SportBikes Inc Magazine October 2013 (Volume 4, Issue 1) by Hard Knocks Unlimited

CUSTOM BIKES . Moto tECH

ROAD RACING . DRAG RACING . STUNT RIDING

october 2013 Vol 4 Issue 1

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM TM

G a rwo o d

custom cycles ” l o o k s D l o

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the anniversary issue

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License to thrill

New Hypermotard SP

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Professional rider on a closed racetrack

Official Sponsor Developed with

THE FEATURES Garwood custom cycles “old skool”

singapore bike fest

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busa fest 2013

126.

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The worst and the best

stay in your lane

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shut the city down: season closer

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THE USUALS

October 2013 - VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1

http://issuu.com/action/page?page=14 14 THE PRESS ROOM http://issuu.com/action/page?page=18 18 THE INBOX http://issuu.com/action/page?page=22 22 SHOP SPOTLIGHT - Bikes built better http://issuu.com/action/page?page=36 36 THE GRID NEWS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=42 42 THE NUMBERS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=48 48 THE INSIDE TRACK - By Corey Alexander 64http://issuu.com/action/page?page=64 The youngest in charge - By Dystany Spurlock http://issuu.com/action/page?page=66 66 CAPO’S CUT - By Ashon CAPO Dickerson http://issuu.com/action/page?page=82 82 VIOLET STARS & HAPPY STUNTING - By Leah Petersen http://issuu.com/action/page?page=96 96 FEATURED CLUB - The wild bunch MC http://issuu.com/action/page?page=98 98 KNOW YOUR ROLE - By Kim “Lady Kim” Roper 104http://issuu.com/action/page?page=104 THE LION’S DEN - By Lion James 110http://issuu.com/action/page?page=110 FEATURED RIDERS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=116 116 Ask the pro wrench - By Thomas Campion http://issuu.com/action/page?page=118 118 IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS - By Eric Wood http://issuu.com/action/page?page=156 156 SPORTBIKES INK!!! http://issuu.com/action/page?page=158 158 THIS LIFE - By Tyson Beckford http://issuu.com/action/page?page=160 160 THE NEW ISH http://issuu.com/action/page?page=166 166 STAFF STUFF

INTERACTIVE CLICK ON NUMBERS TO JUMP TO A PAGE

FEATURED RIDER: Chris honeyman

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Feature story

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Garwood custom cycles “old Skool”

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EDITOR’S LETTER I

wanted to take my time with this one. My apologies. It’s just that this issue marks a new moment for SBI. This is our anniversary issue. It also represents the beginning of our fourth year of publishing.

to celebrate another anniversary because of the incredible people that make this magazine possible each and every month. The words “Thank You” will never be enough for all that you do and all that you put up with and tolerate (see the third paragraph). But hey, that’s what family does. I appreciate you.

I am a strategic dice roller. Meaning I am more than willing to take the chance if the reward is truly greater than the risk. My staff will testify to To all our readers and supporters, again the that which I refer to as one of many magical words “Thank You” just don’t cut it. I am amazed elements of Allan Lane. at the level of love and support that is received across the board. It moves me when I am at a I’ve joked for a long time that working for me or race or bike night or industry event and I see even with me is like being in the cross hairs of individuals rocking an SBI shirt. Moments when Anna Wintour and Tyler Durden. I’m driven, a Nicky Hayden posted a pic to Instagram wearing little bit of an asshole (only when necessary... his SBI shirt (salute to Jackie for the dope photo) but I’m the only one that can determine when it’s and Billy Morrison rocking his SBI shirt on stage necessary. Sorry, not sorry), a loose cannon and next to Billy Idol are probably in the top five if it is possible to be guilty of caring too much, moments of SBI shirt sightings. Of course, the then I’m guilty. Here’s my point... For the last three sea of SBI shirts at Pat’s and Geno’s Steaks in years, SportBikes Inc Magazine has defied the Philly at the end of the Shut the City Down Ride odds, nay sayers, skeptics, critics, etc to not only was just fantastic and paramount. still exist, but to be experiencing a growth spurt. I made a point to keep my head down, eyes up, in What I am saying is... If it is the staff, the team, the full tuck and throttle pinned wide open. I kept my family of SBI that creates this monthly publication, ear to the industry ground and the streets and the then it is for you, the reader and supporter... that track asphalt. I paid attention to all the rumblings SBI is created for. We appreciate you. and tremors... good, bad, indifferent, I listened. What I have learned in this time period is that Perhaps that’s not said as much as it should be. no matter how good you are at something, if you So I’ll say it again. want to be great... you better surround yourself with great people. I appreciate you. If my staff is a testament of the people that I have chosen to surround myself with, well then we might just be on our way. I have realized, that ultimately, all I’ve done is put some truly amazing individuals in a virtual room and watched the magic happen. SportBikes Inc Magazine has the good fortune

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We appreciate you. Welcome to the fourth volume of SportBikes Inc Magazine. Enjoy the ride.

Best, Allan

THE TEAM Publisher/Editor in Chief: Allan Lane

EDITORIAL

Broadcast Correspondent Jillian Titus

Fashion Editor: Kiana Gadson

Staff Writers: Dystany Spurlock Michael Lawless Kim “Lady Kim” Roper Lion James Lisa Macknik

Drag Racing Editor: Ashon “Capo” Dickerson

Copy Editor: Angela Lane

Lifestyle Director: Tyson Beckford

Drag Racing Advisor: Rickey Gadson Road Racing Editor: Corey Alexander Moto Tech Editor: Thomas Campion Riding Editor: Eric Wood Rev Limiter Editor: Leah Petersen International Correspondent Billy Morrison

ART & DESIGN Creative Supervisor: Leon Brittain Graphic Designer: Baz Contributing Photographers: Meekail Shaheed Robin Spurlock Stefanie Dickerson StuntBums Blair Phillips Leon Brittain Greg 500 Flicks Lee Donta Deisel Cover: Blair Phillips

SportBikes Inc Magazine - October 2013 Volume 4, Issue 1 To receive SportBikes Inc Magazine’s 2013 Media Kit and Advertising Rates, please email: info@sportbikesincmag.com.

In no way can any part of this magazine be reproduced in print, digital, broadcast or any other manner without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

SportBikes Inc Magazine (ISSN 2158-009X) is published monthly by Hard Knocks Motorcycle Entertainment.

SportBikes Inc Magazine is not responsible for any advertising claims made by its advertisers or partners.

Any and all items submitted to SportBikes Inc Magazine will become the sole property of SportBikes Inc Magazine and are subject to, but not limited to edits, comments and titles.

Sportbikes Inc Magazine, staff and partners are not responsible for injuries, loss or damage to their being, vehicle or property, including death that may result from contest submissions.

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The press room Looking to purchase one of Michael Jordan Motorsports’ AMA Pro Race Bikes?

Garwood Custom Cycles have for sale five authentic and documented race bikes that competed for the AMA Pro Racing Championships from 2004 to 2008 for Michael Jordan Motorsports. The bikes up for sale include: 2004 Yamaha R1, Solid Carolina Blue 2005 Suzuki GSXR 1000, Yellow and Red 2006 Suzuki GSXR 1000, Gold and Black

Erik Buell Racing launches the 1190RX Building upon the succesfull design of the EBR 1190RS, Erik Buell Racing launched their newest model, the 2014 1190RX during the inaugural AIM Expo in Orlando Florida. The 1190RX is powered by an 1190cc v twin engine and boasts 185 horses backed by 102 foot pounds of torque. The 1190RX is the most rider friendly machine to come out of EBR’s Wisconsin factory with 21 traction control settings, a multifunction digital gauge cluster, a hydro carbon/nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide emissions rating that is 25% and 6%, respectively, less than allowed by the EPA. The 2014 EBR 1190RX will begin production by year’s end and will have an msrp of $18,995.00. Click on the image for more info.

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2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000, Royal Blue and White 2008 Suzuki GSXR 1000, Carolina Blue and White The bikes are available for sale as a collection or individually. Contact Garwood Custom Cycles today for serious inquiries at 336.249.8289 or visit them at http://garwoodcustomcycles.com.

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The press room RECAP: The SBI Magazine Annual Shut the City Down Ride AKA the Great Cheesesteak Run SportBike’s Inc Magazine’s Annual Shut the City Down Ride, AKA the Great Cheesesteak Run occurred in Philadelphia in early October. As the event organizers, there was a slight amount of pressure to provide a safe riding atmosphere and environment in light of recent events and the current black cloud that hangs over the global sportbike community. The purpose of the ride has always been to partake of one of Philadelphia’s delicacies… the “cheesesteak” and to enjoy a pleasantly paced ride and bask in the camaraderie of fellow motorcyclists. With national attention on any and all group rides and riders in general, it became ever more so important to have an event that projected a positive image of riders together en mass, setting an example and countering the negative stigma that has been cast overhead. On Saturday, October 5, with several hundred

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riders and the help and support from the Upper Merion Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department and the City of Philadelphia… the Annual Shut the City Down Ride successfully rolled out from King of Prussia. The route included a little bit of highway as we rolled into Philadelphia with several stops along the way before arriving at our final destination, Pat’s and Geno’s on Passyunk Avenue. Perhaps, the proudest moment came when we arrived at Eakins Oval on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at the Philadelphia Art Museum. With assistance from Jazelle Jones of the Office of the City’s Managing Director, we parked our bikes and posed for several group photos that really captured the spirit of the day and the ride. Enjoy a short video of the ride and please pardon some of the language (there was a lot of excitement going on).

Going to the International Motorcycle Show? Save money with the SBKINC14 promo code The International Motorcycle Show is once again making the rounds. SBI is happy to offer a promo code and save you some money when you order your tickets online. When making your purchase, enter code SBKINC14 to save $3.00 off of the listed ticket price of general admission tickets. Visit http://motorcycleshows.com for more information and to buy tickets. See you at the show!

Suzuki issues recall for GSXRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suzuki has issued one of the largest recalls in recent years affecting some 200,000 plus vehicles. GSXR 600 and 750 model year 2004 to 2013 and GSXR 1000 model years 2005 to 2013 have been affected by front brake master cylinder concerns. It has been reported that a mixture of older brake fluid

and a corrosive piston inside of the master cylinder could produce a gas that would greatly diminish braking ability. Owners will be notified by Suzuki and dealers have been instructed to replace the faulty brake monster cylinder, free of charge. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 17

The inbox brought to you by kriega

Email SportBikes Inc Magazine at INBOX@SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM. Every month, we are giving away a R25 Back Pack from Kriega and an SBI T Shirt to the LETTER OF THE MONTH! Dear SBI, How do I get my bike into the mag? I’ve got more pics if you would like me to send them.

Chris, We are always searching for great looking bikes from our readers to showcase in SBI. You can send send pics and info to theshow@ sportbikesincmag.com or hit us up on www.facebook.com/sportbikesincmagazine.

- Chris Perry

You’re Kawi looks great! Dark and mean... Love it!

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Dear SBI, Just wanted to tell you I appreciate all you do for the bike community. From the magazine (of which I haven’t missed reading an entire issue), to the rides, to the shout outs and everything thing else you do. It’s a wonderful thing! Keep doing what you do! You got a brotha’ right here trying to walk(ride) the similar path you on. Thanks for laying the foundation. Much respect. - C. Travelyon Briscoe, Jr. AKA Tree Dear SBI, As President of the Wild Bunch South Jersey (Sport Bike Club), I was urged to participate in the SBI Shut the City Down Ride by one of my Road Captains, Chris Powell. We got a small group of club members and friends together and road to King of Prussia from Burlington NJ... Which was an adventure on it’s own. Bottom line... I will be putting the STCD rides on our club calendar going forward. Special shoot out to Double Lyte Posse and all of the official/unofficial Road Captains that helped keep the group rolling by blocking intersections when needed and dealing with unpleasant motorist along our route. Booo to the clowns that blocked the driveway at Hooters causing the first split in the group... But as the say a few bad monkeys don’t stop the show. Kudos to Allan an the SBI Crew!! - Jun WB Lifer and President AKA O Prime Key Snatcha!!

letter of the month Dear SBI, I was on the cheesesteak ride on October 5th and thought it was a really good event. Great turnout! I'm writing you because after that ride I looked up your publication and signed up. I read an interesting article from Lady Kim, "This Sh*t Ain't A Movie" and thoroughly enjoyed it, not to mention strongly agreed with it. I'm presently 46 years old and have been riding sport bikes since I was 19. I ride a 2005 MV Agusta F4. I'm a MRI Engineer for one of the largest medical diagnostic companies in the world. I only mention this because of the article Lady Kim crafted. It demonstrates her class as well as the magazines intention to inspire and promote motorcycle riding in a respectful way. Last Thanksgiving I sponsored a Motorcycle Meet Up Food Drive for Philabundance and I was able to raise 430 pounds of food for the less fortunate. You and your staff are doing a great job with the articles and sponsoring responsible rides that are sanctioned with police presence. Keep up the great work and I look forward to future events with SportBikes Inc. - Orlando Rivera SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 19

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Shop Spotlight: bikes built better

Words: Allan Lane Images: Courtesy of Bikes Built Better

CONTACT:

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Shop name: Bikes Built Better Location: 133 Horsham Road Horsham PA 19044 Hours: Monday - Friday 9 to 6, Saturday 10 - 3 Year established: 2003 Brands serviced: All makes and models

ikes Built Better was established in 2003 with a goal, mission... purpose. Owners Joe and Chuck simply wanted to create the ultimate neighborhood motorcycle shop where their clientele could have their “bikes built better!” In contrast to the lack of customer service that is often present at a number of larger “big box” dealerships or bike shops, the customers at Bikes Built Better are treated to an above average customer experience by owners and staff that are part of the riding community.

Active in their region, they are hosts to annual open houses and supporters of regional events that have a positive effect on their neighborhood like the Spring Motor Mania Event. They have expanded the brand to include Land Speed Racing and to date have set four land speed records. Shops like Bikes Built Better are corner stones to our regional bike communities. They represent positive images of small businesses doing very big things. Want to see your shop or dealership featured here? Drop us an email!

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G a rwo o d

custom cycles

” l o o k s D “ol 26 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

Words: Allan Lane Images: blair phillips SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 27

THE SHOW: garwood custom’s “old skool”

t’s nice to reminisce. To think back on fond memories. In the post modern “bling” age, it is important to remember the point of origin for true motorcycle customs.

and let their bikes take center stage. And as it should be, the bikes they build speak volumes, silencing the would be nay sayers.

The team at Garwood Customs Cycles can attest to the fundamentals of true craftsmanship. The theory of scratching the surface and finding a deeper meaning as opposed to there being absolutely nothing underneath... No point, no purpose, no soul... Nothing. As builders, Garwood has proven time and time again the importance of developing brand value and allowing their work to speak for itself. The crew themselves are actually quite mild, borderline shy. As a team they modestly take a step back

“Old Skool” is a primed representation of not just returning to point of origin for true customs, it predicts the future of the culture. On a verge of a custom bike building renaissance, Old Skool dips into the past visually and metaphorically while projecting the new and the next... In essence, this bike is more than a problem, it’s a game changer.

The aesthetics of this particular build are a result Not so much to a simpler time, but when things of a properly executed theme and concept weren’t so complicated. Before the age of bling forged with talent, ability and experience. The foresight and knowledge of knowing when and all things bright and shiny... The custom enough is just right. The understanding of bike building game wasn’t that complicated. You were either good, or you weren’t. You were pushing the envelope but not going over the edge... It is blatant, pure and unadulterated either in or you were out. There was no taking maturity. Yes, maturity as it relates to the custom shelter behind the smoke and mirrors of “when bike world. Perhaps a custom bike’s namesake in doubt, chrome it out.” Don’t get me wrong, has never been so appropriate. when appropriate, as an accent, chrome has it’s place. But when over used, it’s overkill.

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Class is in session. I hope you’re paying attention.

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THE SHOW: garwood custom’s “old skool”

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garwood custom cycles “old skool” 2006 Suzuki GSXR 1000 Engine/Power Upgrades: K&N Air Filter, Bazzaz Box, 40HP Nitrous Kit brakes: Performance Machine Rear Braking System, Roaring Toyz Racer Front Rotor Exhaust: VooDoo Exhaust Wheels: 17x3.5, 18x10.5 Performance Machine Machine Heathen Wheels, Custom Gold added by Garwood Custom Cycles Tires: Avon 120/60/17 front, 300/35/VR18 rear Suspension: AirFX Air Ride SWINGARM: C&S Custom Single Side 300 Custom/One Off/Accessories: Yanashiki Pounder Grips, Shortee Race Levers, Spike Kit, Voodoo Adjustable Front Foot Peg Assemblies, Frame Plugs, Spike Fork Caps and Axle Caps, Yanashiki Triple Tree, Tribal Kickstand, Ultra Bright Yellow Light by Garwood Custom with three way remote control, Headlight Halos, Custom Leather Seat by Shawn’s Custom Seats Built By: Garwood Custom Cycles Paint By: Neyon Pain owner: Alejandro Quinones SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 31

THE SHOW: garwood custom’s “old skool”

G a rwo o d

custom cycles olD skool”

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THE GRID

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THE GRID: news Herrin wins first AMA Pro Racing Championship then upgrades to Moto2 for 2014 2012 AMA Pro Racing Rookie of the Year Josh Herrin has won his first AMA Pro Racing Superbike Championship with his second place podium finish at the final round of the AMA Pro Season at MAZDA Raceway Laguna Seca. Defeating three time defending champion Josh Hayes, Herrin earned his first Superbike Championship. The newly crowned champ then announced that he was making the move to the Moto2 class for 2014.

Hayden to ride Honda next season Power Electronics Aspar announced their signing of 2006 World Champion, Nicky Hayden for the 2014 and 2015 seasons to pilot their Honda in the premier class. Hayden piloted his Repsol Honda in 2006 to a championship then in 2008 joined the Ducati Team. Earlier this year, Ducati did not renew Haydenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contract leaving many to ponder where the American would ride next season. Joining Aspar will be Haydenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first move in five years. No team mate has been announced yet.

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Buell Racing heads to World Superbike It has been officially confirmed that Erik Buell Racing is heading to the World SuperBike series beginning in 2014. AMA Pro Racer and current Hero EBR Pilot, Geoff May will be making the move as well as the rider for their WSBK efforts.

Ben Spies officially retires Ben Spies has undoubtedly been one of the most exciting riders to watch regardless of the series that he was competing in... AMA Pro Racing, World SuperBike or MotoGP. In recent seasons, seeing him on the grid became fewer and far between thanks to a plaguing shoulder injury. Spies did complete his rehabilitation after surgery but re injured the shoulder during practice at the 2013 Red Bull Indianapolis Round. With heavy concern for his ability to compete in 2014 as result of a injured shoulder, Spies announced that he was officially retiring from racing, effective immediately. The decision to retire, obviously also ends his two year contract with the Ignite Pramac Racing Team, a Ducati factory supported team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had such high hopes for racing for Ducati and Ducati has been incredibly supportive of me during this challenging year, so I am tremendously disappointed that I have not been able to fulfill my personal goals and team goals with Ducati. I want to thank everyone from racing organizations, factories, teams and all my fans for helping me and supporting me throughout my career. I never

dreamed that I would reach the level of success that I have over the past 20 years of racing, but the time has come to stop and I do so with great sadness.â&#x20AC;? - Ben Spies The staff of SportBikes Inc Magazine wishes Ben the best. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 37

THE GRID: news Tom Sykes wins 2013 World SuperBike Championship

Congratulations to Kawasaki Racing Team World SuperBike Rider Tom Sykes on his first ENI FIM Championship with a third place finish at the WSBK Jerez Round in Spain on board his Kawasaki ZX10R. You may recall that it was only last season that the championship title escaped Sykes by half of a point. “I’ve done my best out there all year. I’m over the moon, so emotional and I shed a few

tears on the slow-down lap, too. I made lots of sacrifices to get here and I finally made it, and what a feeling it is. Hats off to the guys in front of me, they did what they had to do but luckily this is our moment. After getting so close to the title last year, I’m not going to thank everyone, they know who they are and I’ll catch up with them personally. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.” - Tom Sykes, 2013 ENI FIM World SuperBike Champion

Michael Jordan Motorsports ends AMA Pro Racing program It has unofficially announced that Michael Jordan Motorsports has ended their AMA Pro Racing championship efforts. Team pilots Roger Hayden and Danny Eslick finished their 2013 AMA season in fourth and fifth place, respectfully. No official word from the team has been released. We will keep you posted if at any time a team statement is made. 38 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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Travis and Cody Wyman

Thank You!

For your support in the 2013 Season!

The Entire Wyman Family

Lenny Albin

Justin Hoestery, Robb Hilfiker, Bill Wyman, Tyler Kuhn, and Kyle Wyman SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 41 Racing.

THE GRID

THE NUMBERS

Ev e r y m o n t h , w e a s k p r o s a n d amateurs why they chose the numbers that identify them on the grid...

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patricia fernandez

#804

â&#x20AC;&#x153;M

y race number 804, is the area code for the capitol of Virginia, Richmond. I lived there when I first started racing on an expert level. I wanted to represent the state I lived in!â&#x20AC;?

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Thank you for a great 2013 AMA Pro Road Racing Season! See you at Daytona in March 2014!

Get a quote. Visit geico.com, or call 1-800-442-9253. 44 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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THE GRID

The inside track

Words: Corey alexander IMAGES: john hanson

ot much has changed since before I wrote the last article... I’m only now AMA Pro Supersport East Champ and made my debut on the world stage in France during the World Supersport races. Can’t talk much about that right now as we will be doing something special after I go to Spain next week. With that said, I’m really only left to talk about how awesome the two Supersport races were at NJMP. If you weren’t there, let’s just say I’m disappointed in you on many levels both as a person and a motorcycle enthusiast. We can work through it though, since you are actually reading this. Before I started my hopefully interesting narrative please keep in mind that this championship had a difference of nine points entering the weekend. The weekend started out well as we’d expected. Being from New York, NJMP is basically our home track. Qualifying went even better. I put it on pole which actually turned out to really be the difference between a championship and not. So, keep in mind that at this point I’m ahead by ten points in the championship. Saturday’s race was one of those races that you feel like you have everything working against you even though realistically it went about as good as it could’ve gone. I got a bad start and allowed Hayden Gillim out front by a margin of almost nine seconds, I believe. He had me thinking for sure I was just going to settle for second for a bit. Just when I settled into where I was, Hayden started coming backwards, or I actually picked up the pace quite a bit and in a matter of laps I caught him and passed him! It was one of those things where you’re riding and wondering if it’s really happening and then before you know it you’re like “Okay... I’m going to have to figure out how to lead a race instead of catch him.” Believe me, it seems stupid but both leading and 48 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

Connect with Corey...

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THE GRID: the inside track catching someone are two completely and entirely different things. None of this really mattered though because half a lap after taking the lead the red flag came out ultimately making everything I’d just done to catch him an utter waste of time. This also meant that we had to restart and essentially have a six lap dash for the finish which resulted in some extremely close racing plus numerous lead changes. I thought with my pace I could break free from the pack but

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unfortunately this was not the case and they latched on and it ended up being me and Hayden crossing the finish line side by side with me getting beat by point .007. It’s amazing how a second place finish when you’re fighting for a championship feels a ton less as good as a typical second place finish. Now, going into Sunday keep in mind that because I got second place there is a five point

deficit so my ten points dwindled to four minus another point because Hayden led the most laps which is worth an additional point. What this means is that I went into the race, after crashing in morning warm up, three points ahead of Hayden for the championship. Sunday’s race played out much different from Saturdays in that there was a four rider pack the entire race which led to a ton of battling as well as “oh shit” moments. I knew that going into the race that I had to either win, beat Hayden, not let him win or finish one spot behind him in any other position than first. Essentially as long as he didn’t win and I finished right behind him I would win. But this only was if I led the most laps and got that extra point. Thus, that was my main focus throughout the race. No matter what, I had to cross the finish line first. That’s exactly what I did. Lap after lap, the top four of us would shuffle spots but I’d always get a killer drive out of the last fifth gear one hundred thirty miles per hour turn onto the straight away and take the lead just as we crossed the finish line. After seventeen laps, it came down to me getting bumped back to fourth place from second only to make my way back to third place in the last turn to finish fortunately right behind Hayden in a close second. I knew on the cool down lap that I’d won it. I’d won my first championship by the narrowest of margins and luck. Had things gone a tad bit different it could’ve changed things dramatically. It came down to the most laps led and that one point. I won my championship by a sole point. Winning is winning though, and in ten years it won’t matter how many points or how I won it. I will have that Number One Plate up on my wall and you guys will not remember this story, whatsoever. New Jersey was an awesome race weekend. I had tons of friends and fans out there and I thank each an everyone of you. Please, stay tuned for the next article as it will be a tremendous one on my trips to Europe brought to you by SBI. Follow the movement. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 51

the bIggeSt & FaSteSt PrO Street race OF the year!

eal catered M ht On Sat nIg FOr PSt!

OctOber 4-6, 2013 Maryland

$ nationals

Fall

FaMOuS MIr tracK PreP and cOOl, Fall aIr!

21st annual

InternatIOnal

10,000

Pro Street Main event Pro Street “b” class (#1-16 Qualifiers)

(#17-32 Qualifiers)

raceway

tO wIn entry Fee $150

Pro Street “c” class (#33-48 Qualifiers)

$10,000 ............. winner $500 ................... winner $250 ................... winner $2,000 ....... runner-up $100 ............ runner-up $100 ............ runner-up $1,000 .................. Semis $50 ........................ Semis $50 ........................ Semis $275 ............... 1/4 Finals $500 bonus to #1 Qualifier from dMe racing $100 ............... 1/8 Finals

Friday Schedule

early bird testing - $100 ...10am-5pm Pro Qualifier #1 .................................. 8pm

Saturday Schedule

Pro Qualifier #2 ..................................1pm Pro Qualifier #3 ................................. 4pm Pro Qualifier #4 ..................................7pm

Sunday Schedule

Pro eliminations ........................11:30am

MIrOcKracing.com

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Over 40 cOnFIrMed PSt bIKeS!

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the bIggeSt & FaSteSt PrO Street race OF the year!

eal catered M ht On Sat nIg FOr PSt!

OctOber 4-6, 2013 Maryland

$ nationals

Fall

FaMOuS MIr tracK PreP and cOOl, Fall aIr!

21st annual

InternatIOnal

10,000

Pro Street Main event Pro Street “b” class (#1-16 Qualifiers)

(#17-32 Qualifiers)

raceway

tO wIn entry Fee $150

Pro Street “c” class (#33-48 Qualifiers)

Friday Schedule

early bird testing - $100 ...10am-5pm Pro Qualifier #1 .................................. 8pm

Saturday Schedule

Pro Qualifier #2 ..................................1pm Pro Qualifier #3 ................................. 4pm Pro Qualifier #4 ..................................7pm

Sunday Schedule

Pro eliminations ........................11:30am

MIrOcKracing.com

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Over 40 cOnFIrMed PSt bIKeS!

Michael Jordan Motorsports would like to recognize and thank our 2013 partners:

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the bIggeSt & FaSteSt PrO Street race OF the year!

eal catered M ht On Sat nIg FOr PSt!

OctOber 4-6, 2013 Maryland

$ nationals

Fall

FaMOuS MIr tracK PreP and cOOl, Fall aIr!

21st annual

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10,000

Pro Street Main event Pro Street “b” class (#1-16 Qualifiers)

(#17-32 Qualifiers)

raceway

tO wIn entry Fee $150

Pro Street “c” class (#33-48 Qualifiers)

Friday Schedule

early bird testing - $100 ...10am-5pm Pro Qualifier #1 .................................. 8pm

Saturday Schedule

Pro Qualifier #2 ..................................1pm Pro Qualifier #3 ................................. 4pm Pro Qualifier #4 ..................................7pm

Sunday Schedule

Pro eliminations ........................11:30am

MIrOcKracing.com

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Over 40 cOnFIrMed PSt bIKeS!

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THE GRID: ON THE COME UP

Images: Courtesy of Nicole Mackenzie Ancien

Mackenzie Ancien

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NAME: Mackenzie Ancien HOMETOWN: Portland, OR. AGE: 17 Association/Affiliations/Series: AMA, AFM Goals: Winning AMA Championship and one day race in MotoGP. Accomplishments: 9 Years of racing, 15 races won, 5 championships. Youngest female to ever receive Expert License through OMRRA Define your passion in one sentence: My passion is what I strive to live for, what I work for, what I breathe for and what I need. Racing is my passion. Contact: http://MackenzieAncien.com

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THE STRAIGHT LINE

the youngest in charge

Connect with Dystany...

Words: Dystany Spurlock IMAGES: robin spurlock

hen I think about this being the fourth year that the magazine has been out It makes me so proud to see how far we have come and how much we have grown. I vote hands down that our magazine is the world’s best! Since this is our anniversary issue I’m going to talk about this also being my fourth year anniversary of racing motorcycles and what motivates me. I can definitely say that I have learned so much and that I am still learning even after being in the game for four years. I am so proud of myself for having a dream and making it a reality. This racing world can break you down if you let it. This world is no joke. I can only speak for myself but I love a good challenge. I first came into drag racing because my godfather had me around it so much so I knew that it was something that I could do. That’s one thing about me, when I put my mind to something I will succeed at it. I will not take no for an answer! When I go after anything that I set my mind to I turn into warrior. I literally eat, breathe, and sleep my craft. Just like Floyd Mayweather says “Hard work and dedication...” is what I strive off of. Calling myself a “Go Getter” is an understatement. I love

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for someone to tell me that I cannot do something or that whatever I have in mind is impossible... They will definitely be in for a rude awakening because I make the impossible, possible. I have not won a championship as of yet but it is definitely in the making. I have finished Top 10 in the Crazy 8’s class in 2011 and finished Top 8 in the 5.60 index in 2012 and I will end this year with another top finishing. I take the passion that I have for racing very seriously. But there have been times when someone has tried to steal away the passion that I have for racing but that is something that I could not let happen. I am much stronger than that. I have many people that are in my corner cheering for me, but I also have just as many that want to see me fail. Failing is not in my vocabulary so that will never be an option for me. I was born to break down barriers and to go above and beyond so that is what I will do until my dying day. I love motorsports and I will never stop. Even once I reach the Sprint Cup Series I will continue to strive to be the best and continue to be The Youngest in Charge.

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THE STRAIGHT LINE

Capo’s cut

Words: Ashon capo dickerson images: kwame olds stefanie Dickerson

he month of September was a busy one with the return of the US Nationals to my home state of NJ. The race hasn’t been there since 2009 so we were all glad to have a major event back in Jerz! The following week I was booked to be a special guest at the second annual Busa Fest at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. If you didn’t hear about Busa Fest prior to the event you must have been living under a rock because CJ The Busa Girl and crew promoted it very well via social media outlets. So well, that Brock’s Performance and Corporate Suzuki was in attendance all weekend along with some other great vendors, racers, bike clubs, and spectators. Oh and let’s not forget some focused students participating in my "Capo’s Cut" The Straight Line Drag Racing Training Course. Coaching is one of my passions along with getting riders to race in a controlled environment the right way. Six guys signed up, each one from a different state, different skill level, different motorcycles and setups. That was a task and a challenge by itself due to the fact that you can’t teach a rider to launch a stock wheelbase bike the same way I would teach a guy to launch a seven inch wheelbase bike. The principles are the same but clutch slippage and throttle progression are different. My twenty five years of riding experience, fifteen years of racing experience, coaching drag racers and road racers experience gives me the confidence and proven skill to get these riders right on many levels. I started out with two days of one hour track time with the guys during Busa Fest. On the third day I had it set up for them to have a Bracket Racing Style run off. Who better to teach them how to Bracket Race than Capo the 2013 Orient Express Top Street Bike Champion! After spending time with these guys on the third day they were pumped and ready for competition! I was so proud of the progress in each and every one of these riders and also made some new friends in the process. I want to congratulate the winner Jason Pete Hiatt from NC and Runner Up Eddie Bishop Jr. from Ohio. All the guys that took Capo’s Cut are winners and didn’t walk away empty handed. Jason’s Grand Prize was a free two day course to continue his education at Rickey Gadson’s Drag Racing School along with a brand new Scorpion Exo Helmet. Eddie Bishop Jr. received a $100 gift certificate towards 66 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

Connect with Capo...

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THE STRAIGHT LINE: Capo’s Cut

Rickey’s school along with a Crazy 8 Sponsorship from my wife and I here at 1030 Motorsports to race at the MIROCK Superbike Series October event for the weekend. All other riders received a gift bag from Corporate Suzuki, shirts from Bazzaz, $100 Gift Certificates from Rickey Gadson’s Drag Racing School, head gear from Schampa and a feature in the best magazine in the universe... SportBikes Inc Magazine, baby! Big thanks to Brock from Brock’s Performance for helping one of my guys change his clutches during the class to get him back in action. What owner do you know on his level that will still get his hands dirty for someone that needed some assistance? Not too many that’s why I’m a proud sponsored rider of Brock’s Performance! Check out the testimonials from my guys and remember... Loyalty is everything!

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My name is Jasen Pete Hiatt. I live in Mount Airy, NC. I did get to go to a race before I went to Rockingham for Capo's Class, I ended up winning the first race and runner up the second race. The track had two races the same day. I was very stoked about that one since I had not been on my bike since the year. I signed up for Capo's Cut at Busa Fest and didn't know what to expect. I was blown away buy how much down to earth Capo and his wife were and by how much everyone was so respectful and friendly towards me and each other. I made a lot of new friends and got to see each rider improve there skills at their own level. I am so proud of all of us. I also was able to improve my skills with some pointers from Capo as well. I beat my personal best ET both days. I thought it would be impossible to do. I truly thank Capo for the new skills and urge everyone to take his class no matter what your skill level as a rider!

My name is Eddie Bishop Jr. and I have been riding for sixteen years plus. I have been racing at the track since 2000. I ride a 2007 and 2006 Hayabusa and an 2004 and 2008 GSXR 1000. I signed up for Capo's Cut to gain the correct forms of a drag racer. By attending the class I learned how to race on a higher level. Capo's one on one focus allows him to find your weakness and mold you into a relaxed Drag Racer overnight. He has very strong focus on safety before you race and he teaches why it is important before every race or just test and tune. This class is a must for future racers. I rate this school A, plus. You can't go wrong learning from Capo! SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 69

THE STRAIGHT LINE: Capoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cut

My name is Tyrone R. Allen. I am 39 from Birmingham, AL. I ride a 2012 ZX14 and 2008 Suzuki B King. I've been riding for over thirteen years. Although I had no prior drag racing experience, I came out of the class with much more knowledge and confidence in my ability to race my bike than I could have imagined. The passion that Capo taught us with was great. He taught each rider at the level that rider was on without making those of us without experience feel less than those that had prior experience. Learning the intricate details and mechanics of drag racing is priceless, I was able to go from a 10.15 first pass to consistent 9.88 passes my first time on the track under Capo's instruction. I was only able to catch the one day class but hope to do the 2 day course in the near future. I didn't think it was a big deal but having a pro racer evaluate you, show you your mistakes and then show you how to correct them would benefit anybody really wanting to learn how to race. I would definitely recommend Capo's class.

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My name is Timothy Golden, age 39. I’ve been riding since I was age 8. I live and am from Philadelphia PA. I ride a 2007 Suzuki Hayabusa. I got into drag racing about one year ago. I signed up for Capo's Cut at Busa Fest. I have raced at the track one time. I didn't know how to read the tree or leave the line and Capo showed me everything in a couple days and few hours of work. Now my 60 foot is getting better and better every time I take a pass. I want to thank Capo for everything he taught me.

My name is Rudy Ruboi Coles from Baltimore and I am 43 years old. I ride an ‘02 Busa. I’ve been riding for three years. I have always wanted to get the know how to jump off the line. I took Capo's class and truly loved it. I have never been on a track and have zero experience. Capo took my launch technique to a new level compared to what I was so called doing. I also learned to do a proper burn out after I burnt my clutch out on one of my best runs down the strip. I really haven't been practicing because of the weather but you best believe I will be as soon as weather breaks. Big up to my man Capo! Thanks bro!

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THE STRAIGHT LINE: Capo’s Cut My name is Quentin Letson. This class was what I needed! The hands on approach to basic drag racing is essential for any one and everybody that wants to learn how to properly and safely drag race a motorcycle on a drag strip. After checking bikes and our safety equipment I learned about burn outs and how important they are and how to maintain and keep control of the bike while doing so. After a couple of passes we went over our tickets and each aspect of the ticket was explained with detailed information on what area could help improve my time. We saved these tickets to compare for later passes. I learned how have better clutch control which helped me have lower 60 foot times and leave a lot smoother and not stutter or leave on one wheel as I was doing in before this class. My best 60 foot before the class was 1.65. My body wasn’t positioned correctly and it was causing me to fight to get control of the bike and I learned how to and when to bring my feet up and not disturb the mechanics of the bike which also was having a direct impact

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and affecting my times. Capo showed me hands on how to improve on this technique. When the class was done, I can say I learned how to improve on the following and have feel more confident: 60ft time from 1.65 to now 1.45, from leaving on one wheel to getting the bike to hook and rollout, Bike mechanics and keeping control of bike during my runs, how to read my time slip and make adjustments and how important it is to stay focused and relaxed. Now when I’m at my local track I feel confident I can make a clean pass and make adjustments where needed. The end of the day all of the students exchanged numbers to stay in contact with each other and then picked names out a hat to bracket race each other for a grand prize. I came in third. First place went to Pete. Congrats Buddy! I would highly recommend this class to anyone interested in racing! Capo’s Straight Line Cut will definitely have you running at your best! He made sure everyone had his contact info for any questions after the class.

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THE STRAIGHT LINE

The Worst...and the best Words: rickey gadson images: courtesy of rickey gadson

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t’s hard to believe that a year ago this time I was crowned the Manufacturers Cup RST Champion. My win at the World Finals in Valdosta, Georgia allowed me to mark the tenth championship of a very blessed career. It's hard to believe it because was followed by the worst year of my career. Barely three months into the 2013 race season, my world came to a complete halt with the passing of my mother, Victoria Gadson. She has believed in me and supported my love for motorcycles since I was a child. As I sit back and evaluate what's important to me, I realize how much my mom was a part of my support system. I would call her after most big races to tell her who I beat during that race or who I lost to. With me taking time off from racing this summer to take care of her and get myself together after her passing, I realized that in twenty four years, I have never finished a race season outside of the top five (more than not top three) in points. As rough as this year has been I can't help but to feel blessed to still have the ability after all these years to still be relevant in any Pro class that I compete in. I realize that the sport that I have loved for over two decades has also loved me back and rewarded me with the best fans. I've been asked to compete and put on exhibitions at tracks all over the world. Meeting people like Bill Cosby, Micheal Jordan, Laurence Fishburne, Jay Leno, as well as being invited to the Mandela home and speaking with Winnie about apartheid over tea. I shake my head and smile at the thought of going places I never thought drag racing could take me. Having my own line of motorcycle gear and apparel that you can buy from any store thanks to Speed and Strength is beyond my dreams. And working with our country’s military teaching advanced motorcycle safety is definitely it's own reward. As a kid all I ever wanted was to be was in a motorcycle magazine and test bikes like my hero Jay "Pee Wee" Gleason. Although I have yet to meet him, I have been given the opportunity to be a guest tester for just about every main stream magazine there is. I've made the cover of seven different magazines including Two Wheel Tuner, Motorcyclist, Sport Rider, SportBikes Inc and the

oldest and grand daddy of them all, Cycle World Magazine. Not to mention the covers, front and back, of sponsor catalogues for Kawasaki, Joe Rocket, Sullivan's, Speed and Strength and recently the biggest accomplishment of making the cover of the 2013 Tucker Rocky street catalogue. My relationship with Kawasaki as the first and only factory sponsored racer, turned ambassador as the longest contracted athlete to date, according to officials, which makes me realize that what I've done is something really major in this sport. That fact alone gives me a feeling of being both accomplished and extremely grateful. I laugh out loud remembering the day I was on American Choppers, asked by the infamous Teutul's to be the first to ride their NAPA Harley, which was the first drag bike they've ever built. It was an awesome experience but during my second run down the track, a bird must have thought I wanted to race him and decided to plow directly into my helmet. I guess I should just say that bird ending up looking just like any other flying insect that meets a helmet on the highway! But that appearance on American Choppers had people everywhere even flight attendants recognizing me without a helmet on. And even though drag racing doesn't nearly get the television airtime it deserves, I've managed to get the opportunity to make appearances on almost every major motorcycle show out there: MotoWorld, NHRA Today, 1000cc Raw Thrill, Two wheel Tuesday, Cafe Racer, Superbikes and even the movie Biker Boyz. With all this I have to say my pride and joy is my school. The love this sport is reason I started the first Sportbike Drag Racing School ever. This school has birthed or enhanced the performances of several great riders, grudge racers and champions. Some of my students are out there doing great and making a mark of there own. Riders like my nephew Richard Gadson, Joey Gladstone, Terence Angela, Ashon and Crystal Dickerson, Tony Ferland Jr. and even remarkable Road racers Eric Bostrom, Dane Westby, and 2013 AMA Pro Racing Super Sport Champion Cory Alexander. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 75

THE STRAIGHT LINE: Capo’s Cut

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Next to being a teacher I have to say the most rewarding role I play in my career is giving back to the sport that gave me so much. Whenever I'm able to open a new door or make a new company aware of drag racing, through being involved with me, the more of a chance that a young racer will be able to use this sport as a way to support his or her family and make their dreams come true. One thing I realized a long time ago is, no matter how good you feel you are or what your accomplishments have signified, in order to reach your goals or to live out your dreams, you need to

make someone believe in you. Which is why I am thankful to my family and value my partnerships with companies and products I can really believe in. I sincerely want to thank my sponsors who have believed in me and continue to support my efforts. I thank Kawasaki Motors Corp, Speed and Strength, Brock's Performance, Motul USA, Dynojet, Shinko Tires, Roaring Toyz, AEM, Adams, Zero Gravity, Myrtle West, Vortex, Tiger Racing, MSD, JRI shocks, CP Carrillo, DME and Jones Performance. Although this has definitely been a rough year, I am definitely blessed and will never forget that.

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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ON THE COME UP

Images: Courtesy of Jaen Brice Branden Lloyd Hiatt

Jasen Branden Hiatt

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NAME: Jasen Branden Hiatt HOMETOWN: Mount Airy, NC. AGE: 38 Association/Affiliations/Series: Elk Creek Dragway, VA. Motor Mile, VA. Farmington Dragway, NC. Goals: My goals are to be able to get on a bigger CC race bike and hopefully find help from sponsors to be able to race in the MIRock series in 2014. To hopefully inspire and be a great role model for up coming racers as well as fans. Accomplishments: Over the past 4 years I’ve managed to have 10 race wins, 3 runner ups In 2012 was runner up in the points series at Farmington Dragway. I was able to get top 5 in points at Elk Creek in 2010 which allowed me to race in SBRA bracket finals in Waynesboro VA. Define your passion in one sentence: My passion for bikes is just something I think you’re born with. I can remember as a kid looking through the back car window every time a bike was behind our car and thinking one day I will do that..and I’ve ridden ever since my first one at the lucky age of 12. Best Christmas present I’ve ever had! Contact:

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The Rev LIMITER

violet stars and happy stunting Words: Leah petersen images: Stuntbums

SINGAPORE BIKE FEST

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The Rev LIMITER: VIOLET STARS...

ost people can agree that stuntriding is cool, but few people and companies are willing to take the jump into the unknown and actually support this crazy new sport. Motul was the first company to support my riding back in 2010 when I started competing at XDL. They have kept my bike running top notch since then and this year made one of my huge stunt dreams a reality: traveling to Asia to perform.

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The fine people at Motul Singapore both dreamed up this concept and brought it to life over the last eight months. Working hard to bring together companies, talent and fans, they launched the first ever Singapore Bike Fest last weekend. Like their slogan says, Motul really does â&#x20AC;&#x153;support the sportâ&#x20AC;?. My adventure started about a month ago when I trusted a logistics company to put my 2004

Kawasaki Ninja stuntbike on a boat to Asia. I followed soon after with 25 hours of air travel and was relieved to meet back up with my motorcycle in Singapore. My bike stayed at RAM Racing, a shop in Singapore and with their help I was able to prepare it for the show. The days preceding the event were full of interviews and photoshoots in addition to the adventurous meals and a tiny bit of sightseeing.

Finally the day of the event dawned, naturally to rain and clouds. Lucky for us the weather wore off and the surface was nearly dry for my first performance. The riding area was pretty good for an event, plenty long and wide, with obstacles in the center barricading off a tree and staircase. It was the top level of a parking garage, which always causes the surface to be covered in bumps making stunts a bit more challenging to control. But we rocked out

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The Rev LIMITER: VIOLET STARS...

nonetheless. The show must go on!

and lots of helmets! It was awesome to see a steady flow of traffic all day long for the event. There were so many passionate riders with The show included four stunt performances, a bike wash, a bike show and a gymkhana awesome stories of moto adventures around event for any rider who wanted to test their the world. I also met many people who I skills on an obstacle course. I was impressed will meet again next weekend at MotoGP in by the amount of clubs that turned out, each Malaysia. My only qualm was the incredibly one passionately representing their niche interest overwhelming heat, good thing I brought a and personal style. Everyone was so supportive change of clothes for each performance! and stoked to learn more about stunt riding. The event ran smooth due to the meticulous If I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stunting I was busy meeting fans, planning of the Motul team; they worked hard taking pictures with people and signing lots to keep the energy up and the fans happy. 86 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

KTM also released their brand new 390 Duke for a select group at the event. The passionate KTM clubs were pretty stoked to see the new bike up close and personal for the first time ever. I finished the day by dining at Vegan Burg who actually sponsored the event also. They are a Singapore based â&#x20AC;&#x153;fast foodâ&#x20AC;? establishment with four locations already. They have an amazing menu of vegan food, which I have to say tasted better than most meat-based dishes. They did

a great job of blending tastes from all over the world into one delicious meat-free burger! You gotta love a new-age burger joint that supports motorcycle stunt riding! Finally the event came to an end and I was left processing photos and videos answering emails and catching up on all my computer related work. Next stop on the Motul LeahStunts Asia Tour is Malaysia, then Vietnam to the next weekend. Stay tuned for the next chapter!

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The Rev LIMITER: VIOLET STARS...

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The Rev LIMITER: ON THE COME UP

Images: Courtesy of Lee Bowers

lee bowers aka “pacman”

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NAME: Lee Bowers HOMETOWN: London Enfield, UK AGE: 34 Association/Affiliations/Series: Kawasaki UK, ICON Motosports, EBC Brakes UK, Motto Wear Kevlar Jeans, Racebikebitz, Hel Performance, Battle Wear, Eat My Dirt Ninja, 01 Race FX. Goals: To perform on the TV, films, movies and all high level shows. Accomplishments: Rated Number 1 in the UK, Top 10 in Europe. Define your passion in one sentence: I feel complete when I’m riding my bike. It’s like the rest of the world stands still. I like to bend the laws of physics, to change people’s perceptions about what you can do on a motorbike. Contact: http://bowers-stunts.co.uk

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THE LIFE: FEatured Club

Images: Courtesy of Wild Bunch M.C.

Rocker Interpretation: The Wild Bunch’s logo is straight to the point. In front of a tachometer well into the red and possibly banging off of the rev limiter, a snarling bulldog is dragging it’s knee through the corner. History/Origin of Club: The Wild Bunch was founded by a few friends who had grown up together in and around Willingboro, NJ. The name came from the neighbor of one of the members whose home was often the meet up spot. The neighbor often referred to the group as the

Wild Bunch MotorCycle club REGION: Willingboro/Burlington County NJ FOUNDED: 1991 MEMBERS: 32 ELECTED OFFICIALS: President: Jun King AKA “O Prime” AKA “Key Snatcha” Vice President: Elliot Boyce AKA “L Train” Sergeant at Arms: Jerald Cook AKA “Ten 9” secretary: Michelle Addison AKA “Mimi” P.R.O.: Von Jones AKA “Boney” Road Captain: Chris Powell AKA “C-Murda” Road Captain: James Pettiford AKA “Petti” 96 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

wild bunch and the name stuck. Over time their motto “Feared by Locals... Known Worldwide” was adopted and integrated into their colors. In the beginning the club did indeed live up to their name, in time they adopted a strict community service foundation to promote a positive community reputation. Club Milestones/Memorable Moments: The club enjoys their relationships with several charitable organizations and groups such as NJ Adopt a Highway, Big Brother and Big Sisters of Burlington County, Habitat for Humanity, to name a few. In over 20 years, their crowning achievement is

that they still exist. Founded in 1991, they have seen many members and other clubs come and go. They’ve collected a number of memorable moments along the way. Throughout the good times, the club has only suffered one loss to a motorcycle related incident. Club Secretary Rickey “G Money” passed away on August 2009. To honor their fallen member, the club renamed their drag racing team “3.3.1” which is G Money’s birthday. Future of the club: The Wild Bunch has their eyes set on a positive future with growth and community as well as regional service and active motorsports competition, namely drag racing. Want to see your club featured here? Drop us an email!

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THE LIFE: know your role

STAY IN YOUR LANE!

Words: Lady Kim images: Jillian titus/Lady kim

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THE LIFE: know your role

here is nothing like riding your motorcycle on the road for miles and miles with like minded riders. There is no other freedom like it unless you’re a dog hanging out the car window! I like riding alone but it is even more epic when I am riding with a group of friends or in a charity run for a good cause. Riding in a group is different than riding alone or with a couple of friends. I have been on some awesome group rides with hundreds of motorcycles in formation. Large groups can be dangerous without police escorts due to the fact that the formation can take up a lot of room in a highway lane. The issues I have seen the most are the cars trying to squeeze in between the motorcycle formation to switch lanes, tailgating, cutting riders off, honking at you, drivers swerving from texting and cell phone talking, cars coming on and off the highway ramps trying to force a merge in the motorcycle formation or trying to pass in the shoulder because they want to speed around the formation. Everyday people in cagers (cars) don’t understand our world of riding. I

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know you’ve heard the saying “Four wheels move the body, but two wheels move the soul”. Unfortunately, the scenes of road rage has cars and motorcycles that don’t know how to “Stay in your lane!” Road rage and aggressive riding and driving have led to fatal accidents, shootings and beatings as in the recent New York City bike incident that has given the motorcycle world a serious scar. Avoid these aggressive drivers or riders and distance yourself from them. Don’t make the situation more dangerous and provoke them to retaliate against you. Take a deep breath and let them pass. If you plan on riding in groups, then ride in formation with experienced road captains. It is the Road Captain’s job to organize and lead the ride. Normally, there is a road captain team depending on the size of the ride with two road captains in the front of the formation and two in the back. Larger rides may need road captains in the middle of the formation. They “should” wear orange safety vests so everyone can identify them. It is their job to keep the riders in one group and ensure a safe smooth ride. Road Captain Duties The lead road captain determines the highway route to and from the destination. They are aware of the road conditions, weather forecast and special events that might impede the route. They enforce the rules of the road and deal with the police if pulled over. They initiate road communication via hand signals or motorcycle helmet intercom system. They ensure each rider and motorcycle have the proper legal paperwork, insurance and emergency information. The lead road captain sets the pace of the ride and determines lane changes. All road captains should have their high beams on and their hazards lights flashing so they can see each other.

The sweeper or rear road captains are at the back of the formation to keep an eye on all riders in front of them. They will pull over with any motorcycle that breaks down and send the other sweeper to the head of the formation to report to the lead road captain to pull the group over when safe. The blocker road captains are used in large rides to block intersections in an escorted ride. Group Riding Tips 1. Be organized! Safety first! 2. Arrive with a full tank of gas 3. Always take a pre-ride, if you can, of the route your going to take to familiarize yourself with the stop lights, amount of vehicles, intersections and other hazards. 4. Conduct a riders meeting before you leave. Explain the route to and from the destination, assess the riding skill level of the riders, state the riding pace and the gas stops. 5. Review the hand signals that will be used. Every rider is to pass back the hand signal initiated by the lead road captain. 6. Review the riding formation lineup. If you are in a club, then the order of the ride should be the road captains, officers, members, probationary riders, guests and the support vehicle. 7. For the best safety on the road, ride in staggered formation. It allows the proper space between motorcycles so that the rider can swerve left or right to avoid a hazard in the road. The lead road captain rides on the left side of the lane and the next rider is on the right side of the lane one second behind. The rest of the motorcycles alternate left and right down the formation. Keep your distance and pay attention.

8. Do not ride in a six pack or side by side because if you have to swerve, you will hit the motorcycle next to you. 9. Ride in single formation when turning corners, getting on/off highway ramps, riding over railroad tracks, passing slow vehicles, riding through construction zone or small streets with parked cars. Spirited rides on back country roads with twisties are single file only! 10. Do not pass other vehicles unless the whole formation can pass. When changing lanes, the lead road captain will signal the change and the sweeper road captain will move into the lane first to block traffic for a safe lane change. Usually, you will see large bike formation in SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 101

THE LIFE: know your role

the left lane in a nice cruise pace because the middle lane will have you vulnerable from the left and right lane vehicles. The right lane is also dangerous because the vehicles are speeding to get on or off the highway ramps. Nonetheless, there will always be that one vehicle that wants to squeeze through the

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formation. Stay safe and let them in because a motorcycle will always lose against a vehicle. Keep a safe distance and enjoy the ride because…“Riding faster than everyone else only guarantees you'll ride alone.” Ride safe and keep the throttle twisted!

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THE LIFE: The Lion’s Den

Call it faith

Words and images: lion james

like to think of Sportbikes Inc Magazine as a literary celebration of the commonalities we all share as motorcycle enthusiasts. One of those commonalities we share is the ritual that we all engage in prior to a ride. We all have that one thing or series of things that goes thru our mind and takes us thru a sort of pre-flight checklist before we can comfortably ride. Call it faith but I have a couple of things I do, say and think both before and after a ride that I wouldn’t dare ride without making a part of my day and night on two wheels. Some of us do it without realizing it or paying much attention to it but there is some sort of ritual, routine or process we go thru between mounting the motorcycle and blasting off. We do it because we believe that it brings us luck or success during a ride, we do it as a way of checking all the important mechanics of our machines before relying on them to operate properly or we do it out of some skewed sense of superstition. One thing that is true regardless of our reasons for engaging in our rituals is that it doesn’t hurt to do whatever it is that we do before a ride but depending on what you believe in, it very well could hurt not to. The ritual, for lack of a better term, may be as simple as always fueling up the bike before a ride so that you start every ride with a full and fresh tank of petro or something as complex as the order in which you put on your riding gear and or going over your motorcycle from throttle to tail light to make sure every moving part is in proper working order. What makes this activity a ritual is the lack of deviation from ride to ride. It’s how we seem to religiously perform the task, recite the bible verse, kiss the spouse and kids, tap the frame of the door on our way out of the garage, stretch our backs and crack our knuckles, eat only the green

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jelly beans or wink at that poster of your favorite umbrella girl hanging in the man cave that moves the idiosyncrasy from a simple motorcyclist’s quirk to a true faith based ritual. If you were to not do it before a ride something would be off. You’d feel as though you left something out and of course would blame the absence of the ritual for anything that went wrong during the ride. If you’re late to work on two wheels it’s certainly because you forgot to spit your chewing gum into the blue trash can in the back yard. If you got lost during your jaunt to the bike night where you were supposed to meet your fellow club members, no doubt you did so only because your lucky underwear were in the laundry basket instead of covering your butt. That time you got pulled over for speeding had nothing to do with the fact that you were tearing up the highway at 116 mph and was solely because you did not recite your favorite biker’s prayer and draw the sign of the cross on your gas tank. Your clutch cable popping while approaching your highway exit could only have been explained by your being in too much of a hurry to go thru “T-CLOCK” at home before heading out for a ride (if you are unfamiliar with T-CLOCK, shame on you). Okay that last one is probably true and yes that actually happened to me in case you were wondering. The point I’m trying to make is that the ritual is just something you have to do whether it’s proven to yield positive results or not. We don’t need justification or even a logical reason for the ritual, we only need to believe that it exists out of necessity and we dare not find out what happens if we forget to do it. I have been engaging in my personal ritual for so long that I cannot remember how it came to be. My ritual involves a prayer of sorts that I

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THE LIFE: The Lion’s Den

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made up one day that I felt covered all possible combinations things that motorcyclists fear. I draw the sign of the cross on my gas tank and my helmet then touch a small wooden cross that I received over five years ago at one of the first bike blessings I had ever attended. The cross hangs from my mirror bracket and sort of serves as a reminder than even though I am not a particularly religious man, it can’t hurt to have a higher power riding with you no matter whether you believe that to be God, Allah, Buddha, Moses, St. Columbanus, the Motorcycle Gods, Tom Cruise, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster. There's an old aphorism from the 40’s or 50’s that goes "there are no atheists in a foxhole" and from the time you throw a leg over to the moment you cut the engine we are all believers in something. I am curious to know what your ritual is or what pre-ride process you go thru to set your mind at ease or focus your attention on the task at hand. I suspect that for most it involves some form of prayer but it could be a ride bell or lucky rabbit’s foot that is at the top of your pre-ride checklist. Pro stunt riders get into their proverbial zone before taking the stunt ring to amaze the crowd. Racers envision the win while at the grid before the starting light is illuminated. Organized group rides typically include a rider’s meeting where the route or rules of the road are discussed. Even track days start with a group meeting or classroom session. Perhaps your ride begins with a salute of some sort to a fallen rider or loved one, queuing up of your favorite song on an mp3 player, putting on a particular piece of jewelry, bandanna, sunglasses or like I mentioned earlier lucky underwear (I’ve heard stranger things). If it’s been relied upon on every successful ride, it’s working and furthermore only becomes weird when it stops working. So call it faith, superstition, power of perception, distraction from reality, religion, ritual or cosmic coincidence but we all do it and “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”

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FRICTION ZONE: Random

Image: Brendan Patrick Coughlin Location: New York, NY

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FEatured THE LIFE FEatured LIFE:rider FEatured riderS riderS

Tammy Means AKA Ms. Tamm location: Monroeville, PA. Occupation: Bus Driver. Years Riding: 22 years. Riding style: Street and dirt. Bike/s owned: 2004 Suzuki GSXR 1000. favorite bike modification/accessory: Zero Gravity Tinted Windshield. Favorite piece of riding gear: Joe Rocket Riding Jacket most memorable ride: Three hour ride with my brothers through winding country roads in Pennsylvania.

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Jack Odell location: Brownsmills, N.J. Occupation: Retired. Years Riding: 18 years. Riding style: Street. Bike/s owned: 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000, 2006 Triumph Sprint ST. favorite bike modification/accessory: Brockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4 into 1 full system with PS 5 Favorite piece of riding gear: CabergÂ Ego helmet most memorable ride: 2011, ride to Miller Motorsports Park for the World Superbike Races. From there, north through Idaho to Eastern Washington, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, then home. Stampeding a herd of cattle on US 89 north of Yellowstone. Latest rides to Austin and Indy for MotoGP.

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FEatured THE LIFE FEatured LIFE:rider FEatured riderS riderS

Chris Honeyman location: Camarillo, CA. Occupation: Sr. Manager Engineering and Compliance for a major coffee and tea company. Not the green giant! Years Riding: 35 years. Riding STYLE: Street and dirt. Bike/s owned: 2007 CBR1000RR (Repsol Edition), BMW K1200RS, Yamaha RZ350 (6 year project and counting) favorite bike modification/accessory: Clear clutch cover with LED lights Favorite piece of riding gear: That would have to be the one off helmet Bell made for Laguna in 2012. My son, Josh, won it and gave it to me and I had all the top MotoGP riders sign it. most memorable ride: This has to be the first year MotoGP returned to Laguna. I owned a Yamaha FJR1300 and decided that it would be good for me and the wife to go see the racing as she had never been before. The ride was great until we got about 30 miles outside of Salines and the wind started to gust from left to right and when I say gust I mean gust. It had to rank up there as one of the most scariest things I have experienced on a bike. We pulled off the road and just looked at each trying to decide what we could do. We watched other riders on sportbikes go by tucked in behind their screens weaving across their lane and there was us on a big ass touring bike fully laden with side bags and a rear box. I gave it one more shot and got tucked in behind a semi truck in the air pocket, I have never been so glad to pull off that freeway! 112 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

Nikki AKA Nikki Stunts location: Paramus, N.J. Occupation: Nursing Student & Medical Asst. Years Riding: 8.5 years. Riding STyle: Street only. Bike/s owned: 2008 Kawasaki ZX10R favorite bike modification/accessory: RSC clutch lever. Favorite piece of riding gear: Everything! Gear is extremely important to protect me as I constantly push my limits! most memorable ride: Catching idle for the first time! The bike became so weightless, felt like I was floating!

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MOTO TECH Words: Mark Rozemo Image: Courtesy of Motion Pro

Ask the pro wrench Words: thomas campion

Q hurt?

: What’s the benefit, if any, on running race fuel on a street bike? Does it help or

:On a stock bike there is little, to no gain. It actually may hurt it if your bike has a catalytic converter. But the benefit of running it on your built street bike can be a lot. Depending on what upgrades you have, which doesn’t need to be a lot to see performance for race fuel. The biggest factor is the fuel and ignition map. For example, let’s say you have full exhaust and an air filter on your bike. Then you get a power commander and dual map switch. That way you can have a pump gas map and a race gas map. You will have to pay for two separate custom mappings but this

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way, you don’t have to be stuck running race gas in your bike all the time but still get that performance edge when it’s needed. Like when you’re at the drag strip, or the crucial night at the local meet spot. So, pretty much the main thing you change when mapping for race fuel is the ignition curve. Octane is the main factor everyone looks at when buying fuel. The higher the octane the more controlled the burn is, which means you can make the ignition more advanced. Advancing the ignition does exactly that, the spark plug ignites earlier, so more fuel is burned before the piston starts its way back down the cylinder. Making a stronger force and a more efficient burn equals more horsepower! Now I’ll give you a hypothetical situation that you will want to avoid. Let’s say that you head to the track (drag strip, track day) and you have two maps that you made. So you buy race gas and run it with your race map. You have a great day and head home. The next time you jump on your street bike to go for a cruise with your buddies, you stop at the gas station and fill up. But you forget to change back to your pump gas map. Major no, no! Next thing you know, you are sitting on the side of the highway with a blown engine. If you map for race gas I wouldn’t even run anything but that race gas on that map. Even different race gasses could end badly. Let’s say you map for VP race gas and you run a Sunoco race gas. You could blow the engine. So take caution. I’m not saying you can’t run different gasses on the same map, but know what you mapped it for and pick a comparable fuel to run. There are a lot of different options when running race fuel.

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Improve your skills

easing the transition with prepAration Words: eric wood IMAGE: Meekail Shaheed

earning to ride loose on the motorcycle is often one of the biggest challenges for a newer rider to overcome. Maneuvering around a racetrack at speed is a physical activity that often requires bursts of very significant force. The transition from the forceful inputs over center to the delicate guidance needed at full lean is one that requires a fair bit of knowledge and skill to execute successfully. To add to the complexity of the situation, riders often encounter moments of doubt or fear that cause them to inadvertently tense up. When the motorcycle is at any significant lean angle, every pound of bar input that the rider puts through the bars consumes available grip. During

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the entrance of a corner, that input is ideally limited to the exact amount of bar pressure required to keep the motorcycle on track to make the apex. Any additional force acts to create an artificial ceiling of traction that limits not only roll speed but also rider feel. After watching thousands of riders over the years at the Penguin School, I would estimate that nearly 75% of all riders ride with some degree of inadvertent bar input that reduces available grip. One of the biggest challenges for many riders is to learn to relax their arms after a long braking zone. When the motorcycle is straight up and down during the heaviest braking, riders have no

choice but to support a significant portion of their weight on the bars. The full force of braking from high speed straight will often require a rider to do a giant "push up". During this process, many riders work to use their legs for additional support by gripping the side of the tank with their knees. This certainly can help, but the amount of force that can be supported is limited. The frictional force from the inside of each knee against the tank can help keep a riderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body from sliding forward, but it does not create a good anchor to push from. Without any real support from the riderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legs, riders often have difficulty fully releasing the force in their hands from braking. One solution that helps

riders with this transition is to move your body to the inside of the seat early and then to use the inner portion of the outside leg to support their body weight during braking. This is much more effective than using both legs to grip the side of the fuel tank because the outside leg is nearly perpendicular to the motorcycle when braking. Instead of relying on friction when gripping from the side, riders using this technique are able to buttress their leg against the tank and create very significant support for their body. In recent years, this support has proven to be so significant that many top racers are actually able to dangle their inside leg off the footpeg during braking. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 119

Improve your skills: easing the transition

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I

nstead of relying on friction when gripping from the side, riders using this technique are able to buttress their leg against the tank and create very significant support for their body. In recent years, this support has proven to be so significant that many top racers are actually able to dangle their inside leg off the footpeg during braking.â&#x20AC;?

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In order to fully reap the benefits of supporting body weight with the outside leg during braking, riders must have their lower bodies off the seat and separated from the fuel tank well before braking begins. This will not only allow them to use this technique throughout the entire braking zone, but it will also help keep the bike more stable during the whole entrance. By shifting the inside butt cheek off the seat before braking, riders are better prepared to get their knee out mid corner. Eliminating any major weight shift during the entrance keeps the rider from upsetting the chassis. We have found that most riders are most effective with this technique when the contact point with the tank is at about midway down their thigh. This gives good leverage to move on the motorcycle without requiring excessive effort. The final advantage of this technique brings us back to our original discussion regarding handlebar input. As riders get deeper in the corner, braking forces are reduced to the point where the rider can eventually rely completely on the support of their legs. With the outside leg planted firmly against the fuel tank, riders are already in the position to accept the transfer of force from their hands. Weight on the bars can be released smoothly and progressively as the bike leans into the apex and the resistance in a riders arms is replaced with increased force against the tank. When riders sit too centered on the seat or too close to the tank, this leverage for support is reduced to the point where it is impossible to fully support the force of braking. Additionally, riders who do not anchor their leg against the tank are often not able to fully resist the force of gravity on their body as the bike reaches full lean.

Image courtesy of MotoGP.com

This smooth transition of force keeps the bike as stable as possible on the entrance. Most importantly, the use of the outer leg throughout the entire entrance frees up critical traction for braking and turning because a riders arms can fully relax. All it takes to set this process in motion is a little extra preparation by anchoring your outer leg against the tank before the braking process begins. Until next time, ride fast, ride safe! SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 121

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B U S A F E S T 2 0 1 3

WORDS AND IMAGES: MEEKAIL SHAHEED

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FRICTION ZONE: busa fest 2013

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This past September, Rockingham Dragway was the host of Busa Fest 2013. Although there was a threat of bad weather for most of the weekend, Busa owners from all over the country converged on The Rock for a weekend of fun. Participants were not limited to Hayabusa owners. Baggers, Three Wheelers and everything in between were on hand for the event. Busa Fest Founder CJ Jamison confirmed that attendance this year grew from last year’s outing. Saturday rain caused several outside events to cancel but a majority of the bikers and vendors stuck it out through the bad weather. This year’s event was extended from last year’s two day event to a full three days. Drag racing was incorporated into the weekend activities highlighted by “The Straight Line, Capo’s Cut” men’s drag racing class put on by SportBikes Inc’s own Capo Dickerson. Crystal Dickerson also hosted on a “Curves in the Quarter” racing clinic for the ladies. Suzuki Factory was on display as well as a host of other sponsors and vendors. Bikers Against Breast Cancer was on hand and provided valuable information concerning their charitable outreach. CJ expressed her goal to increase overall awareness of the event to include taking the event to different cities. Despite the weather, everyone who came out had a good time and is looking forward to future Busa Fest events. To keep up with Busa Fest activities check them out at www.busafest.com.

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FRICTION ZONE: busa fest 2013

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FRICTION ZONE: busa fest 2013

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FRICTION ZONE

A weekend of vintage

...a metaphor for life

words: michael lawless images: allan lane/michael lawless 134 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

admit I was very excited to hear AHMRA was holding a vintage motorcycle racing event at New Jersey Motorsports Park. For many years if you want to go to a vintage event you had to pilgrimage to Mid Ohio. Invariatable after working a twelve hour Friday I would endure the long five hundred mile drive to Mid Ohio. Stopping for bad coffee and worse food. Sleeping in the car until the track opened. Then the mad dash to setup. It was always worth it. Getting to see like minded motorcycle crazy friends I had not seen since the year before. Plus the sites and sounds of so many amazing vintage racing motorcycles. Mid Ohio seemed to drum up a lot of people from the North East. So an event at New Jersey Motorcycle Park seems like a slam dunk. Especially for vintage racers like my brother John. For years his season starts at Daytona, then Loudon, Barber and Mid Ohio. It'sÂ a lot of driving, so a local event is a treat for these racers. For me it is a chance to take my eight year old daughter Olive to a vintage racing event and to see her Uncle John race his Norton Manx in anger. Race day dawned raining. I will let you in on a little secret. Rainy days at a race track are a great chance to meet the people, personalities and see the machinery up close. We climbed into rain jackets and started to walk around. Who did we walk into? We found Jason Britton working on his bike. Jason is a superman. Not only does he possess amazing God given bike control skills, but he is a great guy too. Taking time to laugh with my daughter and pose for a picture. We watched Jason then put on an amazing show in the rain. Wheelies, bunny hops, stoppies and lurid slides all in a downpour. Olive waves as Jason roars by. He whips the Kawasaki around and splashed us. Olive laughs and says, "He laughed in his helmet! He did that SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 135

FRICTION ZONE: A weekend of vintage on purpose!" Â Great to see her smile so brightly in the rain. Walking through the pits we got a close up look at the cool vintage machines and chat with their owners. We talked with Championship winning racer Kerry Smith and various fun, well known people in the vintage motorcycle circle. We had lunch with Uncle John and Tuner Dick Miles. Later, while watching Jason Britton's next show we bumped into legendary drag racer Rickey Gadson. As fierce as Rickey is on a Kawasaki drag bike, he is a gentle soul as he Jokes with Olive and I. You see, Rickey brought life to a full circle. When I got back from the Quail in Monterey, My wife told me she was tired of the "motorcycle lifestyle" and that she was divorcing me. I found myself a 48 year old single guy raising an 8 year old girl. I first felt lost, but a text from my editor gave me the answer... "The SBI family has suffered a loss. Rickey Gadson's mother passed and there is a candle light vidual... Can you be there?" I realized I needed to embrace my motorcycle family. So, off Olive and I went to pay our respects. I wanted my daughter to see what real family and friends are. I am going to raise my daughter right. I want her to meet the people and personalities that make up our sport. I want her to know what we are about. We ride my Ninja to school and camp. She wears my helmet and I wear just sunglasses on the short ride. We will make it, Olive. Without her.

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FRICTION ZONE: Random

Image: Allan Lane Location: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles, Philadelphia, PA.

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“Why, yes. That is a helicopter. Wanna make something of it?” - adam cramer, owner of liberty vintage motorcycles

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SHUT THE CITY DOWN RIDE SEASON CLOSER: 2013 words: leon brittain images: greg “500 flicks” lee/dontA deisel/leon brittain 140 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

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