William Happer, a Princeton scientist who is doubtful of the dangers of climate change, appears to be leading a White House challenge to the government’s conclusion that global warming is a threat. Twenty five years ago, William Happer had an encounter with the White House that ended badly. At the time, in 1993, the Princeton professor was taking a break from academia to direct scientific research at the U.S. Department of Energy. He turned a skeptical eye toward one of then-Vice President Al Gore’s favorite issues: the risks posed by chemicals eating away at ozone in the stratosphere and letting in dangerous ultraviolet radiation. As the story goes, Happer went to the White House and told Gore’s staff he saw no evidence that the ozone hole actually was hurting anyone. Gore was annoyed, and Happer lost his job. Today, Happer is back in the White House, still fighting against what he considers unfounded claims that our globe is in danger. But this time, his cause is backed by the man in the Oval Office. Happer, 79, joined the staff of President Trump’s National Security Council last fall. And according to documents first leaked to The Washington Post, he appears to be pushing the White House to mount a challenge to the government’s official assessment of climate change, which calls climate change a serious national security threat. On Thursday, the chairs of four different committees in the House of Representatives sent a letter to President Trump expressing concern about “recent reports that the National Security Council (NSC) is planning to assemble a secret panel, led by a discredited climate change denier, to undermine the overwhelming scientific consensus on the nature and threats of climate change.” The four Democrats called it “deeply concerning that Dr. Happer appears to be spearheading” that effort. Happer is an intriguing and controversial figure. He was born in India when it was a British colony, the son of a Scottish military officer and an American medical missionary. His mother, with young Will in tow, spent part of World War II working as a physician at the secret Manhattan Project site in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The family later settled in North Carolina. Happer became a physicist. He taught at Columbia University and joined the faculty at Princeton University in 1980. “He is a damn good scientist,” says Steven Koonin, a prominent physicist who is now a professor at New York University and who has known Happer for 30 years. “There are two really significant contributions associated with him.” One of them made it possible to capture much better images of people’s lungs; the other allows astronomers to see the stars more clearly. At the same time, Happer acquired a reputation as a contrarian, quick to challenge conclusions that struck him as unproven — especially when it came to environmental science. That reputation was cemented by Happer’s confrontation with Gore’s staff over risks posed by the ozone hole. The incident was widely covered in scientific publications — Physics Today ran an article headlined “Happer Leaves DOE Under Ozone Cloud For Violating Political Correctness.” Koonin thinks Happer was doing what a scientist should, demanding better evidence. “I think it sensitized him to the squishiness, if you will, of a lot of the environmental science,” he says. Some of Happer’s scientific critics, though, see it as something more: a visceral distrust of scientists who study environmental risks. Over the past decade, Happer has waged a fierce campaign aimed at debunking fears of global warming caused by emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In a speech to a 2015 conference organized by the Heartland Institute, which has railed against restrictions on emissions from fossil fuels, Happer scoffed at these fears, calling them an Alice-in-Wonderland fantasy. “When I got into this area and started learning about it, I learned that when I looked at CO2, I should assume that it caused harmful warming, extreme weather, Noah’s flood, you know. I remember thinking, ‘Are they mad?’ ” Carbon dioxide is actually good for the planet, Happer claims; it’s like fertilizer and makes crops more productive. “We’ve got to push back vigorously on the demonization of fossil fuels,” he said in his speech. “They’re not demons at all. They’re enormous servants to us.” Some of Happer’s colleagues at Princeton are reluctant to talk publicly about him; it’s like discussing a relationship that got messy. “I mean, I liked him. We went off for coffee after our committee meetings a couple of times,” says Michael Bender, an emeritus professor of geoscience and climate researcher. Bender says he wouldn’t do it now, though. It’s partly because of the scientific dispute, because he thinks Happer is misreading the evidence. But it’s also because of Happer’s style — he’s labeled climate science a cult and accused other scientists of whipping up climate fears to boost their own careers. Most offensive for Bender: Happer once said the “demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the Jews under Hitler.”minnn “You know, there came a point where he attacked my colleagues’ integrity,” Bender says, “and I felt like I couldn’t have a cordial relationship with him after that.” Happer, who last fall went to work in the White House as a senior aide to the National Security Council, wasn’t authorized to comment for this story. Robert Socolow, another Princeton colleague, has mixed feelings about Happer’s post. Socolow’s own biography — first a physicist, then a specialist on the environment — makes him a kind of bridge between Happer and the environmental scientists on Princeton’s campus. He doesn’t doubt Happer’s technical grasp of climate science but says that “everybody has areas of irrationality.” “I think the environment in general, and climate change in particular, is an area of Will’s irrationality. But nonetheless, I think he can accomplish something” in his current job, Socolow says. Socolow hopes that while in the White House, Happer will behave less like an argumentative physicist and more like the kind of person who has to prepare for every possibility — including those that strike him as unlikely. “A military person doesn’t underestimate the enemy. A business person doesn’t underestimate the competition,” Socolow says. And even if, as Happer insists, there’s uncertainty about the course of climate change, the U.S. can’t afford to underestimate those risks.

The Mongols motorcycle club has won its latest round in a decade long battle with the federal government, when a California judge found that a jury’s recent decision to strip the club of trademarked logo was unconstitutional.

On Thursday, February 28, 2019 U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ruled that denying Mongol members the right to display the logo would overstep the constitutional right to free expression embedded in the 1st Amendment, as well as the 8th Amendment’s ban on excessive penalties.

“We are ecstatic that the Mongols motorcycle club has been able to win this 1st Amendment battle for itself and all motorcycle clubs,” said Stephen Stubbs, an attorney for the Mongols. “The government has clearly overreached into a realm that the Constitution does not allow. They tried to ban symbolic speech,” Stubbs told the Los Angeles Times. Stubbs, a.k.a. “Bowtie” as bikers call him, is a member of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists Legislative Task Force (NCOM-LTF) and is legal counsel for the Southern Nevada Confederation of Clubs (COC).

In December, after a lengthy trial, a jury convicted the Mongols Nation entity as an organization of racketeering and conspiracy charges stemming from a 2008 investigation, and the ensuing guilty verdict thus allowed prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office to pursue a court order forcing the club to forfeit the trademarked symbol that appears on their back patches and other membership paraphernalia.

Judge Carter affirmed the RICO convictions, which could carry fines at sentencing in April, but his written ruling marks a setback for federal prosecutors after they convinced a jury in January to allow the government to seize the club’s patches and trademarks as criminal instruments.

“The collective membership mark acts as a symbol that communicates a person’s association with the Mongol Nation, and his or her support for their views,” Carter wrote about the first-of-its-kind findings, which have drawn national attention. “Though the symbol may at times function as a mouthpiece for unlawful or violent behavior, this is not sufficient to strip speech of its First Amendment protection.”

Joseph Yanny, a criminal defense attorney who argued the case for the Mongols, described the victory as a win for all motorcycle clubs and criticized the government’s attempt to impose “collective guilt” on an organization for the crimes committed by some of its members. “That’s never been the law in this country,” he told the Associated Press (AP).

Carter’s ruling is expected to be appealed and possibly make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“On behalf of the Mongol Nation I want to thank everyone that helped & supported us during our fight through this long battle,” e-mailed Mongols MC member “Rags” to supporters, adding that “Today was a VICTORY FOR ALL CLUBS! It’s not over but we will continue to FIGHT THIS BATTLE FOR ALL CLUBS.”

“Save the Patch” and Motorcycle Profiling will be among the many issues that will be discussed at the upcoming NCOM Convention in Orlando, Florida over Mother’s Day Weekend, May 10-12. For more information, contact the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) ON-A-BIKE (662-2453) or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 26, 2019) – American Flat Track announced today its NBCSN broadcast schedule for its 2019 season, maintaining its highly-coveted, weekend afternoon programming slots within two weeks of each event.

American Flat Track telecasts reached 41% more viewers in 2018 than in its inaugural year of 2017. This spike in viewership delivered a record-breaking total of more than 2 Million viewers tuning in during prime weekend programming slots.

American Flat Track is the most historic form of American motorcycle racing and is entering its 2019 season with significant momentum. Featuring the world’s fastest motorcycle racers on dirt battling it out at speeds approaching 140 mph, American Flat Track is the most prestigious and most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing in the world.

“NBC Sports has provided the platform for American Flat Track to reach millions of new fans across the U.S.,” said Michael Lock, CEO of American Flat Track. “With strong weekend programming slots and exciting storylines both on and off the track, we are forging the path to another record-breaking year for AFT in 2019.”

NBCSN, NBC Sports’ widely-distributed 24/7 dedicated linear sports network, has established itself as the Home of Motorsports in America. In addition to providing coverage of American Flat Track, NBCSN is also the home for NASCAR, IndyCar, Mecum Auctions, IMSA, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross and Monster Energy Supercross.

“American Flat Track has become a staple of our racing line-up on NBCSN,” said Jeff Macaluso, Senior Director, Programming, NBC Sports Group, “and we are excited to continue our partnership.”

American Flat Track’s telecasts on NBCSN are expertly produced by NASCAR Productions, LLC and provide viewers with a window into the dramatic world of American Flat Track. Coverage from all 18 events will feature flag-to-flag coverage of both racing classes. Exclusive features and editorial content highlight the triumphs and tribulations of the world’s elite dirt track motorcycle racers as they battle for glory. Cutting-edge technology including aerial drone footage and onboard cameras will once again put viewers on the edge of their seats as the riders slide through the corners and draft each other down the straights at speeds of more than 130mph.

In addition to the 18 weekend premieres, NBCSN will provide a weekday re-air of each show before they will become available on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. FansChoice.tv, a cornerstone of American Flat Track’s digital strategy, will continue to provide live streaming coverage of every round on the 2019 calendar.

American Flat Track will kick off its highly-anticipated 2019 season with the Bigger, Better, and Faster DAYTONA TT presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys under the lights of the Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 14, 2019. Tickets start at just $35 online ($45 at the gate) and are available for purchase now at www.americanflattrack.com.

For more information on American Flat Track and the upcoming 2019 season visitwww.americanflattrack.com.

Get the latest American Flat Track clothing and merchandise at www.americanflattracker.com.

The schedule for American Flat Track’s premiere telecasts on NBCSN follows, subject to change:

Rd	Track, Location	Track Type	Premiere	Time (ET)	Time (PT)
1	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL	TT	Sun, 3/24	4:00 PM	1:00 PM
2	Dixie Speedway, Woodstock, GA	Short Track	Sun, 3/31	4:30 PM	1:30 PM
3	Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX	Half-Mile	Sun, 4/28	5:00 PM	2:00 PM
4	Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, AZ	TT	Sun, 5/5	4:30 PM	1:30 PM
5	Southern California Fair, Perris, CA	Half-Mile	Sun, 5/19	12:00 PM	9:00 AM
6	Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA	Mile	Sun, 5/26	6:00 PM	3:00 PM
7	Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL	Mile	Sat, 6/01	2:30 PM	11:30 AM
8	Red Mile, Lexington, KY	Mile	Sat, 6/8	2:00 PM	11:00 AM
9	New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH	Short Track	Sun, 6/23	2:30 PM	11:30 AM
10	Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, OH	Half-Mile	Sat, 7/06	1:00 PM	10:00 AM
11	Weedsport Speedway, Weedsport, NY	Short Track	Sat, 7/27	12:30 PM	9:30 AM
12	Buffalo Chip Campgrounds, Sturgis, SD	TT	Sat, 8/10	12:30 PM	9:30 AM
13	Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, SD	Half-Mile	Sat, 8/10	1:30 PM	10:30 AM
14	Peoria Motorcycle Club, Peoria, IL	TT	Sun, 8/25	7:00 PM	4:00 PM
15	Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL	Mile	Sun, 9/8	1:30 PM	10:30 AM
16	Williams Grove Speedway, Mechanicsburg, PA	Half-Mile	Sat, 9/21	3:30 PM	12:30 PM
17	Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN	Mile	Sun, 9/29	5:00 PM	2:00 PM
18	Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, NJ	Mile	Sat, 10/12	10:30 PM	7:30 PM

 

About American Flat Track:
American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events at FansChoice.tv and catch all the American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.

About NBCSN: NBCSN is NBC Sports Group’s dedicated 24/7 linear sports network. Now in nearly 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL) – including two Stanley Cup Final games – NASCAR, IndyCar, Premier League, Tour de France, and America’s Cup. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Ironman, the AVP Tour and Premiership Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as PFT Live, The Dan Patrick Show, and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

Season Opening Events Taking Place March 22 – 24 at Showrooms Nationwide

Mountain View, Calif. (February 22, 2019) – Ducati North America is celebrating the warm riding weather just around the bend by bringing its national Season Opening to participating dealerships March 22 – 24. The annual event offers Ducati owners and new fans their first opportunity to experience the Italian brand’s new line of motorcycles in person, which includes 10 new models for 2019, built for every riding level and encompassing all the Ducati worlds, ranging from Racetrack, Travel, Lifestyle and Scrambler, to Sport & Fun.

For details, motorcyclists – or anyone interested in learning how to ride – can sign up here to learn more about the 2019 bikes or can locate their nearest Ducati dealership online at: https://www.ducati.com/us/en/dealers

One relevant addition to the 2019 Ducati stable is the all-new Diavel 1260, the first significantly new Diavel since its debut in 2010, with a new 1262 cc engine and muscular styling – making it a completely new motorcycle. It’s perfect for experiencing summer winds along the coast, refreshing spring breezes down winding mountain roads or cruising with style down the backroads of America. Power and technology mix in the new Diavel 1260 to create the most advanced Diavel to date and, with low monthly payments, financing for the Diavel 1260 can be priced starting as low as $265.95 per month.

Sign up here to learn more about the new Diavel 1260: https://contact.ducati.com/ww/en/season-opening-2019/light/s

Also, existing 2018 models can be available with APR as low as 0% through Ducati Premier Financing, or with special offers on Ducati Apparel and Ducati Accessories. For more information, clients should contact their nearest Ducati dealership.

Ducati 2019 Season Opening Motorcycles

Scrambler Icon [As Low As $118.17 Per Month] – The Scrambler brand was launched in 2014 and has become Ducati’s best-selling model by volume. For 2019, the new Scrambler Icon continues this vintage-inspired-joy of a motorcycle with important technological updates in the world of safety, including Bosch Cornering ABS. Visually, the new motorcycle continues retro-inspired style with new, beefier side panels to match the steel of the teardrop tank and the glass of the headlight. A black-painted engine, brushed cylinder head fins and machine-finished rims give the new Ducati Scrambler Icon even more eye-catching panache.

Scrambler Full Throttle [As Low As $136.73 Per Month] – The new 2019 Full Throttle takes its cue from the flat track Scrambler ridden by Californian racer Frankie Garcia in the 2018 American Super Hooligan Championship. With its two-tone black-yellow, white-striped tank, all-new rear end with dedicated seat and white-rimmed yellow number holders, this bike has a real dirt track competition feel. A low-slung tapered handlebar – light and ergonomic – stubby front mudguard and dual-silencer exhaust add to the distinctiveness of the Scrambler Full Throttle.

Scrambler Desert Sled [As Low As $148.33 Per Month] – For 2019, the Scrambler Desert Sled rekindles the spirit of classic American off-road bikes without compromising the Ducati Scrambler lifestyle. With its red frame, new seat with color-coordinated stitching and spoked wheels with black rims, it exudes off-road fun. The new Desert Sled also features an Off-Road Riding Mode that allows ABS disengagement for down-in-the-dirt joy. A dedicated riding position and adjustable Kayaba suspension also ramp up the fun factor. Rugged off-road character oozes from the type-approved headlight mesh guard, high mudguards (specially designed for this version) and engine skid pan.

Scrambler Café Racer [As Low As $148.33 Per Month] – The new 2019 Scrambler Café Racer draws its inspiration, and its Silver Ice Matte graphics with blue frame, from the legendary Ducati 125GP Desmo. The new 17″ spoked wheels and aluminum bar-end mirrors give the bike a cool 1960s race look, while a modern radial front brake pump provides braking performance on a par with that of a sport bike. It’s a rare Ducati in blue – one surely to catch the eyes of everyone on the streets.

Hypermotard 950 [As Low As $180.24 Per Month] – With new sharper angles and a lighter weight, the adrenaline-packed Hypermotard takes its look from the supermotard race world and for 2019 comes with completely overhauled ergonomics and an ultra-advanced chassis set-up and electronics package. A full 8 lbs. lighter than the previous model, the Hypermotard mounts a renewed 937 cc Testastretta 11° engine with a more muscular 114 hp.

Hypermotard 950 SP [As Low As $223.73 Per Month] – The spirited and higher-performing Hypermotard SP also on display is Ducati’s offer for those looking for Hooligan-style excitement, featuring a flat seat, increased-travel Öhlins suspension, Marchesini forged wheels and Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up and Down EVO, as well as Carbon Fiber components such as front mud guard and timing belt covers.

Diavel 1260 [As Low As $265.95 Per Month] – Unconventional, unique and unmistakable, the second-generation Diavel 1260 remains faithful to the original spirit of this incredibly special bike, drawing on its key styling elements and putting a decidedly more contemporary slant on it. Its Testastretta DVT 1262 engine is capable of delivering 159 horsepower at 9,500 rpm. The bike also includes an upgraded chassis to make it more responsive on mixed-road routes. The S version on display also features fully adjustable Öhlins suspension, dedicated wheels, and an even higher-performance braking system, with Ducati Quick Shift up & down Evo (DQS) as standard to allow clutchless shifting.

XDiavel (Matte Liquid Concrete Grey) [As Low As $276.18 Per Month] – New for 2019, the XDiavel – famous for representing the best parts of the Ducati performance world and the relaxed cruiser world – now comes available in an uncompromising new color palette, the stunning Matte Liquid Concrete Grey. The finish and style express the motorcycle’s edgy spirit and take the XDiavel’s strong look to new levels.

Multistrada 1260 Enduro [As Low As $322.23 Per Month] – The Multistrada 1260 Enduro is the new generation of the off-road member of the Multistrada family. It has an increased engine size with the 1262 cc Testastretta DVT engine pushing out 158 horsepower, which is an increase from 152 horsepower from the previous Multistrada 1200 Enduro.

Panigale V4 R [As Low As $521.85 Per Month] – The Panigale V4 R features technology taken from MotoGP racing and is a racing bike that can be enjoyed on the streets. Following Ducati’s first mass-production four-cylinder engine, the V4, debut in 2017, the V4 R is now the pinnacle of the new Panigale V4 family and can claim the title as the ultimate road-legal Ducati competition bike. This is the most powerful, high-performance factory bike ever built by Ducati, with new technology like carbon fiber aerofoils that increase stability and allow for reduced reliance on electronic controls.

About Ducati:
Additional information about Ducati, including participating dealers and availability can be found at www.ducati.com.

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. – A Sole Shareholder Company – A Company subject to the Management and Coordination activities of AUDI AG.

Founded in 1926, since 1946 Ducati has been producing sport-inspired motorcycles characterized by high-performance Desmodromic engines, innovative design and cutting-edge technology. Situated in Bologna, the factory is located in the Borgo Panigale district. The model range covers several market segments with the following families: Diavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, and Superbike. In 2015 Ducati presented the Ducati Scrambler: a new brand made of bikes, accessories and apparel that provide the last word in creativity and self-expression. These authentic icons of “made in Italy”, together with an extensive range of associated accessories and technical and lifestyle apparel, are distributed in 90 countries around the world. Ducati competes in both the World Superbike and MotoGP World Championships. In Superbike Ducati has won 17 Manufacturers’ titles and 14 Riders’ titles and in 2011 passed the historic milestone of 300 race victories. Ducati have participated in MotoGP since 2003, winning both the Manufacturers’ and Riders’ titles in 2007.

A ready 101 inspecting the Hells Angels Book

For quite a few years I have collected Author Signed Hardcover First Editions of various English language novels from many popular authors. They are mostly affordable especially if you meet the authors at book signings of their new releases or at various Literary Festivals, Cultural Events, etc.

Anyways, this week I received the Hardcover First Edition of :
Hell’s Angel : The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club Hardcover – July 2000
by Sonny Barger (Author), Keith Zimmerman (Author), Kent Zimmerman (Author)

Now, even though the ISBN is the same,
1. the Publisher is different
2. the Date of publication is different
3. the number of pages is different

So, here is what I found BEFORE buying the UK First Edition Hardcover
READ THE DETAILED SCRUTINY AT CANTINA ARTICLE – CLICK HERE

www.Bikernet.com

 

The story of the air-cooled ‘big’ Kawasaki bikes in definitive detail, researched and written in Japan with the full co-operation of the factory.

This series of models put the company on the map during the sixties and seventies, helping it to survive a difficult era that saw hundreds of Japanese motorcycle makers reduced to just four. Successful immediately, these models defended Kawasaki’s honour on the tracks as well as in the showrooms, handing the company numerous world championship titles. The series was recently revived as part of a retro boom, and a new machine has been launched, delivering the same thrill and charm as its predecessors.

Book Title: Kawasaki W, H & Z – The Big Air-Cooled Machines
Author Name: Brian Long

Features
• Definitive history of the early air-cooled Kawasakis.
• Sales in all major markets covered in detail.
• Written by a recognized author and historian.
• Racing exploits covered year-by-year.
• Written with the full co-operation of the factory.
• Handy reference charts throughout.
• Detailed production figures, including exports.
• Unravels what is indeed a very convoluted story.
• Contemporary photography to help owners with authenticity issues.
• The author is an owner of vintage motorcycles.

Description
The definitive history of the big air-cooled Kawasakis, from little known machines hardly seen outside Japan to the early Zs that took on the world. The book covers all major markets and uses stunning contemporary photography gathered from all over the globe to help owners establish authenticity or simply take a trip down memory lane.

Synopsis
The story of the air-cooled ‘big’ Kawasaki bikes in definitive detail, researched and written in Japan with the full co-operation of the factory. This series of models put the company on the map during the sixties and seventies, helping it to survive a difficult era that saw hundreds of Japanese motorcycle makers reduced to just four.

Successful immediately, these models defended Kawasaki’s honour on the tracks as well as in the showrooms, handing the company numerous world championship titles. The series was recently revived as part of a retro boom, and a new machine has been launched, delivering the same thrill and charm as its predecessors.

Additional Information
Period Covered: 1965-1980
Models Covered: Kawasaki W1, W2 & W3 (1965-1974), H1 & H2 (1968-1976) and early Z-series, including Z1, Z2 & Z1R (1972-1980). Also includes details on the retro W models (1998-).
Models NOT Covered: 1980 onwards, except retro W models of 1998 on.

The Kawasaki air-cooled models helped establish the Kawasaki brand as a top motorcycle maker.
This book tells the full story of these celebrated models in a depth never before attempted.
Contemporary photography from around the world, virtually all in colour.

ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1787112179/

ISBN-13: 978-1787112179

Publisher: https://www.veloce.co.uk

SANTA ANA, Calif. (CN) — In an unprecedented ruling, a federal judge blocked the U.S. government Thursday from stripping the Mongol Nation Motorcycle Club of its identifying logo.

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter found that allowing federal prosecutors to use criminal forfeiture laws to take control of the Mongols’ trademarks in their “patch” designs – often worn on the bikers’ vests – would violate the club’s rights to free speech and association and constitute an excessive fine, prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.

Allowing the forfeiture “immediately chills” the rights of the club and its members to wear or use the symbols. Therefore, “the forced transfer of the collective membership marks to the United States violates the First Amendment,” the Orange County-based judge wrote in his 51-page ruling.

The judge also ruled that taking away the rights to “a symbol that has been in continuous use by an organization since 1969” would be “unjustified and grossly disproportionate” to the group’s crime, in violation of the Eighth Amendment.

Carter refused to throw out a December 2017 jury verdict finding the Mongol Nation guilty of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering in connection with a murder, an attempted murder and two drug sales by club members and associates over several years.

He also upheld the jury’s decision permitting forfeiture of a number of physical items seized by law enforcement, including guns, ammunition and knick-knacks bearing the club logo.

Las Vegas attorney Steven Stubbs, the Mongol Nation’s general counsel, said he and the club are “ecstatic that we could defend the First Amendment for the members and all motorcycle clubs.”

Stubbs described the prosecutors’ forfeiture attempt as “a massive overreach” and an attempt to control symbolic speech.

In a statement, the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles said it is disappointed by Carter’s decision and considering an appeal. “While affirming the jury’s guilty verdicts on racketeering charges, the court’s ruling nullifies the jury’s finding that these marks are a core component of the Mongols’ decades-long pattern of murder, assault and drug trafficking,” the statement said.

Stubbs and Joseph A. Yanny, the Mongols’ lead defense attorney during the case, said they plan to appeal Carter’s decision affirming the racketeering convictions.

Before and during the trial, the judge called the case one of first impression – or a case containing a legal question never before addressed – that might reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Lawyers on both sides have described the club’s logo as an important symbol that members see as marking their identity as Mongols. Several times before and during the trial, Yanny said taking away the club’s trademarks would be “a death sentence” for the organization.

The patch shows a cartoon Genghis Khan-type figure brandishing a sword and riding a motorcycle under a curved banner bearing the word “Mongols.”

In arguments to the jury, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Welk said that Mongols are “empowered by these symbols that they wear like armor” to maintain a vicious “beehive of pernicious criminal activity” including murders, assaults and narcotics trafficking.

After one effort to win the marks failed, prosecutors filed the current criminal case against the Mongol Nation Motorcycle Club as an entity. A jury convicted the club of racketeering and conspiracy in December 2017. Then last month, it found a “nexus” between the logo trademarks and the gang’s conspiracy to commit racketeering and that therefore the government had the right to take the trademarks through forfeiture.

Carter disagreed.

“That certain individual members of the Mongol Nation displayed the symbols while committing violent crimes … does not justify the government’s attempts to bootstrap a conviction of the motorcycle club into censorship of uncharged members or supporters,” the judge wrote.

The Mongols club traces back to the late 1960s, when Latino Vietnam War veterans who loved riding motorcycles formed it because they could not join the Hells Angels or other groups, Yanny explained to the jury during the trial. Now based in West Covina, the group has chapters in many states as well as a few in other countries, he said.

A team of agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been targeting the gang since before 2008. That year, the agents and local police rounded up dozens of members and associates in a widespread, coordinated series of raids.

Eventually, 77 of those arrested pleaded guilty to crimes. At the time, then-U.S. Attorney Michael Mukasey boasted that securing the club’s patch trademarks would allow police to “literally take the jacket right off [a Mongol’s] back.”

David Santillan, the national president of the Mongols, who sat with defense counsel throughout the trial, said the group would probably have a party next weekend to celebrate Carter’s decision.

“It’s a weight lifted off all our shoulders,” he said. “It’s been a long 11 years.”

Carter set the sentencing hearing for April 24.

It’s Wild and Explained from Several Angels

Here’s the deal. I fight for freedom and I side with the Freedom Fighters, which are Republicans. Okay, I’m going to scramble through a few points.

I discovered that the folks who wanted restrictive safety laws, punishment regulations and less freedoms were Democrats. I was forced to shift.

I don’t like the current political climate. It’s become a world of us against them and visa versa. It doesn’t need to be that way at all. We could be living in the best of times, dancing in the streets if everyone understood the code of Freedom, which our country once stood for.

Let’s hit the news. READ IT IN THE CANTINA.

Ceat has recently launched its new Gripp X3 tyres for motorcycles in India.

These tyres are designed with company’s new Dual Compound Technology (DCT) which gives it strong grip while on roads, CEAT said in a release.

Speaking on the launch Nitish Bajaj, Senior Vice President (Marketing) said, “Gripp X3, India’s first of its kind tyre maintains the same grip in its entire lifetime, thus guaranteeing safe and comfortable ride to the riders.”

The Dual Compound Technology is developed by CEAT to deal with the problem of tyres losing its grip with aging. This technology ensures that when the outer layer of tyre is worn out, the internal high strength layer maintains the grip and provides longevity to the tyre.

“Two wheeler riders have to deal with potholes, stray animals, careless drivers on Indian roads and driving is a challenge in such circumstances. In such cases it becomes extremely important that the tyre should have excellent grip to prevent slipping on road thereby preventing an accident,” the release added.

 

National and Regional News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate and House have passed S.47, an omnibus public lands bill that designates more than 1 million acres of wilderness and permanently reauthorizes a federal program to pay for conservation measures. The bill designates 1.3 million acres in Utah, New Mexico, Oregon and California as “wilderness,” the most stringent level of federal land protection. The designation prohibits any development and bans the use of most motorized vehicles. The bill also creates permanent protections for land in Montana and Washington state. It also classifies approximately 225 miles of river in Massachusetts and Connecticut and 280 miles of river in Oregon as wild, scenic or recreational. Included in the omnibus bill is U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein’s California desert bill that adds six wilderness areas in Death Valley National Park and releases six wilderness study areas. The Feinstein bill also:

• Creates Vinagre Wash Special Management Area in California’s Imperial County;
• Allows motorized travel on currently approved routes;
• Designates a three-year period for the public to lobby the Interior Secretary for new motorized routes;
• Provides Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Area designation to five areas currently used for OHV recreation in San Bernardino County managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management; and
• Expands the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area in California by 20,240 acres.

The full Senate bill also includes changes in Emery County, Utah, that:

• Eliminate access to at least 50 miles of routes currently open to OHVs;
• Create 18 wilderness areas, totaling more than 600,000 acres of new wilderness;
• Create the 216,995-acre San Rafael Swell Recreation area managed by BLM which allows motorized use;
• Create a seven-member federal advisory board, with only one member from the motorized community; and
• Prohibit creation of new motorized routes, but allows repairing or rerouting existing routes for public safety or to protect resources.

The omnibus bill also permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which funds federal land purchases that usually preclude OHV activity.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2019 (H.R. 1024) isbipartisan legislation that would require the EPA to revise the labeling requirements for pumps that dispense E15 and conduct a consumer education campaign to inform the public about the risks of improper use of E15 and the vehicles and equipment that are prohibited from using E15. The current E15 label doesn’t mention motorcycles specifically. The new label would call out motorcycles, ATVs, boats, lawnmowers, chainsaws and snowmobiles with pictograms of these vehicles and equipment specifically prohibited from using E15. Also included in this legislation are provisions specific to blender pumps that would require warnings about residual high-ethanol-content blends left in the fueling hose from the previous customer. U.S. Reps. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) and Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) reintroduced the bill.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed to conduct a long-delayed study to assess the impact that burning ethanol as a motor vehicle fuel has on air quality, according to a Reuters report. The Sierra Club said the study should have been done eight years ago and filed a lawsuit in 2018 to force the EPA to conduct it. The parties reached a partial agreement, with the EPA agreeing to conduct the study by March of 2020. The results of the study could affect the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates the amounts of ethanol blended into the nation’s fuel supply each year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An effort to revive America’s Scenic Byways program passed the U.S. House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. H.R. 831, the Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act of 2019, would direct the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to reopen nominations for the National Scenic Byways Program, which has been closed for six years. The AMA was part of the coalition that helped create this program in 1991 and is part of a group now hoping to revive it. Many of the country’s favorite motorcycling roads are National Scenic Byways and benefit from the resources provided to preserve and enhance them. There are 150 designated National Scenic Byways. The program provides resources that help communities along these byways benefit from the tourism they generate, while preserving the characteristics of the roads that made them destinations. The Senate companion to this bill is S. 349 and needs your support. Visit http://cqrcengage.com/amacycle/app/take-action?engagementId=496302.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Six motorcycle manufacturers have joined together with the vision of increasing safety for on-road riders in the United States through data driven approaches and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. American Honda Motor Company, BMW Motorrad, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Indian Motorcycle Company, Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA and Yamaha Motor Corporation USA teamed up to form the Safer Motorcycling Research Consortium. The organization was incorporated as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit to develop strategies to advance and integrate on-road motorcyclists’ safety through data driven research and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The Board of Directors, appointed by the founding member companies, will coordinate and facilitate pre-competitive research activities in collaboration with the interests of relevant federal agencies. SMRC will also include input from associate members consisting of other OEMs, motorcycle industry suppliers, and technical or scientific organizations engaged in the field of on-road motorcycle safety. For more information, visit: SaferMotorcyclingResearchConsortium.org.

State News

PHOENIX – H.B. 2246 would require all motorcyclists, passengers and ATV operators to wear a helmet at all times while operating the vehicle. The bill also would require protective glasses, goggles or a transparent face shield, unless the vehicle is equipped with a windscreen. Riders and passengers can opt out of the requirement by paying a fee when registering their vehicles. Revenue from the fee would be split between the Arizona Highway User Revenue fund ($200) and the Spinal and Head Injuries Trust Fund ($300).

ROSEAU, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants comments from the public on a Roseau County proposal to obtain grants for additional all-terrain vehicle and off-highway motorcycle trails in Beltrami Island State Forest. The new trail, known as the Butler Grade, would provide a 5.1-mile trail connection to communities east of the forest. The trail would be part of the Warroad-Roseau trails and would be maintained by Roseau County and the Roseau-Lake of the Woods Sportsmen’s Club. Written comments will be accepted by the DNR until 4:30 p.m. March 25. Submit comments by email to Jack Pellinen, area Parks and Trails Division supervisor, at pellinen@state.mn.us, or by mail to Pellinen, Area supervisor, Parks and Trails Division, Minnesota DNR, 48990 County Road 4, Roseau, MN 56751. A map of the proposed trail segments can be found at mndnr.gov. For more information, call Pellinen at (218) 526-1362.

JUNEAU COUNTY, Wis. – The Juneau County Board approved adding two new ATV routes in the county at its Feb. 19 meeting, according to the Juneau County Star-Times. The county added a 1.3-mile route on County Road B near the town of Lisbon and 1.4 miles on County Road M near the city of New Lisbon and the town of Orange. The city of New Lisbon also approved new ATV routes and additions to existing routes at its Feb. 18 meeting.

Industry News

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. – Zero Motorcycles announced its 2019 Zero SR/F, which features a new electric powertrain that’s rated at 110 horsepower and 140 pound feet of torque and carries an advertised top speed of 124 mph. The new motorcycle, priced at $18,999, offers a stock range of 160 miles. With the optional Power Tank battery pack, the range climbs to 200 miles. An optional rapid charging 240-watt system can get the bike to 95 percent battery capacity in an hour, the company said.

MEDINA, Minn. – Polaris Industries Inc. is expanding its vehicle-rental business aimed at adventure tourists, with snowmobiles and Slingshots available. Polaris Adventures partners with vacation rental businesses and tour operators in places like Maui, the Grand Canyon and California’s Mohave Mountains, leasing new models of its products, along with a system that speeds up tasks like insurance and waivers. The business started in 2016 and now has partners at 75 tourist locations in 30 states.

VALCOURT, Quebec, Canada – BRP announced the purchase of select assets of Faster Faster, Inc. (Alta Motors. The purchase includes certain intellectual property, patents and some limited physical assets from the former all-electric motorcycle design and manufacturing company. BRP said it is not restarting Alta Motors operations and assumes no liabilities, but it is an opportunity to complement its ongoing research and development. BRP products include Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am on- and off-road vehicles, Alumacraft and Manitou boats, Evinrude and Rotax marine propulsion systems and Rotax engines for karts, motorcycles and recreational aircraft.

International News

BRUSSELS – The Federation of European Motorcyclists established the FEMA Worldwide Solidarity Fund to help motorcyclists’ organizations around the world learn from the European political experience with motorcycle issues. FEMA General Secretary Dolf Willigers said his organization strongly believes in solidarity among riders and the FEMA constitution says the group should cooperate with and lend aid to riders’ organizations throughout the world. The Worldwide Solidarity Fund will make it financially possible for the FEMA staff to spend a part of its time and efforts on the global requests for support and information. “We are calling on other parties to contribute financially to this fund, as well,” he said.

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia – Providing designated motorcycle lanes on all roads is likely to reduce the risk of accidents involving the vehicle, especially those with small capacity engines, according to Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research Chairman Datuk Suret Singh. Currently, some highways in the country have designated motorcycle lanes, but Suret said the proposal is for all roads to have designated motorcycle lanes. “If there is a special lane on all roads for motorcyclists, it will have a positive impact, but there needs to be effective enforcement to prevent other vehicles from using the same lane,” he said.

AMA News

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – The 2019 AMA Board of Directors Award recipients include:

• 2019 AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award – AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend Malcolm Smith
• AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award – “Texas” Larry Walker
• AMA Outstanding Off-Road Rider Award – Lyon Payne
• AMA Bessie Stringfield Award – Genevieve Schmitt
• AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award – North American Trials Council
• Friend of the AMA Award – Tom and Karen Umphress, Liza Miller, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Scot Harden and MotoVentures

The AMA Board of Directors awards recognize AMA members and organizations that best serve the AMA mission to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling through outstanding contributions in the world of motorcycling. Get full information at www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio – David Craigie, of Santa Rosa, Calif., is the grand prize winner in the 2018 AMA Member Sweepstakes. He will receive a 2018 Yamaha XSR700. Craigie became eligible to win the XSR700 when he renewed his American Motorcyclist Association membership in 2018. All AMA members who join or renew are automatically eligible to win a number of prizes from a collection that changes for each calendar year. Other winners in the 2018 AMA Member Sweepstakes were Joseph Dafoe, who won a Scala Rider Communication System, and Tucker DeWitt, who won a Shoei helmet. The grand prize for the 2019 AMA Member Sweepstakes is a 2019 Yamaha Star Eluder. Get full details at www.americanmotorcyclist.com.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Honda, is America’s grandest celebration of vintage motorcycles and the people who love them. The 2019 event, with Honda as the featured marque, is July 5-7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. AMA members can buy discounted tickets now at www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com. All activity at the event financially supports the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the 501(c)(3) that raises money for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.