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MATT SMITH RACES TO THE FINALS AS G2 MOTORSPORTS MAKES A STATEMENT– The Pontiac Performance Nationals in Columbus was a real statement race for the G2 Motorsports team. Not only did Chip Ellis take the DRAG Specialties/S&S Cycle Buell to both ends of the track record; Matt Smith also took the Torco Race Fuels/Skull Gear bike to its first final round appearance of the season.
“We broke the ice at this race,” said George Smith, President of G2 Motorsports. “Matt made it all the way to the final round and Chip was the number one qualifier and set both ends of the track records. We are all very upbeat about our progress.”
Qualifying
After the four qualifying attempts the G2 Motorsports bikes were qualified in the number one position (Chip Ellis aboard the DRAG Specialties/G2 Motorsports/S&S Cycle Buell – 7.025) and the number three spot (Matt Smith aboard the Torco/Skull Gear/Red Line Oil/G2 Motorsports Buell – 7.059).
Eliminations – Round One
Matt Smith
Matt Smith lined up against former NHRA/POWERade champion Geno Scali to open competition. “I went to the line reminding myself to hold that clutch and not give the race away on the light,” said Matt Smith. “I held it a little longer than I wanted to but I had plenty of horsepower to win the race. Smith ran a 7.065 at 185.95 MPH to defeat Scali’s 7.125 at 186.90 MPH.
Chip Ellis
Chip Ellis was paired off with one of the real graybeards of the class in round one; Paul Gast. The wily veteran took an early lead in the race but Ellis easily ran him down and headed to round two. “I had plenty of power this weekend and my team worked their butts off to make sure of that,” said a happy Chip Ellis. Ellis ran the low elapsed time for the opening stanza with a 7.046 at 183.24 MPH.
Eliminations – Round Two
Matt Smith
In the second round Matt Smith faced off with Michael Phillips and his Suzuki. Neither rider set the world on fire off of the starting line but where it mattered at the finish line Matt Smith again came out on top. Matt ran a 7.146 at 184.88 MPH to Phillips’ 7.189 at 185.43 MPH. This advanced Matt Smith to the semi-final round.
Chip Ellis
Ellis’ competition in the second round came from former NHRA champion, Angelle Sampey. Sampey took a slight lead off of the line but the two bikes were glued together all the way down the track. Unfortunately for Ellis the win light came on in the opposite lane. Sampey ran a 7.084 at 182.47 MPH to Ellis’ 7.092 at 181.94 MPH.
Eliminations – Semi-Finals
Matt Smith
Matt faced off against the factory V-rod of Andrew Hines in the semi-finals and for a change, the racing luck went to the flashy red machine. As the two riders waited for the lights to come down, Andrew Hines got a little antsy and lit the red light handing the win to Smith. Hines ran a 7.128 at 186.56 MPH to Smith’s winning 7.163 at 182.18 MPH.
Eliminations – Finals
Matt Smith
Just prior to the final round the Torco Fuel/Skull Gear crew along with the DRAG Specialties crew survived a mad thrash to change the engine in Matt Smith’s bike. “We found a problem that we knew we couldn’t address prior to the finals so we decided to change the engine,” said George Smith. “We made the change and guessed at the tune-up as we had no data on this engine with our new electronics.”
In the final pairing, Matt Smith left on the former champion but somewhere she found some extra horsepower and took the win. Sampey ran a 7.046 at 188.52 MPH to Smith’s 7.122 at 185.31 MPH.
“We are pretty happy,” said a grinning Matt Smith. “Naturally we would have liked to have the win but we made some great strides and I feel very confident now. I can’t say enough about our whole team. I am so proud of Rick (Maney), Chip (Ellis), Ken (Johnson) and Randal (Welch) for all of the hard work they put in this weekend. I want to thank Evan Knoll and the whole Torco gang for their support. After this race I think everyone knows we are back.”
Post Race Comments
George Bryce, G2 Motorsports Director of Racing said. “I am very proud that our hard work is starting to pay off and I know we are now on the right track. Chip and Matthew did really well and the entire team worked their butts off. The whole team is psyched and we can’t wait for Chicago.”
George Smith added, “We made some good horsepower this weekend. In fact when Chip faced Angelle he had so much power that he drove through the clutch. We were very surprised.”
ELVIS GUITAR PLAYER DEAD–By now many of you, especially those based in Nashville have probably heard abut the tragic death of Elvis guitar player and A-Team Member Billy Walker, his wife Betty and two of his bandmates, Charles Lilly of Hendersonville, TN and Daniel Patton of Hermitage, TN. They were on their way home from a gig in performing at a show near Gulf Shores, when their van went off Interstate 65, near Montgomery and turned over. Josh Brook, Billy’s 21 year old grandson was also critically injured in the accident.
I only had one opportunity to meet Billy which interviewing him for my 13-hour Elvis documentary and he was wonderful to talk to. As most of you know I have been very ill since Halloween and I too have no idea what the future holds for me, so the editing of the film has been put on indefinite hold. You can be sure however that Billy will be well represented. We have lost no fewer than 12 people I interviewed since I stated filming and every one of them comes as a terrible blow.
–Ken Vrana
TERRIBLE NEWS ABOUT BIRD FLU IN FLORIDA–Bird Flu has hit the 1st trailer park in Florida….
–from Buckshot
BIKERS TRY OUT FOR A MEAL TICKET– STRATFORD – Maybe they should call it “Diner Bikers.”Instead it’s just “Diners” and the plot of the prospective television series is simple.It will revolve around five Harley-Davidson enthusiasts riding along their motorcycles through the back roads of Connecticut, New England and possibly the rest of the United States to some of their favorite diners. Along the way they’ll talk, probably have mechanical trouble and eventually sit down to eat with the diner crowd they meet.
“Part of it will be a snapshot of what it’s like to be on the road and going to diners,” said Garrison Leykam, the co-producer. “Then there’s what goes along with it – the enthusiasm, the energy, the spontaneity – there’s nothing like it on TV.”
So on Saturday Leykam, along with co-producer Janet Leslie, Harvey Adelberg of Janet Leslie Productions, and Steve Sattler, an Emmy-award winning cinematographer, spent six hours interviewing and finally choosing their cast during auditions at Bridgeport Harley-Davidson on Research Drive.
Their casting call brought out mothers, engineers, a lounge singer, state cops, outlaw gang members and even Karen Ligammari, a Braille teacher who performed more like a stand-up comic. Others aspirants included Frank Bodnar Jr. who owns four motorcycles and a kitchen “that looks like a diner;” Mark Tiddei who says “riding is the closest thing to flying;” and Kim Carpenter, the assistant to a vice-president of a helicopter manufacturer who said it would be “fun to eat to ride and ride to eat.”
After narrowing the group down to 10, the producers brought in two groups of five to see how they interacted.The groups were asked to plot a trip from anywhere in Connecticut to the Post Road Diner in Norwalk where the pilot.
–By MICHAEL P. MAYKO
–from Rogue
HOT PARTS FOR NEW YORK CITY CHOPPERS–I’ve attached some of the new stuff, a lot of brass. Updated my gas cap in Brass & Nautical star.7.5 inch springer brake rotors, also have a custom mount for single piston calipers PM or J.BrakeMy Springer, this one is a14-over and finallyTrucker-girl oil tanks. What could be better
–Nick
Choppersnyc@aol.com
S&S EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR FOR NEW FRAME LOCK SYSTEM– S&S Cycle announces exclusive distribution of Frame Lock (US patent D466842).Frame Lock is a unique product designed to secure a motorcycle to the floor of a garage, trailer, or truck bed. This patented design attaches to the frame of the motorcycle and eliminates the need for wheel chocks and straps, thus preventing damage and undo wear and tear on the motorcycle suspension during transport.
The model currently available (S&S part #53-0506) is compatible with touring model Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
This product will be sold through S&S dealers only. Please visit www.sscycle.com find a dealer near you.
Frame Lock representatives will be on hand at the S&S truck display with the Frame Lock product for the remainder of the major rallies that S&S attends. Look for the S&S truck at Myrtle Beach, Laconia and Sturgis.
TRUE-TRACK REPORT FROM EUROPE–Wil Phillips came to the Bikernet Headquarters yesterday and we began to dial in the handling of the 120-inch Panhead. Wait till you see the report in our Bonneville Department. It’s going to be wild. Will sells 20 True-Track systems for touring models a month to Germany. Here’s a report from a customer in England:
Just a quick follow on the True-Track. First, Wil contacted me, concernedthat I had still not received the unit, which I suppose he didn’t get/readthe follow up I had sent you informing that I had received it within hoursof sending my first e-mail. I still appreciate the follow-up call assometimes addresses do get crossed up.
In any case, the True-Track is simply amazing. I am more than impressedwith the difference it made on the handling of the Screaming Eagle RoadGlide with a Baker 6-speed overdrive that I ride at sometimes/frequentlyhigher speeds (i.e. set the cruise at 85 to 90mph on the interstate) . Theworkmanship and the ease of installation are both amazing.
This unit shouldbe installed as a factory recall for all FL Harleys where applicable. Itonly makes sense. There should be something providing stability to the rearof engine/transmission to prevent the rear tire from steering you in thecracks of the road and setting up high speed wobbles which I have named “thewatusee” in long sweeping corners at higher speeds. When asking anyonewith FL Harleys — does your bike do the watusee in the long sweepingcorners? While making a jester with your arms going back and forth and yourbutt going back and forth in a dance like fashion. The only riders that sayno are the ones that stay below the posted speed limit and slow down yetfurther for the corners…. not that there’s anything wrong with that….
Anyone who likes to ride at higher speeds answers “oh yea, sometimes itcan get a little scary until you get use to it.”
I have only ridden about100 miles since I installed the unit but you could feel the difference instability immediately. I am looking forward to putting the True-Track towork on the road trip I am going on tomorrow and will send you a furtherupdate when I return.
Thank you Bandit for the write up on the Web. Thank you John for telling me”you have to get one of these” and of course, Thank you Wil for the unitand the follow up call.
–Gordo
Surrey, BC
NEW SKULL BATTERY COVER BAND FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON– The new Skull Battery Cover Band (P/N 66442-06, $32.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories adds a sinister touch to any 2006 Harley-Davidson Dyna motorcycle. This easy-to-install chrome band features a three-dimensional skull motif set off with black accents. It replaces the original equipment satin-aluminum band, as a contrast to the original factory-painted battery cover or as as finishing touch for the Chrome Battery Cover (P/N 66375-06, $77.00) as shown.
For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada.
STORZ PERFORMANCE 2006 CATALOG– The ’06 Storz catalog contains complete info on the latest line of Storz Performance Accessories for Harley-Davidson, Buell, and Sportbike applications.
A full line of Storz/Ceriani bolt-on Inverted fork kits are offered for V-Rod, Softail, DYNA, and Sportster applications. Also available is a 49mm Chopper fork in extended lengths.Raked triple tree kits are now available for stock 41mm diameter fork tubes as well.
Also included are Storz Dirt Track style conversion kits for 1986-2006 Sportsters including the popular XR1200 Storz Sportster. Accessories for Buells and a complete line of top and side mount steering damper kits for sportbikes are also offered.
The catalog is supplied to dealers at no charge, retail customers $5.00, and overseas retail customers, $11.00. The complete catalog can be seen online at www.storzperf.com.
A digital image and a copy of the catalog (p/n SC2006) are enclosed. If additional information is required, please contact Steve Storz.
HARDBIKES INVESTS IN SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING TALENT–Hardbikes is committed to building and developing world-class motorcycles for the American V-Twin marketplace by hiring top line engineering talent like CJ Batten, VP Engineering. CJ’s engineering chops are represented in his achievements in engine design that includes: the Quad 4 for Oldsmobile; Saturn’s first 4 valve engine; Ford SVO 4 valve and 2 valve engines; 4 valve/4 cylinder Mustang engine; and Mercury 2 valve and 4 valve marine engines.
CJ and his team are focused on the development of new designs with an eye to where the competition is now and will be in the future. Current and future regulatory challenges as well as support for marketing and manufacturing will continually impact and shape his program.A recent success by his team provided Hardbikes’ manufacturing department a 16 hour savings in motorcycle wiring. On average hooking up the wiring harness required approximately 20 hours. With a new protocol the time was reduced to four hours and with training it was reduced down to two hours.
“With 40 years of design experience and 30 years of engine design and engine air flow development, Hardbikes has a secret weapon in CJ Batton that will improve quality, functionality and design in all aspects of the motorcycle,” stated Bob Kay, VP Sales and Marketing. “In his previous position at MerCruiser, his patented product innovations may lead the firm to over $100 million in bottom line performance. His knowledge and business savvy will impact all aspects of the firm.”
CJ is implementing a Total Quality Management program with a focus on incremental improvements. This will allow the motorcycles to be consistently improved over time. One example of this initiative is the clevis footpeg. They are specifically design so that owners, when moving their bike, won’t get wacked on the shins.
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