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S&S CYCLE ANNOUNCES NHRA AND AHDRA SEASON RECAPS–LA CROSSE , WI (December 19 2005) S&S Cycle recounts highlights of the 2005 NHRA and AHDRA season.
Having built an almost 50 year reputation on racing success, S&S Proven Performance engines and components played a huge part in the 2005 drag racing season. In the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle series, six teams contested the class with S&S 160ci billet, Pro Stock engines. Week after week, at least five of the S&S powered teams would make it into the Sunday elimination rounds. In eight of the 15 races this season, an S&S powered Pro Stock bike was in the final round, leading to five wins total for the season! One third of the entire season was won by S&S powered bikes, two races for went to Chip Ellis and the G-Squared Team and three races to Ryan Schnitz and the Muzzy Racing Team. Additionally, Matt Smith, on the G-Squared/MAC Tools S&S powered bike went 7.00 at 189.82 mph, recording the third quickest NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle run ever. G-Squared is the exclusive US Distributor of Race Parts for S&S Cycle.
Moving over to the AHDRA, S&S sponsors the Pro Gas, Pro Stock, Super Sport and 124 Challenge classes. This diverse group of events and riders saw excitement at every level. Julia Holiday won the Super Stock championship while Michael Ray impressed everyone with his S&S 124 Challenge Class run of 9.336 seconds at 143.22 mph. Dale Raudenbush set a Pro Stock record pass with a 7.399 pass while Dave Feazel set the same class mph record with his 180.72 run. Another highlight came from Ryan Schnitz on his S&S powered 160ci billet Pro Stock bike running a 7.065 at 188.40 mph.
BIKERNET ERRORS BIG TIME–Just checked your site to see if the bar I submitted, “The Brick” in Jonesville, Indiana had made it up yet, and I gotta ask, what the fuck are you guys doing? For description you guys are calling it a gay bar. So, again…what the fuck? Not only is that NOT the description I sent, but you’re insulting one of the coolest little hole-in-the-wall joints in Southern Indiana.
This little greasy spoon is a blue collar hang out on the weekend, gravel parking lot, bikes all over the grass kinda spot. Most people who discover it consider themselves lucky to sit down to a few cold ones and one of the best cheeseburgers you’re gonna find anywhere. It then becomes their favorite destination when they’re looking to rack up a few miles on the weekend.
So, I obviously don’t appreciate the description one of the assholes working for you saw fit to include. If it’s a joke, I sure don’t get it.
The Brick’s phone number is 812-522-8636, why don’t you give ’em a call and see if you can do a little better, or take that blasphemy down altogether. Do the right thing, Bandit.
— Harley Guy
If two groups are posting hangouts at the same time they can overlap. We’ll correct it and kick the Digital guys ass.
HARLEY DRAG RACING & SHOWBIKE EVENT Maryland International Raceway (MIR) is the latest addition to the growing list of 2006 events to run the AMDRAGS Harley drag race and AIMSA showbike series.
Scheduled for September 9 and 10, 2006, this two-day event at MIR offers something for every Harley rider and enthusiast. The AMDRAGS racing for seasoned drag racers, the all-brands the all-brands Thunder Alley Race School for anyone wanting to learn the basics of drag racing, and grudge racing for street riders.
In addition, there is the AIMSA custom and classic bike show, a huge Crossbow Productions swapmeet and dozens of vendors in the midway. Plus there is plenty of parking and only one admission ticket per day.
Here is your chance to meet the famous racers and showbike builders, or to try your hand at drag racing on a world class drag strip.
Maryland International Raceway is located in Mechanicsville, less than 2 hours from Washington DC and Baltimore.
PAGAN CASE OVERTURNED–Stafford County residents Joseph Wayne Eastridge and Joseph Nick Sousa are breathing easier these days.The two men, former members of the Pagans motorcycle gang who spent more than 20 years in jail for a crime they didn’t commit, found out Monday that their legal troubles are behind them. The government has dismissed an appeal that would have reversed their exonerations.
“The truth has finally prevailed,” Eastridge told The Free Lance-Star yesterday afternoon. “Tuesday morning, I just broke down and started crying. It was like my soul was weeping.”
Tomorrow, they will meet with their lawyers to discuss how the government can give them back the years they lost.Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, did not return phone calls seeking comment yesterday.
In a highly publicized 1976 trial that became known as the Pagans murder case, Eastridge and Sousa were convicted of the first-degree murder of a 26-year-old man, Johnnie Battle in Washington.
The men were sentenced to 20 years to life in the death of Battle, who died after being stabbed numerous times on Nov. 1, 1974. His killing followed an argument at the Godfather Restaurant in Washington.
Eastridge, who is now 59, served 29 years in prison before being released on parole in March. Sousa, 57, served 20 years.
Both men found out on May 26 that U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer had cleared them by granting a petition for habeas corpus, meaning the constitutional legality of their convictions had been overturned.
Fellow Pagans member Michael Diamen was also convicted, but died in prison of a massive heart attack in December 2002.
Although testimony varied during the 1976 trial, most witnesses agreed that events started with an exchange of words between Battle and his friends and members of the motorcycle group. They said Battle returned to his car and fired a handgun that wounded a Pagan’s member. Battle was then chased down and stabbed 17 times.
Sousa and Eastridge admit they were both with the group when the altercation began, but said they returned to their car before Battle was killed.
Another Pagans member, Stephen C. Jones was sentenced under the District of Columbia’s youthful-offender act and served just a few years in jail. He later admitted to being present during the murder and testified that neither Eastridge, Sousa or Diamen were involved.
Eastridge said he has no hard feelings toward Jones, who could have saved them from jail had he told the truth at the 1976 trial.”It took a long time, but he came forward and told the truth,” he said. “I thank him.”
According to court documents, Collyer found that the evidence in the 1976 trial was flawed.
The Free Lance-Star, VA
–from Rogue
MICHIGAN: Branch County motorcycle riders will get a ticket if riding without a helmet–Motorcycle riders without helmets will be ticketed and can be convicted in Branch County again after the City of Coldwater won an appeal of a District Court decision.Branch County Circuit Court Judge Michael Cherry ruled on Thursday the state legislature is clear and unambiguous in its statute that requires those riding cycles to wear helmets.”We will leave to another day the issue of what helmets might comply with the law,” Cherry said from the bench.
Coldwater Daily Reporter, MI – COLDWATER
–Rogue
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
BIKE CLIENTS VENT FRUSTRATIONS–A dozen angry customers got the chance Friday to personally ask former Mid-West Choppers owner Chip Miyler the two questions that have been on their minds for months: Where are our bikes and where’s our money?
Customers of the now bankrupt motorcycle shop filled a courtroom in the Knox County Courthouse during two bankruptcy hearings for Miyler and his wife, Chrissy.
Nearly 40 people from across the United States and some from Germany and New Zealand have filed complaints against the shop, claiming they were asked to pay large amounts of money shortly before it went bankrupt in October.
Galesburg police said Friday the total amount of the complaints is about $1.2 million.”Where’s the money?” asked Michigan resident Rick Klepek, who said he paid Miyler $33,000 for a custom chopper he never received.
“It’s expensive doing business,” Miyler said after a moment of searching for an answer.
Miyler cited buying parts, salaries for his employees and $80,000 per year for insurance. “That eats it up pretty quick.”Miyler filed for bankruptcy on the business on Oct. 14, while he and his wife filed for personal bankruptcy the next day.The business had $2,315,325 in liabilities and $635,382 in assets, while the couple had $1,633,221 in liabilities and $354,287 in assets, according to bankruptcy filings.
Since the hearings were being taped by a single audio recorder on the table in front of Miyler, complainants were forced to sit directly next to Miyler as they asked their questions, making for several awkward moments with no eye contact.
“I guess if I was a very good business man, I wouldn’t be in bankruptcy court,” Miyler said in response to Klepek’s questions regarding financial record keeping.
Miyler previously said the bankruptcies were caused by hard economic times and a downturn in business, but Klepek disagreed, saying the money for the bikes and parts was paid upfront.
An FBI agent interviewed each customer as they exited the courtroom, trying to determine if Miyler ever intended to finish the motorcycles when he accepted the money.If police find Miyler took the money without plans to finish the motorcycles, he could face federal fraud charges.FBI agents and police have focused heavily on one such case they believe proves fraud more than any other.Virginia resident Tye Himmler said he met with Miyler at the shop on Oct. 5 and gave him a $14,000 check to begin work on a custom chopper.
Himmler said the check was deposited on Oct. 7 and cleared his bank account on Oct. 11, just three days before Miyler filed bankruptcy.
Miyler said he used $10,000 of that money to pay off an existing debt and not to buy parts for Himmler’s bike.Miyler also said he first contacted an attorney about filing bankruptcy on Oct. 8, three days after Himmler said he wrote the check.
While the couple had several different bank accounts, the main focus was on an account at First Bank in Galesburg. Miyler said he was required to submit a monthly statement of financial standing to the bank, but many questioned how a bank would continue to loan him money if he was so far in debt.
FBI agents are likely to investigate the transactions at the bank for any wrongdoing, police said. That investigation also would be handled at the federal level because banks are federally insured.
Miyler said he was making about $2,000 a week during the year before filing bankruptcy, but now he and his wife are living on $756 a week unemployment.”We live about as meek as you can get it,” Miyler said, because the two now drive two used cars and have no cable television.
But Mark Adamczak of Centralia didn’t shed any tears for the Miylers.Adamczak said he gave Miyler a 2001 Dodge truck, a 1998 Harley-Davidson and $21,900 in cash for a chopper that was never built.
“All I have is a bike payment of $700 (per month) for nothing,” he said.While the personal bankruptcy hearing was concluded Friday, the hearing for the business was stopped and will be scheduled for another date because so many people wanted to make a statement.
Peoria attorney Sumner Bourne represents 11 people, including those out of the country, and didn’t have enough time during the hour-long hearing to present his information.
Peoria Journal Star, IL – GALESBURG
–from Rogue
WILD CUSTOM FOR SALE–Here’s the bike from Demon’s South. If interested give them a call and be sure to tell them that Bikernet sent ya.
DEMONS SOUTH
378 SW 14 TH AVE
POMPANO BEACH
3 3 0 6 9 FLORIDA
954 629 1039
http://www.DEMONSCYCLE.COM
CHRISTMAS LUGGAGE RACKS– I sell Nelson-Rigg cruiser luggage and the Road King has an enormous back pad. the CTB 950 is made to accommodate the big backrest of the Road King and several other models, including the Yamaha Road Stars..
–Joe
The Harley-Davidson Road King? model is known for its distinctive styling and great looks. It also comes equipped with a huge passenger backrest. Now there is a sissy bar mounted luggage system specifically designed for the large backrests seen on some of big today’s cruisers.
This is the RiggPaks CTB-950 King Tourer
The CTB-950 has a larger mounting system to accommodate wider backrests as found on the H-D Road King)
Included roll bag can be mounted separately
Integrated pocket conceals straps turning your bag into a backpack
Four large easily accessible side pockets (2-expandable)
Detailed office organizer and envelope-sized pocket
Security loops under bag allow a cable lock to be installed (cable not included)
Dimensions: 14″L x 18 _”H x 8″W Unexpanded, 14″L x 18 _”H x 10″W Expanded.
MSRP $179.95
Available online at: http://www.amspecialtiesusa.com
BIKER INTERNET RADIO–It’s called the The Bikers Inner Circle and stars Bikernet’s correspondent, Rogue, Berry Wardlaw of Accurate Engineering and Charlie Brechtel, the music man.
Coming soon on the internet.
–Rogue
HIGH DESERT TOY RUN FOR CHILDREN OF PRISONERS– Well our first toy run came off with out a hitch. We met at Hi Desert Performance, where the secret Bonneville bike is being built. Did our blast thru town. Then went to an old church and drop off our gifts to the kids. They did a short play and sang Christmas songs. They were all very grateful. It was a great turn out, more than Larry and I thought.
Then off to “The HandleBars” a local drinking hole down it the lower desert where it was a bit warmer.
Merry Christmas To All
–Bob T
HARDBIKES ANNOUNCES MOVE TO LONG TERM PRODUCTION FACILITY–MASURY, OHIO – December 17, 2005 — Hardbikes is pleased to announce their plans to move into a 35,000 square foot, long term facility in Hermitage, PA as of December 16, 2005. Hardbikes currently occupies an Innovation Center in Masury, Ohio where prototypes and assembly procedures have been developed. The move to Pennsylvania keeps Hardbikes growing and provides a long term home that can be expanded as needed.
Orders are inline with controlled growth plans. Hardbikes’ seasoned management team and recent successful milestones were the icing that sold the state of Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania’s business friendly policy and Penn Ventures’ investment into Hardbikes was a big confidence builder for the entire team and Hardbikes’ supply chain. By adding venture capital to the existing investors in Hardbikes we now have the mechanics to fuel our growth. The new investors and new plant is ahead of plan and has created some short term operational pains but we now have a good “HARD” foundation,” says Gene Kirila, president of Hardbikes.
The new facility is located at 2600 Kirila Drive, Hermitage PA and has 30,000 square feet of production space and 5,000 square feet of office space. The property has expansion capability to satisfy the needs of Hardbikes way into the future. It will house their innovation center and production facility under one roof. The increased space will also accommodate a dyno room testing lab, fully equipped prototyping facility as well as an increased inventory storage area to ensure the right parts are there at the right time. Hardbikes will be ready to start taking orders for their new custom bikes built to customer specifications after the first of the year. Hardbikes is looking to expand its dealers because of the new capacities.
Hardbikes’ customers design the custom bike of their dreams by using the online web-based Configurator that resides at www.hardbikes.com. Hardbikes’ design wizard helps the customer customize by leveraging the Hardbikes network of dealer and factory support expertise by being connected to the intelligent web-centric system. Customers are encouraged to experiment with their designs, budgets and unique look all from the privacy and comfort of their desktop. Then their designs are finalized by the Hardbikes network of dealers, designers, suppliers and quality engineers that provide years and years of proven knowledge.
Once customers design the bike of their dreams, Hardbikes builds motorcycles that fit each customer perfectly. Its patent-pending Hardrider system ensures each customer gets a bike built to their exact specifications. All Hardbikes dealers will have a Hardbikes Design Center on their showroom floor featuring a computer-aided design station, a Chopper fitment fixture, and a Pro-Street fitment fixture.
Hardbikes is committed to building a manufacturing process and selling system that will support the unique culture of the American V-Twin rider. The firm’s tagline is “Work hard, play harder.”
NEW MUSTACHE ENGINE GUARD FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON–Curved Guard Incorporates Highway Pegs for Long-Haul Comfort.
MILWAUKEE (Nov. 30, 2005) – The new Mustache Engine Guard (P/N 49155-05, $239.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories offers a new twist on engine protection. The bend of this one-piece, chrome-plated engine guard complements the traditional style of Harley-Davidson Touring models. Its curved upper section incorporates a set of highway pegs with integrated rubber pads that offer a slip-resistant cushion while traveling the open road. The kit includes all required mounting hardware.
Fits 1997-later Touring models except FLTR and models equipped with Fairing Lowers.
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.
THAT’S A CHRISTMAS WRAPPING–Yesterday Steel Dreams sent a crew out to interview me and discuss our Bikernet Dreams for 2006. Shows are strange. Everything must be kept short and to the point. No long-winded stories allowed. I wanted to discuss our Bonneville efforts more, but supposedly they’ll be back for more updates as the bikes are built. Bikernet will be working hand in hand with Steel Dreams this year.
We are working with Custom Chrome, Accurate Engineering and Baker Transmission on the first Panhead Sport Bike designed by John Reed and myself for the Sturgis Run then speed runs at Bonneville during Bubs Salt Flats week. We’re also working on a 45 WLD bobber Bonneville racer with Lee Clemens and the Departure Bike Works crew. There’s also a V-Rod with Custom Performance in Phoenix and our own 1929 Peashooter, 500 cc single hanging fire for the next move. We’ll bring you progress reports.
I sincerely hope that every Bikernet reader has a helluva Christmas. Christmas means so many things to each of us. But from my heart and the hearts of our staff, Nyla, Karley, The Tronolone Brothers, Jason, John Gilbert, John Van (the kid downstairs), Rogue and the rest of the crew we hope your Christmas is fulla love, bling, giving, sharing and good times.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
