Telfair Museum of Art to Present Retrospective by Motorcycle Racer and Artist David DeLong Savannah, GA The Telfair Museum of Art has announced that it will present the first-ever retrospective of the 50-year career of the late David DeLong. The exhibition, entitled David DeLong: Passages, will to be on view at the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences from February 8 to May 20, 2006. The show traces his development as an artist and examines his most persistent themes: motorcycle racing, the figure, and architecture. A racer, athlete and adventurer in addition to being an artist he was a Golden Gloves boxer in New York City, sailed on tanker ships as a member of the Merchant Marine, and in 1981 won a Western-Eastern Racing Association Formula 1 race at Bridgehampton, New York on a Yamaha TX 750 DeLong began his lengthy art career as a student at the respected Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. “DeLong’s life was divided between the introspective, solitary act of artistic creation and the action-filled, exciting, and often dangerous world of motorcycle racing,” said Dr. Diane Lesko, executive director of the Telfair, in announcing the exhibition. “He was passionate about both. In a number of key paintings and etchings he chose to depict racing events in which he participated, and in that way his art and life are seamlessly conjoined in a creative metaphor.” DeLong (1930-2001) lived in Savannah with his wife, artist Harriett DeLong, from 1994 until his death, and Mrs. DeLong is co-curator of the exhibition. The artist learned to ride motorcycles in 1939 as a means of transportation to and from art school. He later raced the machines at venues in Ontario, Canada, New York, West Virginia, Atlanta, and Savannah, and came to view motorcycles as requiring the same amount of control and discipline as life and art. The artist’s sometimes gruff manner belied a sensitive side, according to his widow, and a glass-half-empty outlook seemed pessimistic to some. But he considered himself an optimistic realist. “On April 1, 2001, when his engine seized and he high-sided in a practice session at Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, he broke a collar bone, five ribs, and punctured his lung,” Ms. DeLong recounts. “In the emergency room one of the doctors asked if he thought he would race again. David said, ‘Well this gives me pause to think,’ and then returned to racing two months later.” He was 71 at the time and died of cancer later that year. While living in Savannah DeLong also produced watercolors of the ocean at Tybee Island and etchings of the oak canopy and tombstones of Bonaventure Cemetery. Inquisitive and experimental, his style shifts from figurative to abstract and back again, and his subject matter moves from the mundane to the fantastic. David DeLong: Passages has been organized by the Telfair Museum of Art, and is accompanied by a color catalogue published by the museum. Incorporating the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Owens-Thomas House, and, on March 10, 2006, the Telfair’s new Jepson Center for the Arts, the Telfair Museum of Art is supported by its members, with partial support of the annual operating fund provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly and by Chatham County. The Telfair Academy of Arts and Science is located on Telfair Square at 121 Barnard Street, Savannah, GA. The new Jepson Center is also located on Telfair Square, just steps from the Academy building. The Telfair’s Owens-Thomas House is located at 124 Abercorn Street on Oglethorpe Square. Admission to current facilities is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, military personnel, and AAA members, $2 for students, $1 for children 6-12 and children under 6 are free. Members are always admitted free. Regular adult admission prices will increase to $9 with the opening of the Jepson Center. Two-venue tickets will be available for $14, three-venue tickets will be $18. Other ticket categories will be discounted accordingly. Telfair properties are open Sunday 1-5 p.m., Monday noon-5 p.m., and Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Telfair Academy is open free to Chatham County residents each Sunday. Museum buildings are closed some holidays.

Touch, Test and Buy Everything to do With Motorcycles at SUPERSHOW 2006 (Toronto) The continent’s largest and most comprehensive motorcycle show, the North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW, is coming to the International Centre January 6-8, 2006. Now in its 30th year, the SUPERSHOW is a three-day motorcyclist’s shopping Supermarket, where an unprecedented number of exhibitors will show a vast array of goods, all at unbeatable show prices. Motorcyclists will find everything to do with motorcycles from apparel, parts and accessories, trailers and new 2006 motorcycles, including touring bikes, sport bikes, cruisers, trikes, production customs, scooters and ATV’s. A record number of companies will introduce new products at the SUPERSHOW, with many conducting live demonstrations on how to use their products, some never before seen in Canada. Over 400 exhibitors and four huge Accessory Superstores guarantee visitors will find everything they need for the 2006 riding season all under one roof. Five ATM machines throughout the 6 Halls of the Show help ensure that no one will miss out on any of the fantastic deals during this once-a-year shopping event! Show Dates: Friday, January 6th Sunday, January 8th, 2006 Location: International Centre, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga Hours: Friday & Saturday 10am – 10pm Sunday 10am – 6pm Discount coupons available at www.supershowevents.com Tickets: Advance tickets available through Ticketmaster, tickets also available at the door Parking: Free parking for more than 7,000 vehicles General Info: (905) 655-5403 or [email protected] Website: www.supershowevents.com Show-goers can access Show information and updates at www.supershowevents.com as well as download special opening day admission discount coupons.

Norton Motorsports now accepting deposits for Production Commando 961 & 961S Norton Motorsports, Inc. is now accepting deposits for Production Commando 961 & 961S models. Norton is now taking deposits for the production Norton Commando 961 with delivery beginning in 2007. Complete specifications and a deposit agreement are available on our website at www.nortonmotorcycles.com/purchase. A $500 deposit holds either a Commando 961 with a price of $10,995 or a Commando 961S with a retail price of $13,195. President & CEO Bruce Murdock said, “For over two years, Norton Motorcycles has been focused on the design and development of a great new Commando. We have struggled as we continue to fight the battle between financial pressures and building new Nortons that stay true to the brand. “Our current focus is execution of our test plan and the initiation of production processes. In parallel, we are building a great business that can manufacture, sell and support at a level equal to the motorcycles themselves. One crucial component to our business planning is an accurate forecast of demand. To facilitate this, we are taking reservations for all 2007 production models including the Commando Signature Series, the Commando 961S and 961.” Deposits will be taken either on the company website electronically or by personal check. Deposits will be held in an escrow account until bikes are ready for delivery. All inquiries should be directed to Rob LaVigne at Norton Motorsports via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 503-810-4846.

Malaysian automobile manufacturer Proton sold its 57.57% share of Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta to Italian investment firm GEVI S.p.A. for the “symbolic” sum of one Euro (about $1.19) yesterday, December 27, according to reports from The Financial Times, appearing on MSNBC.com, and AFP, appearing on Yahoo News. According to the reports, Proton bought controlling interest in bankrupt MV Agusta last December for the price of $82.8 million in hopes of getting into the motorcycle manufacturing business but instead has now essentially given its share to GEVI, which will assume MV Agusta’s debt (about $126 million) and its “working capital requirements” (about $38 million). The sale comes as Proton suffered a $40 million loss in the second financial quarter of 2005, where it had posted a profit of $52 million during the same period of 2004. Much of that negative turnaround is attributed to the debt of MV Agusta. Proton also appointed a new management team in late November, removing the executives who were in charge during the acquisition of MV Agusta. Proton will now focus its corporate efforts on renewing its falling automobile market share in Malaysia, according to the reports. MV Agusta makes and sells motorcycles under the brands MV Agusta, Cagiva and Husqvarna. Read more here”¦ ~http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051227/bs_afp/malaysiaitalyautoprotongevi_051227080426~ and here”¦ ~http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10611755/~

Motorcyclists looking to learn more about proper riding technique and work on improving their bike-handling skills can turn to the all-new, second edition of “The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence.” The book is a comprehensive, soft-cover how-to manual for new motorcyclists who want to increase their knowledge, and experienced riders who want to sharpen their existing skills. Through descriptive photographs, captions, diagrams and 16 full chapters, the “Guide to Motorcycling Excellence” expands on the various training curricula utilized by the MSF since 1973. Thousands of MSF RiderCoaches have provided instruction to more than 3.2 million students and, over the decades, the MSF has continually updated its methods for motorcycle schooling. “This guidebook is an engaging collection of all that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has learned about teaching people to ride,” said Tim Buche, MSF President. “We’ve found that many motorcycle riders are explorers, adventurous and just naturally curious. They want to learn and do things well. At the MSF, we say ‘the more you know, the better it gets,’ and this book is for riders who want to enjoy their riding even more by learning as much as they can. It’s the perfect companion piece to hands-on MSF training.” The book describes the different styles of motorcycles and how to choose the right bike. It stresses the importance of rider attitude, protective riding gear, and pre-ride inspections. It explains basic and advanced street skills. It covers strategies for creating a “space cushion” to avoid traffic hazards, as well as advanced counter-steering, counter-weighting, and traction-management techniques. It details the search/evaluate/execute (“SEE”) process, dealing with unexpected situations, group riding procedures, cornering and proper “lines.” There’s also a chapter featuring off-highway riding basics. The new edition features truly expert advice from world road racing champions Kevin Schwantz and Freddie Spencer, and from national title-holders Rich Oliver and Reg Pridmore. It also contains special contributions, about motorcycle geometry from Erik Buell, engineer and founder of Buell Motorcycles; about counter-steering, from Keith Code, former racer and founder of the California Superbike School; about proper riding gear and fit, by Paul Golde of Fairchild Sports and Bruce Porter of Arai Helmets; about suspension adjustment, by Paul Thede, engineer and owner of Race Tech; about health and conditioning, by Dr. Paul Bodnar, medical director of the AMA (that’s American Motorcyclist Association) Pro Racing Medical Advisory Board. The 192-page, full-color book has a list price of $24.95, and is available from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s online store (www.msf-usa.org) and at selected bookstores nationwide. About the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Since 1973, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation® has set internationally recognized standards that promote the safety of motorcyclists with rider education courses, operator licensing tests, and public information programs. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military, and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio/Vespa, Suzuki, Victory and Yamaha. For RiderCourseSM locations, call 800-446-9227 or visit www.msf-usa.org.