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MEMORIAL WALL MOTORCYCLE ESCORT– Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion Memorial Wall Motorcycle Escort. Line up at Brevard Community College, 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa. Line up begins at 9:00AM, kickstands up at 10:00AM.
Arrive at Melbourne’s Wickham Park about 11:30.
If interested in helping line up the bikes or road guard, be at BCC about 8:15.
Info: Don 321-726-6752
Ralph 321-453-7498
The Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard have asked us and the Brevard ABATE chapter to provide parking help and Roadguards for this Sunday’s VVB Moving Wall Motorcycle Escort, if interested in helping line up the bikes or road guard, be at BCC about 8:15 – 8:30. Roadguards will be parked in a separate spot. If you prefer to ride, our chapters have a spot reserved in the line up, just tell Greg, or whoever is at the parking lot that you are Independence ABATE. Line up Line up begins at 9:00AM, kickstands up at 10:00AM at Brevard Community College, 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa.
If you want to ride with the chapter, be there by 9:30, our spot will probably be full by that time. If you arrive late, you’ll have to ride with the group at the rear.
The ride arrives at Melbourne’s Wickham Park about 11:30. Also, volunteers will be setting up the Wall after arrival in Wickham Park. If interested in staying and setting up the Wall, let one of the VVB know
–Rogue
NOBLES TRIPS DESTROYER CLASS IN PHOENIX, MOVES INTO POINTS LEAD– 4.17.2006 Tripp Nobles and the LVFD.com team had one of thoseweekends that don’t come around but once in a while when they led wire-to-wire at the AHDRA Screamin’ Eagle Arizona Bike Week Nationals and moved into first place in the point standings as well.
“We had a flawless weekend,” said team rider, Tripp Nobles. “I feel like the luckiest member of the team because I get to ride the bike!”
“We have been working very closely with Matt Gross at MMG on the dyno and he found us some horsepower. I am very grateful for everything he has done for us. My crew chief, Vic Fasola, made some fabulous tuning calls in both the clutch and air-fuel mixture areas.”
“We learned a lot this weekend with our newly installed Racepak data recorder, but I learned a long time ago that a computer will not tell you what to do but it sure will tell you what not to do. Based on the data we were receiving Vic made some excellent calls.”
Post Phoenix ReportQualifying
Following three rounds of qualifying Tripp Nobles took the LVHD.com team to times of 14.441 at 45.22 MPH, 9.467 at 139.04 MPH and 9.409 at 140.27 MPH. The LVHD.com team sat on the pole in the twenty-seven bike field.
Eliminations
In Round One Tripp had an earned bye run as he was the number one qualifier in the twenty-seven bike field. Not wanting to waste a run Tripp ran a 9.451 at 139.70 MPH.
In Round Two Shawn Vantucci was the opponent and as he had done in Gainesville, Tripp ended his day. Nobles ran a 9.431 at 139.21 MPH to Vantucci’s losing 9.792 at 135.91 MPH.
Tripp went into Round Three to face off against Brian Fox. Nobles once again ran in the 9.4 range with a pass of 9.416 at 140.30 MPH to send Fox’s 9.636 at 136.90 MPH packing.
Round Four was being billed as a battle between the two favorites to win the first ever V-rod Destroyer crown. This time Tripp Nobles got to the other end of the track first eliminating his rival, Gene Thomason. Tripp ran a 9.424 at 139.85 MPH to Thomason’s losing 9.548 at 137.47 MPH. This puts Nobles at one win to none for the two contenders. It also moved Tripp into the race finals.
In the Final Round Tripp was pitted against the number three qualifier, Daniel Harvey. As the pair prepared to do battle, both bikes staged but for some strange reason Harvey backed out of the beams, handing the race title to Nobles. Not wanting to waste the run Nobles clocked low E.T. of the event when he ran a 9.399 at 140.47 MPH.
The win was Tripp Nobles first of the year and his first ever in the newly created V-rod Destroyer class.
UNBORN SON OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BIKER TO RECEIVE SETTLEMENT WORTH MILLIONS– Attorneys Michael F. Hupy and Jason F. Abraham and Bob Sumption, longtime A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois Chapter President, appeared in a Douglas County courtroom on April 10, 2006, to hear a judge approve the work that they had completed in less than a year. John Claxon, II was killed in a motorcycle accident in Southern Illinois, on April 18, 2005. Although his father was killed four months before he was born and his parents were not married, Hupy and Abraham, S.C. negotiated a structured settlement for John Claxon, III that will provide payments for the rest of his life and could be worth more than three million dollars. Hupy and Abraham investigator, Bob Sumption, also worked on the case.
–Tony Sanfelipo
THE BAKER TORQUEBOX: THE AMERICAN V-TWIN TRANSMISSIONIS FINALLY TAKEN TO THE NEXT LEVEL!–With American V-Twin engineers pushing the standards of size these days and tire manufacturers doing the same, BAKER Drivetrain steps forward by leaping past the old standard in transmission size, style, and torque-handling capacity with the new BAKER Drivetrain Toquebox. This is the next level.
With orders being taken right now drag racers, muscle bike, and custom bike builders will have to have one. It was a colossal hit when unveiled at the 2005 Biketoberfest in Daytona and the same response occurred when displayed in the 2006 V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati. The Torquebox is available as 5-Speed or 6-Speed, and in either BAKER Right-Side-Drive or left-side-drive.
STRONGEST: As the leader in the Big Twin drivetrain, BAKER felt obligated to make the move to radically depart the old 2.5-inch transmission standard to 3-inches knowing that this formula would jump the torque handling capacity to 250 FOOT-POUNDS OF TORQUE! This 3″ measurement describes the center-distance between the two shafts within a transmission. That simply means the gears on the shafts must be created larger in diameter to reach each other – resulting in much more strength.
STYLISH: However, the expansion of the center-distance induces the need to completely redesign the transmission case that the shafts mount to, a task completely suited for BAKER Drivetrain. Starting with a tremendous new exterior styling, BAKER took this opportunity to cram the latest discoveries and technologies into the redesign.
ADVANCED: Not only does this tough 6061-T651 billet case design include performance improvements in its own form, but it houses breakthrough enhancements in:
Shift Drum: N1 shift pattern (neutral is before 1st gear to prevent false neutral shifts), diameter increased to 2″ and improvements to bearing/spindle interface
Ratchet Pawl: Overshift inhibiter, double bearing mounted, and 65% larger shaft
Detent System: Bearing-based guide instead removes pure friction against the drum map
Top Cover: Ignition kill and neutral switches for easy adjustments
Shafts: Super heavy-duty 8620 steel (the king of steels), double-thick and heat-treated teeth, and AGMA class 12 gears
Shift Forks: BAKER’s renowned dual-rail design
Shift System: Bearing mounted lever has a ratio is 35% less then stock for smooth, clear shifts
As you can see, the BAKER Drivetrain Torquebox is a revolutionary new engineering feat within our very own American V-Twin industry. Nothing can compare to it across the board as it began with breaking out of the old 2.5-inch standard, comprehensively advancing the transmission conventions within, and finalizing with a distinctive new styling.
For additional information, click on the banner above or see page 19-21 of the BAKER 2006 catalog.
BBC – OVERSEAS – WORLD NEWS OUTLET–Baghdad, Iraq – The British military announced today that they hadair-dropped former hostages Norman Kembler, James Loony and Harmeet Singh Sooden into the Iraqi desert, just a week after their rescue from a house west of Baghdad. The men had been held by insurgents for four months.
Since their release, the three men, all from a Christian Peacemakerteam, have spoken with deep admiration and respect for their captors, while not offering any degree of gratitiude to the British commandos who risked their lives to save them.
“We realize now that we made a huge mistake,” said Captain Ian Coates of the British Army, “and it was time to return these men to the people they love and respect.”
Coates wistfully related the story of how the former hostages weretold of the decision to reunite them with their brethren in Iraq.
“To keep it a surprise, we used our commandos to gather the men in the middle of the night,” he said. “They were so surprised and excited that we needed to duct tape their mouths and tie them up. But there was no doubt that they were overjoyed to be returning to Iraq. Their eyes were as big as saucers, and Kembler even wet his jammies in excitement!”
The men were whisked by military jet back to a British Military basein Kuwait, and flown by helicopter into Iraq at dawn. Captain Coatesstruggled to keep his composure as he described the reunion.
“The air drop was a remarkable moment, something I was honored tosee,” he said. “The men were writhing around, screaming and crying with joy. There wasn’t a dry eye in the helicopter as we rolled them out.”
The British Military was concerned that the men would not be picked up quickly, leaving them to wander in the desert. So each man was given a bright red parachute emblazoned with one of the famed Danish Mohammed cartoons.
“The cartoons really did the trick,” said Captain Coates. “As theydrifted downward, you could see the insurgents gathering to welcomethem. Some had even set fires to help guide them as they landed. We could hear the chants of welcome even over the whir of the rotors.
Did you ever see Born Free? It was like that, but better.”
Coates would not comment on reports that the three men were allwearing “Jesus Rules, Mohammed Drools” T-Shirts
–from Chris T.
VIPER MOVES INTO NEW HEADQUARTERS– We are moving into our new corporate/manufacturing facility this week. The new numbers will be effective Monday, April 24.
Viper Motorcycle Company
19950 177th Street, Suite F
Big Lake, Minnesota 55309
Office-763-263-5700
Fax-763-263-5701
Thanks,
–Terry Nesbitt
Viper Motorcycle Company
Viper Performance Inc.
ARIZONA BIKE WEEK–The 10th anniversary celebration of Arizona Bike Week wrapped up Sunday, April 9. Weekend festivities included Harley-Davidson demo rides, raffles, and rock concerts, including performances by The Guess Who and John Kay & Steppenwolf. Also held in conjunction with Arizona Bike Week was the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) race at the Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HOSTS A “GARAGE PARTY” FOR WOMEN INTERESTED IN RIDINGOver the past several years, women have increasingly embraced the sport of motorcycling – seeking the freedom and escape associated with an open road, polished chrome and a sweet sounding engine. In fact today, the Motorcycle Industry Council estimates that one in 10 U.S. motorcyclists is a woman.
But while thousands of women live their lives on the open road, many remain stuck in neutral, dreaming about the wind in their face, unsure where to start. To help, Harley-Davidson dealerships in the Cleveland-area are hosting free, women-only Garage Party events. This month, Lake Erie Harley-Davidson Shop is hosting a Garage Party event on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 between 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The Harley-Davidson Garage Party event provides an inviting environment for women to learn more about motorcycling and to meet other women who are interested in riding. Party guests can expect activities that will be both entertaining and educational with topics including a review of the basic motorcycle controls, how to customize a motorcycle’s style and ergonomics and how to gear up for a ride. The for-women-only Garage Party event is free for any woman who is looking to take the next step to get behind the handlebars.
RIDER’S EDGE NOW AVAILABLE IN KENTUCKY–Kentucky has been added as a state that offers the Rider’s Edge New Rider program. Sills Harley-Davidson in Paducah, Ky., and Harley-Davidson Bowling Green in Bowling Green, Ky., will be setting up the Rider’s Edge program this year. A total of 37 states now offer the course that is designed to make those new to motorcycling feel comfortable and give them the knowledge and skills to ride with confidence. Since the New Rider Course was introduced in 2000, more than 69,000 riders have been trained.
SADDLE UP FOR STURGIS DEADLINE NEARSFive lucky new women riders and their riding coaches will win an all expenses paid ride from Milwaukee, Wis., to Sturgis, SD, in August 2006. The winning riders will travel to Sturgis alongside Karen Davidson, Creative Director of Harley-Davidson General Merchandise and great-granddaughter of founder William A. Davidson.
Harley-Davidson has received more than 800 entries for the Saddle Up for Sturgis contest. There are less than three weeks left to submit an entry; all qualified entries must be submitted by May 1, 2006. Winners will be announced May 19.
To enter the contest, women must submit a 100-word essay detailing why they would like to Saddle Up for Sturgis in 2006. The entrant must acknowledge that they have been riding for two years or less, have logged 1,000 miles, and have spent five hours riding in one day. The rider must own a Harley-Davidson or Buell motorcycle and have a motorcycle license.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON VEHICLE AND POWERTRAIN OPERATIONS PLANT IN KANSAS CITY NAMED “BEST OF AMERICA” BY READER’S DIGEST MAGAZINE–Harley-Davidson Vehicle and Powertrain Operations plant in Kansas City has been named Best Indoor Sightseeing by the editors of Reader’s Digest Magazine. Winners of America’s 100 Best list will be featured in the May issue, on newsstands April 18.
The editors tested, tasted and debated everything from the Best Sandwich to the Best Must-Have Gadgets to the Best Buzz Cut. The resulting list is organized in six categories – Legacies, Passions, Adventure, Innovations, Time Off and Connections.
The Kansas City Vehicle and Powertrain Operations produce the Sportster, Dyna and VRSC families of motorcycles from fabrication and finishing through final assembly. The plant also has the unique distinction of being the only Harley-Davidson facility to produce an entire motorcycle, the VRSC V-Rod.
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