motorsports

Historic motorcycles poised to visit Laguna Seca raceway

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by Jim Johnson from https://www.montereyherald.com County board to consider three-year pact for event A “vintage” motorocycles festival could be officially added to Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca’s “premiere” event schedule this season, serving as a bookend with the popular MotoAmerica Superbike event in July. The Board of Supervisors are set under its consent agenda Tuesday to consider a three-year deal with the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association for the Monterey Classic MotoFest event at Laguna Seca, running July 16-18 this year. The proposed agreement, which would take effect retroactive to Jan. 1, would require the AHRMA organization to pay the county $480,000 over the term of the pact through the 2023 racing season. It would last through July 31, 2023. The county board is also scheduled to consider another retroactive agreement under its consent agenda Tuesday, this one with the Historic Sportscar Racing from Feb. 1-Dec. 31, 2022 for the Pre-Reunion and Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion events set for Aug. 7-8 and Aug. 12-15, respectively. Raceway spokesman Barry Toepke said the AHRMA has rented the raceway track in the past and the “growing popularity of vintage motorcycles” has offered an opportunity to “celebrate the sport and hobby by creating a larger festival experience and developing a Bike Week following” the GEICO MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey event set for July 9-11. Toepke said the agreement was initiated in November but the holidays, uncertainty around event dates and whether spectators would be allowed delayed finalization of the proposal. The organization touts its national and regional motorcycle road racing events ranging from motocross, dirt track and cross country to observed trials competition for historic motorcycles, as well as “alternative” modern racing with zero emissions electric motorcycles. Raceway management dubbed AHRMA the “preeminent vintage motorcycle organization” in the U.S. and produces events across the […]

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Motorsports Safety Pioneer Bill Simpson Dies At 79

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by Janaki Jitchotvisut from https://www.rideapart.com/ Racing wouldn’t be the same without him. Racer and motorsports safety pioneer Bill Simpson has died. The founder of Simpson Racing Products, which makes Simpson Motorcycle Helmets, was 79 years old. He was a racer, an innovator, and a tireless advocate for safety in motorsports. Like most of the people you want to know (or at least know about) in motorsports, Simpson was reportedly a true character. “Bill was a hippie when I met him and a cranky old guy most of his life, but he went from a nobody to the top of the heap. He worked hard and had a good mind—it didn’t go where the normal mind went,” three-time Indianapolis 500-winning racer Bobby Unser told Racer. “Now, he was a hard-head and I’d get mad at him, but then he would do something really good, which was often, and we’d like him again. He’d piss people off one day and save a bunch of lives the next. That was Bill Simpson,” Unser neatly summarized. It seems like it would be tough to top that as an accurate eulogy, by all accounts. Innovations that Simpson pioneered include the use of parachutes in drag racing, and especially Nomex fire suits designed for race car drivers, back in the bad old days when auto racing was far more deadly than it is today. The man even once infamously lit himself on fire to demonstrate how effective his new fire suit was—a stunt he later gleefully reprised for the 2014 Mazda commercial below. How did he come up with some of his ideas? Undoubtedly, because he started out as a racer himself, and he came at it from a racer’s point of view. It’s unclear exactly how many lives at every level of motorsport interest he’s

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Pirelli Takes Sixth Track Record of 2019 with Adam Robarts

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Robarts Captures Pirelli Tire Credit on DIABLO™ Superbike Slicks. ROME, Ga. (August 23, 2019) – Pirelli Tire North America congratulates Adam Robarts on capturing the brand’s sixth absolute motorcycle track record of 2019. Competing aboard a BMW S 1000 RR, Robarts set the track record at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington during the fourth round of the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (WMRRA) Championship on Sunday, August 18. “Adam has consistently proved himself on the track as demonstrated by his long list of records using Pirelli tires,” said Oscar Solis, road racing manager, Pirelli. “What’s more impressive is he was able to capture this record with an SC1 compound on the rear, which shows you don’t always have to have the softest tire to achieve a record!” Robarts’ new lap record of 1:37.797 was set during the Formula Ultra race, besting Ryan Sutton’s previous track record of 1:38.709 that was also set with Pirelli slicks in June of 2017. Robarts’ BMW was equipped with Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike 120/70-17 SC2 front and 200/60-17 SC1 rear tires. “Adam was great in each of his races this weekend and rode like a true champion,” said Sage Wilkinson, CT Racing NW, Pirelli trackside vendor. “We had perfect weather heading into the weekend, so the stage was set for fast lap times. Adam did a great job of riding smart to protect his points lead, yet still managed to put in some blistering lap times, and when the dust settled, held a very manageable lead and came away with a new track record. We’re proud to have Adam on Pirelli race tires and happy to be a part of his success.” Pirelli continues to offer a tire credit prize for setting a new motorcycle track record and Robarts efforts made it the second

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In Memoriam: Gene Romero 1947-2019

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“I Dig Carnations!” The motorcycle industry couldn’t be sadder. Another Champion is gone. Gene Romero, husband, father, best friend, legend and Champion. Born, Gene Ronald Romero, May 22, 1947 in Martinez California, Gene called San Louis Obispo home. He cut lawns and cleaned pools to get his first motorcycle. His father, Gene senior, was a tough and proud man who imparted the traits of hard work and honest living to Gene and his two younger brothers, Carlos and Terry. Their mother, Emma was a saint. She had the intolerable job of raising these three, rough and tumble boys, while keeping up with the demands from the patriarch of this respectable Romero family. Her German lineage added a meticulous, sensible and loving aspect to their upbringing. But just don’t get between any of the Romero brothers (or senior) because chances are you may find yourself on the loosing end of the stick. Always the cool one, Gene had those Elvis Presley good looks. He had class, talent, determination and the best sponsors you could find. He was one of America’s greatest motorcycle racers. He changed the course of professional motorcycle racing when he brought non-motorcycle-oriented sponsors into the sport from outside the industry. When local sponsors like, Bill’s muffler shop or Joe’s Garage seemed to be the only available course, Gene pursued and landed national sponsors like Busch Beer, Ocean Pacific, Evel Knievel and factory Yamaha. Romero honed his racing skills on dirt and scrambles tracks in the Central Valley of California. As an amateur, Romero used his scramble skills to become a top TT Steeplechase Rider. Not surprisingly Romero’s first pro finish came at the age of 19 at the Castle Rock TT in July 1966. He adopted the nickname “Burritto” with two Ts instead of the conventional spelling with

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Yamaha Motorsports Expands “Destination Yamaha” Experiences

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National Rental Network Offers Yamaha Motorcycle, ATV, Side-by-Side, and Snowmobile Adventures MARIETTA, Ga. – May 1, 2019 – Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, is expanding its “Destination Yamaha” rental program with new locations across the country featuring the most comprehensive and diverse line of adventure vehicles available to rent from a leading powersports manufacturer. Destination Yamaha provides opportunities for families and individuals to experience new and exciting adventures they may have never imagined possible. Details and rental locations are on a newly launched website at www.DestinationYamahaUSA.com. “Now more than ever people are seeking out new and exciting experiences, and Yamaha is stepping up with added options and ready-built adventures to offer them,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s motorsports marketing manager. “Getting outdoors – especially interacting with friends and family – is key to making lifelong memories, and that’s exactly what Destination Yamaha is designed to do.” Through Destination Yamaha, people can choose from an ever-expanding list of exciting locations and authorized rental partners for a trip of a lifetime. With operations in captivating places like Moab in Utah, the Black Hills of South Dakota, Hatfield McCoy in West Virginia, the Appalachians of Tennessee, even Las Vegas, Alaska and many more, Destination Yamaha caters to a wide variety of adventures. “Yamaha brings an increased level of confidence and superior reliability to motorsports rental operations, pairing the most dependable and proven machines with experienced and professional partners,” Nessl said. “Wherever you live, whether you’re a motorsports veteran or completely new to the sport, Destination Yamaha opens up a whole new world of opportunities and experiences.” With the recent expansion efforts, Destination Yamaha is building on nearly 50-years of rental partnerships dating back to the 1970s with snowmobile operators in popular U.S. riding areas like Yellowstone and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. With established operations and the best products in motorsports, Destination Yamaha is uniquely positioned to provide one of the most exciting adventure travel opportunities across the U.S. Visit www.DestinationYamahaUSA.com to learn more. Follow Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, through your favorite social media site: #Yamaha #YamahaMotor #YamahaMotorUSA #DestinationYamaha #REALizeYourAdventure #ProvenOffRoad #AssembledInUSA ·       www.facebook.com/yamahamotorusa ·     

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