Hey,
Crazy days between the economy, the top three auto makers and what’s next? I’m going to jump off here, because this news is packed and with predominately terrific news.
So all is not lost goddamnit. Let’s rock:
BIKERNET SEMA committee report–November 6, Las Vegas: We had our first exploratory SEMA motorcycle council meeting with industry leaders. SEMA was represented by Russ Dean, SEMA General Council and John Brueggeman, SEMA Director, Government Relations Projects. The room was full as we discussed the various issues SEMA faces, which are similar to the motorcycle market. We discussed distribution issues of the past, legislative obstacles and resources, membership dues compared to the MIC, and warranty coverage support for motorcycle parts. We talked about expanding this committee to include metric cruisers and sport bikes.
Russ told us about their lobbyist and the legal teams available to us. We discussed SEMA benefits, their testing labs, a scholarship fund founded in 1984, charity work for kids, and educational efforts, including show seminars from experts to on-line business training. We also discovered that there exists a strong, hot rod grass roots organization/network working with state governments across the nation.
We discussed why this effort is important to the motorcycle industry and our sport. We emphasized noise, EPA efforts and supporting the motorcycle rights community.
“This was especially exciting for me because I was a charter member of the ARMO Council that represents the automotive restoration market,” said Seth Doulton, President of Horsepower Promotions. “I served on and headed up the licensing and OE relations committee, and I can tell you first-hand that it was the best thing in my 35 years in the marketplace to ever come down the road. The restoration marketplace has benefited three-fold by the networking that is strengthened by SEMA’s leadership and power. The motorcycle industry has needed this for many years. We need to build a strong team so that SEMA knows we are for real.”
Here’s our list of projects for the future:
First off, we need a name for our Motorcycle Committee under the SEMA umbrella. Our first shot at a name was Motorcycle Action Council (MAC).
We also need to form an initial committee of at least 15 members.
We need to encourage our industry to be involved and to join SEMA individually (www.sema.org).
We also need to refine our mission statement. If the committee flies, grows and works, then the SEMA board will review it in a year and transform our committee into a active council.
“For a mission statement, we should try to get this down, ideally, to oneor two sentences,” said Ross Ortman, President of Dakota Digital. “I was there when themission statement was re-written for the newly renamed HRIA (Hot RodIndustry Alliance) and know how difficult it can be to reduce aparagraph of goals and objectives into one sentence.”
Our next meeting will take place in Cincinnati during the V-Twin Expo, where we will decide on a name, committee structure and strident issues. In the interim, I would like to gather mission statement suggestions. Read this initial mission statement and give me your input. Maybe I can nail it down before Cincy. I would also like names of folks who would like to serve on our first committee. Don’t hesitate to contact me regarding any aspect of this effort. Keep in mind that we all need to join SEMA for this to be effective, www.sema.org. You can reach me, Keith Ball at:
Bandit
(310) 830-0630
Motorcycle Action Council Mission Statement
Our primary goal is supporting the freedom to build and ride motorcycles. Another major goal is to create an active link between the motorcycle aftermarket industry and the motorcycle rights community. We will endeavor to create an ongoing communication forum and promote legislative efforts as widely as possible. A primary objective is to provide meaningful solutions to industry-specific issues and challenges, thereby perpetuating the growth and prosperity of motorcycle aftermarket parts manufacturers.
Our initial industry supporters include:
Billy Mc Cahill, President, Spyke
Kirk Willard, President, Motorcycle Riders Foundation
Steve Yatsky, President, BDL
Dave Perewitz, President, The Look
Grady Pfieffer, President, GH Marketing
Dave Rash, President, D&D Exhaust
Holger Mohr, President, Custom Chrome
Tom Pirone, President, TP Engineering
Rusty Coones, President, Illusions Cycles
Darwin Holdsworth, President Brass Balls Bobbers
Dan Fitzmaurice, President, Zippers Performance Products
Marilyn Stemp, Publisher, Iron Works Magazine
Keith R. Ball, President, Bikernet.com
Joe Phillipson
Brian Klock,
Mike “Kiwi”
Marty Harrison, STD
Neal, Australian Motorcycle Imports
Ross Ortman, President, Dakota Digital
Mike Merritt, Dakota Digital
Seth Dolton, President, Horse Power Promotions
Kirk Taylor, President, Custom Design Studios
Scott Long, Central Coast Customs
Ray Wheeler, Global Sales, W8Less Rotors
Joe Cree, President, California Customs
Ken Conte, Rise Above Consulting
Jesse James, West Coast Choppers
Seminole Hard Rock RoadhouseMakes Last Stop for 2008 at Toys in the Sun Run–Fort Lauderdale–November XX, 2008–The Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse will be making its final stop for 2008 at the 21st Annual SFPC Christmas Toys in the Sun Run, touted to be the worlds longest motorcycle parade. The ride will be held Sunday, December 14, 2008, with all proceeds going to benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The ride starts at Pompano Harness Track in Pompano Beach, Florida, and ends with a party at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida. The party will feature live music, vendors, food and drinks, and of course, the Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse’s rolling fleet of the hottest customs. The featured builders for the Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse will be Christian Clayton, Dave Perewitz, Athena Ransom and Donnie Smith. Christian Clayton is the owner of Sucker Punch Sally’s known for their oldschool production New customs that have been hailed for their simplicity and low price. Dave Perewitz, known as “the king of flames” for his painting prowess and has been building bikes for over 30 years that push the envelope of design and style. Athena “Chickie” Ransom has been at the head of women bike builders and has built several charity bikes including one live on The Today Show. Donnie Smith is a member of the old guard of builders who has been building bikes for over 30 years and continues to build clean functional custom bikes year after year. Other celebrities will also be on hand at the event, including Jim Belushi, Big Kenny of Big & Rich, Robbie Knievel, Kyle Petty and more.
Line up for the worlds longest motorcycle parade, begins at 7:45 a.m. at the track, and the ride will leave at 9:45 a.m. sharp. The event cost is $10 and one unwrapped toy per person. Those arriving at Markham Park without a toy will be charged an additional $10 entry fee. However, riders will be able to purchase toys at Markham Park before entering the event. No preregistration is required unless you wish to be a VIP rider.
To start the festivities a little early, plan to attend the Biker Bash, held Friday, December 12 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. This premier VIP motorcycle event includes dinner, live entertainment by Richie Supa, Shelly Fairchild, Brett James, Niki Taylor, Stephony Smith and Big Kenny of Big and Rich. The night will also include a charity auction to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County.
For more information on the Toys in the Sun Run, please visit www.toysinthesunrun.com. For more information on the Biker’s Bash, please visitwww.bikersbash.org
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) exit Stirling and travel west (1 Seminole Way) in Hollywood, Florida. For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1-800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com.
–Ken Conte
BIKERNET STUDIO BROADCASTS W8LESS ROTORS– Stop Like a JET FIGHTER – New Technology For Your SledNow playing in Studios is the interview with W8LESS ROTORS. The are giving away a free set of these super stoppies.
Ray Wheeler of W8LESS ROTORS sponsors the Brass Balls Bobbers / Bikernet / IronWorks giveaway Bobber with their new advanced braking system. Ray talks about how his product is made from an advanced form of a composite commonly known as a metal matrix composite or MMC. MMCs are used to make Space Shuttle struts, braces and high wear components on F-16 fighter jets.
–Jeff Najar
NEW MOTORCYCLE ARTIST COMES TO BIKERNET–It was great meeting you at SEMA. The two images are recently finished paintings, The 1st one is called “Vintage Werks”, the original is available at 2500.00 Limited Edition Giclee Prints are available 24×30 prints are 240.00 and 16×20 prints are 120.00, all signed and numbered and an edition of only 50 available.
The 2nd painting is called “2 Wheel Disturbance”, the original is sold, Limited edition Giclee Prints available in 18×24 size at 150.00, also an edition of only 50. Both of these Bikes are Klock Werks Creations, Vintage Werks is set in front of the Depot in Deadwood S.D. 2 Wheel Disturbance has been promoted by the Cherry Bomb Crew for the past year, check out the caddy on my web site also part of this promotion.
— Stefanie Aziere-Sattler
Aziere Art
6104 Blue Jay Blvd.
Sedalia, Mo. 65301
660-827-6790
660-221-7792
660-221-6790
www.chromedimpressions.com
www.stefanieaziere-sattler.com
South Side Kustoms is running a $1,000 Off A Custom or Base Model Ordered and Paid for from Nov 3rd — Dec 24th 2008! TO EVERYONE! Just another way to make your holiday alittle brighter.
ALSO OUR 3rd Annual Christmas Party Is coming up DECEMBER 13th 2008!http://www.south-side-kustoms.com/EVENTS.html
South Side Kustoms 3rd Annual Christmas Party to Benefit Toys for Tots.
Bring A Brand New UNWRAPPED TOY for Entrance or $10.00
http://www.toysfortotsbuffalo.org/
Vendors – 50/50 Raffle – Door Prizes – Jagermeister Girls – Drink Specials ALL NIGHT LONG! BAR TABS GIVEN AWAY by CLUB W.
SEXIEST MISS SANTA CLAUS CONTEST – Ladies come dressed in your SEXIEST Holiday outfit to WIN Cash Prize and BAR-TAB! South Side Kustoms – Kustom Motorcycles / Cars
–HAPPY HOLIDAYS from SSK
KRAWIEC RIDES HARLEY-DAVIDSON V-ROD TO NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP– Screamin? Eagle/Vance & Hines Rider Takes Title with Win in Semi-Finals.
POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2008) ? Screamin? Eagle/Vance & Hines rider Ed Krawiec overcame a 20-point deficit to win the 2008 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship at the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway. The championship is the fourth NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle title in five seasons for the Screamin? Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team.
?We are really excited to bring the championship back home to Milwaukee,? said Krawiec. ?I have to thank team owners Byron Hines and Terry Vance, my crew chief Matt Hines and my teammate Andrew Hines, and Anne Paluso and everyone at Harley Davidson. We won this championship with hard teamwork.?
Krawiec started the final weekend of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series in second place, 19 points behind NitroFish Buell rider Matt Smith. Smith, the reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, gained a point on Krawiec by leading all qualifiers for the event with a 6.967-second run. Krawiec qualified second at 6.987 seconds.
Trailing Smith by 20 points ? exactly one round of eliminations ? Krawiec started Sunday eliminations by defeating Peggy Llewellyn in round one and then used a 0.019-second reaction time and 7.042 ET to narrowly defeat a 0.043/7.022 pass by Chip Ellis. Smith beat Mike Berry in the first round, but saw his shot at a second title slip away when his motorcycle broke during his second-round run against Chris Rivas. That left Krawiec and Smith tied, with Krawiec needing a win over his Screamin? Eagle/Vance & Hines teammate, Andrew Hines, to clinch the title in the semi-final round. Krawiec (7.098) beat Hines (7.609) to win the first NHRA title of his career. Krawiec had a chance to cap the weekend with an event win, but his 7.009-second run was not enough to beat a event-best 6.929 pass by Rivas.
?I?ll tell you, coming into the season I was hoping to get a win or two, and finish in the top five in points,? said Krawiec. ?That didn?t happen, but we?ve been able to accomplish something that?s only happened once before in NHRA history. The level of competition is so high, but this has always been a very consistent team, and that paid off this season.?
Krawiec is only the second champion in NHRA history to win his title without winning a national event. The 31-year-old rider succeeded with consistency, making four final-round appearances, reaching the semi-finals five times, and posting the No.1 qualifying time at three events. He lost in the first round just three times in 17 events. Krawiec won the eight-rider Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle bonus event at the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend. Krawiec entered the five-race Countdown to One playoffs in seventh place, 80 points behind first-place Smith, but was runner-up in Charlotte to jump to fourth place. He reached second place with a semifinal finish in Dallas then scored back-to-back runner-ups in Richmond and Las Vegas to pull within 19 points of Smith.
In 2007 Krawiec left his job as track manager at Old Bridge Township Raceway in Englishtown, N.J., to race full-time for the Screamin? Eagle/Vance & Hines team, and placed seventh in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings that season. Krawiec started motorcycle drag racing in the AMA Prostar series in 1999, where he won nine events and placed second in series points in 2002 and 2003. He made his NHRA racing debut at Englishtown in 2004. He now lives in Avon, Ind., near the Vance & Hines race shop.
The championship is the fourth NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle title for the Screamin? Eagle/Vance & Hines team. Andrew Hines rode a Screamin? Eagle Harley-Davidson to win the title for three consecutive seasons from 2004 to 2006. The Vance & Hines organization has now won 11 professional motorcycle drag racing titles.
Andrew Hines won at Atlanta and Madison, Ill., in 2008, and made three other final-round appearances during the season. Hines was the No. 2 qualifier in the Countdown to One playoffs and finished the season points race in fourth place. Hines and crew chief Matt Hines also won the Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship in the Pro Stock Motorcycle division, which recognizes teams for performance and consistency during qualifying over the course of the season.
The 2008 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle final point standings: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 2471; 2. Chris Rivas, 2466; 3. Matt Smith, 2451; 4. Andrew Hines, 2334; 5. Angelle Sampey, 2310.
The Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team is sponsored by Ford Truck, Dunlop, Matco Tools and S100.
THE ANSWER TO THE BIKERNET TECH QUESTION–It’s always a pain in the ass to push stator plugs through thick Evo cases to mate with the regulator plugs. I’m always concerned about pushing anything hard or metal against a wiring connector. Here’s the valuable responses I received from Bikernet readers and contributors:
Just spray the stator plug and the hole with Silicone and it will slide right in.
–Rogue
www.bikerrogue.com
Be sure check for burrs in the motor stator plug hole before you slide the plug in. Put a thin film of Vaseline on the plug and the case. Then slide the plug into the hole about ?? past the motor case. It only needs to come through far enough to allow the regulator plug to slide on. I usually like to have it pushed thru the case just far enough so that the regulator plug does not quite touch the motor case. If you slide it out too far, it will not seal and if you?re using a wet (oil filled) primary, you could have a leak here.
–ST
Read this article from DB Choppers (above), the pics aren’t there but he explains how he installs the stator plughttp://dbchoppers.com/chapter%208.htm
I do something similar except using dielectric grease.See if it helps.
–m
Saw your question in Sunday News.
I haven’t worked on an Evo for a LONG time. I used to be a little nervous about driving those things through, too. What I used to do, which worked OK for me, is to use clear silicon sealer as a lubricant (not silicon grease…SEALER). Once everything is together, it seals up real nice, and it doesn’t bond with the metal, so if you have to get everything apart someday, you won’t fuck up the metal. Just make sure to let the stuff dry for a few hours, and make sure the surfaces are clean. Am I still on the hook to work on the EPA/Freedom piece? Haven’t seen anything from ya.
Ride it like you know how to fix it!!!
–Hiway
Use the sealer as if it was grease. It should be damp, to give the parts a little sliding ease.Like I said, be sure to get those surfaces surgically clean, though (brake cleaner works best for me). A little dab will do ya, spread thin. Give it overnight to dry. Worked for me when I helped a buddy do this a while back. No complaints from him (and he’s a complainer, so I would have heard).
–Steve
MIDGET PUDGY GIMP BARS FROM NASH–The midget just got pudgy! Are you trying to find a pair of pudgy handlebars that can fit stock springer front ends? Our pudgy gimps are now available with a 9? base. Mounting up perfectly on springer front ends, these bars give your bike a unique look by squaring up your front end and giving you a comfortable feeling ride. Available in all finishes and come already predimpled and drilled for your wiring and controls. Feel free to call with any questions.
Tired of buying a $200 dollar pair of aftermarket bars to make you Harley look good, and then spending another $1000 dollars on cables and labor to switch them out. We have come up with the solution. The new Nash Gimps available in 10? Height with either 9 or 10.5 inch base can be easily installed on your bike with no cable swap and easy at home installation. Just buy the bars, switch them out, and hit the road.
Available in all finishes and come predimpled and drilled so all your stock controls can fit right up. If you have any questions please feel free to give us a call.
–Marlin
NMC
Nash Motorcycle Company
214 E. McLoughlin Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98663
(360) 693-4225
(360) 693-1770 Fax
www.nashmotorcycle.com
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