Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler said Monday he would ask the Justice Department to look into whether environmental advocacy groups receiving overseas funding should register as foreign agents. His letter on enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) came in response to a request from Rep. Lance Gooden, Texas Republican, who raised concerns this month about overseas entities seeking to increase U.S. reliance on renewable energy by funding the environmental movement. “Given heightened concern that foreign countries, primarily China and Russia, are potentially funding U.S.-based ‘green’ groups to undermine American energy independence and to help maintain the integrity of EPA’s decision-making, EPA will refer this matter to the DOJ FARA Unit,” Mr. Wheeler said in his letter. “The DOJ can then determine what appropriate steps to take, if any, including whether those entities should register as a foreign agent,” Mr. Wheeler said. It is legal for U.S. nonprofit groups to accept foreign contributions, but “foreign influence should not be covert,” Mr. Wheeler said. Mr. Gooden, who had raised the issue of “covert foreign influence on our political process” in an Oct. 8 letter to Mr. Wheeler, praised the administrator’s decision. “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) stands to profit heavily from a Biden administration which would make us reliant on Made-in-China renewable energy,” Mr. Gooden said in a Monday statement. “We have reason to believe they are funneling money to certain ‘green groups’ to influence American foreign policy and our elections.” His previous letter said there was “considerable evidence” that environmental groups actively lobbying for clean-energy policies are being funded by foreign entities that would benefit from a U.S. shift away from oil, natural gas, and coal. Mr. Gooden said that environmental nonprofit groups, which are not required to disclose their donors, are receiving “large sums of money” from the Sea Change Foundation, “a proven front group for foreign financing, funded by off-shore hedge funds in Bermuda.” “While it is not illegal for tax-exempt 501(c)(4)s to receive funding from foreign countries, the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) stipulates that any foreign-funded organization engaged in political activity must register as a foreign agent,” Mr. Gooden said. “Environmental groups that receive money from Sea Change or other foreign-funded organizations, who then use those funds to target American energy interests, should disclose the source of their funding and potentially register as foreign agents.” He added that such green groups “are clearly engaging in politics at best, and operating at the behest of foreign actors at worst.” The Sea Change Foundation, formerly Klein Ltd., released a statement in July 2018 saying that it had contributed $500 million since 2011 to climate and clean-energy initiatives but received no outside funding. “I wish to clarify that press reports speculating that Klein has received funding from outside sources are factually incorrect and have no basis,” foundation director Nat Simons told Inside Philanthropy. “Neither Klein nor Sea Change Foundation has ever solicited or accepted contributions from non-family related sources.” China has positioned itself as a renewable-energy juggernaut, with control of about 60% of global solar-panel production and 90% of rare-earth metals used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels, as reported by ChinaPower. During the Trump administration, the U.S. became a net exporter of crude oil and natural gas, thanks in large part to the energy boom driven by hydraulic fracturing. –Read more in the Washington Times –from the Climate Depot

From Ground-Zero of a Marketing Failure

Is there a market for big bikes in India? All the big names have dealerships here in India – Triumph, Indian, BMW, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and now some Italian brands too. India is the world’s largest market for two-wheelers overtaking China. Motorcycles and scooters can be seen everywhere in every city, suburbs and villages. It is the most popular choice of transport for the common man. Why would one of the world’s most popular brands decide to shut shop in India after spending a decade building dealerships and relationships?

Harley-Davidson came to India before Indian and Triumph set foot here. In a way their sales figures induced other motorcycle brands to sell their larger models in India. Before Harley-Davidson the Japanese giants Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki did not consider bringing their superbikes to Indian dealerships. They were content with their small commuter bikes and scooters selling in large numbers. So how does the trailblazer brand decide they don’t like what they have accomplished?

The answers are complex and the answers may be closer to home in US of A than in India.

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

Electric cars have been around for about a decade now, but electric motorcycles are sure taking their sweet time to come into existence. There are a number of startups in the market of making electric two-wheelers now, but the established names of the industry are just beginning to dip their toes into the segment.

To date, only one of these established names has ventured into the electric motorcycle sector: Harley-Davidson. Its LiveWire came into the spotlight last year, and came with high hopes in tow. Hopes that, for better or worse, are yet to be met.

The LiveWire is not killing it sales-wise, and Harley knows it. That’s why the bike maker embarked on an intensive effort to promote the EV through unconventional means.

First, Harley handed two of them (modified) to Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman for their 13,000 miles (21,000 km) trip from the city of Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego all the way to Los Angeles, captured on film under the name Long Way Up. Apparently, the bikes not only survived, but they also handled their jobs beautifully.

Then, the company took the LiveWire to the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals at the Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis for some live audience action. There, rider Angelle Sampey (who usually rides an FXDR Pro Stock) accelerated the LiveWire to the records of best elapsed time and top speed for an “electric-powered production motorcycle on a drag racing course.”

Following the run, Harley became even more convinced electric drag racing is definitely the future in the motorcycle world. So the company released a dedicated episode of its Science of Speed YouTube series, describing “the mental and physical techniques used by top racers” before, during and after the race.

“Let me tell you what’s amazing,” said Sampey about her experience with the electric bike. “That was the first time I rode the LiveWire. I could not wait to get it on the track. The LiveWire is so easy to ride. Just twist the throttle and go – and you really go!”

You can have a look at the 10-minutes clip below.

 

by Helen Pike from https://www.cbc.ca

Instead of sitting at home when the pandemic shuttered Alberta’s economy, some hopped on the saddle of a motorbike and hit the streets.

According to statistics provided by the Motorcycle & Moped Industry Council (MMIC), sales across the province started to climb in April and May and peaked mid-summer. Year to date motorcycle sales are up 16 per cent and motor scooter sales are up 14 per cent over last year’s figures.

Meanwhile, new vehicle sales are down about 26 per cent compared with January to August 2019, according to Statistics Canada.

David Grummett, director of communications, said MMIC believes there was a healthy mix of new riders, returning riders and existing riders with some with vacation money burning a hole in their pockets.

“There were a lot of new riders,” Grummett said “[There were people coming] back to the sport in big numbers … there were just people that wanted a new bike and maybe they weren’t going on the cruise. So they had some extra disposable cash. That seemed to be a good place to put it.”

Jen Brown hadn’t been on a bike for a decade. She had taken a course and always intended to have a motorcycle of her own, but life got in the way. Until the pandemic hit.

Then she found herself with extra cash usually set aside for rec-sports leagues and camping trips. So, she got a second-hand beater and, on her first solo ride, met a community of people by chance, on her first ride to Bragg Creek.

‘Everybody stepped up’

“Quite honestly, it’s what kept me sane all summer long,” Brown said. “The group became more and more eclectic, And we all sort of supported each other and helped each other out.”

After that, she was able to message the group for a ride at the drop of a hat. She even went on a road trip vacation with one of the members, who is now her boyfriend.

Brown said the motorcycle community was very supportive over the summer — she described the sport as the “perfect form” of physical distancing.

Because testing wasn’t possible during the first few months of the pandemic — and to ride without a Class 6 licence, you need to be accompanied by a fully licensed driver, social media threads were full of new riders, or unlicensed riders, looking for help.

“Everybody stepped up,” Brown said. “On a lot of the [social media] pages, you could see people asking for somebody who has a Class 6 to chaperone them so that they could practise their riding and they would get seven or eight responses from different people.”

Carter Hansen said he already had a motorbike but it needed repairs before he could dust it off.

He works in the aviation industry and knew a layoff was on the horizon — so instead of wallowing, Hansen said he took himself shopping.

“I made the decision to kinda make the best of my newly found free time,” Hansen said. “I figured if I just sat around and watched my savings and severance dwindle away, it would be very depressing.… Having a new bike that I didn’t have to work on before I could go ride it, helped keep my mental health afloat by giving me something to look forward to. Something to focus on.”

Then, there’s the faction looking for a way to commute safely.

Grummett said scooter sales are up 14 per cent, year to date, over 2019.

Commuting by scooter instead of transit

“People can really easily get on a 50 cc scooter and be-bop into town and not have to worry about sitting beside somebody that is masked and hacking and coughing and stuff,” Grummett said. “So we see that as a really positive thing going forward with the motorcycle industry.”

Interestingly, mini bike sales went through the roof in June, up 319 per cent over 2019 figures. Grummett attributes this to parents trying to keep kids out of the house, especially in rural areas.

“Dealers said basically, you know, a lot of rural kids that maybe their life was playing hockey, baseball, soccer or whatever, [now they] can’t do it,” Grummett said. “And they’re driving the parents nuts.”

While sales climbed, so did fatalities

The Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society tracks crashes across the province. President Liane Langlois said this summer fatalities nearly doubled — with 21 so far, compared with 11 last year.

Over the last number of years, Langlois said fatalities were trending down, so this increase is especially disheartening.

“I always like to see growth in the motorcycle community,” Langlois said.

“People are getting into it because they really enjoy that feeling, that freedom, that being out on the open road. That’s great. Get involved. It’s awesome. Just to make sure that you’re set up for success and not going to become one of these unfortunate statistics.”

Most of the fatal crashes, 70 per cent, were single-vehicle collisions.

Is there a market for big bikes in India? All the big names have dealerships here in India – Triumph, Indian, BMW, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and now some Italian brands too. India is the world’s largest market for two-wheelers overtaking China. Motorcycles and scooters can be seen everywhere in every city, suburbs and villages. It is the most popular choice of transport for the common man. Why would one of the world’s most popular brands decide to shut shop in India after spending a decade building dealerships and relationships?

Harley-Davidson came to India before Indian and Triumph set foot here. In a way their sales figures induced other motorcycle brands to sell their larger models in India. Before Harley-Davidson the Japanese giants Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki did not consider bringing their superbikes to Indian dealerships. They were content with their small commuter bikes and scooters selling in large numbers. So how does the trailblazer brand decide they don’t like what they have accomplished?

The answers are complex and the answers may be closer to home in US of A than in India.

DOMESTIC VS INTERNATIONAL
Harley-Davidson has the biggest market share in USA, but it has been in steady decline for over a decade. They are losing market share to brands such as Indian, Triumph and the sport bikes from Japan. Harley-Davidson was the first choice for Americans when they thought of buying a motorcycle, but not anymore. They are getting expensive and not as stress-free as say a Honda GoldWing.

When the international sales of Harley-Davidson increased due to the brand’s iconic association with America and Freedom – the company knew they could boost sales globally. Europe, Middle-East, Asia and Australia were good export markets for Harley-Davidson which sold their bikes based on the cult following the brand developed with extra thanks to Hollywood’s iconic movies that showcased the macho image of a biker on a big V-twin.

This boosted exports for Harley-Davidson even though the sales in USA were slowing down. Then the tariff war with Europe and Asia appeared and Harley-Davidson realised they would have to cut jobs locally and setup factories overseas. The tariff war was essential to boost manufacturing sector in USA, which would be crucial for the economy in the long-term. But in the short-term it impacted Harley-Davidson financially. Their bikes were suddenly more expensive in key market of Europe.

Other motorcycle brands have no problem setting up factories all over the world. Japanese brands build locally and enjoy increased sales at low prices for customers and export to neighboring nations. But the whole point of buying a Harley-Davidson was that it was Made in USA. I have two Zippo lighters and the only reason I bought them was that they are only made in USA, till today. So, while people all over the world want a piece of Americana – Harley-Davidson found it difficult to deliver. What’s the point of owning a Harley-Davidson made in Thailand? Where is the heritage and the history?

In a global economy, brands such as Harley-Davidson face a unique obstacle. They want to hold on to their brand value while competitors entice customers with lower prices, fuel-efficiency with similar range of models to choose from.

BRAND POSITIONING
Harley-Davidson used to be the bike that the common folk rode. They went to work by this bike and went to festivals and weekend getaways on this bike. The custom motorcycle market was obsessed with Harley-Davidsons. The custom builder community helped enhance the core market of the brand and made it uniquely all-American.

Yet, advertising by Harley-Davidson did not feature this core fan-base. They instead gifted Harley-Davidson motorcycles to celebrities to entice the young people who had not considered buying motorcycles. The biker lifestyle does not live in Hollywood. But the marketing team focusses only on celebrities instead of developing the vast core fan-base who appreciate the brand and its history.

Making an expensive electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire that can’t tour does not help boost sales. The Wall Street banker is not the core market. The market resides in practical hardworking man who tinkers in his garage to ride cross-country for experience of true freedom.

To capture the minds of the new generation, Harley-Davidson needs to think about the daily needs of the biker and not the guy who drives a Porsche to work everyday. Harley-Davidson shouldn’t focus on being a luxury product like an Italian car. Their success was always about being accessible to the common man.

COMPETITORS
Indian and Triumph have steadily grown in India, while competing against sports bikes from BMW, Yamaha and Kawasaki. They all have far fewer dealerships than Harley-Davidson in India. The market for touring bikes is captured by the British icon Royal Enfield which is now an India based company.

Royal Enfield set its sights on exporting to Europe and USA and has steadily increased dealerships globally to cater to a new audience. Enfield motorcycles range from 350cc to its new twin engine 650cc. They recently discontinued their 500cc which was also popular for many decades. These are smaller manoeuvrable bikes that are comfortable riding in busy city streets as well as open highways. They recently launched Build-Train-Race program for women riders in USA.

Indian motorcycles by Polaris consistently delivered on performance and quality. They keep sweeping the podium in flat-track racing. For many Americans to buy American often now means riding an Indian rather than a Harley-Davidson.

MotoGP is popular in India where the sports channels show Grand Prix but not the American Flat-Track Racing. People know the names of European riders and champions but don’t hear of American racing legends. This was an easy boost to the Japanese superbikes to sell their big bikes to speed-obsessed fans.

Bike events and custom-culture are not common in India. Most people ride stock bikes and don’t intend to spend on custom parts when they already spent a lot of money to buy the original bike. Biker clubs that exist are exclusively for Enfields. A Harley-Davidson Sportster costs ten-times more than a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 in India. Can you imagine a bunch of rich guys going cross-country on a Harley-Davidson when they could fly there first-class and stay in a five-star hotel instead of camping by the road. The price was a major deterrent for true bikers to graduate to a Harley-Davidson. Meanwhile Royal Enfield upped its game to bring new models with retro styling that appealed to the growing biker lifestyle community.

Harley-Davidson never launched its Street 500 in India. It could have cut into the Enfield market share and riders would have transitioned to the bigger engines eventually. Street 750 was selling well and introducing Street 500 would have seen the sales figures for India market shoot up easily.

MARKET IN INDIA
While India remains the world’s largest market for two-wheelers the bulk of the sales is for small capacity commuter bikes. These are 100c to 150cc engine bikes that consume very less fuel and have low maintenance costs. People use them everyday to go to offices or college or to get groceries.

It was a bold decision by Harley-Davidson to develop the market to sell 1200cc engine motorcycles in India while the vast number of compact cars on city roads have 1000cc engines. Harley-Davidson sales figures grew very well. From selling a bike a day to over a dozen bikes a day may not seem big to the American fan. But it was big sales considering that you can buy a Honda sedan or a Toyota SUV for the same price as a Harley-Davidson Sportster or a Fat Boy respectively.

In the past ten years, with tie-ups with banks, Harley-Davidsons were affordable to more and more people. Royal Enfields were a common sight. To be seen on a Harley-Davidson would be more enticing to the biker. With Completely Knocked Down Units (CKD) assembled in their plant in Haryana, India, Harley-Davidson brought down the prices for buyers successfully. India is the only country after Brazil where Harley-Davidson has a CKD unit for assembling kits supplied from the US.

Clearly, Harley-Davidson had long-term plans for India and the market was developing nicely. The year 2020 brought good news with the Government of India announcing that Indian military canteens could sell Harley-Davidson motorcycles to military personnel. Military Canteens in India sell imported and local goods without the burden of custom duty and heavy taxes that the common customer in India has to pay. The military in India is well-known for its use of Enfield motorcycles and this new offer to military personnel would see a new avenue of sales for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The armed forces employ a large population second only to China.

Harley-Davidson management kept comparing apples to oranges. They couldn’t understand why people would buy the commuter bikes instead of a Street 750 or the Iron 883. The management should realise that there is no comparison between a buyer of a Harley-Davidson or a Triumph and the buyer of a Hero Splendor or Bajaj Pulsar. Hero – if you didn’t know is an India based company which is the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world and also market leader in India, where it has a market share of about 46% in the two-wheeler category. They export their affordable bikes to African, Asian and South East Asian markets.

After Harley-Davidson announced its withdrawal from India in September they announced a partnership with Hero. It is not surprising because Hero has not just dealerships in every city as well as rural areas but also a vast servicing network to provide after-sales service to its customers. Their market penetration is unmatched in motorcycles and the only other brand in India to have such a penetration is the Maruti-Suzuki cars which was originally launched in partnership with Government of India. So, Hero as a private company capturing the market is a success story unheard of.

Harley-Davidson may want to learn the ropes from Hero, but its again apples paired with oranges. Hero does not sell big bikes and has no intention to. They have no experience in the market for big bikes. The customers of Hero simply want to go from point A to point B at the lowest consumption of fuel. The best-selling Hero Splendor costs INR 60,000 compared to a Street 750 which costs INR 600,000. So, to depend on a local company that has a market vision the opposite of a big twin manufacturer is going to be a long weary road.

One Harley-Davidson dealership salesman told me they sold more accessories than bikes in India. It was easy money. Most people who walk into the dealership may not buy the big twin but they sure do buy a tee-shirt. The mugs, helmets, jackets, shoes were popular with the visitors. This was enough to make Royal Enfield launch a whole new website with a premium range of accessories. After-all people wearing a brand name on the street is free advertising.

INFRASTRUCTURE
India has one of the world’s largest road networks. The paved roads are increasingly connecting rural and urban India at a rapid pace. The Government used the COVID19 shutdown to rapidly complete infrastructure projects. India has the world’s second largest road network, spanning a total of 5.89 million kilometres (kms) after the United States which has 6,645,709 kilometres. This road network of India transports 64.5% of all goods in the country and 90% of India’s total passenger traffic uses road network to commute.

Yet, there are limited options for a motorcycle tourer. The Expressways in India have banned motorcycles. For example, the financial hub of Mumbai is connected with the neighboring industrial city of Pune with an expressway where two-wheelers are not allowed. This is done so that cars and buses can use maximum speed and avoid accidents with bikers who are known to cut lanes and not follow safe riding techniques. The long JJ flyover in Mumbai has banned two-wheelers since youngsters used to race and crash and die there regularly. The image of the motorcyclist is that of a badly-behaved infant on cocaine.

So, if expressways and even flyovers won’t allow motorcycles and scooters then how does a big twin owner enjoy the open road with the power of a 1600cc engine between his legs? The Government cannot or will not make exceptions for higher capacity bikes on these roads.

Most Harley-Davidson motorcycles would need refuelling often and on national highways and state highways distant from major cities have petrol pumps farther apart. Adulteration of petrol is common in India, especially outside the metro cities. Imagine your INR 2,000,000 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy engine consuming adulterated petrol and causing permanent damage to your prized vehicle.

Worse still is the breakdown on a trip. India does not have national nor state helplines for breakdowns. If your Harley-Davidson stalls on the highway the local mechanic has no knowledge how to fix it. Even a tyre puncture would be difficult to deal with. Meanwhile all the other two-wheelers on the highway such as Hero, Bajaj, TVS, Enfield, etc would be easily repaired. The small capacity commuter bikes from Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda have no problems with breakdowns and get easy servicing on highways.

Pushing a 260 kg Harley-Davidson to nearest petrol pump or tow-truck service is not an option. Meanwhile it is a common sight to see a miser 100cc bike owner push his commuter bike in the city because he didn’t fill up petrol when the meter reading showed he was in reserve fuel use.

BIKER COMMUNITY
There are biker clubs in all major cities of India. Majority of the successful ones ride only Enfields. The biker lifestyle is associated with being outdoors on a simple machine enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Older Enfields used to be simple. The newer ones are not so easy to self-service.

Harley-Davidson did have a HOG biker group in India. They used to arrange trips for its customers. I used to see them riding an American flag. They wanted to live the American Dream. The American culture is the biggest and best export from USA. It spells freedom for many all over the world. But their “luxury” HOG lifestyle just disassociated them from the vast majority of bikers in India.

To make a motorcycle accessible to all while staying true to its legacy is the road ahead for Harley-Davidson in USA as well as India and everywhere else where freedom matters.

HOG India had success with Harley Rock Riders which combined music fest and motorcycle trip as well as Harley-Davidson Legend on Tour where the HOG groups went on guided tours from city to city.

Developing a community should be more important to Harley-Davidson than comparing sales figures with commuter bikes. The big twin engine appeals to a unique set of individuals and investing time to enhance their experience of a Harley-Davidson will ensure that more people join the tribe and spread the goodwill of two-wheeled passion. It’s a lifestyle change that Harley-Davidson used to bring to its new owners. In India though it’s just a showpiece trophy bike for the rich urban who rides a German luxury car to his desk job everyday and vacations overseas on pristine beaches with no intention of ever going on a cross country ride on his big twin.

Price is clearly not the only deciding factor for sales of Harley-Davidson in India. Developing the biker lifestyle we know in USA is not going to be easy overseas. The good news for now is that Harley-Davidson still wants to remain associated in India through Hero. How the new CEO plans to boost sales with this partnership is yet to be seen.

Hero started as Hero-Honda which was a successful partnership with Honda until the latter decided to compete in India alone. Triumph has partnered with Bajaj of India to launch mid-size bikes to cut into Enfield market share. BMW partnered with TVS of India to manufacture their G310R in India. The H-D brand should not lose focus of developing the big twin market. They are currently seduced by large sales figures of small capacity bikes. Instead of trying to carve a piece of that pie, they could be owning the whole big bike pie.

CONCLUSION
Harley-Davidson may be cutting costs to impress stockholders in USA with better profit margins. They won’t be entirely absent in India. If they manage to improve their image and sales in USA, it will easily translate to increased demand overseas.

The global market feeds on American trends and American culture. By nurturing their core market at home, Harley-Davidson can take on the foreign brands and capture new markets in Europe and Asia. Wall Street does not reflect the success of a brand. Royal Enfield learned this lesson last year when its stock prices changed even though the company was growing and sales and exports were increasing. Tesla cars by genius Elon Musk faced short-selling crises from Wall Street last year. The Tesla short-sellers are down $25 billion this year. Believe in your quality product and reliable service – not on the stock market prices.

2020 and the damned Chinese virus has affected every human and organization on the planet. This too shall pass. My advice to Harley-Davidson is to quote Shakespeare’s timeless wisdom –

“This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!”

It Couldn’t Be Better with News every Spectrum

Hey,

The weather is rapidly changing. The election is almost over and I hope everyone voted. Next week will be damn exciting. I have confidence in America and as you know, in freedom.

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

Ride fast and free forever!

–Bandit

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

The name White Sox has been linked to the Chicago-based baseball team for more than a century. So tied is this name to the club that you almost never get to see it used on anything or for anything else. At least in America.

In Germany, on the other hand, the term White Sox is not such a resounding one. There, as in most of Europe for that matter, baseball is almost non-existent, so when speaking of White Sox people there usually mean just that: white stockings. Or, in the case of custom motorcycle garage Thunderbike, the term means whitewall tires for one of their latest products.

Having started off as a Street Bob, the build was christened White Sox not because of an imaginary connection with the baseball club from across the ocean, but because its wheels are wrapped in whitewall tires, designed this way as a tribute to the “bobber look of the ‘50s.”

The overall design of the bike follows the usual language of the German shop. The blackness of the build is offset by the said white on the tires, but also on the fuel tank, where the Harley-Davidson lettering was specced in this color. The Street Bob now has an entirely new stance compared to stock. That is partially due to the remade rear end, the new seat, new fenders, and a lowering kit that brings the height of the bike down by 30 mm.

As usual, Thunderbike does not say what exact changes it made to the Milwaukee-Eight that powers the two-wheeler. The only thing we are informed about is that the powerplant now breathes through a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system.

As for the cost of the build, no official figure was announced. The parts listed as used on the motorcycle amount to a total of around 4,400 euros ($5,200), but that does not include the exhaust system, labor, and of course the base bike itself.

Hey,

The weather is rapidly changing. The election is almost over and I hope everyone voted. Next week will be damn exciting. I have confidence in America and as you know, in freedom.

Here’s the really good, positive news from the Bikernet Headquarters in Wilmington, California. We may have a plan for moving some unwanted staff members to Deadwood and keeping the Wilmington fort. That’s not the news.

Micah McCloskey came from the valley to the coast on Sunday, when the traffic is nil around the Port. With the help of Zack and Gearhead, we lifted the Salt Torpedo off the lift and set it on the deck. Micah guided it into the backyard and fired it to life. The JIMS engine sounds magnificent with the exhaust system build partially by Bub and partially by me and San Pedro muffler. It was recently repaired after we rolled the torpedo during a test run.

Zack jumped on his Sportster, which we recently rewired and repaired and prepared to pace the Torpedo on it’s first handling test. Mike Stevenson and I recently did our damnest to align the Torpedo after the new front axle was installed, and the wheels repaired. Paughco also built us a new gas tank.

I installed the bottom of the belly tank last week in hopes that our test would be successful and we could prepare for a speed run, maybe in the desert. Micah assured me that he would take it easy on his first pass down Harry Bridges, the largest thoroughfare leading in and out of the Port of LA.

It sprinkled in the morning, the first rain of the season, so the worn asphalt was slick. Micah followed the code and took it slow for the first couple of blocks. With Zack pacing him he slipped along the wide boulevard and then turned right for the return pass. I stood in the street to watch the Torpedo heading back towards the shop. It seemed to be tracking straight.

Micah was positive but wanted to let the street dry, so he could make one more pass and hit some speed over 50 mph. We waited and shot the shit in the shop. The sun threatened over the harbor and dried the cracking asphalt.

More confident, Micah slipped under the canopy with his race helmet on and fired the JIMS 135 Twin Cam to life. He popped over the gate railing, into the street with Zack beside him and blasted down the street. He was back in a flash and again seemed to track perfectly. He blasted into the shop with his gloved thumb held high.

Sometime today, I’m going to make a call about a speed run in the desert. Let’s hit the news.

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY
October 29, 1929

Stock market crashes on Black Tuesday
Black Tuesday hits Wall Street as investors trade 16,410,030 shares on the New York Stock Exchange in a single day. Billions of dollars were lost, wiping out thousands of investors, and stock tickers ran hours behind because the machinery could not handle the tremendous volume of trading. In the aftermath of Black Tuesday America and the rest of the industrialized world spiraled downward into the Great Depression.

During the 1920s, the U.S. stock market underwent rapid expansion, reaching its peak in August 1929, a period of wild speculation. By then, production had already declined and unemployment had risen, leaving stocks in great excess of their real value. Among the other causes of the eventual market collapse were low wages, the proliferation of debt, a weak agriculture, and an excess of large bank loans that could not be liquidated.

–from History.com

A BROTHER RECEIVES HIS BANDIT MADE BELT BUCKLE--Incredible Righteous Distinctive and Massively Cool Piece of Art! Comfortable and beautiful on my favorite leather stiched belt! Blew my mind to see it arrive so fast!

My mind however was even more blown when we first chatted. You sir are a Living Legend! Your Enormous contribution to our life style is Massive Greatly Appreciated and Forever!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the extra stuff. I’m gonna start on the book tonight, and look forward to joining your Cantina. If I can ever help you in anyway please let me know.

Your grateful brother
–Robert

BLACK TECHNICIANS AT HARLEY–
I read the story on Paris McGowan it very uplifting to see another woman in the field but the story is Incorrect she is not the first female black technician at Harley-Davidson she is actually the third.

To explain why I said she is third with the history behind my statement along with the details of the 2 women before her. I am not discrediting her accomplishment but the lack of research to claim she is the first is a total discredit to the two ladies before her.

The first black Lady is named Alisha Healy she is a Master Technician of the Rubber City Harley-Division in Ohio she has been in the position as Master Tech for 9 years and was featured in the magazine Harley’s University Shop Talk Magazine article Women on the Rise 2018. She talks about her struggle and determination to be in a field dominated by men and an inspiration to other women in general.

The second black lady who is not only Black but Hispanic is Selena Terrazas she is 25 years old she graduated from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix AZ in November of 2017 specializing in Harleys Davidson motorcycles. Her first position was with Top Rocker Harley-Davidson in Canoga Park Ca for a 1 and 1/2 year she now has moved to Harley- Davidson of Santa Clarita and has been there 1 year with advancement training to be completed at MMI again to become an Advanced Technician her current career time is 2 1/2 years. She is known around the dealers in California and Harleys Master Techs as the first women they have worked with in California under Harley in the past 30 years.

Please understand that an article that showcases women of color should be correct since there are other women in the field that may not be known to the author but substantial researched should be done to give credit to all women.

In conclusion, I am the mother of Selena Terrazas and I am extremely proud she is in her career and has encouraged her to be independent and strong in the world where men dominate a field. As I am the only Black female in my company who is a Property Inspector in a male-dominated field of working with Commerical, Residential, New Construction housing for investors in the Southern California Region and out of state properties.

As a woman of color, I pride myself and my children to excel and take on positions that challenged the mind. I commend the article showcasing Paris Mcgowan but not the statement she is the first, that should go to Alisha Healy then followed by my daughter Selena Terrazas and Paris McGowan who have broken barriers in Harley as black female technicians.

Sincerely

–Dana Marzette- Hernandez

UNDISPUTED: INDIAN CHALLENGER OFFICIALLY BECOMES “KING OF THE BAGGERS” WITH DRAMATIC VICTORY AT LAGUNA SECA

Inaugural Bagger Road Race Sees Indian Challengers Claim Two of Three Podium Spots as Road Racer Tyler O’Hara Takes the Victory on the S&S Cycle Indian Challenger & Frankie Garcia Takes Third Place on the Roland Sands Design Indian Challenger

MINNEAPOLIS (October 27, 2020) – Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, added to its racing legacy with a historic win at the inaugural Drag Specialties King of the Baggers invitational at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Facing a field of 11 Harley-Davidsons, the S&S Cycle Indian Challenger, piloted by highly decorated motorcycle racing Champion Tyler O’Hara, captured the win, while veteran rider Frankie Garcia put his Roland Sands Design Indian Challenger on the box with a third-place finish. Claiming two out of three podium positions, the Indian Challenger dramatically showcased its superiority on one of road-racing’s most iconic and technical tracks.

The historic race played out in truly dramatic fashion. Barely, 24-hours after an accident where he “looped” his 600-lb. machine during qualifying, Frankie Garcia rebounded taking the holeshot.

But it was O’Hara who immediately established a commanding lead through the first three laps. With five laps remaining, an off-track mishap sent O’Hara back to third and Garcia to second, allowing veteran rider Hayden Gillim to take the lead. From there, O’Hara began a patient, methodical comeback, working his way past Garcia and dramatically passing Gillim while diving into the famed “corkscrew” during the penultimate lap. O’Hara held strong for the final lap winning the inaugural race by 1.9 seconds and earning the title “King of the Baggers.”

“It’s an incredible honor for us to race on this historic track at this historic event, against a field of incredibly talented teams and riders, and we’re absolutely thrilled to come away victorious,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Tyler, Frankie and the S&S Cycle and RSD teams did an incredible job and ultimately, they were able to show the world just how special the Indian Challenger is. We couldn’t be more proud of them or our bike.”

Race fans witnessed history, as the inaugural King of the Baggers reached social media viewers in record numbers – recording over two million views and more than 30,000 Facebook shares.

“Watching 13 baggers carving through Laguna Seca’s famed “Corkscrew” was a special moment in motorcycle racing,” said Reid Wilson, Vice President for Indian Motorcycle. “That said, watching the new Indian Challenger defeat 11 highly-modified Harley Davidsons was a monumental achievement and dramatic validation for the work our product designers and engineers have put into developing the Indian Challenger.”

The inaugural King of the Baggers race could not have been more appropriately timed for the Indian Challenger. In a year that saw Indian Motorcycle introduce the new bagger with the Challenger Challenge – a dealer test-ride program that invited riders to compare the Indian Challenger head-to-head against the Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® Special – the inaugural race created a dramatic extension of the marketing program in a full-fledged competitive racing format.

The victory at “King of the Baggers” also came on the heels of Indian Motorcycle Racing earning its fourth consecutive Grand National Championship and Manufacturer’s Championship in the American Flat Track racing series.

Biker Calls for Community Support to Win Custom Bike Build on Popular TV Show

Local biker makes an appeal for votes to bring attention to his cause.

Orange County Choppers is giving away an opportunity to build a custom chopper to the fan with the most votes. The show’s main character and owner of Orange County Choppers Paul Teutul Sr. wants to give one lucky bike enthusiast the opportunity of a lifetime.

World of Soul Motorcycle Community’s founder Terry Hardy wants you to vote for him.

The winner will receive a custom dream bike built entirely from scratch. This year’s winner will also join Paul Teutul Sr. and the Orange County Choppers crew on an upcoming episode and receive their very own feature on the cover of Cycle Source Magazine!

Terry is a community advocate who is involved in encouraging bikers to surface on the issue of education, primarily exposing students to Historically Black Colleges and Universities through a college tour experience.

“Fifteen years ago, I found my passion in motorcycling and using it as a platform to help students get to and through college.

My most recent motorcycle’s engine failed me. I have struggled to get back behind the throttle under the circumstances; an over $45,000 expense. A new motorcycle is necessary to reach riders where they are locally, regionally and nationally to garner attention and support.

I want the exposure of a custom-build featured on the Orange County Choppers show.

To have a bike built by a national icon such as Paul Teutul Sr. and be featured on the cover of a magazine would be good, not only for me, but for Chicago also as we move forward a major campaign to support students with their pursuit of a post-secondary education.

I would take the motorcycle to major rallies and at as many motorcycle industry trade shows our budget would allow. I would take it to various high schools and college campuses as part of our promotion to support the motorcycle community’s role in education.”

Vote for Terry Hardy at https://dreamchopper.com/2020/terry-hardy-2 today and every day until voting for the top 15 candidates ends Thursday the 5th of November at 11PM EST.

For more information regarding how you can support the organization’s work go to www.rideforchangerideforhope.org or call Terry Hardy directly at 773-220-2602.

Terry Hardy
President
World of Soul, Inc., a for profit corporation
World of Soul Motorcycle Community, Inc.
Ride for CHANGE Ride for HOPE Foundation
2150 S. Canalport Ave. Suite #2A-11
Chicago, Illinois 60608
773.220.2602
www.worldofsoul.me

NEW FROM TWIN POWER– M-8 Electrical Components

Distributed exclusively by Tucker Powersports, Twin Power has introduced new high-quality M-8 electrical components that meet or exceed OEM specifications.

Starters

The new high-quality 1.4 kW starters are genuine, 100% new replacements, not remanufactured or refurbished items, and are backed by a limited manufacturer’s lifetime warranty. Available for 2017-2020 FLH/FLT and for selected (most) 2018-2020 Softails.

Stators

Offered in both molded and unmolded variations, these premium grade 48A replacement stators are wound with high-temperature 100% copper wire and feature heavy-duty, oil resistant leads with O.E.M. style connectors. The kits include mounting hardware, are produced by an ISO certified factory and backed by a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. Available for most M-8 Touring and Softail models.

Electronic Regulators

“High quality 50A electronic regulators at an affordable price,” says Brand Manager James Simonelli. Backed by a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, they are available for 2017-2020 FLH and FLT.

Starter Clutch

Often hard to source, “especially for late-model applications,” says Simonelli. This Twin Power starter clutch is a 100 percent stock replacement for all M-8 models from 2017-2020.

Ignition Coils

“Twin Power coils are a high-quality direct fit with at least 20% more voltage than stock,” says Simonelli. “These high-quality, molded epoxy coils in a late O.E.M. style molded case are for 12 volt (0.4 ohm) H-D ignition systems and really do increase peak spark voltage by 20% or more – I’ve seen the test results! They improve starting, stops, high-speed misfires, mileage and overall performance.” Available in black and chrome for M-8 Touring and Softail applications, they come with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Starter Solenoids

Available for all M-8 applications and another component that is “not yet as readily available as it’s going to need to be,” according to Simonelli, “it is another robust, durable 100 percent stock replacement from Twin Power.”

TUCKER V-TWIN
www.tucker.com/v-twin
www.twinpower-usa.com

–from AMD

JUST IN FROM THE FACTORY–Harley-Davidson officially spins off new electric bicycle company with stunning first model

This is it. Harley-Davidson has been teasing us with the prospect of their own in-house electric bicycles for over two years. And today the bar-and-shield motorcycle manufacturer has finally announced its new dedicated electric bicycle brand known as Serial 1 Cycle Company.

The brand’s name is an homage to the very first motorcycle ever built by Harley-Davidson in 1903, named “Serial Number One.”

Back then, motorcycles were essentially just bicycles with a small engine placed in front of the pedals.

And so it is fitting that the company’s first electric bicycle is a nod to that very first H-D motorcycle. Check out both in the video below to see how well they nailed the tribute.

As Serial 1 Cycle Company’s brand director Aaron Frank explained in a statement provided to Electrek:

When Harley-Davidson first put power to two wheels in 1903, it changed how the world moved, forever. Inspired by the entrepreneurial vision of Harley-Davidson’s founders, we hope to once again change how cyclists and the cycling-curious move around their world with a Serial 1 eBicycle.

The new e-bike brand from H-D actually began life as a skunkworks project in Harley-Davidson’s Product Development Center.

As the company explained, they began with “a small group of passionate motorcycle and bicycle enthusiasts working with a single focus to design and develop an eBicycle worthy of the Harley-Davidson name.”

Ultimately, they decided along with H-D to spin off the brand into a dedicated electric bicycle company that could focus purely on delivering a premium e-bike product and experience.

In addition to Aaron Frank, other major players from H-D’s in-house e-bike program that made the jump to Serial 1 Cycle Company include Jason Huntsman, president; Ben Lund, vice president; and Hannah Altenburg, lead brand marketing specialist.

–Micah Toll, Electrek

Harley-Davidson Inc. stock rises Tuesday, outperforms market

Shares of Harley-Davidson Inc. HOG, +22.06% soared 22.07% to $35.40 Tuesday, on what proved to be an all-around dismal trading session for the stock market, with the S&P 500 Index SPX, -0.30% falling 0.30% to 3,390.68 and Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.80% falling 0.80% to 27,463.19. Harley-Davidson Inc. closed $5.46 below its 52-week high ($40.86), which the company achieved on October 29th.

The stock outperformed some of its competitors Tuesday, as Bayerische Motoren Werke AG ADR BMWYY, -3.14% fell 3.14% to $24.06, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. ADR HMC, -1.39% fell 1.39% to $24.12, and Polaris Inc. PII, +0.53% rose 0.54% to $92.04. Trading volume (41.5 M) eclipsed its 50-day average volume of 3.1 M.

Editor’s Note: This story was auto-generated by Automated Insights using data from Dow Jones and FactSet. See our market data terms of use.

–MarketWatch

SCARY SHIT FROM LOWBROW– When it comes to motorcycles, there is a lot of tacky stuff out there.

We wanted to create some motorcycle-related Halloween photos that weren’t hokey and share them with you all.

Several of us donned some classic movie monster costumes and enjoyed some time in a local graveyard…
Werewolf on a Triumph motorcycle
Frankenstein (Tyler), Bride of Frankenstein (Amanda) with a 1975 Harley Shovelhead chopper and and a Werewolf (Todd) with a Triumph bobber.
We hope you enjoy them!

QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!--Sam’s Picks for the Week, October 27, 2020

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Sams_Picks_for_the_Week_October_27_2020.aspx

Great story, I love these. Here in Charlotte I had a great friend He passed away about 4 years ago. I met him when I came to Charlotte. I worked part time at a small shop here. He would come in and sit for hours telling stories of the outlaw life here I miss him We were in a club together. By the way great looking bikes!

–Mike Pullin

THE POLISHED NUTS KNUCKLE HAMMER-– Jason Momoa’s Hands-On Collab With Nash

This newest version of the Jason Momoa x Nash Motorcycle Co Knuckle Hammer is truly unique. We’ve taken the original design and finish to a new level by hand polishing the iconic Knucklehead nuts just like they would have been on a 1930’s-40’s Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. This piece really stands out and makes for a great addition to your tool chest or something to hang on the wall for Harley enthusiasts to gawk at for years to come.

QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY—No Mask Required.

The Woman Marine Pilot

The teacher gave her 5 th grade class an assignment: Get their parents to tell them a story with a moral at the end of it.
The next day, the kids came back and, one by one, began to tell their stories.
There were all the regular types of stuff… spilled milk, pennies saved, etc.
But then the teacher realized, much to her dismay, that only Janie was left.
Janie, she asked, “Do you have a story to share?”

‘Yes, ma’am. My daddy told me a story about my Mommy. She was a Marine pilot in Desert Storm, & her plane got hit.

She had to bail out over enemy territory, & all she had was a flask of whiskey, a pistol & a survival knife.

She drank the whiskey on the way down so the bottle wouldn’t break, & then her parachute landed her right in the middle of 20 Iraqi troops.

She shot 15 of them with the pistol, until she ran out of bullets, killed four more with the knife, till the blade broke & then she killed the last Iraqi with her bare hands’.

‘Good Heavens,’ said the horrified teacher. ‘What did your Daddy tell you was the moral to this horrible story?

‘He said to stay away from Mommy when she’s been drinking.’

–El Waggs
Officially Certified Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina™
Bad Joke Library

NEW OLD FROM THE NATIONA MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM--1974 Triumph TR5T Trophy Trail. By 1973 two-stroke powered motorcycles dominated off-road competition of all types. Yet in 1972, Triumph Corporation, USA decided to field an ISDE team of three riders on their 500cc twin, the TR5 Trophy Trail. This was late in the life of the traditional British motorcycle. Frames were iron lugged with steel tubing, suspension travel minimum and true weight near 400 pounds. Yet a group of riders skilled at handling these big machines did well in international competition.

The International Six Days Enduro is a traditional event held annually at various points on the globe since 1913. With no cooperation from the Triumph factory, project manager Bob Tryon and six techs in their southern California shop, reworked six freshly uncrated stock machines. With a combination of after-market and custom fabricated parts they built one bike, thoroughly tested and perfected it, went about completing six total and headed for Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the site of the 1973 ISDE. Dave Mungenast, John Greenrose and Ken Harvey each finished this grueling enduro with silver medals, a great accomplishment made greater when considering the dated technical status of their machines.

According to the Triumph Factory Records only a total of 921 TR5T’s were made in 1974 with 759 of them shipped to the United States. The TR5T was touted as an ‘off road’ bike, and the majority (634) were shipped to the East coast Distributor Triumph Corporation in Baltimore. The other 125 were shipped to the West coast Distributor, Johnson Motors. Perhaps that split was because the bike made a great name for itself in the East due to its performance in the 1973 ISDT held that year in Massachusetts, or the West coast riders were riding Bultacos, Huskys, Maicos, Pentons, even Hondas by then.

Read the whole story in the NMA web site.–Bandit

[page break]

HARLEY-DAVIDSON LIVEWIRE MOTORCYCLE SHOWS THE THRILLS OF DRAG RACING’S FUTURE IN “SCIENCE OF SPEED”–Watch Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Drag Racing Team Launch into the Future

MILWAUKEE (October 29, 2020) – See what it takes to win in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship and the future of drag racing with the 10-time champion Harley-Davidson™ Screamin’ Eagle™/Vance & Hines drag racing team in Harley-Davidson’s latest production “Science of Speed.” Team racers Eddie Krawiec, Andrew Hines, and Angelle Sampey talk through the skills, strategies, and experience of running a motorcycle through the quarter-mile dragstrip.

“Science of Speed” looks at how electric vehicle propulsion will change the sport of drag racing by comparing a 2020 Harley-Davidson FXDR motorcycle to a 2020 Harley-Davidson LiveWire™ motorcycle. With the LiveWire motorcycle’s immediate torque and seamless twist-and-go acceleration, the racers are immediately aware of what the future of fast can bring: more time for preparation before launch; thrilling, instant acceleration; and seamless speed to the finish line.

“Let me tell you what’s amazing,” said Sampey. “That was the first time I rode the LiveWire. I could not wait to get it on the track. The LiveWire is so easy to ride. Just twist the throttle and go – and you really go!”

On September 4, 2020, Sampey, a three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, set new records for elapsed time and top speed by an electric-powered production motorcycle with the LiveWire on a drag racing course. She stepped off her Harley-Davidson FXDR™ Pro Stock competition motorcycle to pilot the LiveWire bike to capture world record-breaking runs on the quarter and eighth-mile, covering the eighth-mile distance in 7.017-seconds and the full quarter-mile course in just 11.156 seconds at 110.35 mph. The 2020 LiveWire motorcycle’s top speed is limited to 110 mph.

The Harley-Davidson LiveWire motorcycle is an all-new, all-electric model designed to offer riders a thrilling and high-performance motorcycling experience infused with a new level of technology, and the premium look and feel of a Harley-Davidson product. The LiveWire motorcycle is capable of rapid acceleration with just a twist of the throttle – no clutching or gear shifting required.

The instant torque provided by the H-D Revelation™ powertrain delivers exhilarating acceleration from a stop; the LiveWire motorcycle can rush from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 100 kph) in 3.0 seconds and 60 to 80 mph (100 to 129 kph) in 1.9 seconds. Because maximum torque is always on tap, roll-on acceleration for passing is outstanding. An optimized center of gravity, rigid aluminum frame and premium adjustable suspension components give the LiveWire motorcycle dynamic handling. With up to 146 miles of range (city)*, performance is optimized for the urban street-rider.

The H-D Revelation™ electric powertrain produces minimal vibration, heat, and sound, all of which enhance rider comfort and creates a unique riding experience, even on the drag strip.

Licensed riders can take a complimentary test ride and feel the performance themselves on the LiveWire motorcycle at select EV Authorized LiveWire Harley-Davidson dealerships in the United States, Australia, Canada and most European countries.

*Estimated riding range: 146 miles (city) / 95 miles (combined). Riding range estimates provided following SAE J2982 Riding Range Test Procedure and are based on expected performance of a fully-charged battery when operated under specified conditions. Actual range will vary depending on riding habits, ambient weather and equipment conditions.

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!--FREE SPEECH BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for October 22, 2020

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/FREE_SPEACH_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_October_22_2020.aspx

I read the part about lying awake at night and thinking. I do the same thing Think about people in my past, regrets from the past Maybe it is normal to do this? Who knows?

Funny at the time we are dealing with these things, we never think years down the road, when we will still go over them?

Somethings if I had to do over, I would change others would stay the same. I guess it’s part of life?

–Stealth
charlotte, NC

TEXAS WEATHER REPORT–Found another one – “Antique” Jockey Shift Knobs – Possibly from the cabinets of the ORIGINAL Harley-Davidson factory – $500 each or 2 for $1100.00 Just add YOUR Favorite Flavored Motorcycle!

The other shot remind me of when I recovered two lost rings, the H-D lost while moving, had it over 20 years. The wrench was under Red’s drier. She was undergoing major floor replacement and the contractor found both. The H-D ring was in the driveway for almost 4 months and never got run over!

–RFR
Panhandle Photographer
Bikernet.com™

BIKERNET BOOK OF THE WEEK CLUB–Chevrolet ½-ton C/K-Series Pickup Trucks 1973-1987 – “Built to Stay Tough”
Norm Mort

Taking a slightly different angle to ‘open top’ motoring, Norm Mort’s latest book takes a look at the Chevrolet C/K-series ½-ton pickup trucks, the trucks “Built to Stay Tough.”

This new book from our Those were the days … ™ series covers the 3rd generation C/K series, and includes specifications, model option details, and explains the market forces that influenced the pickup’s evolution. The book includes rare cutaways, previously unpublished photos, and some great examples of restored and customized vehicles.

Following a brief history of Chevrolet’s building of the corporation’s ½-ton pickup trucks, the book takes an extensive look at Chevrolet’s ½-ton C/K-Series pickup trucks, with emphasis on the all-new model, followed by a year-by-year description of the evolving 1970s models, and the various market demands that often led to the introduction of niche models to broaden market base.

Chevrolet reacted to a changing marketplace that included a greater interest in 4WD, while being detoured by fuel shortages, ever-changing fuel economy and pollution regulations, and the constant quest to reduce overall weight.

Paperback • 7.48×7.97in (19×20.5cm) • 96 pages • 112 pictures

Chevrolet ½-ton C/K-Series Pickup Trucks 1973-1987 – “Built to Stay Tough” costs $25 US (£15.99, $32.99) and is available now.

CLIMATE AT A GLANCE REPORTS— Livestock and Methane

Bullet-Point Summary:

American ranchers and meat consumption have virtually no impact on overall greenhouse gas emissions or climate.
EPA reports cattle and beef account for just 2% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
EPA reports all livestock account for less than 4% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
By contrast, crop production accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than total livestock production.

Short Summary:

Climate activists, many of whom are vegans for other reasons, often claim that ranchers, livestock, and meat production are a leading cause of rising greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), however, has compiled information on greenhouse gas emissions by source. According to EPA, beef production accounts for just 2% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, while livestock production as a whole, accounts for less than 4% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. By contrast, agricultural crop production accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than total livestock production. This is the case even though the United States leads the world in beef production.

The primary manner in which livestock impacts greenhouse gas emissions is through methane released when livestock burp or pass gas. Yet, this is clearly not a growing problem, as U.S. methane emissions actually declined between 1990 and 2018, according to data compiled by the EPA.

Further reading:

Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency https://cfpub.epa.gov/ghgdata/inventoryexplorer/
The Sacred Cow Project, https://www.sacredcow.info/

FROM SPEEDWAY MOTORS–How to Reduce Under Hood Temp – Exhaust Wrap also helps motorcycle exhausts and eliminates some heat shields.

To assist with keeping under hood temperatures down you may want to try wrapping your exhaust. Even though I am running stock cast iron exhaust manifolds on my 454 I was able to utilize Speedway Motors part number 91013804, 1-inch by 50-ft Black Header Wrap. Every little bit helps with keeping your car cool on those hot summer days when cruising. And with the smaller 1-inch design I was able to wrap the manifolds with sharp bends around the primary tubes fairly easily. Of course, it would be a lot easier to do this with the manifolds off of the car and I highly recommend removing them to wrap them. However, I gave it shot with them still on the vehicle.

Before I started I devised a plan of attack. I started with the first primary tube and wrapped it down to the main collector and past the second primary. For this, I wrapped one complete revolution around the primary tube, then removed the wrap and folded it over itself. Then I could gauge how much wrap I needed by overlapping the folded over portion working my way down the tube without actually wrapping it. That way I wasn’t feeding 50-feet of wrap through a small area. Once I cut the length of wrap I needed to start I secured the top of the wrap by the head using Speedway Motors stainless steel exhaust wrap ties, part number 91560014 in 14-inch length. To secure this style of tie you feed the length through the head just like a normal zip tie.

Stainless Steel exhaust wrap ties

However, the head on these don’t have a clip and the length of the tie is smooth. So you pull it tight onto itself and cut the excess off. I then used a pair of needle-nose pliers to roll the end over on itself up to the head of the tie to secure it tightly and not leave any sharp edges to catch on.

securing exhaust wrap tie

With the first primary tube wrapped I moved to the second and repeated the process until the entire exhaust manifold was covered. This was fairly easy to accomplish with the exhaust manifold still on the car and leaning over the fender. But as I stated earlier it would be a whole lot simpler to wrap the exhaust manifold off the vehicle and re-install.

I did extend the wrap all the way down the downpipe on my exhaust as well utilizing 50-feet of wrap per side. With both sides done I noticed a considerable difference in heat exposure versus the unwrapped manifold. This resulted in dropping my underhood temperatures and keeping my Big Block Chevy running cooler. It also gave my vehicle that old school performance look and covers up a pretty unsightly cast iron manifold.

–By Kevin Webel

SLINGSHOT’S BEST OF THE BUILDERS: EAST VS WEST
We challenged two of the best builders in the country. We partnered them with two celebrities and asked them to customize, personalize, and build the sickest 2020 Slingshot SL in the United States. Welcome to Slingshot Best of the Builders: East vs. West.

The builders will compete to see who can design and create a 2020 SL that truly signifies their celebrity partner. We want them to put their mark on that indescribable feeling the Slingshot brings, the Slingshot Effect. Representing the East Coast is The Auto Firm, featuring Alex Vega. Alex and crew have partnered with Pop Superstar, Teyana Taylor. From the West Coast, is DUB – DUB is designing its Slingshot for Travis Barker.

FOLLOW ALONG
Follow along via Slingshot’s social channels for behind the scenes footage of the builds.
November 17: Both customs are unveiled.
November 17 – December 1: Fan vote opens up at PolarisSlingshot.com to crown Slingshot’s Best of the Builders.

Stay connected to our social channels to follow the journey, vote on which Slingshot Accessories should be used, and ultimately select your favorite custom that’s most deserving of the Slingshot’s Best of the Builders title!

WEST: DUB® PUBLISHING
DUB® Publishing is a leading, authoritative voice in the urban automotive lifestyle scene. Its eponymous magazine was the first in the industry dedicated to covering celebrity-driven vehicles and giving a first-hand look at the expansion of a multi-billion dollar industry that revolves around the vast world of car customization. They are widely recognized as pioneers in the celebrity car culture space as well as what is known as the DUB market.

As the founders of the influential urban automotive lifestyle publication, DUB Magazine (January 2000), as well as the highly-rated television show, The DUB Magazine Project, which featured custom work on celebrity automobiles performed in the DUB Garage, the brand has had the opportunity to custom design and build hundreds of vehicles for top celebrities, including David Beckham, Tyga, Snoop Dogg, Tony Hawk and many others. They are also the creators of the DUB Show Tour, which combines performances by today’s top artists with one of the most exciting car shows in the world. With over four million active fans, the brand is also well known as a social media powerhouse.

EAST: ALEX VEGA, OWNER – THE AUTO FIRM
For creative designer, Alex Vega, customizing cars is his way of inspiring others to dream big. Alex, the owner of The Auto Firm, is known to be “the main designer for the entertainment industry.” Since 2004, his clients include elite athletes and world-renowned celebrities who go to him for all their automotive needs. He has an extensive history in building and modifying Slingshots. Through trials and tribulations, Alex has maintained long-standing clients, while continuing growth and expansion. Today, The Auto Firm is one of the largest custom shops in the automotive industry and caters to anyone looking to personalize their ride.

QUEEN OF NOWHERE–Before I met Jenny, all I wanted to do was meet Jenny. She was my first and only Instagram idol. The minute I got Instagram in 2013, the first people I followed were girls that rode bikes. There were only about 4 of them that were continually posting being on bikes, going on rides, and just having a cool biker attitude and style. I hadn’t owned a Harley yet and thought that these girls were so strong and badass on their big bikes.

Jenny was out there with her sparkle panties, a line of colorful sequined panties that she and all her friends wore on their motorcycle trips, traveling all over the West Coast. I was so jealous of their lives and thought their crew was so amazing. I hadn’t had any other women to ride with yet.

After following Jenny and her crew for some time, I eventually met them. Back then, there really weren’t many women riding and posting about it on Instagram, so friendships were easy to make. There was a biker party down in LA and I went up and introduced myself to them and since then, it’s history! We have traveled together in Utah, rode around the Oregon Coast, frolicked many many consecutive Falls in Joshua Tree, and even collaborated with her brand Strange Vacation.

Jenny is an extremely spiritual individual and we’ve had some really big talks at very big times in both our lives. She was the first person to visit me at my first home in California and I saw her off in her Sprinter van in Canada which she lived in for over a year.

–by Becky Goebel
Black Girls Ride

THIS JUST IN FROM THE DIME BAG HEADQUARTERS–We are building the Dime Bag Leather Handmade Leather product lineup. At this point and time, the leather wallet, card wallet, time cover, two different solo leather hardtail seats are all ready to begin production. I still need to have the heavy steel logo stamps made. Items and pricing will be available soon.

Developing more handmade parts such as handmade leather belt, Dime Bag Leather belt buckle, front pocket wallet, King/Queen leather chopper seat, early HD swingarm frame leather solo seat and King/Queen leather seat, and a classic leather spring seat. More to come…

Visited Sasha’s Cycles of Sturgis while at Bike Week, awesome people and cool motorcycle shop on Lazelle Street. You will have to visit to get the full experience. Sasha’s Cycles of Sturgis will have Dime Bag Leather products available at their shop soon.

Some goals we have for the next 5 years at Dime Bag Leather is to create a website with parts & apparel available for ordering and grow social media, secure new accounts across the nation with M/C shops, Marijuana Dispensary’s, and unique shops. Move the Dime Bag Leather manufacturing into a bigger facility to create great jobs for skilled craftsmen to make all products under one roof. Create a builders seat category, this will be for specially designed handmade seats featuring their stamped logo for custom builders to make available to their customers.

Always growing and expanding across this great nation as the leading handmade leather company in the world.

It’s a never-ending story that is growing at Dime Bag Leather.

Remember to Go Vote!

All the Best
–Adam Croft
Dime Bag Leather
Follow @Dimebag.leather on Instagram!

SUPPORT THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY–I am reaching out to you about something that is very important to me. I am asking you to make a gift to the
American Cancer Society to help fund the future of research.

With the current pandemic, the future of cancer research is at risk. ACS is looking at a reduction in funding of 50% if current trends continue. COVID-19 has changed many aspects of our lives, unfortunately it hasn’t changed the reality that cancer continues to affect each of us in far too many ways. We can’t and won’t allow progress to be put on hold. At risk are more and better treatments and discoveries halted in its tracks that will improve and save lives.

Although I cannot invite you to purchase a Champions of Hope Gala ticket, to get dressed up, and to raise your paddle for this important cause this year, what I can do is ask you to make a tax-deductible donation to the fight against cancer. And right now, I will match every donation made up to $5,000.

There are many ways to make a contribution. The easiest is to use the following link: https://e.givesmart.com/events/gfU/

If mailing your contribution is easier, please send to the address below:
American Cancer Society – MKE COH Gala
PO BOX 902
Pewaukee, WI 53072-0902

And if you would like to be invoiced, you can reach out to Sarah Zander at sarah.zander@cancer.org or 262.312.2067.

For more information about the Nov. 13th Champions of Hope Gala @ Home, you can visit: www.championsofhopewi.org

Michael Hupy is a major supporter.—Bandit

DIRECT FROM MOMMA TRIED— Watch the On Track Flat Track race from Brazil online for FREE!

Flat Out and Mama Tried fans!! The Mama Tried Show and Flat Out Friday crew are so stoked to be invited to participate in “On Track” in Sorocaba, SP, Brazil on November 1st, 2020. The Brazilian Flat Track League along with Brasil Motorcycle Show and Lucky Friends Rodeo have created this race with online viewing as the focus due to current limitations on public events. Flattrack racing fans from all over the world can watch the racing action for FREE. Just sign up HERE!

You’ll catch Mama Tried Show founders Scott Johnson and Warren Heir Jr. sliding around the track along with all kinds of wild Brazilian style race action. Flat Out Friday’s Jeremy Prach will be on hand doing some race officiating too!

American Flat Track racing star and fan favorite Jeffrey Carver Jr. will also be making the trip to roost some Brazilian dirt!

You are NOT going to want to miss this!
Did we mention the race was FREE to watch?

How cool is that?

Race Watch Link: https://videos.netshow.me/t/rNl0-BRe9ls/form

KRAWIEC LAUNCHES HARLEY TO PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE WIN IN HOUSTON–Krawiec Jumps to Second Place and Title Contention at Finals Next Weekend

HOUSTON, Texas (October 26, 2020) – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines rider Ed Krawiec battled to a Pro Stock Motorcycle victory at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park on Sunday. The win moves Krawiec into contention for his fifth NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship with one event remaining on the 2020 schedule.

The victory in Houston ended a long drought for Krawiec, who last won a Pro Stock Motorcycle final at Brainerd International Raceway in 2018, despite nine subsequent final-round appearances and a string of strong qualifying performances this season.

“Pro Stock Motorcycle is so competitive right now. You can never take winning for granted,” said Krawiec. “We have strong Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a great team. I feel we always come prepared to lead the class, but sometimes there’s some luck involved. Today things went my way.”

The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines team races competition Pro Stock drag bikes inspired by the Harley-Davidson® FXDR™ 114, a high-performance cruiser based on the Softail® platform that combines the unrelenting power of the Milwaukee-Eight® 114 engine with the liberal use of new weight-saving aluminum and composite components to amplify every aspect of performance.

Krawiec qualified third for the Houston finals with a best elapsed time (ET) of 6.799 seconds. In Sunday eliminations, Krawiec defeated Michael Phillips in the first round, got a win in round two when Jerry Savoie did not make the start, and defeated Hector Arana Jr. in round three to advance to the final against Ryan Oehler. Krawiec posted his quickest run of the day in the final, a 6.801 ET to best Oehler’s time of 6.905. Krawiec now has won 48 Pro Stock Motorcycle finals in 85 appearances.

Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines teammates Angelle Sampey and Andrew Hines also qualified for eliminations at Houston. Sampey was the number 2 qualifier at 6.789 seconds, and lost in the first round on Sunday. Hines, the defending Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, qualified fifth at 6.811 seconds and lost in round two.

Krawiec leaves Houston with 504 points, tied with Scotty Pollacheck for second place in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings and 78 points behind first place Matt Smith. Hines is in fourth place 496 points, 86 points out of the lead. Sampey is in fifth place with 447 points. The final race awards “points-and-a-half” so Krawiec and Hines have a shot at catching Smith.

The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines drag racing team will close out the 2020 season Oct. 30 – Nov. 3 at the Dodge NHRA Finals presented by Pennzoil at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nev.

BIKERNET BLOG COMMENT FROM A READER–
Just read the blog about Mr. McCarvel’s good fortune at having a long-lost bike show up out of the blue.

Made me think back when my ‘49 pan was stolen. It was in a shop and coming along. It had a brown over silver metal flake with ribbons on a coffin tank ( 70’s ). 21 front on a 4 over girder front end.

The owner of the shop, as I understood it, got into some money trouble with a local bike club in Massachusetts in the Bellingham area and the end result was they took his shop along with the bikes being worked on as payment.

I tried in vain to try and get it back. I understand the sense of loss and I am happy that McCarvel was able to get his machine back. Once in a while a feel–good story is a good thing.

–RH

BIKERNET REAL ESTATE DEAL OF THE WEEK--Posting ID # 7215712823:

“COVID FRIENDLY LIVE/WORK” (business/commercial – by owner)
Should now be viewable at the following URL:

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bfs/d/long-beach-covid-friendly-live-work/7215712823.html

ERIC HERRMANN ON THE ARIZONA ROAD—Finding dealers to sell his riding books.
The legendary biker bar, The Spirit Room, in Jerome AZ, is now selling our ride books. Cool! #thespiritroom

Dustin & I are riding throughout the state setting up accounts to sell my book. Most are biker bars and restaurants featured within. Books in the saddlebags as we haul ass down the road and squeak out a meager living. Tough job

! Or you can order online at www.EricHerrmannStudios.com

EMERGENCY COVID BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN—NO MASKS…

This is a sad story of the depression that can haunt a snowflake.

Marcel was sick and tired of the world; of Covid 19, Brexit, Russian belligerence, global warming, racial tensions, and the rest of the disturbing stories that occupy media headlines.

Marcel drove his car into his garage and then sealed every doorway and window as best he could. He got back into his car and wound down all the windows, selected his favorite radio station and hit the cars ignition.

Four days later, a worried neighbor peered through his garage window and saw him in the car. She notified the emergency services and they broke in, pulling Marcel from the car. A little sip of water and, surprisingly, he was in perfect condition, but his Tesla had a dead battery.

–EL Waggs

LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2016 Harley-Davidson FLHXS – Street Glide Special for $18,995.00

SEE IT HERE: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=9010926

Superial Blue 2016 Harley-Davidson STREET GLIDE SPECIAL TOURING FLHXS

Some of the features/Add-on’s on this bike

* Twin Cam 103
* 6 Speed
* Phantom Exhaust
* 14″ Apes
* Tinted windshield

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 101 point safety and mechanical inspection. Whether your looking to commute to work, ride the coast or take that dream vacation, this bike is ready to go!!!

*******************90 day/1000 mile in house limited warranty!****************************************

EZ FINANCING-SHIPPING AVAILABLE!!!

Fill out an online application and ride today!!!

**Open 7 days a week**

***90 day/1000 mile in house limited warranty!

Just $18,995.00 at Lifestyle Cycles (714) 490-0155

WHAT’S NEXT?--I almost have all of the bikes in the shop running. I now have two automatic advance distributors. One is new from J&P. I wonder where it was manufactured. The other Flathead Fern found at the Long Beach Swap meet and is setting it up and shipping it to me.

I may take the mag off the Dicey Knucklehead, but that involves adding a battery, and a coil. All are possible. I need to get the Knuck on the lift. Dr. Hamsters Pandemic is waiting on the mag testing results from Jason at Deadwood Custom Cycles. I would like to give the mag a shot on the Pandemic. It’s set up for it.

I should know about the magneto tomorrow. At least I know I can have a juicy steak tonight and not destroy the planet. I still think we’re living in the best of times, not the worst.

Ride fast and free forever!

–Bandit

Old School Chopper Show

Even with the Chinese Covid thing the Show Must Go On and Willie and his crew at Tropical Tattoo did it again. Thanks!

Yes, the crowd was a tad smaller than last year, but I did not hear anyone complaining. It just made it easier to get around and in some cases get better shots of the bikes and people.

Besides having a good time this event also raises money for the veterans and the proceeds go to www.veteranssupportfund.com

To find out more about Tropical Tattoo go to http://www.tropicaltattoo.com/

Click Here to read this Photo Feature at Bikernet.

Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

recent event: AHDRA’s MTC Engineering Sunshine Nationals

when: October 17-18, 2020

where: Orlando Speed World, Bithlo, Florida, USA

next event: AHDRA’s MTC Engineering World Finals

when: November 6-8, 2020

where: Gainesville Raceway, Florida, USA

All-American motorcycle drag racing series AHDRA is keeping it hot with some serious action in the Sunshine State. October 17-18 saw AHDRA’s MTC Engineering Sunshine Nationals at Florida’s Orlando Speed World, which will be followed up by the MTC Engineering World Finals at legendary Gainesville Raceway on November 6-8.

The Orlando race apparently generated enough heat to set off Sunday showers that rained out all of eliminations other than Saturday, when some serious qualifying and eliminator action threw down under partly cloudy skies.

Add in racers expected to come to Gainesville—studs like Tyler Wilson, Michael Ray, Chaz Kennedy—and plan on big action in the small displacement class.

There’s nothing small about Top Fuel, which outdrew NHRA’s seven-bike Dallas field by one. Numidia winner and NHRA Top Fuel Harley record holder Bob “Opie” Malloy qualified number one in Orlando with a blistering 6.29 at 214 mph on his iconic, high-gear only, nitro Buell.

Atlanta number one qualifier Tracy “Bad Apple” Kile was number two in Orlando with a 6.51 run early in the day before slapping the wall on his pipe side in the third round. Kile—whose bike made a hard move due to a bad tire soon out of the gate—was uninjured and the bike repaired in time to race on Sunday.

Kile wasn’t the only TF rider to contact Orlando’s concrete, as Floridian Don Becker scraped the opposite wall as Tracy and much further down the track. Becker qualified seventh, and he and Kile were slated to meet in the round one that never happened.

Cordova winner Rich Vreeland qualified third with a 6.77 and was laddered to meet Jim McMillan, who qualified sixth and represented himself well in his first-ever nitro outing.

Expect an even bigger, more competitive filed when fire hits the hole in Gainesville.

Eliminator ran eliminations on Saturday and local hero Mike “Big Train” Terry took the win, expertly piloting his show-stopping chopper in the final round against Vance Houdyshell, who redlit by -.033. The Train chugged down the track to consistent laps in the 12.25 range.

Diesel locomotives trains actually drive their wheels with electricity, and so does the Harley-Davidson Livewire. Donnie Huffman is the best marketing vehicle The Motor Company has for their electric bike, which draws a constant, curious crowd around it in the staging lanes and as it silently moves around the facility. And then it goes out on track for the Trophy class and knocks down steady 11.55s (give or take) for the win. His Orlando runner-up was Tennessee’s Loren Potter.

Atlanta Zippers Performance Modified winner Gary Douglass followed that success up with T-Man Performance Pro Mod number one qualifier in Orlando with an 8.75 at 135.

Modified number one honors went to Jeff Workman with a 9.33 at 141.

Horsepower Inc. Hot Street number one qualifier went to Rockingham winner Scott Schenkel with a 9.93 at 131, just a smidge ahead of Numidia and Atlanta winner Charley Douglass’ 9.94 at 132.

Numidia Mad Monkey Motorsports Draggin’ Bagger winner Branon White qualified number one in Atlanta, then did it again at Orlando. This time around, White set the class record with a 9.615 at 140.24 mph.

“We made a gear change the week before Orlando,” reported White. “Round one of qualifying I made a mistake and held the clutch too long. To our surprise that was a new record! The clutch was welded together, I could not even grab the ticket—there was no way to stop!”

Bagger racer Greg Quinn stopped considerably more quickly than he intended in Q3 when his ProCharged, former Tii Tharpe bike flipped to 12 O’clock and over backwards on launch. Quinn was OK and his bike will buff out.

“We do have the 2020 Draggin Bagger Championship sealed,” continued White. “My teammate Travis Groff is second in the points race but is not safe, so our concentration will be on him.

“Gainesville will be epic! It’s been a great season, and going into Gainesville we have two bikes with a championship sealed. The Wild Child Ryland Mason, as a rookie, has won the Pro Street championship. This guy had never rode a dragbike before this year!”

Crosby Blair has ridden a dragbike or two, and runner-upped in multiple classes in Atlanta, but was numero uno qualifier in Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson 9.70 Super Gas at Orlando with a 9.719.

The Atlanta Pro Eliminator 10.90 winner Stoney Westbrook qualified number one in Orlando with a 10.913.

Keith Carper netted Crete’s Performance Street Eliminator 11.50 number one qualifier with an 11.508.

As the Mad Monkey said, Gainesville will indeed be epic as the finest facility in all of drag racing welcomes the hardest working, All-American motorcycle drag racing organization in the business.

And the best tracks aren’t the only thing AHDRA has to offer, there’s Big Money as well. AHDRA will have a $5000 ET shootout on Saturday after qualifying, so get in there and get that cash!

AHDRA’s Bill Rowe and his family, crew, and sponsors—especially MTC’s Eric Hochstetler—look forward to welcoming all the racers and fans to one last race in Florida sunshine before everyone settles their bikes in for the winter.

Championships will be awarded in all categories at the AHDRA Banquet at host hotel Best Western Gateway Grand, located right behind Gainesville Harley-Davidson. Ask for the raceAHDRA room rate.

Don’t miss the chance to stage your bike and race down the hallowed Gainesville Raceway 1320 on November 6-8. This is what the racing life is all about, so trailer up and live the dream!

The AHDRA website is at http://raceahdra.com/

The AHDRA Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/ahdraracing/

The AHDRA Facebook group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/AHDRA/

AHDRA is owned by Pulse Marketing, the Hellertown, Pennsylvania-based motorsports promotion company run by veteran drag racer Rowe and his family.