth McIver said he will continue hisdiscussions with managers of the surrounding governments and bring moredetails about the partnership arrangement to Atlantic Beach’s nextmeeting.
“We are still brainstorming ways to assist the town,” McIver said. “Theyare not contracts; they are not blueprints; they are talking points.”
According to a report McIver presented to the council, the othergovernments have offered help in the following areas:Professional planners from one or more of the other entities willevaluate the town’s water, sewer and other infrastructure needs. Theyalso will help the town through its next comprehensive planning process,which state law requires to be done every 10 years.Planners will also help the town complete its zoning ordinances, aprocess begun two years ago but abandoned for lack of money.
Atlantic Beach police will be included in other agencies’ trainingprograms, and those agencies also may expand police protection inAtlantic Beach, where the four-officer department does not provide24-hour coverage.Help will be offered with code enforcement, permits and propertymaintenance.Other festivals to promote the town will be developed, and the otheragencies will help seek grants for the town.Financial assistance to reduce the town’s debt is “not off the table,”the agreement reads.
While no specific requests are made of Atlantic Beach, the Bikefestclearly will be an important part of the ongoing discussions.”The cities urge Atlantic Beach Town Council to join with them in notpromoting the Atlantic Beach Bike Festival in exchange for theassistance they will provide,” the document reads.
–By Robert Morris – thesunnews.com
Fly-By-Wire GripsGrips now available in chrome & black–In 2008 Harley-Davidson introduced the Fly-By-Wire electronic throttle control, standard on all Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Road King Classic and Street Glide, and optional on other touring models.
Chrome, Black, Spike or Old SchoolGrips in stock
Our interchangeable head system (patent pending) makes the electronic grip possible with more options. Metric Bike? No ProblemBig Dog Style in StockLet us know what bike you would like grips for. Cruisers & Sport bikes are available.
–Sales@xoprodox.com
SASKATCHEWAN IS NOT FLAT AND BORING– While I do concede that Saskatchewan entertainment and nightlife may not be on par with such places as Calgary and Toronto, LA or New York, we are anything but flat. It may not be as awe-inspiring as the Rockies but flat? Maybe I?m jaded because I grew up farming in the rolling land of the Missouri Coteau hill range that extends across southern Saskatchewan, working land that most would deem only suitable for ranching or hill climbing.
I find that there are very few flat areas in the province, flat enough for the horizon to melt away a few miles from the road. The flattest area is probably the stretch of highway between Moose Jaw and Regina, the lakebed of ancient melting ice caps. (Yes, they?ve been melting for centuries; it?s not something new.) But even in this flat stretch of prairie you can see the cutbacks of the hills of the Coteau to the south.
No instead of being flat, Saskatchewan is made up of rolling hills and ridges, sweeping river valleys. The great aspen parkland in the centre and the thick forest of the north, part of the Canadian Shield. It is something we tend to miss as we ride, caught up in ?Born To Be Wild? running through our minds. We assume that because we are not throwing our bikes from side to side racing around corners and curves that the land must be flat and uninspiring. On the contrary, this majestic countryside gives us time to lift our eyes from the road. To see this great land around us. To become one with nature, the wind and the road and not just with the machine beneath us.
–Uncle Monkey
Southern Independent Riders
www.stvictorboogie.com
STURGIS NICKELBACK DVD AVAILABLE– E1 Entertainment is proud to release the completely uncensored Nickelback: Live at Sturgis 2006 DVD on March 10th. This high definition DVD was filmed in front of 35,000 fans at the world-famous ?Rockin? the Rally? show in Sturgis, South Dakota, and is now being offered with unedited content as well as bonus features that include a behind-the-scenes featurette and the ?Rockstar? music video.
Accompanying the DVD is an embeddable widget with photos, a video and information on the release. I have copies for review and giveaway as well as other assets below (photos, cover art, banners, press release). Please let me know if Bikernet is interested in featuring Nickelback Live at Sturgis 2006.
Link to Widget:http://seed.sproutbuilder.com/FwDawZ69D8FGwCSl
Video Trailer Stream:http://kochent.edgeboss.net/wmedia/kochent/vision/nickelback_open.wvx
WHAT IS A SWAG?–What is a swag? Swags are sleeping compartments that are quick and easy to set up, self standing, versatile, durable and convenient to carry in a vehicle, boat, on a horse or bike. Ideal for any market that involves people stopping overnight for short stays, at low cost, in areas with no or limited facilities.
The swag can be laid out on the ground, back of truck, inside a dwelling. Full setup requires a surface allowing pegs to be driven into the ground or a structure where the swag can be tied off to, eg vehicle, fence, bar tree. All swags are waterproof.
All that is required to accompany the swag is a pillow and sleeping bag as all come with a quality grade foam mattress (Lite Rider Exempt). When rolled up the swag is lightweight and very compact making it ideal for storage and cartage. It is very easy to erect and roll up can be done in 60 seconds or so.
CLASSIC FORDS FROM OHIO COLLECTOR UP FOR AUCTION–The curtain will rise on a magnificent collection of award-winning classic Fords when RM Auctions proudly offers the distinguished Grant Oakes Ford Collection as part of our upcoming Automobiles of Amelia Island event, March 14. A renowned Ohio businessman and well-respected collector, Mr. Oakes will offer nine of his most treasured classic Fords at the event. Highlights include a rare 1932 Ford Model B-304 “Ute”, believed to be the only surviving example of the 28 originally built; and a handsome 1932 Ford Model 18 Deluxe Three-Window Coupe , which received a perfect score of 1,000 points in judging by the Early Ford V8 Club of America.
ESTEEMED SCHEMERHORN COLLECTION HEADED TO MARANELLO–RM Auctions is honored to have been chosen to present the distinguished private collection of Mr. Edgar Schermerhorn at its upcoming Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event, May 17 in Maranello, Italy. Carefully assembled over the past fifteen years, this impressive Holland-based collection spans several decades of Ferrari production and features some of the finest vintage Ferraris in existence with a particular focus on early coachbuilt models.
Highlights include: an early 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Coupe (s/n 037S), the seventh of a total of 10 Ferraris bodied by Carrozzeria Stabilimenti; a 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter by Vignale (s/n 0287EU), which was showcased at the 40th annual Paris Motor Show in France; and a highly desirable 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast (s/n 6043), the most expensive production car of its time and popular amongst Ferrari?s wealthiest clients.
PERFECT CHOPPER TO BE DELIVERED TO AUCTION WINNER– The auction winner of the limited edition PERFECT CHOPPER, a custom motorcycle created by Bourget?s Bike Works in honor of the 1972 Miami Dolphins Perfect Season 17-0 team, will receive delivery of the bike on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at noon.
Dolphins Alumni, Cheerleaders and Bourget representatives will personally turn over the keys to the bike to the winner at the Bourget’s exhibit located at the Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. John and Tara Harned, of the Orlando area, won the bike with the winning bid.
This Bourget Fat Daddy motorcycle has been personally signed by each player and coach of the 1972 team. Ring of Honor member and former Dolphin, Dick Anderson, says, ?Each time I look at the PERFECT CHOPPER I find more creative details.
Creating the chopper was a special experience for Liz Hernandez, President of Chopper Zoo in Fort Lauderdale. “As a Miami native, this project has been an incredible honor allowing all of us to work with the players and coaches of the Perfect Season Team and the Miami Dolphins as a whole,” said Hernandez.
Brentton Jones, Guest Experience Department Head for the Miami Dolphins, says the collaboration between Bourget, the Perfect Team and the Dolphins was all for charity. The net proceeds of the bike auction go to the Miami Dolphins Foundation, which is dedicated to helping various non-profit organizations in South Florida, explained Jones.
The PERFECT CHOPPER was created on the Bourget Fat Daddy Chopper patented oil in the frame platform powered by a 124-INCH S&S engine, Jim’s 6-speed transmission and Primo Brute V open belt drive. The PERFECT CHOPPER was built with Bourget’s unique patented jackshaft design allowing for left side drive with center line balance for the signature Bourget ride feel. It was designed with 45 rake in the Bourget’s springer front end, 7-inch backbone stretch and 2-inch downtube stretch. The wheels are cutouts of the Miami Dolphins logo and mounted on Avon’s Venom 330mm tire on the rear and 120mm tire on the front. The seat was custom made from authentic Miami Dolphins game footballs.
Chopper Zoo, the South Florida dealer for Bourget’s Bike Works, and the Miami Dolphins invite Dolphin fans, Daytona Bike Week motorcycle enthusiasts and eclectic collectors to see this unique piece of Dolphins history. Visit www.miamidolphins.com/perfectchopper and www.chopperzoo.cm for more information.
MAJOR ARTISTIC COVERAGE OF DAYTONA BIKE WEEK–Weather was a drag last Sunday in Daytona so I didn’t make the trip but I’ll be at the Ironhorse on Friday!
–Whiplash Biker Photog
soffordphotos@comcast.net
THE WORLD’S FASTEST ELECTRIC VEHICLE!–In 2008, Riches Nelson Racing, a veteran land speed racing team based in San Diego, CA set a World Speed Record with an electric motorcycle first time out on the El Mirage dry lake bed. This year we are raising the bar… we will attempt to exceed 350 mph by building the fastest electric vehicle on earth. Read all about our project on our new website: www.eracebike.com
Our designers and engineers have teamed up with Southern Utah University (SUU) in an attempt to educate the general public about the performance capabilities of existing “off the shelf” green technology. There is a misconception with public opinion in regard to electric vehicles – how they are slow, unexciting, and low-performance: utilitarian at best.
We want to change this perception by showing the exciting, real world possibilites of green technology in a package people can relate to. To this end, we will be building an electric motorcycle streamliner.
Please visit our site and come back often as a lot of things are going to be happening pretty fast. Like 350 mph fast…
ATLANTIC CITY CONTROVERSY HEATS UP– I was present at the Town of Atlantic Beach Council meeting last night. If you read the article and look at the video http://videos.myrtlebeachonline.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=3323649 , Mayor Pierce and the residents do not support what?s being done. Mayor Pierce and the residents have no knowledge of this deal and the Council members did not want to discuss it and basically went behind the Mayor of Atlantic Beach and its residents back to make a deal with the City of Myrtle Beach. The Mayor and the residents welcome the rally.
At this point the rally is the least of the Town of Atlantic Beach concerns, the Town of Atlantic Beach as with any other governmental body has a chain of command and the Mayor is at the top of that chain. The City of Myrtle Beach Mayor Rhode would not allow anyone of his Council Members to go behind closed doors to discuss any type of business dealings with the City of Myrtle Beach without him as Mayor would be totally unacceptable and it?s totally unacceptable of him as a Mayor to not give the Mayor of Atlantic Beach the same respect he wants.
More importantly the Council members needs to be accountable for the respect of their Mayor to stop making secret deals and include their Town Mayor residents in anything that ultimately affect their town.
The bottom line Mayor Pierce has vowed to the Town Residents to clean up the Town and get to the bottom of all of the Town?s mishandling of finances and the Council members are fighting her every step of the way to cover up all of the wrong that they have done.
The town is definitely in need of growth and development, but any communications should include the Town of Atlantic Beach’s Mayor Pierce and its residents. The City of Myrtle Beach is using the town situation and the lack of Unity to satisfy the City of Myrtle Beach objective. Everything the City of Myrtle Beach is offering the Town of Atlantic Beach, the State of South Carolina provide.
If the Town of Atlantic Beach Council Members spend more time on unity and constructive development of it’s time, and less time not respecting Mayor Pierce as the Town ofAtlantic Beach perhaps they can collectively redevelop its Town in a positive and respectable manner, but the nature of people we spend time fighting against one another instead of building one another, which in turn builds us all.
At this point the rallies are still going on and the events will be posted very soon as they are in the final stages of finalizing the vendor contracts. .
Much Luv and Respect “Heels”
Face Down, Azz Up, Grip the Clutch and Twist the Throttle…Holla at the
–from Cindy
FOGHAT MYSTERY RALLY IN JULY–It’s their 10th anniversary, which is coming up this July. Their website is www.run21.biz and their headliner is Foghat.
–Felicia Morgan
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