The World Report Powered by BikerNet.com

Hey, our industry is bigger and better than ever, it’s just expanding like crazy and we need to adjust.

Daytona Bike Week was an eyeopener for me and the numbers were reportedly slightly down, but they vary from one major anniversary to another. Speaking of events, there are more motorcycle events than ever before. Think about it for a second. The wild west lasted about 20 years, then trains, cars and more people came, and the West was toast, so what happened? The West became an icon. It became the source of entertainment and it still is.

As I’ve said before, motorcycling represents freedom and it won’t go away. Let’s hit the news.

The Himalayan Is Here

From Royal Enfield -The Himalayan motorcycle is officially stateside. Royal Enfield North America launched the highly anticipated motorcycle through a week’s worth of events at TexPlex Park in Midlothian, Texas. Enthusiasts, journalists, dealers and more gathered to learn about the journey of bringing the Himalayan to North America and to test its capabilities in both on-road and offroad environments. An incredible adventure motorcycle at $4,499. The rugged, go-anywhere, riderfriendly Himalayan has launched in the U.S. and will soon be rolling out at dealerships across North America.

2018 Sturgis Hall Of Fame

Inductees - From the philanthropic efforts of the Hamsters to the journalistic coverage of the Rally and the Museum to home town resident Jack Hoel, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s Class of 2018 demonstrates that Sturgis really is the epicenter of the motorcycle universe. Living up to its mission to recognize individuals who have made a long-term positive impact on the entire motorcycle community, the Class of 2018 features some truly legendary talents.

“We have world renown sculptor Jeff Decker and motorcycle artisan Mondo Porras working with metal to capture the essence of motorcycling,” says Myrick Robbins, Executive Director for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall Of Fame. “Where Jeff and Mondo bend metal, Jack Hoel shaped motorcycling indelibly by bringing the DT-1 and the XS 650 to market for Yamaha. We also have Land Speed Record setter Valerie Thompson and the woman who has chronicled the motorcycle world since 1989, Marilyn Stemp.” In addition to the individual achievements of the class of 2018, The Hamsters USA is being collectively recognized this year. “Given the tremendous philanthropic efforts the Hamsters have made on behalf of the entire Black Hills region, we have global achievements on a local scale for an outstanding group of inductees,” adds Robbins. THE CLASS OF 2018 - Jeff Decker; Jack Hoel: Armondo “Mondo” Porras: ; Marilyn Stemp; Valerie Thompson; Hamsters USA: 2018 FREEDOM FIGHTER AWARD - Kirk “Hardtail” Willard:

The 78th Sturgis Rally is set for August 3-12, 2018 and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony presented by Strider will be held August 8th at the Lodge at Deadwood in Deadwood, South Dakota. Breakfast tickets are available for a $40 donation, tables of eight for $400. Tickets are available online at https://www. sturgismuseum.com/Hallof-Fame-Banquet-Tickets or by calling the Museum at 605.347.2001.

America’s “Queen Of Speed” Sets New 328 Mph

Speed Record - Survives 343 mph crash in Australia-Eight-time land speed record holder Valerie Thompson earns new land speed record and “Fast Lady on the Lake” award at Australia’s Lake Gairdner DRLA Speed Week - Valerie Thompson survived a horrific crash in the Team “7” Racing Streamliner while attempting to capture the world’s fastest motorcycle title during the 28th Annual Speed Week and World Speed Trials competition at the Lake Gairdner dry lake bed in South Australia. While falling short of the ultimate goal to become the world’s fastest motorcycle, the team collected a new speed record and proved the superiority of leading edge streamliner design by team engineers Denis Manning and John

Jans.

Hosted by the Dry Lakes Racers Australia (DLRA), the 28th Annual Speed Week competition was open to cars, motorcycles and trucks. The World Speed Trials, a first-time event for motorcycles only, was held March 17-19. Thompson set a new streamliner record of 328.467 mph (528.616 km/h) during the Speed Week competition on March 15, earning her membership in the Dry Lake Racers Australia 200 and 300 MPH Clubs. She is only the second competitor to gain membership in the DRLA 300 MPH Club and was honored with the “Fast Lady on the Lake” award.

Thompson’s attempt to break the world’s overall fastest motorcycle record of 376.36 mph (605.69 km/h) on the last day of the World Speed Trials went horribly wrong with a horrific crash. According to Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) reports and team video, Thompson had just passed the four-mile marker on a twelve-mile course when the rear of her streamliner rose off the racing surface, sending the vehicle airborne at 343.7 mph. Parachutes slowed the vehicle as it flipped and rolled multiple times, scattering wreckage for more than a mile across the Lake Gairdner salt flats. Thompson walked away with only minor bruises and lacerations

“We had a singular goal of running 377+ mph to capture the record during the World Speed Trials. We used Speed Week to test and tune the bike and I’m happy we set a new record and received the ‘Fast Lady on the Lake Award.’ The wreck during the World Speed Trials was unfortunate, but we are not giving up on our quest for the new record,” said Thompson. “Most importantly, we proved the superiority of the moncoque carbon fiber design and safety features utilized by Denis Manning and John Jans. Without their dedication to high speed safety engineering, I would not be talking with you now,” said Thompson. “Nobody has ever walked away from a 340+ mph crash on a motorcycle. I’d also like to thank the DLRA and all their race course workers who helped ensure my safety,” added a grateful Thompson.

“We’ve not determined what caused the problem, but we’ll know more once we analyze the onboard data collection systems and review films in more detail,” said bike designer and AMA Hall of Fame member Denis Manning. “Valerie did an incredible riding job, doing everything she was supposed to and more. All of us at Team “7” Racing are relieved Valerie did not sustain any life threatening injuries,” added Manning.

Thompson is an eight-time land speed record holder on a variety of bikes ranging from Harley-Davidsons to BMWs and streamliners. She is a member of seven-land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs, one 300 MPH Club and the first female to exceed 300 mph in Australia.

Daytona News -Making Riverfront Park vendor-free is a good first step. While the community awaits the recommendations from the Beachside Redevelopment Committee on how to invigorate State Road A1A, Main Street and other areas of Volusia County’s main tourism corridor, change already is happening on the other side of the Halifax River.

The 77th Bike Week, which concludes today, will be the last in which itinerant vendors can set up on Daytona Beach’s Riverfront Park to promote their wares. The City Commission in January voted to terminate a contract with the company that hosts the vendors at the park during Bike Week and Biketoberfest. City Manager Jim Chisholm informed the company that the city is “modifying elements of motorcycling events.”

That’s an ominously vague notification. It will be interesting to see just how far those “modifications” will go. But making Riverfront Park vendor-free is a good first step.

Naturally, the city’s move elicited howls of despair about it marking the end of Bike Week, that Daytona Beach is signaling it doesn’t want motorcycles around here anymore, that’s it’s throwing away millions of dollars, etc.

Anything that upsets the status quo, especially something as entrenched as bike events, is going to be perceived by some as an apocalyptic rip in the space time continuum.

However, just because the riverfront has hosted motorcycle vendors for years doesn’t mean that’s always been or will be the best use of that prime property, or that it’s most beneficial for the surrounding commercial district. It may be lucrative for one segment of the business community for roughly two weeks out of the year. But what if it hampers the growth of several others?

The city in 2010 created a

Riverfront Master Plan aimed at enhancing the 14-block park that stretches from Main Street to Orange Avenue. It envisions the northern end of the park, where the vendors traditionally have set up, as a “nature” area. In addition, the riverfront received an enormous catalyst when insurance giant Brown & Brown Inc. last year announced plans to build a 10-story headquarters on Beach Street across from Riverfront Park. That’s expected to bring hundreds of new jobs, creating a lot of foot traffic for Beach Street businesses, as

well as opportunities for residential development.

That vision may not reach its potential if that area has motorcycles and vendors taking over for two or three weeks every year. It’s the same challenge Main Street faces. It’s the historic home of Bike Week and Biketoberfest, ground zero to many biker events. When the roar of the cycles is in town, Main Street is hopping with crowded bars and wall-to-wall vendors.

The other 340 or so days of the year, though, Main Street struggles to remain relevant. When the itinerant vendors depart, they leave behind vacant lots and storefronts that stand as stark reminders of what that corridor could be year-round.

The community is split on whether bike festivals are an obstacle to redeveloping Main Street. Some business owners and residents believe the noise and crowds discourage year-round investment. Others believe the bikes are a vital part of that area’s culture, and several bars and retailers there depend heavily on the festival traffic to survive.

The riverfront, though, is not Main Street. Over the last decade, Beach Street has improved significantly from a facelift and the addition of several restaurants and shops. But it needs more fuel to thrive. If itinerant vendors and motorcycles are an obstacle to achieving that, then they should be moved to a more suitable location. That’s not a thumbs down to bikers, but a thumbs up to Beach Street.

MRF Seeks Sponsors For Next Meeting Of The Minds Convention

- Motorcycling and freedom are under assault. The Road to Zero is a Department of Transportation public relations effort to bring highway fatalities to zero in the next 20 years. Great goal!! However, in the DOT’s infinite wisdom, motorcycles have not been included in the plan. And, there are over 8.4 million registered motorcycles in the U.S.!

Add that omission to the fact that the MRF must repeatedly insist that the manufactures of driverless vehicles include motorcycle recognition algorithms as standard equipment as part of these vehicle’s guidance system– before they are made available to the public!

And if that isn’t enough, law enforcement agencies across the country are bending the laws and using profiling to surreptitiously attack motorcycle clubs, club events, and people associated with motorcycle clubs.

The threats against motorcycling and the freedoms that motorcyclists enjoy are under attack.

The bureaucrats and politicians attacking motorcycling are not as obvious about it as they were 30 years ago. There are no blatant attempts by legislators to write laws that would outlaw sport bikes, or brand motorcycle clubs as criminal gangs, or blacklist certain motorcycles from insurance coverage. No, this new bunch is a lot more sophisticated than the bunch we had to deal in the ’70s and ‘80s. They’re putting motorcyclists on ignore and forgetting us.

Ten years ago, one motorcyclist was responsible for organizing the first Bikers inside the Beltway. That direct lobbying effort was started so that motorcyclists could remind members of Congress in their offices that we will no longer be ignored and forgotten.

On May 15, the legacy of Boz Kerr will continue when your MRF leads Bikers inside the Beltway to the Capitol steps and over 100 motorcyclists meet with their members of Congress. We would like you to join us on that ride as we take our message directly to our friends and our adversaries.

With events like Bikers inside the Beltway, The MRF is making the voice of motorcyclists heard so that the Road to Zero will not be built on the frames of outlawed motorcycles or the spirits of freedom loving motorcyclists.

Again, the MRF would very much like for you to join us in bringing our message to Congress. The ancillary costs for printing, permits, and related expenses are over $4,000. Since January, with the contributions from freedom loving motorcyclists, we have raised nearly $2,000 toward the goal of supporting Bikers inside the Beltway without tapping into the MRF treasury. I believe that you value your motorcycle and your freedom as much as I value mine. Your contribution of $10, $20, $50, or $100 will help your MRF bring the voice of motorcyclists to members of Congress. With the leave-behind handouts that your contribution helps purchase, members of Congress and their staff will be reminded that the MRF is not going to be ignored, forgotten, or go away! Yours in Freedom, --Fred Harrell, MRF Director, Conferences & Events As you can see, it’s never dull in the motorcycle world. But we need to never give up the fight for motorcycle freedom or give in. If you want a weekly dose of action, slip over to Bikernet.com.

In the meantime, Ride Free Forever. --Bandit

THE PAN, THE PAINTING, THE PASSION...

the problem with the cold weather is you begin to forget that there may in fact still be an outside world. You get self-absorbed with your own reality and get caught up with the projects you have going on and sometimes lose track of your own timeline. Cheap Thrills in Asbury Park is usually the first time the seasonal alarm goes off, and if I don’t hit the snooze button, I can usually get a jumpstart on everything I’ve put off since the thermometer dropped. I’ve cleaned house of all the dormant bikes and made room for new and with any luck by the time the salt is washed off the roads and the trees start to green I’ll be carving pavement right on time.

My passion has always fallen on art. I have a certain disdain for artsy people and people who want to talk about artsy shit. I’m a workingclass bastard that only keeps his love of art alive by not making it my bread and butter. It leaves me the benefit of not taking requests and doing whatever I want. If I get commissioned, it’s under the condition you get my best but I sure as shit don’t know what it’s going to be until it is what it is. Parts and helmets come in, and parts and helmets leave. I don’t need to deal with people and bullshit and everyone’s happy. Sunday night the phone lit up with a message from a buddy needing some work done on the oil tank of a Panhead he had just finished up, the only issue being that it was already on the bike and it needed to be done for the App Moto Jam on Saturday. It’s a rarity, but for the opportunity to leave a piece of myself on this bike I packed up and made plans to head over the following day. I allowed work to beat the shit out of me for the good part of ten hours; it never fails that if you have someplace to be life ain’t gonna let you be there. But as I put work behind me and laid the hammer down I gorilla gripped a cream and sugar slapped on the Minor Threat discography and decompressed enough to get to painting.

Steve Kelly knows how to build a bike and he should, he slings wrenches for Harley all day, and his family falls to a devout Panhead religion 365 days a year. His 51FL laid in wait at his Father-in-laws garage cradled in the walls of motorcycle history. A wood-burning stove created an oasis from the night air as it warmed the cold steel of the thousands of parts hanging from the rafters. The walls of the garage were layered with photos, and artwork ripped from decades of chopper magazines, this was more than a garage, this was a shrine. Slink has lived in this house for well over 60 years. At every turn, there was motorcycle history. This was a place to be inspired and a place where a man could learn about the history and respect that this culture was based on.

Steve’s Pan sat perched on the lift, clean and regal. The frame had been freshly Parkerized, and the parts were original without the screaming attention of the new age patina craze. My attention fell to the oil tank, the finish was gone and replaced with a dull oxidation, and it nested firmly into the frame. It was almost a crime to add paint to it, yet it was also an honor. I tend to design pieces that become part of the overall, but I also try to take them to the edge of what the norm would be. I have a deep respect for old tradition, but I believe there is always a place for evolution. But in the case of this FL, I wanted whatever I did to slowly fade into the bike and age well. This was no place to try to grab attention. Less absolutely would be everything.

I fully expected Steve to have a lot of input on what needed to go on the tank, with a bike like this it was almost understood, but that just wasn’t the case. I explained my thoughts, and he cracked a beer and gave me free rein. I could listen to Steve and Slink shoot the shit forever, and as I laid down the 1shot, I realized that the radio was

playing kid songs for probably the past hour, Slink knew but he also didn’t seem to care. Both Steve and Slink refused to catch a sneak peek at what was happening on my end, I was honored by their blind faith, but if I was going the wrong way, it was too late now. About three quarters through my project Sarah, Steve’s wife, and Slink’s daughter showed up and gave me her approval. She was dropping off her 46 Knuckle frame she’d had repaired at 47 Industries. She aims to have a Flathead in it and ready to race by 2019’s Race of Gentlemen. This, by all definitions is a motorcycle family. With Sarah’s stamp of approval, I allowed myself to finish up with without lingering doubt, at this point if Steve didn’t approve I could just throw his wife under the bus with me (yeah, I’m that guy).

There were no worries, in the end, Steve was either overjoyed, drunk or a phenomenal liar. I set out to not stand out, and the bike kept its class. I think it is absolutely necessary to spend time breathing in the dust of a garage, taking in stories, and creating. Maybe I just forgot being caught up in my own little world. Steve said that he couldn’t thank me enough, but in the end, I should be thanking them.