From a press release issued by Hyperclub:


Hypercycle-Hyperclub 2005 Track Day Dates

January 17th- Monday – Streets of Willow -MLK

February 21st- Monday – Streets of Willow- Pres. Day

March 7th -Monday – 2.5 Mile Willow Springs Road Course

April 18th- Monday – Streets of Willow

May 30th – Monday – 2.5 Mile Willow Springs Road Course – Memorial

June 27th- Monday – Streets of Willow

July 25th – Monday – 2.5 Mile Willow Springs Road Course

September 5th- Monday – Streets of Willow

Oct 24th – Monday – 2.5 Mile Willow Springs Road Course

December 5th – Monday- 2.5 Mile Willow Springs Road Course

More info and Online Signups at www.Hypercycle.com

From a press release issued by the CMRA:

Two-time World Superbike Champion Doug Polen was recently inducted into the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association’s Hall of Fame at their end of year awards banquet held in Fort Worth, Texas. Polen, who was also the 1993 US Superbike Champ and 1997 and 1998 FIM World Endurance Champion, started racing with the Texas-based club in 1997, when it was still known as the CRRC.

“This was great to be inducted by the CMRA,” said Polen. “I have been able to reminisce and see a lot of people here that I haven’t seen in a long time. This club allowed me to do something early on that I loved to do, and that was to race motorcycles. One of the things that I benefitted from is all of the people in this club that gave me support over the years and that is something I will always remember.”

Also inducted was Houston racer Ronnie Lunsford, who has been a driving force behind the CMRA and Texas road racing since he was introduced to the sport in 1979.

Over 400 guests attended the banquet, which culminated with a drawing for an highly modified and race-ready Yamaha R6 valued at $18,000 which was donated by Sum of all Parts of Austin. Everyone who entered a CMRA race during the season was eligible (the more races you entered, the more times your name went into the hat) and the big winner was Jeff Robinson of Grossett, Arkansas.

A pre-banquet silent auction and raffle raised over $10,000 which will go into the CMRA’s injured riders fund.

From a press release issued by Canadian Kawasaki Motors, Inc.:

KAWASAKI RACING TEAM: SETTING THE SIGHTS ON 2005

Canadian Kawasaki Racing is looking for a big payoff in 2005. Much has changed in the past five years with this year’s team looking stronger than ever. With a new race shop that was finalized in the spring of 2004, an experienced team of technicians and two new exciting race bikes, the team has great momentum coming into the 2005 Canadian Superbike Series.

In addition to a solid foundation and strong resources, Canadian Kawasaki has re-signed Tom Kipp for the 2005 season. The Ohio native raced for Kawasaki during the 2003 season and was expected to race in 2004 but made a last minute decision to retire and concentrate on his post secondary education. With graduation on the horizon, Kipp has made the decision to return to the Kawasaki team.

“It is very important for me to do my job well”, said Kipp reflecting on his retirement. “Both my education, which is preparing me for pastoral ministry, and racing. They require a huge commitment and it was in my best interest to back off at the end of 2003 and get refocused. Taking the time off enabled me to step up my course load as well as my graduation date. I graduate this May and plan to enroll into a Chicago based seminary in the fall. The way I see it, my summer is now open, giving me the opportunity to again team up with my friends at Kawasaki to pursue a 2005 Canadian championship. I would love to help Canadian Kawasaki enjoy another winning season.”

Tom Kipp is an outstanding individual, with a keen insight and proven knowledge of road racing. “I have kept in close contact with the team throughout this past season,” explained Kipp. “I feel the team is stronger than ever and 2005 will be a great opportunity to campaign the new bikes at full potential. I missed working with these guys and I’m happy to be back.”

Tom Kipp’s return is very timely now that Kawasaki’s rookie Matt McBride is on the rise. Kipp is known for his generous attitude towards fellow racers and his ability to coach should prove invaluable to young McBride.

“Tom is a great guy,” says twenty-year-old McBride. “I’m really happy he’s back on the team. He’s got so much racing knowledge and he really wants to pass it on. It’s going to be a great year with Tom.”

The Kawasaki team will also see a change in management during the 2005 season. Karl Steyrer will move up from suspension technician to crew chief.

“Karl was working with the team last year as our suspension technician,” said team manager Jeff Comello. “This year we have moved him into a management position overseeing the team at the shop and at trackside locations. He will also be overseeing the suspension development for the Canadian Kawasaki Motors race team.”

“It’s a challenge–that is the main reason I took it on,” said Steyrer of his new position. “I think the Kawasaki bikes have great potential under the Canadian rules. We’re looking to have a good year next year and I think we have the riders and the people to do it.”

The Kawasaki team has testing planned all winter and will venture south of the border to perfect the setup of the new ZX-6RR and ZX-10R in anticipation of the first race on May 20, 2005 in Shannonville.

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

The 2005 WSBK/WSS Official Winter Tests will take place in the following dates:

LOSAIL (QATAR)
Saturday 19 February 2005
Sunday 20 February
(instead of 20/21 February 2005)


VALENCIA (ESPANA)
Saturday 12 March 2005
Sunday 13 March

From a press release issued by Super Dave Rosno:

Super Dave Items In Childhood Cancer Sports Auction

“Super” Dave Rosno has donated a couple of items to the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Sports Auction.

The auction will be broadcast live on Milwaukee’s WTMJ Channel 4 and will include items from Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre, Milwaukee Brewers’ Hall of Famer Robin Yount, and Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

Dave Rosno has donated an autographed Suomy helmet that he used in 2004. Additionally, Sliderphoto.com donated a photograph of “Super” Dave in action which was also signed by Dave.

Dave Rosno raced under the “Super Dave’s Race Against Childhood Cancer” banner during 2004 to raise funds for Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (the MACC Fund) and awareness about pediatric cancer. He will continue under that banner in 2005.

The MACC Fund Sports Auction will be held on Saturday December 11, 2004 from 1:30PM to 3:30PM.

More information is available at:
http://www.maccfund.org/news/story.cfm?ID=158

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Repsol Honda MotoGP racer and former AMA Superbike Champion Nicky Hayden is scheduled to appear in-studio on “Greg’s Garage” during SPEED Channel’s “Two-wheel Tuesday” December 7 at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), according to the network’s website.

From a press release issued by the Wegman Benefit Fund:

The latest and recurring contributors to the Wegman Benefit Fund are Scuderia West in San Francisco, CA , Corse Superbikes in Saukville, WI, and SportbikeTrackTime.com.

Scuderia West held a raffle at a bike night promotion at their shop raising $1,617. Corse Superbikes makes a quarterly donation based on bike sales, this time $2,020 and SportbikeTrackTime.com donated their proceeds of $2,625 from a track day held at Grattan Raceway in Michigan. Their total contribution of $6,262 is a great boost for us to help injured road racers.

The latest rider to receive assistance from the Wegman Fund is Jimmy Moore of the Corona Extra Suzuki team who was injured at Brainerd, MN during AMA competition in 2003.

To date the Wegman Fund has paid out over $154,000 to help seriously injured road racers and their families.

For more information about the fund please check our web site at www.wegmanfund.org and while there check our current online auctions.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Bill Janklow, the former U.S. Representative and Governor of South Dakota who was found to have killed motorcyclist Randolph Scott as a result of his reckless driving, will not have to pay any damages out of his own pocket to the victim’s family, according to an article appearing on www.startribune.com November 30.

Instead, federal taxpayers will pay any damages awarded to Scott’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit because, a federal judge ruled this week, Janklow was “on duty” the day of the accident. Janklow is therefore “covered under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which protects federal employees from negligence claims when they’re on duty,” read the article.

The civil lawsuit against Janklow was dismissed by the federal court. Lawyers for Scott’s family are expected to file a new wrongful death lawsuit against the United States Government.

Janklow, 65, was convicted of speeding, running a stop sign, reckless driving and second-degree manslaughter after he collided with a motorcycle ridden by Scott, 55, who was killed instantly.

Janklow, who was the Governor of South Dakota for 16 years and served in the House of Representatives since 2002, resigned from Congress in January of 2004, served 100 days in county jail and paid a fine.

Janklow has appealed his conviction to the South Dakota Supreme Court, according to the Washington Times.

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Notable Bay Area Bartenders/Restaurant Owners Ready to Drink and Drive at Infineon Raceway

NEWLY-ELECTED SANTA CLARA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE TO SERVE AS GUEST SPEAKER AT ANNUAL HOLIDAY EVENT

SONOMA, Calif. – The people who typically pour drinks will be on the receiving end on Friday, Dec. 17, during the 8th annual “Holiday Sobriety Challenge” at Infineon Raceway.

Some of the Bay Area’s notable bartenders and restaurant owners will be drinking and driving at Infineon Raceway, all with the full blessing of the California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies. The event, which will take place from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., will feature a controlled wine and beer tasting experiment that will graphically illustrate how alcohol consumption affects driving performance, even at levels well below the legal limit (.08-percent).

Teresa Guerrero-Daley, a newly-elected Santa Clara County superior court judge, will be a guest speaker at the event, as will Captain Jim Leonard, Oakland CHP, last year’s chairman of Avoid the 21 in Alameda County.

The event has featured different twists over the years, as Bay Area police chiefs, mayors, senior citizens and celebrities have taken the test. This year, bartenders/restaurant owners from notable establishments will take the test, and for good reason. The hope is that these people will leave Infineon Raceway with an added appreciation of how alcohol can severely impair driving ability.

The experiment will raise awareness for the Bay Area Regional Avoid effort for the holiday season, which begins Dec. 17 with DUI checkpoints throughout the nine Bay Area counties, as well as roving DUI enforcement. Later in the day, following the Holiday Sobriety Challenge, law enforcement officers will report to sobriety checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols. Bay Area Regional Avoid is comprised of all 125 law enforcement agencies in the nine Bay Area counties, and the message is clear: If you are planning to consume alcohol, be sure to have a designated driver.

“Sobriety Checkpoints have proven to be an effective tool in reducing alcohol-involved crashes,” said Sunne Wright McPeak, secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. “They are a critical part of any comprehensive DUI enforcement program – and that translates into saved lives.”

The following restaurant owners/bartenders are set to participate in the challenge:

* Jim Bril, owner, Fior d’Italia restaurant in San Francisco.

* Michael DiBenedetti, owner, Amante restaurant in San Francisco.

* Paul Spadaro, owner, Steiner’s Tavern in Sonoma.

* Bud Schuerman, owner, Town Square in Sonoma.

* Mark Elzie, bartender, Shanghai Kelly’s/Northstar Cafe in San Francisco.

* Christopher Digmon, bar manager, McCovey’s Restaurant in Walnut Creek.

* Two bartenders, Ernesto’s/Zòcalo in Sacramento.


Statistics within the Bay Area reflect a need for programs such as the Holiday Sobriety Challenge. Alcohol was involved in 165 collision-related fatalities in the nine Bay Area counties in 2003, up from 162 fatalities in 2002. This marks the fifth consecutive year there has been an increase in fatalities. Statewide, alcohol was involved in 1,445 collision-related fatalities, up from 1,416 in 2002. Figures used have been supplied by the California Highway Patrol.

The participants who will take part in the experiment at Infineon Raceway will each be served wine or beer upon arrival. After consuming the alcohol, testers will then be taken through a series of field sobriety tests by law enforcement officers, including a Breathalyzer analysis, before being asked to drive around a pre-determined course at speed. They will be joined in the cars by instructors from the ESPN Jim Russell Racing Drivers School for safety. Nearly 70-percent of those who have taken the Holiday Sobriety Challenge over the last four years have failed.

In addition, other participants in the challenge will include college students, working professionals, retirees and media personnel.