A golf bag for your motorcycle
We met these innovative guys at the Vancouver Motorcycle Show and really admired their creativity and drive.
It saddens us to read that a fire has destroyed their workshop and has set the company back in time.
Harley-Davidson to Implement New Production System at Kansas City Following Vote Approving Contract
New Labor Agreement Completes Negotiations Cycle Enabling Standardized, Flexible, Lean Operating System Across All Production Facilities
MILWAUKEE (February 28, 2011) – Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) announced today it will move forward with the implementation of a new production system at its Kansas City, Mo. vehicle operations following a vote by the plant’s unionized employees ratifying a new seven-year labor agreement.
The new labor agreement with employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 176 and the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 760 takes effect Aug. 1, 2011 and will be implemented in phases. Implementation of the Harley-Davidson Operating System — a new, standardized production operating system being introduced across all company production facilities — will begin at the onset of the agreement, while the compensation and benefits component generally takes effect starting in August 2012, after the current contract was originally set to expire.
The adoption of a new labor agreement in Kansas City completes a cycle of labor negotiations throughout the Company that has restructured all labor agreements to provide for a more flexible and efficient operating and cost structure. Similar agreements were ratified by employees at the Company’s operations in York, Pa. in December 2009 and in Milwaukee and Tomahawk, Wis. in September 2010.
“Together with our unions, Harley-Davidson is making the necessary changes across all our production facilities to succeed in a competitive, global marketplace,” said Keith Wandell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. “The Company is well on its way to building a world-class, sustainable, lean operating structure and I want to thank our employees at Kansas City for their participation in this journey. The ratification of the new contract will help ensure that we can continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers.”
Harley-Davidson’s new production system is expected to provide greater flexibility for seasonal and other volume-related production changes, an enhanced ability to vary product mix in line with customer preferences including the customization of motorcycles at the factory, and greater production efficiency overall. The operating structure includes the use of flexible workers — unionized employees who work as required, depending on seasonal and other volume needs and to provide coverage for vacations and other absences.
Upon implementation of the new labor agreements, the Company expects to have about 540 full-time hourly unionized employees at the Kansas City facility, compared to about 685 today. The Company also expects its Kansas City production workforce to include about 145 flexible positions.
The changes at Kansas City are expected to generate annual operating savings of approximately $15 million in 2013, the first full year in which the agreement is fully implemented. The Company expects to incur approximately $15 million in additional restructuring charges through 2012 related to the changes at Kansas City.
When fully implemented, Harley-Davidson expects previously announced company-wide restructuring activities, together with the implementation of the changes at Kansas City, to result in one-time charges of $510 million to $525 million, and annual ongoing savings of $305 million to $325 million. In 2011 on a combined basis, Harley-Davidson now expects to incur restructuring charges of $95 million to $105 million. The Company continues to expect to realize savings on a combined basis in 2011 of $210 million to $230 million from restructuring activities initiated since early 2009.
Jenny will make history as the first female to ever tackle the leading domestic series when she teams up with Hudson Kennaugh to launch a two-pronged assault on the championship.
And her arrival heralds the start of an exciting time for the Hay-on-Wye based team, which has just finalised a deal with Aprilia in Italy to provide the engines and technical assistance for the team’s two brand new Aprilia RSV4 machines.
Jenny, of Ellesmere Port, will step up to the UK’s premier motorcycle racing series after finishing a close third in the 2010 British Supersport Cup, and will fulfil her long time dream of racing a Superbike.
Having raced at national level since 2003 when she first arrived in the British 125cc Championship, Tinmouth has proved to be a consistently fast rider. In 2010 she rewrote history several times with her greatest season to date.
She became the first female to ever win a British Supersport Cup race on her way to finishing an impressive third in the championship, set a new record for the fastest lap by a female competitor at the famous Isle of Man TT event and won the final round of the Hottrax British Endurance Championship at Cadwell Park in November.
And now she is relishing the chance to finally get onboard a Superbike, where she will run the number 100.
“I’m over the moon, I still can’t believe it,” she said. “My ambition has always been to race in British Superbikes and I’ve been trying to get on one for some time.
“I was so keen to get on a Superbike that I was looking at options of running myself in the Evo class, so to get a ride with a team like Splitlath is fantastic.
“After a couple of years in Supersport and a few TT rides, this is a natural progression for me, and it’s wonderful to get the chance to do it. I’m incredibly grateful to John for giving me this opportunity and I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do on a Superbike.”
She will now begin full-time training for her season ahead, and last week began testing in Spain with last season’s machine before she gets onboard her new bike.
Team Owner John Dimbylow believes he now has a strong team with which to step up to the main championship. “Jenny is a very talented rider and we were very interested in speaking to her after seeing her performance in 2010.
“She is a proven race winner and is 100% committed to the season ahead. She is a fantastic rider and certainly has the potential to be a very strong competitor in the British Superbike Championship.
“I think she’s the perfect team-mate for Hudson and her arrival comes at the start of a very exciting time for the team. We are building a talented and strong crew and will be continuing our relationship with Aprilia after coming to an agreement to receive engines and assistance from Italy, and are looking forward to making our British Superbike debut with a bang in April.
The 2011 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship will roar into action at Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend, April 22-25.
In the Fall, we published a few columns on ATV’s. Well lo and behold all of a sudden we had a vocal audience. Closet environmentalists put their finger on their verbal trigger and let us have it as one of the photographs that was published showed us riding through water. Everyone was quick to jump to conclusions that we were destroying a creek bed etc.
What they didn’t see was that we had specifically waited to go out on these ATV’s after 5 days of rain because we were looking for mud and puddles. Lucky for us, we found the biggest puddle at a fork of two logging roads where the photo was taken – not in a creek or river.
One reader even threatened to report us to the Ministry of the Environment and called us idiots etc and made some other prolific comments. Well, we saw that as an opportunity to educate and wrote the Ministry ourselves asking for them to respond on record about the issue of ATV’s and creeks, water crossing etc. We made two follow up attempts to MoE but they ignored us.
So, driving across Nevada recently I saw this sign and thought with all the bitching people do about billboards, they must be reading them. Perhaps the environmentalists should put their vocal, hide behind their computer, talents to better use and advocate for signs like these. Makes sense to me.
This is a hot topic on everyone’s mind. In April 2010 a press release was issued advising of changes to the B.C. MVA and Bill 14 passed third reading in May of 2010:
B.C.’S MOTOR VEHICLE ACT TO CHANGE
VICTORIA – The Province introduced a number of changes to the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) today to enhance road safety and streamline administrative processes.
New rules for motorcyclists and their passengers – In response to a growing number of motorcyclists in B.C., and a corresponding rise in the number of fatalities, all motorcycle drivers and their passengers will be required to wear a helmet that meets certified safety-industry standards. Drivers will be responsible for ensuring that passengers under the age of 16 are wearing an approved helmet. Unapproved helmets will be subject to potential seizure by police.
Inexperience is a high-risk factor for new riders while learning, so they will be restricted to less powerful motorcycles. These restrictions are to be determined and will be set out in regulations. To ensure that passengers, including those under 16 are protected while on a motorcycle, they must be able to position their feet on foot pegs or floor boards.
In 2008, the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles began an extensive review of motorcycle safety in B.C. in partnership with the B.C. Coroner’s Service, ICBC and police. The review found that the number of fatalities each year has increased from 27 in 1999 to 49 in 2008 as the number of riders grew from about 41,000 to 80,000 during that period. New motorcyclists in the 16-25 age group are the most at risk with a fatality rate that is 13 times higher than older riders.
We are interested to know what you think?
Ever had a fitness assessment? Our trainer, Shane Pizzey, took a bunch of measurements including weight and then ran a series of, what appeared were going to be simple, fitness tests in order to gauge our training for the upcoming months. We did a wall sit (I sat right down), we did push ups (faired ok), we did a sit up assessment – apparently there are seven levels of strength – levels 1 and 2 were a confidence booster but level 3 is where we stopped. Then it was a timed one mile run on the track (haven’t done one of those for a while) – I combined it with a walk here and there and even though I don’t smoke – I coughed for 45 minutes after and for some reason – my muscles – IN MY FEET – are sore – good lord, lol.
Is it embarassing that I am that out of shape? Absolutely! Do I look forward to the coming days of training – yes I do. I have confidence in Shane and I am determined to gain strength, endurance, burn fat and find my abs and with any luck, my belly button will re-appear somewhere along the way.
Wish us luck!
M
While Kathy is travelling to South America for stunt work, Jasmin and I thought we would pop in and visit Jeff @ Kreater Motorcycles to see what’s happening. Always something going on there.
The news is: Ducati specialty mechanic, Gord McMartin has joined the forces at Kreater. A level 2 Ducati Mechanic and factory trained on the Desmosedici. Gord has been in the industry since 1979 and while he specializes in Ducati (all you racers out there now know where to find him), he has also worked extensively with BMW, Triumph, Honda etc. He also spent 10 years working track side and building engines for AMA Pro Racing, Canadian and World Superbike.
That is the Dirt Alert for today – you can read between the lines and figure that if Ducati is looking for a new home in Kelowna, you can bet they are looking at Kreater!
CONCORD, Ontario (December 9, 2010) – Winds of change have hit the Canadian motorcycle racing world. Two brand new classes, namely the Amateur Superbike class and the much anticipated Harley-Davidson® XR 1200TM Cup, will have their debut in the upcoming 2011 racing season, which marks the 32nd anniversary of the National Superbike series.
After a very well-received season opener in 2010 at the Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec, next year’s schedule re-proposes a kick-off to the five-round 2011 Parts Canada Superbike Championship in Mirabel with a double-header wrap-up of the season at the popular Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario from August 19 to 21. For the first time in eight years, the newly repaved Autodrome Saint-Eustache in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, will also host some spectacular racing in 2011.
Headlined by the Pro Superbike division, the national series will be comprised of six classes: Pro Sport Bike, Amateur Sport Bike, CBR125R Challenge and the brand new Harley-Davidson® XR 1200TM Cup spec class and Amateur Superbike class.
Backed by Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada, the Harley-Davidson® XR 1200TM Cup is based on a similar series already running in the United States and Britain. The series uses identical, near stock versions of the sport twin engine motorcycles to ensure a high level of competition without the necessity of major upgrades over the course of a season.
True to its racing heritage, Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada returns for the 2011 series with the experienced racer #29, Darren James, heading up a team consisting of his Floridian racing partner, #123 racer, Dave Estok and the ever-committed technician, Thomas Morin, who accompanied James on all of his British racing efforts in 2010.
Competing in the inaugural Harley-Davidson® XR 1200TM Trophy race series at the 2010 British Superbike Championship alongside the former MotoGP star, Jeremy McWilliams (who dominated the series with his first place on the podium), Darren James was hyped yet humbled by an exhilarating fourth place overall finish and the incredible experience gained alongside a racer of the calibre of McWilliams. The passion of the followership and the versatility of the Harley-Davidson® XR 1200TM bike has motivated the former Canadian Thunder Champion, Darren James, to do everything possible to bring this exciting new class back to Canada.
When asked to comment, Darren James enthuses, “I’ve been riding twins all my life, but never have I been as excited as I am about starting this new class in Canada. I think this a great opportunity for our Retailers across Canada to get involved in racing and to showcase the high performance of the XR 1200TM [motorcycle], the street version of which is known as the XR 1200TM [motorcycle]. I truly look forward to working with individual racers across the country to see this class grow.” Darren James’ new #29 XR 1200TM motorcycle will be on display at the Motorcycle & Moped Industry Council (MMIC) Canadian Motorcycle shows across the country and information for racers wanting to participate in the new Harley-Davidson® XR 1200TM Cup will be available on site.
Sponsors include: Ruthless Racing Inc.; Dragon Eyewear; Ogio; Flexi-Glass; RMR Suspensions and Twist Conditioning.
2011 Parts Canada Superbike Championship Schedule
Round One: May 27-29, Circuit ICAR – Mirabel, Quebec.
Round Two: July 1-3, Shannonville Motorsport Park – Shannonville, Ontario
Round Three: July 8-10, Autodrome Saint-Eustache – Saint-Eustache, Quebec
Round Four: August 5-7, Atlantic Motorsport Park – Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia
Round Five: August 19-21, Mosport International Raceway – Bowmanville, Ontario
Round Six: August 19-21, Mosport International Raceway – Bowmanville, Ontario
What a great night at Kreater. Fantastic hospitality, great company and great laughs. Jeff and the motorcygalz – or is that elves?
So we ran into Zoe from Motovan who shared with us the recent announcement of Motovan becoming the MV Agusta distributor of Canada. Woooo Hooooo.
Varese, December 2nd 2010 – MV Agusta enters the Canadian market appointing Motovan Corporation as its exclusive importer.
“We have finally succeeded in obtaining all of the necessary approvals from the Canadian authorities therefore the motorcycles can be imported into Canada for the very first time in the history of MV Agusta. After many inquiries from Canadian consumers, we are very proud to have reached an agreement with a reputable Canadian powersports organization such as Motovan” says Umberto Uccelli sales director MV Agusta.
James Paladino, President and CEO of Motovan Corporation is an Italo-Candian who has always helped maintain Italy’s unique image. James states: “We are very happy to be associated with MV Agusta so that our passion lives on in our family. To me, this is a tribute to my father (founder of Motovan) since he worked on MV Agusta motorcycles in the 1950’s from his shop in a little village in Italy”.
In the very near future, Motovan will be appointing a small number of high-level dealers in order to sell this prestigious brand and obtain good coverage for all enthusiasts who have been waiting for such a long time. For the first year, the number of motorcycles will be extremely limited therefore Motovan will be launching a website www.mvagustacanada.com which allows the serious buyer the possibility to reserve his or her motorcycle on-line.
This association with Canada demonstrates another step for MV Agusta in its worldwide network expansion plans. Soon, other announcements will be made.
About Motovan Corporation
Established in 1980, Motovan imports, exports, distributes and manufactures replacement parts and accessories for motorized recreational vehicles (Motorcycles/MX, ATVs, snowmobiles) as well as providing logistics services to other powersports organizations. Motovan is the Canadian distribution leader, boasting the largest sales team and network of powersports dealers in Canada. All reference materials, catalogs, industry information, press releases and product features can all be found on-line for your convenience at motovan.com.
We have been contacted by the owners of SWM. They have asked for our assistance in informing their clients about the closure. This is the official word from them:
Due to issues prior to our purchase of Southwest Motorrad we have been forced to relocate to a new building. We will inform our customers as soon as we are certain of the new location. We appologize for any inconvenience this has caused and look forward to your continued business.
Thank you Terry and Rhonda Laturnus
We inquired if they would be carrying the same lines (BMW, Ducati, Triumph, Indian), whether or not we could expect to see the same staff and how long before they would re-open and their response was:
Could be in a new location by month end. Not sure about BMW yet but we have added Norton to our lineup. The staff will all be staying with us.
Norton has begun production again which was unveiled at the Norton Rally in Lumby in the summer.
Having not yet heard from the owners of SWM – we contacted BMW Canada for their official word and it is as follows:
Please be advised that SouthWest Motorrad in Kelowna, British Columbia is in receivership. Service Department work in process is continuing for the time being.
This is a local market issue only. Be assured that BMW Motorrad is experiencing continued growth and success across Canada and around the world.
We are working diligently at resolving the situation in the Kelowna area and look forward to serving your BMW Motorrad needs in the future.
For inquiries, please continue to contact the main telephone number at SouthWest Motorrad.
BMW has suggested that there will be a speedy resolution to the current situation so good thing this all happened during hibernation of our bikes!
Those of you who frequent SWM may be wondering what is going on as the doors are closed. We are following this story and have spoken with the owners. They have advised that they will be issuing a press release in the coming days. Stay tuned and we will bring you the news as we hear it.
Saskatoon councillors have put a damper on a report that could have led to a crackdown on noisy motorcycles.
Mayor Don Atchison says council has sent the report back to city solicitors for more study.
The mayor says all loud vehicles should be targeted in any future noise nuisance bylaws.
Many bikers in the city signed a two-thousand name petition last summer after Councillor Bob Pringle suggested noisy motorcycles might have to be muffled.
Petition organizer Kevin Ooms calls council’s decision a victory because there’s no jurisdiction in the country that regulates noise from all vehicles. (Canadian Press)
Bikers welcome.
That’s the message officials in Billings, Montana, want to send.
Thousands of motorcycle riders zoom past Billings each summer on I-90.
Officials in Billings want some to stay in town for a few days and spend their money. Billings is on the way to landmarks like Yellowstone National Park and the Little Bighorn Battlefield.
The local Chamber of Commerce is planning on sending reps to motorcycle rallies to boost Billings’ image.
Despite the fact that synthetic motorcycle oil has been on the market for more than a generation, some old-wives tales refuse to die. There are still riders that hold onto the belief that synthetic motorcycle oil can cause slippage or clutch plate glazing when used in transmissions with wet clutches. This claim was even repeated by the parts manager of a major OEM dealer to our colleague John Westendorp. This continues to be a head-shaker for us, because of all of the products we sell, AMSOIL motorcycle oils consistently earn the most frequent and vocal accolades from customers. After a decade in this business, how many complaints have we received about AMSOIL motorcycle oils causing clutch issues? Exactly zero.
We do have a theory on how this misconception took hold and why it continues to circulate. In the early days of synthetics, motorcycle riders may have used automotive synthetic engine oil in their transmissions looking to gain the benefits of a synthetic in their bikes. Unfortunately, automotive motor oils for gasoline service; both synthetic and conventional, contain friction modifiers. Friction modifiers are additives that literally reduce friction and improve fuel economy. All automotive engine oils for gasoline service are mandated to contain these. Simply put, friction modifiers are incompatible with motorcycle wet clutches. They will cause the clutch to slip under load and eventually glaze the clutch plates. Once this occurs, the only cure is a replacement of the clutch plates. Again this applies to both synthetic and conventional automotive engine oils for gasoline service. This canard seems to have stuck to synthetic motor oil because it is perceived to be “slipperier”. This error may still be happening to this day. Motorcycle oils (again both synthetic and conventional) do not contain friction modifiers.
“Stunt” means circumstances in which, taking into account the condition of the highway, traffic, visibility and weather, the driver or operator of a motor vehicle is driving or operating the motor vehicle without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway or in a manner that is likely to cause harm to an individual or likely to distract, startle or interfere with users of the highway by doing any of the following:
“Or in other words,” I overheard someone say, “all the things that I used to do when I was a teenager!” We knew it wasn’t the proper thing to do then and as of September 20, 2010 the penalties for doing these things on our highways have gone up, reminding us that it still isn’t the right thing to do now.
When police intend to charge a driver for driving without due care or driving without reasonable consideration for others using the highway, they are required by the Motor Vehicle Act to impound the vehicle as well. The impound period is 7 days if it is a first offence, 30 days if it is a second offence or 60 days if it is a third offence within 2 years.
Towing and storage charges are the responsibility of the vehicle owner.
To comment or learn more, please visit www.drivesmartbc.ca.
http://www.drivesmartbc.ca/unsafe-driving-practices/stunting
Cst. Tim Schewe (Rtd.)
Milwaukee (Sept. 27, 2010) – Jeremy McWilliams battled with fellow road racing veteran Michael Barnes in a rain-soaked 11-lap duel at Barber Motorsports Park September 26, to become the first rider to win races on a Harley-Davidson XR1200 motorcycle on two continents.
McWilliams, who won the 2010 Henderson XR1200 Trophy champion in the British Superbike Series riding for Warr’s Harley-Davidson, made his AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series debut at Barber riding for HOG Racing. He qualified third among the 11 riders entered in the event behind Celtic Racing’s P.J. Jacobsen and Barnes (Jones Brothers/Eric Stump Racing).
McWilliams and Barnes battled nose to tail for the first 10 laps, with Jacobson a close third, until the final lap, when McWilliams broke free to lead Barnes across the start/finish line by a 2.747-second margin. Jacobsen finished third.
“It was a totally fantastic weekend for the whole crew,” McWilliams said. “Riding the XR1200 in an AMA round and taking the win was the icing on the cake after lifting the British Championship less than a month ago. Just two weeks back I thought I’d thrown any chance of competing here away when I smashed myself up a bit in Spain. The wet weather probably played to my favor as I didn’t have to work so hard in those conditions. Had it been dry I guess it might have been a little tighter but I was confident either way.”
With the close of the five-race 2010 Vance & Hines series, RMR/Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing’s Danny Eslick, winner of the first three rounds, was crowned the series champion with 96 points, followed by Travis Wyman (88) and Jake Holden (67).
“It was cool to be a part of [the series]. I’m 100 percent for championships on American made bikes” said Eslick, who won the 2009 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike championship on a Buell motorcycle. “It was a lot of fun to ride, and hopefully we can put something together for next year.”
The 2010 Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Reunion, sponsored by the MOTORCYCLISTS CONFEDERATION OF CANADA (MCC) will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at the Delta Burnaby Hotel & Conference Centre in Burnaby, BC.
The MCC is a founding partner of the Hall of Fame and administrator of the Foundation that is home to the Hall of Fame.
The Canadian International Motorcycle Heritage Museum Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Bar and Hedy Hodgson in 1999 to record and preserve the history and heritage of the motorcycle and motorcycling activity in Canada; and to recognize, honour and celebrate those who have achieved excellence and/or made significant contributions to the well-being and advancement of motorcycling in Canada.
Founded in 2005 by Founding Patrons, the North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW and the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada, the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame has already honoured 44 individuals and groups, and will be adding the following Inductees for 2010:
Vern Amor, Osoyoos, BC – Motocross Competitor, Contributor
Phil Funnell, Vancouver, BC – Contributor, Dealer, Adventure Rider
Greater Vancouver Motorcycle Club, Vancouver, BC – Marking 88 years as a club – Founded in 1922
Don James, Richmond, BC – Business Leader, Contributor
Bill McLean (deceased), Burnaby, BC – Competitor, Dealer, Contributor
Blair Morgan, Saskatoon, SK – Motocross Competitor
Ross Pederson, Medicine Hat, AB – Motocross Competitor
Bob St.Goddard, Winnipeg, MB – Motocross Contributor
Victoria Motorcycle Club, Victoria, BC – Marking 104 years as a club – Organized in 1906
Tom Walther (deceased) and Family, Surrey, BC – International Competitor (Tom) and Contributors (Family).
Dave Wildman, Vancouver, BC – Road Race Competitor, solo and sidecar
Two paramedics in Saskatchewan say they’ve never seen anything like it.
When the health workers arrived at the scene of a motorcycle crash on Sunday, they found a group of people already helping the victim and directing traffic.
A man and woman were seriously hurt when they fell off their bike on Highway 5 just outside Saskatoon.
Troy Davies with M-D ambulance says it’s “rare” to see that many people lend a hand, and wanted to give a shout-out to the helpers. (CJME)
Check out local Kelowna racer, Marcel Irnie – he did great in Portland this past weekend – interview coming… In the meantime, here are some cool pics of him!
What are you doing in the mud, Marcel? Stay tuned for the interview with Marcel – coming soon to Motorcygalz…
The RCMP say the driver and a passenger on a motorcycle that crashed on Vancouver Island are dead.
A news release says the crash happened Saturday afternoon in Nanaimo.
The motorcycle was driving alongside a pickup truck, driven by a 17-year-old man, when the teen started to change lanes towards the bike.
The Mounties say the truck corrected and didn’t end up changing lanes, although the 51-year-old motorcycle driver pulled up beside the pickup and glared at the teen inside.
The news release says during this exchange, the motorcycle driver didn’t notice a curve in the road and crashed.
The motorcycle driver and his 40-year-old female passenger, who were both from Nanaimo and wearing beanie-style helmets, died later in hospital.
Canadian Press
Acclaimed producer and musician Daniel Lanois performs at his Toronto studio, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, during a media preview of his multimedia installation that is scheduled to be presented in Toronto for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche on Oct. 2. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
TORONTO — Nestled in an industrial corridor of Toronto’s west side, a low-slung old building with chipped off-white bricks and a bright red door conceals Daniel Lanois’s new cathedral of sound.
The building used to be a Buddhist temple. Lanois bought it years and ago and renovated it, and he’s here now preparing for his ambitious Nuit Blanche installation.
He’s also only a few days away from the release of Neil Young’s “Le Noise,” which Lanois produced, and a little over a month from the debut release from Lanois’s Black Dub outfit.
It seems like a lot for someone still recovering from a near-fatal motorcycle accident, but Lanois says he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Royce McLean on the Yamaha R6 takes 4 podiums, one regional championship and wins all 3 Western Canadian Championships at Race City Motorsports Park to seal up the following accomplishments.
2010 Western Canadian Expert Superbike Champion
2010 Western Canadian Expert 600 SuperSport Champion
2010 Western Canadian Expert Open SuperSport (1000cc) Champion
2010 EMRA Expert Superbike Champion
2010 EMRA Expert 600 SuperSport Champion
2010 EMRA Expert Open Sportbike (1000cc) Champion
2010 CMRA Middleweight Sportbike (600cc) Champion
Get this – he’s only 14 years old!! Congrats, Royce!
For more details on race results and lap times go to CMRA race results at the following, https://my.roadracing.org/ti/cmra/resultindex.html
MotoGP Ducati rider Casey Stoner of Australia, right, rides on his way to win the MotoGP Aragon Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Motorland racetrack in Alcaniz, Spain Sunday Sept. 19, 2010 (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
MotoGP Ducati rider Casey Stoner of Australia does a wheelie as he passes the checkered flag to win the MotoGP Aragon Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Motorland racetrack in Alcaniz, Spain Sunday Sept. 19, 2010 (AP Photo/Paul White)
In the frigid and damp Edmonton air, it was Nick Allen, proudly racing for Redline Harley-Davidson®, who capped off another brilliant season, taking his fourth Harley-Davidson® V-Rod® DestroyerTM Series 2010 Championship in as many years. The planned showdown between Eastern Series Champion Pete Thomson, sponsored by Rocky’s Harley-Davidson®, and Allen never took place. Instead, the season was decided in favour of Allen, who had the most wins on the books. As the combatants prepped for the final races of the day, the lingering slate gray sky that had enveloped Castrol Raceway final, dumped its contents on the drag strip, bringing an end to what were, up until then, some of the closest and most interesting races to be seen all season. Another battle of the weekend left unresolved was the anticipated contest pitting master against student. Nick Allen’s dazzling young protégé, Chris Perkins set the tone early, winning the qualification rounds with a run of 9.069 seconds, identical to that of his mentor, Allen. In only his fifth career race, Perkins, racing under the Redline Harley-Davidson®/Edge Harley-Davidson® umbrella, took a narrow margin to the lead with a better top speed (137.97) over a delighted Allen. With Allen and Perkins poised for the final weekend race of the day, an early cancellation put an end to the race before it even began. Perkins did, however, walk away with the Rookie of The Year Award later on at the CMDRA Awards Banquet. Look for more on Redline Harley-Davidson® /Edge Harley-Davidson® sponsored Perkins later!
With the emergence of rookies like Mitch McCallum and Chris Perkins, the Harley-Davidson® V-Rod® DestroyerTM Series is healthy and looks to heat up next season with a full slate of racing in 2011.
SUM Brand + Design
