DIVERSITY

By Alisa Clickenger

BACK TO SCHOOL!

September is usually when all kids are back in school, and in the powersports industry this is a terrific time to take the time to look at our own learning. What has the previous season taught us? Where have we grown and need to adopt new practices and procedures to accommodate a crazily changing marketplace? Where have we failed to grow and where do we need to innovate to become our most successful selves both personally and professionally?

At this time several years ago I found myself working furiously with a mentor to present a business plan for the MIC’s Gas Tank program. This is a terrific program that matches savvy powersports industry mentors with mentees who either want to build a successful business or take their existing business to the next level. Each year’s “class” of mentees builds a business plan with their mentor, then in a final competition at AIMExpo presents it to a panel of industry professionals.

Building a business plan is a powerful tool for a business, either proving your concept or helping you to bolster your idea into a real business that will actually make money. In my case, I never would have met my motorcycle tours mentor Scot Harden of Harden Offroad, nor been able to leverage his years of wisdom for my own purposes had I not participated. Working with a mentor through the MIC Gas Tank program is a wonderful opportunity to gain access to a professional whom you might never have the chance to work with otherwise.

Ginger Damon is another Gas Tank program participant. Her female-focused motorcycle apparel line Gigi Montrose Moto Couture is challenging the “shrink it and pink it” paradigm and offers women highly stylish as well as highly

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Damon is now taking her brand to the next level and just became the first U.S. licensee (as well as first ever woman licensee) for DuPont Kevlar brand. Her fabrics will now come directly from authorized DuPont mills meeting the necessary protocol for CE ratings. Her focus is on the function and technical design built specifically for a woman’s body. Comfort, performance and safety are the hallmarks of the brand.

Not all of the Gas Tank participants who went back to business school with their mentors were successful, but that’s not the point. Some learned that they needed a better idea. Some learned just how much work is truly required to launch a successful business. And some learned that it was best to keep their product or service as a side gig. The point is that they stepped into and through the learning curve, as we all continually must do if we want to expand and grow.

We can all use more information and education in this season of learning. Make the time commitment to read all the pages of Dealernews, even those articles you may not feel are in your wheelhouse. Knowledge is power, and it just might be the key to your next success in business or in life.

Alisa is a two-wheeled world traveler, author, tour operator, and event producer. She has been featured in a variety of media outlets as a woman pursuing a life of adventure and helping others to access their inner wisdom and be free to lead lives they are passionate about. Her book Boost Your Confidence Through Motorcycling: A Woman’s Guide to Being Your Best Self On and Off the Bike became an Amazon.com #1 Bestseller. In 2019 Alisa was also named to Dealernews TOP 100 People in Powersports. Her personal mission is to empower women through motorcycling and adventure while being a strong advocate for the powersports industry at large. Alisa’s motorcycle touring company is www.WomensMotorcycleTours.com.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, new unit retail sales remain strong despite the pandemic weakening world markets and eroding consumer confidence (see Dr. Leinberger’s column this month). “We have seen a 23% increase YTD over 2019,” MIC CEO Erik Pritchard told folks participating in the latest MIC Symposium. “It is not the stimulus check or a temporary blip, but a sustained increase as we get deeper into the pandemic. Instead we have seen dealers making smart adjustments, great products in all categories and shifting consumer behavior.”

Dirtbikes are up 50.3% and dual-sport/ADV bikes are up 20%… even scooter sales are up, defying all logic. But then again, when has a motorcycle purchase been based on logic? We are in the business of purveying fun, tapping into dreams and offering a socially distanced escape from the harsh realities of the “real” world. Given this context, the choice of products picked to click this month are a bit eclectic.

Baxter Cycles classic Triumph calendar is already on my desk, looking forward to a more rational 2021 and I have already pre-ordered Dr. Leinberger’s book. Prior to the pandemic I visited Quin to get the scoop from Ani himself and I chatted with Niels at AIMExpo about the effectiveness of FunnelWeb and its 100% increase in surface area. BARKBUSTERS? Importer Brian Cornelius’ locker in High School was right next to my little brother’s for 4 years, plus the product is a proven winner… all the products this month are editor’s choices because I had a personal connection with the product and contact with the people behind the products — this industry is good like that!

— RH

HEADS UP FROM DOWN UNDER

Designed and manufactured in Australia since 1984, BARKBUSTERS superior design and quality are world renowned, according to new importer Pacific Powersports. Incorporated into the design of all the handguards from a land down under are style, strength, durability and ease of fit. “We are pleased to announce that Pacific Powersports, Inc. is now a U.S. importer and distributor of BARKBUSTERS handguards,” says company founder Brian Cornelius. “It complements the other quality products we bring in like Motoz Tires, Zac Speed Hydration Back Packs, Haan Wheels, Falco Boots and Ventura Luggage Systems. BARKBUSTERS is a fantastic addition to the Pacific Powersports portfolio.” Cornelius claims selecting the right pair of BARKBUSTERS is easy with the comprehensive application list and large range of guard options up at: www.barkbusters.net

TIMELESS

Seems like 2020 was a total waste of the year! Time to look forward to a new year by pitching that old shop calendar and putting up the new 2021 Classic Triumph calendar from our friends at Baxter Cycle! Randy Baxter has teamed up with world famous photographer/author Timothy Remus to produce another masterpiece! The 2021 Classic Triumph Calendar starts the new year off with three very special Jubilee models. February offers a seldom seen 1927 Model W. Farther along is an exquisite singlecylinder Tiger, and a very rare Val Page OHV 6/1 650 twin. A pair of 1967 650s grace the August slot (one TR6C and a T120R) while the September bike is a 1971 Daytona. Rounding out the collection for 2021 is a classic T-Bird from 1954, a very rare 1964 T120C, a now-classic Hinckley Triumph Trident, a Tiger Cub, the 1965 TR6SR (cover bike) and a 1969 Bonneville. Special Dealer Pricing of $8.00 each plus shipping with a minimum order of 20 (MSRP is $20 plus postage, so dealers and your customers win with this classic calendar). E-mail: sales@baxtercycle.com Call: 712.781.2351 Click:www.baxtercycle.com

FUNNELWEB CATCHES MORE DIRT

In order to catch more dirt, the folks at FunnelWeb Filters turned to an unlikely source: an Australian spider! But where the spider traps prey down under, FWF pyramid shaped foam increases surface area by 100% making it capable of holding a lot more dirt, while a single layer of foam makes for more air flow, even when the filter is dirty. Niels Van Kempen, owner of FunnelWeb Filters has been doing the promoting, marketing and management in the USA since 2018 from his base in the Netherlands. No more! FWF enters into an agreement with Central Powersports Distribution for the importing, distributing and resale of FunnelWeb filters, oils and accessories. “Now is the time to build on what we have started in the USA and CPD is the right team for us to work together on the growth and success for FunnelWeb,” says Van Kempen. “We look forward to a long partnership with CPD for the U.S. market. CPD is ready with a full warehouse of filters for every OEM and their DMS (Dealer Management System) along with dealer programs is ready immediately. “The product is fantastic, durable and continues a much higher level of performance longer than the competition in any racing or riding environment,” says CPD founder Mark Berg. “I have seen it firsthand at National events and at the ISDEs, it works so well, it’s amazing.” Click here for more details:

https://funnelwebfilterusa.com

BY THE BOOK

Going by the book? Buy the book! Dealernews Columnist Dr. Paul Leinberger’s next book comes out in November. Unfiltered Marketing’s big ideas apply to business strategy, marketing, and the future of the brand/consumer relationship. It is a playbook for managers and for anyone interested in the ever-changing interaction between technology and culture. “Denny and Leinberger capture the profound truths and deep realities of leading and marketing in a rapidly evolving world of digital platforms.” —Blake Irving, former CEO of GoDaddy Pre-order now on Amazon if you can’t wait for the November release date:

www.amazon.com/Unfiltered-Marketing-Credibility-CustomersDistracted

GETTING SMART ABOUT SAFETY

On September 5th, 2020 Nick Nankervis, took his motorcycle to pick up milk and water for his 2 month old son. Just a few minutes from home, a vehicle in front of him suddenly slammed to a stop. Oncoming traffic prevented Nick from being able to get out of the stopped lane, and his back tire slid out sending him skidding down the road on his right side. The car that caused the accident fled. Nick tried to find his phone to call the police, but couldn’t because it had been hurled onto the road and was already smashed by a car. Only 7 minutes later, police were at his exact location to check on him. Three minutes after that Teddi, his wife, showed up crying. The happy ending to this tale is that Quin’s automatic Crash Detection and a manual SOS Beacon had done their job and Nick is okay. Quin Design Helmets are capable of identifying and authenticating a crash within seconds of impact. If the rider does not disable the emergency protocol within 10 seconds, the rider’s location is shared with Emergency Contacts. “This is why I started Quin,” says Founder and Chief Designer, Ani Surabhi. “I know several people whose lives either ended or were irrevocably changed due to a motorcycle accident. Sometimes the matter of life or death, a one-week recovery or life-long disability comes down to minutes saved in response time.” Time to get smart about safety in your store? https://www.quin.design/collections

THE NEED FOR SPEED! Photos by Wes Allison Mavericks Head To Bonneville Courtesy Of The Southern California Timing Association

Bonneville Land Speed Racing is a unique sport that Since then, the BNI has hosted a spectacular week of consists of very determined people who pilot hot racing each year in August, which is the highlight event of rods, roadsters, belly tankers, lakesters, motorcycles, the LSR season. Despite the COVID crisis SpeedWeek 2020 streamliners and even diesel trucks to “shoot the salt” in was a go! Consisting of six days of racing (Saturday-Friday), a simple quest to have their name added to the list of weather and conditions permitting the Salt Flats become record holders. Many years ago, the Bonneville Nationals the epicenter of speed. Entrants come from all over the

Inc. (BNI) was formed. Its main focus would be to produce world to participate in the week-long event, at least during the annual “Bonneville Speed Week.” normal times. Many international competitors like our French friends from the Bidalot Expresso team who set the record on the salt of 101.778 mph on a moped, could not get around travel restrictions to compete this year.

Also, under normal circumstances, spectators are allowed to walk through the pits, view the vehicles, and talk to the drivers and crew members. Public parking is south of the pit area, on the west side of the racetrack, outside the cones. Be sure to bring a hat, dark glasses, sunscreen and shade from the sun. Don’t forget a camera with lots of film/memory/tapes, because you will want to remember everything you see and hear. Binoculars are also a great idea since the race vehicles are at least 1/4 mile away as they travel down the course.

The salt flats are located approximately 88 miles west of Salt Lake City, UT on I-80. The spectacular scenery and racing conditions at Bonneville make it one of the most popular areas in the world for speed. The colors, excitement, people and smells are some of the reasons we race addicts return to the salt, year after year. Better known as “Salt Fever”. CATCH IT!

Congratulations to the newest 200 mph and 300 mph club members! All the 2020 SpeedWeek results can be found here: http://www.scta-bni.org/2020-speed-week-results.html

AMA SEEKS TO SAVE THE SALT!

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Utah AMA members and other supporters of this important Department of Natural Resources agreed in April to program are asked to contact the Secretary of the Interior establish a program to restore the Bonneville Salt immediately and demand that these funds are allocated, Flats. As part of the fiscal year 2020 BLM budget, Congress as instructed by Congress. expressly authorized money to start the program. The Interior Department, however, has not released the funds, The Bonneville Salt Flats is listed on the National Register of which are subject to a Sept. 30 deadline. Historic Places. The Save the Salt Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to restore the Bonneville As part of its work with SEMA, the Save the Salt Coalition Salt Flats working with the Utah Alliance, a Utah-based and the Utah Alliance, the AMA recently asked Utah organization with the same mission. The Save the Salt residents to contact their state legislators to ask for their Coalition is an umbrella group comprised of automotive support for a program to restore the Bonneville Salt Flats and powersports companies and organizations with a and they responded. The race track at Bonneville—once vested interest in this national treasure. For more news, 13 miles long—is now less than 8 miles, due to salt erosion. information: https://savethesalt.org/

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BELLE OF THE BALL Photo by John Baechtel

Veteran SpeedWeek competitor George Poteet piloted “We are thrilled to be part of this great success story as the Speed Demon to the top trap speed of the week. the exclusive engine oil and additive supplier for the Speed Lucas Oil, which served as the official lubricant of the Demon,” said Tom Bogner, Director of Motorsports, Lucas Speed Demon, was instrumental in preparing the vehicle Oil. “Many of the world’s fastest vehicles come out to run to reach speeds of 481.576mph down the last-mile of the at unbelievable speeds and do so in the harsh conditions course and a two-way average of 470.015 mph. of the salt flats. I am so impressed with the Speed Demon team and proud to have Lucas Oil associated with the The Speed Demon collected its 9th HOT ROD trophy for fastest streamliner at Bonneville.” highest terminal-velocity speed at the end of Bonneville’s 5-mile course. Poteet started SpeedWeek in good spirits Poteet’s performance resulted in the Speed Demon team after completing a five-mile speed of 469.298 mph on collecting the AA/BFS record for 501 cubic inches or larger Wednesday – Speed Demon’s then-fastest time on the forced-induction engines in Streamliners. A record that Bonneville Salt Flats. This set the stage for Poteet’s record was previously set 16 years ago by Tom Burkland when he 470.015 mph run Thursday morning. reached a speed of 417.020 mph.

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