Sipp scores win at Heartland Park Topeka!

Topeka, KS – Bison Racing / Zero 7 Design Concepts rider Walt Sipp won round two of the ASRA Thunderbike Championship, held at a chilly Heartland Park Topeka circuit.  Qualifying went well even on used tires from the previous AMA weekend. Walt qualified on the front row (2nd) with a 1:49.752. Nate Kern was on pole with a lap of 1:49.619 after early pole man Dave Estok’s time was dis-allowed for not being able to make the post qualifying dyno run.  Sipp said, “I’m pretty happy with how things are going. If I would have known I had a shot at pole I would have put on new tires! It still feels good to be on the front row at my home track!”

For the race on Sunday, Walt was confident he could run the pace at the front. “I’m sure I can run with Nate and Dave. I just can’t let Nate get the holeshot” said Sipp. As it turns out, his fears were realized when he missed second gear on the start and ended up being fifth going into turn one. He made quick work of the first two riders and set off after Kern and Estok who had already started pulling away. Soon though he was on Kern’s back wheel and made the pass coming on to the front straight. Walt said, “Man, I don’t think I could have gotten away worse! I was happy I was able to reel in the guys as fast as I did after my mistake at the start.” Walt soon started making progress on Estok while opening a gap on Kern. Just after half way though, Sipp came upon a frustrated Estok obviously having mechanical issues. Sipp said, “I saw Dave having problems and I knew this one was mine. I knew I had a slight gap on Kern so I decided to just try to maintain the gap. I really used up my tires trying to catch those guys.” However, he backed it down too much and Kern was able to re-pass Sipp over the tunnel turn coming to the white flag. “Nate came by me and I told myself no more taking care of the tires – he’s not going to steal this one.

I was able to get by him going into turn one. I just put my head down went as hard as I could. As it turns out Kern and I turned our fastest laps on the last lap. Thankfully mine was a little quicker (1:48.209 to a 1:48.459).

I would have like to been battling with Dave for the win, but I was only .3 of his track record (1:47.9) so it proves I would have been there no matter what. I know he’ll be strong the rest of the season as will Kern and the rest of the guys. Right now I’m just going to savor the win and go into the next race wanting more!”

 

With the win at HPT and a fourth in Daytona, Walt moves up to second in the points only eight behind the leader Kern.  Follow Walt and his Championship chase to the next round; Summit Point, WV May 24-26th or catch up at www.waltsipp.com.

 

Zero 7 Design Concepts, a division of Leroy-Thompson (www.leroythompsonchoppers.com), is located just outside of Cleveland, Ohio.  “Zero 7” is an in-house graphic design and print facility and is equipped with the latest design software, full color printer and vinyl plotter.  In addition to general print work, Zero 7 specializes in large format color banners, vehicle and trailer wraps and unique logo and graphic design.  Contact Zero 7 Design Concepts by phone 440-266-1635 or email jamie@zero7designconcepts.com.

 

East Texans revving up to save money at pump

By RANDY ROSS

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Jason Suits felt nervous the first time he climbed onto a motorcycle during his safety training April 19 and 20.

“It was very unusual,” Suits said. “You balance like on a bicycle, but it’s powered differently.”

Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo

Terry Connelly, left, co-owner of TCD Autos talks to Connie Gibson of Hallsville, center, and her son Kyle Gibson, right, on Monday as they look into purchasing a motorcycle or scooter for gas-mileage savings at the business in Longview. Later Monday afternoon, Gibson purchased the orange and black 250CC Hyosung for her son. She also bought a purple and white motorcycle of the same model for herself.
 

His nervousness quickly transformed to excitement as he cruised through the course, and he purchased a motorcycle of his own earlier this month.

Suits is one of a growing number of people who are buying motorcycles. The number of registered motorcycles in Texas grew about 9 percent between 2006 and 2007, to 381,245. Motorcycle registrations in Gregg County have increased by about 42 percent since 2004, to 2,211 in 2007.

Terry Connelly, owner of TCD Autos in Longview, said he has sold about 250 motorcycles since the beginning of the year, about twice as many at the same time in 2007. Connelly, who has sold vehicles for about 30 years, credits the price of gas for his sales increase. He said gas mileage has become much more important for customers.

A truck or a sport utility vehicle might get between 10 to 15 miles per gallon, but a motorcycle might get between 45 and 80 mpg, Connelly said.

“That’s a big savings there,” he said.

As an example, Connelly said a 30-gallon tank in a truck costs more than $100 to fill and might travel 300 miles. A 5-gallon motorcycle tank costs less than $20 to fill and, depending on the model, might travel the same distance.

“In countries where gas is higher, people have been riding motorcycles and scooters for years,” Connelly said.

Suits, a 36-year-old surgeon with the Diagnostic Clinic of Longview, said the thought of $4 per gallon gas pushed him toward a cheaper method of transportation. He enrolled in the motorcycle safety course to see if a motorcycle was a reasonable and safe option.

Dale Borden, a registered nurse at the Diagnostic Clinic, took the training course with Suits. Borden, who is considering purchasing a motorcycle, said safety had been his main concern. He said he has driven dirt bikes, which are lighter than motorcycles, but he hadn’t handled a motorcycle before.

The safety training course built Borden’s confidence. Borden said motorcycles are safe if drivers remain cautious and defensive.

According to statistics from the Texas Department of Public Safety, motorcycle fatalities accounted for about 6.7 percent of the state’s 3,823 traffic fatalities in 2002 and about 10 percent of the state’s 3,475 traffic fatalities in 2006. Statistics for 2007 were not immediately available, but Gregg County saw at least two motorcycle fatalities in April, within about a week of each other.

After Suits and Borden attended the training, Suits purchased a Hyosung motorcycle April 21 for about $3,900. He said the motorcycle gets about 70 mpg.

“I’m very happy about it,” Suits said.

Suits plans to use his motorcycle as his primary mode of transportation instead of his truck. He estimated he would save between $500 and $1,500 a year in gas costs.

“The gas will pay for the bike,” Suits said.

After researching motorcycles online, Borden said he might purchase a Harley-Davidson Sportster. Harley-Davidsons have good resale value, which will be important if he decides not to ride in the future, he said.

“I think that they’re economical,” Borden said.

Borden estimated he spent about $75 a week on gas for his truck. He said he would probably spend about $12 a week on gas for a motorcycle.

Earl Coppinger, co-owner of Tyler-based Motorsports Training Center which offers training in Longview, said he has seen a great demand for motorcycle training this year. His training courses, which are taught by two instructors and limited to about 12 students, are booked through June.

Coppinger, an instructor since 1988, estimated his center trains between 700 and 1,000 students a year, but enrollment is increasing this year. It grew from 55 students in March 2007 to 73 students in March 2008.

He said he is struggling to find and train new instructors to keep up with the demand.

“I hate to have people wait (on a class) because I know they might try riding without training,” Coppinger said.

***

Gas mileage comparison of 2008 vehicles

Ford Focus: 28 mpg

Ford F-150 4WD: 14 mpg

Ford Explorer 4WD: 15 mpg

Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD: 28 mpg

Honda Accord: 24 mpg

Honda Civic: 29 mpg

Honda Civic Hybrid: 42 mpg

Chevrolet Silverado K15 4WD: 15 mpg

Chevrolet Suburban 1500 4WD: 14 mpg

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 4WD: 20 mpg

Toyota Camry: 25 mpg

Toyota Corolla: 29 mpg

Toyota Prius: 46 mpg

Nissan Pathfinder 4WD: 16 mpg

Nissan Altima: 26 mpg

Nissan Frontier 4WD: 16 mpg

Mitsubishi Eclipse: 22 mpg

Mitsubishi Outlander 4WD: 22 mpg

Volkswagen New Beetle: 23 mpg

Volkswagen Jetta: 24 mpg

Hummer H3 4WD: 15 mpg

Harley Davidson Sportster 883: 60 mpg highway/45 mpg city

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov and harleydavidson.com

***

Acquiring a motorcycle driver’s license

To earn a license to operate a motorcycle in Texas, a person older than 18 must:

— Provide proof of identity, a Social Security number, vehicle registration and liability insurance

— Pay a $15 examination fee and pass a written exam and an eye exam

— Pass a driving test or complete a motorcycle safety course through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and affiliated training programs

A minor between the ages of 15 and 18 may obtain a motorcycle permit in Texas by:

— Providing proof of identity, a Social Security number, vehicle registration and liability insurance

— Completing a driver’s education course and a motorcycle safety course through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation

— Verifying enrollment in school

— Submitting parental authorization

— Paying a $15 examination fee and passing a written exam and an eye exam

Source: Texas Department of Public Safety

***

Motorcycle safety tips

— Keep the headlight on day and night

— Use reflective strips and decals on clothing and the motorcycle

— Wear a quality helmet, eye protection and thick, protective clothing

— Give yourself space and time to respond to other motorists’ actions, and vice versa

— Avoid weaving between lanes

— Get formal training and take refresher courses

— Practice riding before entering heavy traffic or poor road conditions

Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation
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Find this article at:
http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/04/29/04292008_motorcycle.html

There’s nothing like a good conservative power trip.

There’s nothing like a good conservative power trip.

A conservative power trip decimates the land, ripping out harmful personal freedoms where they have taken root after years and years in the fertile soil of our checks and balances.

Liberal reforms are always filled with fanciful delights just out of reach. “Let everyone vote in our democracy, health care for all, help the underprivileged;” it’s all too easy. Of course you’ll get bipartisan support for something everyone can get behind.

The real challenge lies in taking away Americans’ precious freedoms.

In the past few years, American conservatives scored our biggest victory yet when we snuffed out cigarettes, eliminating public smoking in many states, including Ohio.

If American allegiance can shift away from King Tobacco, one of our oldest and dearest friends, perhaps our fear-mongering scare tactics can work on some other apparently harmless freedom.

I say we start with motorcycles.

Motorized bicycles have always been one of my many banes. They are loud, unsafe and carry the type of unsavory character unfit to be mentioned in sacred newspaper print.

Motorcyclists zoom by with their exhausts spitting out some of the most vile fumes known to man. I mean, we banned cigarettes because we don’t like the way our clothes smell after a night at a smoky bar. Is motorcycle exhaust any different? Swing by the Smiling Skull Saloon at closing time and you’ll be begging for some secondhand smoke.

All we need is a little science on our side. As long as “a recent study” can be molded to fit our gains, we’ll have complete legitimacy. Take the information out of context and we’ll have a full-blown movement.

It’s a call to arms, science: Get your finest laboratory rats huffing bike exhaust and see how quickly the tumors roll in. Soon enough, “Motorcycles cause cancer” will be plastered on every newspaper from here to the shores of Tripoli.

Motorbikes are not only clogging up our lungs; they’re clogging up parking as well. In a town such as Athens that is having parking problems, can we really afford the spaces allotted to motorcycles? Don’t tell me you haven’t driven down President Street and cursed the two giant motorcycle spots outside Copeland Hall. Think of the glorious cars that could take their place. It could even be yours.

That’s it, feel the jealousy flow inside you. Soon your transformation to the Republican side will be complete. See how the potential subjugation of people can lead to a very small increase in your quality of life?

Banning motorcycles is just a drop in the bucket, really. The power trip itself is more important than whatever we ban. It was cigarettes yesterday and it could be motorcycles today, but the beauty of the conservative power trip movement is that nothing is sacred. If cigarettes and motorcycles can be banned, maybe puppy dogs and smiles will be next.

The lesson for today is: If it annoys you, it can be banned. As the victors, we are the ones who will write history. Will it be a history full of smoke and noise, brought on by the horseless monstrosity of the motorcycles? Or will the future hold the peace and quiet we all need for our afternoon naps?

Chris Yonker is a senior journalism major.
Exhaust him at cy129904@ohiou.edu.

American Iron Retailer

Hey,

  The editor of American Iron Retailer wrote me awhile back to ask if he could use an article I wrote about Roger Goldammer in the magazine.We got our edition today and lo and behold it’s in there as a letter to the editor.The magazine is mostly for people in the industry and I am flattered to be in it.I am going to write a book eventually about the industry and all the people we have met.We have learned a lot in the last couple of years about people in particular.We have also been to a lot of events and will talk about them. I have a lot more to learn so: it will be awhile before I begin but it will be full of surprises both good and bad.It’s mostly good so:don’t worry. The people in the industry and the work they create are  the best in the world. The charitable work done by so many is truly amazing. Many of the events are really fun and informative. There is however, a darker side.Well, there’s a darker side to every industry.  The good stuff is better than any other walk of life I have experienced or know about.I will talk about both.It will be quite awhile before I am ready but I am taking notes.

                                                                            Beach

                                                                 

                                                                                   Beach

Since When Do Bikers Skateboard?

The Broken Spoke Campground and Nash Motorcycle Company Fuel the Limpnickie Lot during Sturgis Rally and Races in 2008!

 

 

Sturgis, South Dakota— The legendary Broken Spoke Saloon featuring the world’s largest Biker Pool at its campground has partnered with Nash Motorcycle Company to fuel the next generation of motorcycle enthusiasts and builders. Since when do Bikers Skateboard? Well, since the Limpnickie Lot came to be. The Limpnickie Lot delivers more than just some builders hanging around signing autographs. The Limpnickie Lot and the Broken Spoke partnered to bring you entertainment new to the motorcycle industry.

 

The Limpnickie Lot is comprised of new and upcoming builders riding dirt bikes, skate boarding, listening to high energy music featuring must hear punk bands and more. “The Limpnickie Lot represents what is happening all around us today, the only difference is that this is what the next generation of motorcyclists are doing and loving. It’s more than just a place to hang out, it’s a place to get involved and have fun doing stuff” said Jay Allen, owner, Broken Spoke.  “The Limpnickie Lot features builders working on bikes and cool projects that are changing the industry as a whole. The guys are too, they’re just cool guys that love what they do. There are no appearance fees here, just us, our bikes, our crew, our boards, our dirt bikes- just us” explained Limpnickie founder and owner of Nash Motorcycle Company Taber Nash.

 

The Broken Spoke Saloon and its new partner, the Target Companies are turning the 600-acre Broken Spoke Campground located in Sturgis, SD off of HWY 79 into the best place to camp in 2008 and beyond. New for 2008 will be private cabins available for rent. Campers will choose from two styles of cabins both featuring their own porch to watch the most amazing sunset in South Dakota. Cabins are now renting online, reserve yours right away. Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit and sun block because the worlds largest Biker Pool will be open and rockin’ during the entire rally. Check it out every day to see and participate in bikini contests, dog paddle up to the one of the many swim up bars, hang out and check out the ladies on the deck; enjoy live music and killer food. The Broken Spoke Campground offers the most hassle free experience in the state with 500 over-sized, 50amp RV spots, a general store with everything you need to make your trip a breeze (including swimwear in case you forget), top quality, hot showers staffed to ensure cleanliness and comfort, great food, walk-in humidor and a 30,000 square foot Broken Spoke Saloon all of which ultimately delivers the best party in Sturgis.

 

The campground is taking reservations now for RV spaces, cabins and good old-fashioned camping grounds. The Broken Spoke and the Biker Pool will operate from August 1 -10, 2008. Special early reservations apply, only $99 per person until June 15th. Book now at www.brokenspokecampground.com or call us at (866) 754-2526 to receive the early booking discount, plus the first 2,000 reservations receive a complimentary commemorative pin!

 

For more information on either company, please visit their websites at: www.brokenspokecampground.com                         www.thetargetcompanies.com

 

 

Michael Lichter’s Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Art Exhibition Honors the Late Johnny Chop

STURGIS, S.D. –April 24, 2008–  Thunder Road will once again be home to the annual Custom Motorcycle Art Exhibition during Sturgis Bike Week 2008.  Under the direction of Michael Lichter, and with the blessing of the late Johnny Chop’s family, this year’s exhibition, titled “Stay Gold,” is being held to honor Johnny Chop and will feature builders who approach their work with the same passion that Johnny demonstrated in each bike he built throughout his short life. This passion radiated from Johnny’s being and was enthusiastically expressed on his knuckles, which were tattooed with the eight letters - S-T-A-Y-G-O-L-D - that became the exhibition’s namesake.

Some of this year’s custom bike builders are widely known and some are hardly known, but they all share one thing - a passion that draws them into their garages over and over again.  These garages can be dark, damp and dirty. They are typically cold in the winter and sweltering in the summer, but they become home to a form of creation, which we can call art, or more specifically folk art. These builders spend countless hours using their creative skills to produce something that goes beyond the utilitarian function of a two-wheeled conveyance, all without any promise of financial reward. The resulting custom bikes can provide transportation cross-town or cross-country, but at the same time, they are aesthetic objects that project the hearts and souls of their creators.

To participate in the “Stay Gold” exhibition, the builders must be living their passion of building custom motorcycles or making art about them, but they cannot earn a living off their endeavors. Some make their livings doing service work in bike shops, while others support themselves as tattoo artists, contractors or within the confines of a straight 9 to 5 job. Among the more then twenty bike builders participating are: Ben Jordan, Bill Steele, Jeff Decker, Kutty Noteboom, Michael Pugliese, Nik Pew, Skeeter Todd, Steve English, Tattoo John Surprenant and Tom Foster. Some of the artists included in the show are Anthony “Scout” Underwood, Armando Salbana, Cole Foster, Jeff Cochran, Jeff Decker, Nik Pew Seth Liebowitz and Tattoo John Suprenant.

“The participants in this exhibition are driven by their passion, not by the promise of money or fame,” said Michael Lichter, the exhibition’s organizer. “Most of them have barely sold a bike or piece of art, except to fund their next project. They are living in that magical time where creativity knows no bounds because there is no customer dictating their wants and needs.”

 Some of the builders already have “shops” that are open to friends at night or weekends - places to share tales of the road, a beer and some elbow grease, and others may eventually feel compelled to hang an “open for business” sign in their windows, but most will keep their art and livelihood separate. Regardless of where their paths may lead, we hope this group of artists will forever “Stay Gold”.

While the tattoos on Johnny Chop’s knuckles were part of the inspiration for the “Stay Gold” title, the exhibition also drew its name from other sources. Johnny Chop loved the film “The Outsiders” where the idea to “Stay Gold” was immortalized, but the concept’s origin goes back to the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost:

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

“Stay Gold” will be on display in Thunder Road’s Thunderdome from August 1 through August 8, and operating hours will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.  Admission to the Thunderdome is $5, but there is free parking and Glencoe Gold campers get in free.

For additional information. please visit:
www.thunderroadsturgis.com
www.lichterphoto.com

About Thunder Road

Located 3 miles east of Sturgis on Highway 34, Thunder Road is hard to miss. With six acres of paved vending space full of high-end, custom, aftermarket vendors and the nearly 40,000 square foot Thunderdome, Thunder Road is the “Custom Capital of Sturgis Bike Week.”  During the course of the week, Thunder Road is host to the most custom-bike themed events in Sturgis. In conjunction with all the events, Thunder Road will have the best attractions around, including Miss Sturgis, and even more great entertainment. Thunder Road is a part of the Glencoe Nation and is located directly in front of the Glencoe Camp Resort, which will be host to Rock’n the Rally, an event that will have over 10 national music acts. There’s something for everyone at Thunder Road.  And, of course, there’s plenty of free parking!

Thanks!
Ken Conte
Rise Above Consulting
970.227.2588
1717 Deweese Street
Fort Collins, CO  80526

Rucker Enters American IronHorse Bankruptcy Fray

Source: http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/Breaking+News/Rucker-Enters-American-IronHorse-Bankruptcy-Fray/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/511766?contextCategoryId=2704

Apr 22, 2008
 

The American IronHorse bankruptcy saga continues with company founder and ousted CEO Bill Rucker emerging as a possible contender for buying the foundering manufacturer.

Rucker’s attorney Mark Petrocchi filed paperwork Monday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s Northern Texas division listing Rucker as a “potentially interested party” in the auction for American IronHorse. Bids for the bankrupt company are due May 5, when the highest and best initial bid will be selected.

Rucker’s is the first recognizable name in the contest to acquire the company he cofounded in 1995 with Tim Edmondson. A trio of investors seeking back debt forced American IronHorse to file for protection under Chapter 11 March 25.

Since then a series of bankruptcy court filings have help flesh out the financial turmoil that led what was likely the number two custom motorcycle OEM into insolvency. Paperwork filed in March showed the company saw its sales to dealers slide from $96 million in 2005 to $53 million in 2006 and then to $25 million in 2007.

Efforts to prop up sales by introducing lower-priced models didn’t take, and late last year American IronHorse stopped production of its lineup due to what the company called a “continuing erosion of market conditions.”

It’s also been revealed that the company owes about $22 million to Textron Financial, a primary noteholder of the company that has also arranged post-bankruptcy financing for AIH under what is called a “debtor-in-possession loan.” Under this deal Textron will supply a fresh infusion of cash to help with IronHorse’s continuing business operations.

With the bankruptcy filing now official, American IronHorse has released a list of its 20 largest unsecured creditors. These are in addition to the three investors who forced the bankruptcy and the creditors that subsequently signed on to the case.

The amount sought by the 20 listed totals $2.6 million, including the following motorcycle industry-related companies:

Daytec frames, Hesperia, Calif., $367,975.89
R.C. Components, Bowling Green, Ky., $311,020.85
Gladwin Paint Co., San Antonio, Texas, $150,665.91
PIAA Corporation, Portland, Ore., $112,656.94
IronHorse of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas, $82,586.17
S&S Cycle, Viola, Wis., $62,757.28
The list also includes BrandEra Ltd., a Texas-based marketing, PR and advertising firm founded in part by American IronHorse’s former VP of marketing, Beth Owens, and Lakeshore Harley-Davidson, a dealership in Libertyville, Ill.

 

Bikers Can Rest Their Harley-Davidson Motorcycles At More Than 1,000 Best Western Hotels In The U.S. And Canada

Good info for when you are traveling and don’t want to “rough it”. Also, if you call early enough, they will do their best to get you in for the big events like Sturgis.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

4/23/2008 4:58:03 PM

More than 1,000 Best Western hotels in the United States and Canada have been identified as “rider-friendly,” the company announced today, offering motorcycle riders wipe-down towels at check in and access to a wash station at no additional cost . In addition, some properties offer designated parking, tar remover, sunscreen and lip balm.

The hotel chain’s commitment to designating participating hotels as “rider-friendly “ is part of a multi-year agreement between Best Western and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company to bring travel benefits to Harley-Davidson enthusiasts. 

“Best Western recognizes that Harley-Davidson and motorcycle enthusiasts have unique needs when on the road, and we’re committed to providing them with amenities that make their rides more enjoyable,” said Dorothy Dowling, Best Western’s senior vice president of marketing and sales. “We’re thrilled that more than 1,000 Best Western hotels are ‘rider-friendly,’ and we will add to this total throughout the year.”

Harley® riders can also register for the Gold Crown Club International Ride RewardsTM program, a free, specially-themed rewards program for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts.  Harley-Davidson® owners or enthusiasts can register by going to www.bwrider.com.  Once registered online as Ride Rewards members, Harley-Davidson® riders will earn 10 points for every U.S. dollar (or Canadian equivalent) spent on qualified room rates, or 250 airline miles per qualified stay, at any of the 4,000 Best Western hotels worldwide, including the 1,000 “rider-friendly” properties in North America.   By joining Best Western’s Gold Crown Club International Ride Rewards loyalty program online, Harley-Davidson enthusiasts will automatically receive Gold Elite status, which includes 10 percent bonus points on every Best Western stay and the ability to purchase points for award redemption, along with other signature benefits.

As a complement to Ride Rewards, Best Western will also serve as a preferred hotel chain for Harley-Davidson’s interactive Web application “Ride Planner”, found at www.harley-davidson.com/experience.  Using Microsoft® Virtual Earth™ technology, the application maps out a variety of picturesque U.S. “Great Roads” and shows Best Western hotels and Harley-Davidson® dealerships along the way.  Each property listing features hotel descriptions along with a directory of services and amenities.  A 10 percent savings is available to customers who book their Best Western reservations through this Web site, or by calling 1-888-224-BIKE. 
 

For more information on the Ride Rewards™ program, or to search for Best Western’s “rider-friendly” hotels, visit www.bwrider.com or www.harley-davidson.com/experience.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL
Best Western International is THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* independently owned and operated member hotels in 80* countries and territories worldwide.  An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* worldwide guests each night.  Best Western’s diverse property portfolio, its greatest strength, stems from a business model designed to give owners maximum flexibility to address market-specific needs.  Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a five-year mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care.  Since 2004, Best Western has served as the Official Hotel of NASCAR®.  For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.bestwestern.com.

*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

Harley-Davidson expects $20M to $25M in severance charges

Tuesday April 22, 4:29 pm ET 
Harley-Davidson expects to book $20M to $25M in charges related to planned staff cuts

NEW YORK (AP) — Harley-Davidson Inc. expects to book between $20 million and $25 million in severance costs related to its planned staff cuts, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Harley reported a 13 percent drop in domestic sales and slashed its full-year guidance, blaming the lagging economy for slowing sales of its iconic bikes. As a result, Harley said it planned to reduce motorcycle shipments to its dealers.

Harley is cutting about 370 unionized production employees and 360 non-production jobs. The planned reductions represent about 6.5 percent of the company’s North American unionized production employees and about 10 percent of its North American non-production staff.

Harley said nearly all of the charges will result in cash expenditures, although the timing of those expenditures will vary. The company expects to complete the job cuts and take all of the related charges in 2008.

Harley shares fell 20 cents to $37.30

Russell Mitchell Announces Upcoming Shows

Well it’s that time of year again when Russell and the Exile crew hits the road and this year it seems we’re all over the map………so to speak.  We have shows booked in Canada, Sweden, Brazil and this coming weekend we’re at the Earls Court Custom Bike Show in London. 

Check out our list of upcoming shows at www.exilestyle.com as we add shows to our list of appearances monthly.

Cheers.

Russ and the crew.

 

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