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BIKERNET TATTOO RESEARCH–Fully 16 percent of all Americans have a tattoo. That’s the word from Harris Interactive, which conducted a nationwide poll of 2,215 randomly selected adults to find out how many of us have body art. In the 25 to 39 age group, the number is even higher at nearly 30 percent sporting a tat, reports Wireless Flash.
Who has a tattoo?
–31 percent of gays and lesbians
–18 percent of Democrats
–14 percent of Republicans
How does a tat make you feel? Those with tattoos say:
–34 percent say it makes them feel sexier.
–29 percent say it makes them more rebellious.
–20 percent say it makes them feel more spiritual.
–5 percent say it makes them more intelligent.
–3 percent say it makes them feel more athletic.
Any regrets? Fully 83 percent have no regrets, although regret was highest among tattooed Republicans. Among those who did acknowledge the tattoo was a mistake, the reason most often cited was “because of the person’s name in the tattoo.”
WOMEN DRIVERS– Driving to the office this morning on the Interstate, I looked over to my left and there was a woman in a brand new Mustang doing 65 miles per hour with her face up next to her rear view mirror putting on her eyeliner!
I looked away for a couple seconds and when I looked back she was halfway over in my lane, still working on that makeup!!! It scared me so bad, I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the donut out of my other hand. In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car using my knees against the steering wheel, it knocked my cell phone away from my ear which fell into the coffee between my legs, splashed and burned Big Jim and the Twins, ruined the darn phone and DISCONNECTED AN IMPORTANT CALL!
Man oh Man WOMEN Drivers.
–from Chris T.
DAVID MANN’S SHOVELHEAD ON E-BAY–Thought some of you might find this interesting.David Mann’s 57 pan/shovel chopper is up for bid on EBay. Sad to hear that David is not doing so well these days.Wish I had the funds and more room in my garage. –TBear MO’ BIKERNET POLITICS–So this midget, a bodybuilder, and a porn star walk into a bar. The bartender says, “What is this, an election?” –from A.F. BOXING/MUAY THAI SEMINAR–Don’t forget my Boxing/Muay Thai seminar on Saturday at 1 PM, October 18.I know about your short putts (to San Diego) or just up the hill (to BigBear). How about riding for Thai lunch and Margarita and back? Aloha, RSBustillo I’ll be there. –Bandit THE CLASSIC PAN–Buck Lovell’s latest release is “Hot Rod Panhead” and is available as a 24″ X 30″m fine art metallic laser print museum mounted, matted and framed in a strictly limited Edition of 100 for $850.00 each. Numbers 16, 74, and 48 are already sold. This image is also available as an 18″ X 24″ poster for $14.99 plus $3.00 shopping & handling. Posters are shipped in stout cardboard tubes. Dealer pricing available. For all further information contact: Buck Lovell CYRIL HUZE BUILDS BANDIT’S EXHAUST SYSTEMThis bike will be launched at Biketoberfest sporting a new black exhaust system named Bandit. Watch for the feature here next week, the bike at Biketoberfest and new products from the master. Cyril Huze Custom Inc.
www.IMBACADEMY.com
Chrome Pony Marketing
PMB 150
19510 Van Buren Blvd F-3
Riverside, CA 92508
(909) 283 3111
Custom Motorcycles & Parts
Tel: 561-392-5557
Fax: 561-392-9923
Website:
Webstore:
HARLEY-DAVIDSON REPORTS RECORD Third QUARTER Earnings– Milwaukee, Wis., October 15, 2003 — Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HDI) today announced record earnings for its third quarter ended September 28, 2003. Third quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) were 62 cents, a 14.8 percent increase compared with last year?s 54 cents. Revenue for the quarter was $1.134 billion, which compares to $1.135 billion in the year-ago quarter. ?I am pleased to report that we delivered our third quarter shipment target for Harley-Davidson? motorcycles while starting up our new factory for Softail? motorcycles in York, Pennsylvania,? said Jeffrey L. Bleustein, chairman and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. ?Achieving total revenues that equaled last year?s record third quarter performance was also a significant accomplishment since last year?s quarter benefited from the extraordinary impact of the introduction of our 100th Anniversary products.? Revenue growth in the third quarter of 2002 was 28.4 percent for motorcycles, 32.3 percent for Parts & Accessories (P&A) and 88.5 percent for General Merchandise. ?During this year?s third quarter, we also successfully began production of our new 2004 line of motorcycles, including a completely redesigned Sportster? family,? said Bleustein.
Continued strong demand for Harley-Davidson motorcycles and planned increases in production capacity support the Company?s new 2003 target of 291,000 units and a 2004 target of 317,000 units. The 2004 target represents an 8.9 percent increase over the 2003 target.
Motorcycles and Related Products Segment – Third Quarter Results
Third quarter revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was $844.3 million, an increase of 1.4 percent over last year. Worldwide shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the third quarter totaled 67,458 units, in line with the Company?s previously announced target of 67,500. This compares to last year?s third quarter shipments of 67,474 motorcycles.
Third quarter revenue from P&A, which consists of Genuine Motor Parts and Genuine Motor Accessories, totaled $207.8 million. This is a 4.3 percent increase, or $8.5 million more than the year-ago quarter.
Third quarter revenue from General Merchandise, which consists of MotorClothes? apparel and collectibles, totaled $60.5 million, down 27.2 percent over the same period last year.
Both P&A and General Merchandise revenue benefited from strong sales of 100th Anniversary products in 2002. Excluding the $46 million of revenue from 100th Anniversary products, the P&A growth rate is 15.8 percent and the General Merchandise growth rate is 3.5 percent over 2002?s third quarter.
For the longer term, the Company expects the growth rate for P&A revenues to be slightly higher than Harley-Davidson?s motorcycle unit growth rate, and the General Merchandise growth rate is expected to be lower than the motorcycle unit growth rate.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. – Nine Month Results
For the nine month period, revenue totaled $3.466 billion, a 13.1 percent increase over the year-ago period. Diluted earnings per share were $1.90, an increase of 34.8 percent compared to the same period last year.
Through the first nine months of this year, shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles were 214,091, an 8.3 percent increase over last year?s 197,683. Harley-Davidson motorcycle revenue was $2.676 billion, a 14.3 percent increase over $2.341 billion in revenue in 2002. P&A revenue totaled $571.8 million, a 14.5 percent increase over last year?s $499.3 million. General Merchandise revenue totaled $160.7 million, a 9.1 percent decrease compared with $176.7 million during the same period in 2002.
For the first nine months, HDFS operating income was $134.0 million, a $55.2 million increase over last year?s first nine months.
BIKETOBERFEST FINANCIAL WINDFALL FOR LOCAL WOMAN– DAYTONA BEACH — Biketoberfest might mean dressing down and playing “outlaw” for most Main Street visitors, but these are days of living large for Susan Gallagher.
The 48-year-old homeless woman sees the beer-soaked celebration of motorcycles as a bonus by living off the waste of the party.
“If I’m lucky, I’ll make $11,” she said the other day, sticking her head into another green barrel, then ducking back out again with an armful of cans.When the bikers come to town in full force later this week, that profit could swell to nearly $30.
“I love Bike Week,” she said of the weeklong festival, “because I make more.”
After a day of crushing cans, she takes her treasure to Yorke Doliner & Co., a recycling company on Third Street that buys scrap metal and cans by the pound.
But Gallagher isn’t greedy. “All I need,” she said, “is enough to eat, enough to drink and a pack of cigarettes and I’m good to go.”
–By JAY STAPLETON
Staff Writer Daytona News Journal
–from Rogue
BIKERNET BIKETOBERFEST WEATHER GODS–Last update: NEW SMYRNA BEACH — If Mother Nature cooperates, the next four days could mean as much to local businesses as it does to visiting bikers.”I have high expectations for this Biketoberfest because today, when I turned on the television, the meteorologist said there was zero percent chance of rain for the rest of the week,” said Steve Shay, general manager of New Smyrna Beach Harley-Davidson. “After that rainy March Bike Week we had, the rain gods owe us.”
Shay said the two bike events are a huge part of the store’s business. Although he couldn’t provide the percentage of his gross that results from Biketoberfest and Bike Week, he said it was important for businesses throughout Southeast Volusia to have two good events each year.
“Daytona is the main hub of activity. People get down this way after they’ve seen and done what’s available in Daytona Beach. If the weather is not conducive to good riding, people go home early and they never get here at all,” he said.
Although Biketoberfest officially doesn’t start until TODAY, bikers started filling up campgrounds and restaurants during the weekend.
“I’m just looking forward to riding without a helmet and having a little fun,” said Underwood, who’s been riding motorcycles since 1955. “It’s what you do while you’re still young enough.”
Gilly’s Pub 44 in New Smyrna Beach will have its 11th annual concert series with national acts and a bike giveaway. The fun continues until 2 a.m. each morning.
On the beachside, Chases bills itself “Beach Party Headquarters” during Biketoberfest and offers family entertainment with its beach access, volleyball court and children’s playground. A bikini contest with cash prizes kicks off at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
The Eagle’s Nest and Mike’s Corner in New Smyrna Beach will run a vendor expo throughout the week, while the No Name Saloon in Edgewater offers an all-day survivors’ party on Sunday.
Earthquake Magoon’s in Edgewater was burned to rubble last summer, but it has been rebuilt with two bars. A Blow Out Free Barbecue party begins there at noon on Sunday.
In fact, it’s hard to find a local watering hole that does not offer biker specials and adult entertainment this week. A local chapter of Hog owners will man a help booth at New Smyrna Beach Harley-Davidson to help direct bikers to the area’s fun spots.
“It’s a lot of fun to catch up with people you see only at these events. And even though we’re not part of the hospitality industry, I’ve heard that bikers are very generous with tips. I think this will be a good event for everyone,” Shay said .
–By MARY L. SCHROPP
News-Journal Correspondent
–from Rogue
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