Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

During the November WSMC race, a special person in my life watched from the sidelines encouraging me to do my best, the same as he has done throughout most of my racing career. I won the race in Middleweight Twins, and he came up to me and congratulated me with my second favorite bill, a “Grant.”

What does this mean? He always referred to me as a $100 bill “Benjamin” being my middle name, and I referred to him as the $50 bill “Grant”, his last name.

He watched the rest of my races, Formula Twins and Heavyweight Twins, with eager anticipation, and awaited my return to the pits. I had some real close finishes with Alex Eisner, and Richie Headley, and along to greet me came Mr. Grant.
All he said was “It would have been cooler if you had won all three.”

So, come December with WSMC, John Grant–1st Middleweight Twins, 1st Formula Twins, and 1st Heavyweight Twins–these three were for 16 years of support, and encouragement to win races, thanks.

John, you will be missed, and remembered.

Thank you.


Eric Pinson, WSMC #883
Eatonton, Georgia



See related post:
12/16/2003 John Grant, R.I.P.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Corey Sarros will race the full 2004 AMA season with a new team, Slime Yamaha.

Sarros, the runner-up in the 2003 CCS Pacific Regional Championship, will ride privately-supported Yamaha YZF-R6s in AMA Supersport and Formula Xtreme classes in 2004. Sarros’ team will be run by James Fahey, a former Canadian National racer and current WSMC racer, according to Sarros.

Sarros told Roadracingworld.com Tuesday that he expected to test his Yamahas for the first time at Willow Springs January 16-18.

Slime is best known for its tire sealant, a fix-a-flat-type product, but the company also produces bicycle inner tubes, air pressure gauges, air compressors and a number of other products, according to Sarros.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies, 19, has resumed his physical training program and expects to be fully fit and ready for track testing before the end of January, following a 10-week recovery from serious skin abrasions and skin graft surgery.

“I’ve been in the gym for about a week now,” Spies told Roadracingworld.com Tuesday. “I’m already doing the same stuff I was doing before the accident, running 45 minutes. I lost some strength, but I’m doing stuff to get that back. I’m about a month away from being where I was.”

Spies suffered his injuries when the rear Dunlop on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 exploded as he passed the start/finish line at Daytona International Speedway at a radar-measured 186 mph during private tire testing in mid-October.

The 2003 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion suffered serious skin abrasions to his left arm, shoulder and buttock during his long slide on the Daytona pavement. He also hit the Speedway’s outer retaining wall with a glancing blow.

Spies’ left arm received a skin graft at a private hospital in the Dallas, Texas area soon after the accident. Since that time, Spies has been resting at his home in Longview, Texas, constantly cleaning and re-dressing his wounds to prevent infection.

Spies said he expected to test his Superstock GSX-R1000 and Supersport GSX-R600 somewhere in the United States, probably Laguna Seca, before the end of January, while his teammates, Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates, will take their GSX-R1000 Superbikes to the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia for four days of testing.

Spies said he definitely would not attend the additional tire test at Daytona, scheduled for January 25-26.

The Roadracing World Action Fund recently collected nearly $7000 in new donations, bringing the total collected to $260,530.

Daniel F. Haft, director of the Joseph C. and Esther Foster Foundation, wrote, “I am pleased to enclose a contribution of $5000 from the Foster Foundation to the Roadracing World Action Fund for 2003. For the second year in a row, we welcome this opportunity to be a part of your organizations’ effort to bring airfencing and other safety measures to the sport of motorcycle racing around the country.” The Foster Foundation’s total contribution to the Action Fund now stands at $15,000, making it the second-largest contributor behind the Lockhart Phillips USA Project Bike Raffle.

Company-sponsored contribution programs continue to boost the Roadracing World Action Fund. BBVR’s Rider Safety Campaign provided a $125 donation associated with sales of their Ontrack Wheel Alignment System, and according to BBVR President Mark Bremer, buyers included one factory racing team. Traxxion Dynamics sent $750, the result of a pledge of $5 per “Suspension for Mortals” video or DVD sold.

Other repeat contributors include Matthew Kennedy, who added $50 to his former contribution of $50 for a total of $100, while John Stewardson’s donation of $9.45 brought his total to $69.45 and Frank Gonzales of Speed Cycles added $20 to his former donation of $20. Moto Liberty donated $100, then sold a used suit and donated the proceeds of $250, for a total of $350.

CCS Midwest racer Matthew Carr called in a donation of $50, and his inspired parents, Bill & Maggie Carr, joined in with a $250 donation.

Todd Clark made his contribution of $100 “In memory of Trent Dailey.”

Other recent contributors include Nathan and Angela Church, $100; and Eric Hinz, $60.



Summary of Recently Posted Contributions

The Joseph C. & Esther Foster Foundation, Inc. $5000
Traxxion Dynamics, $750
Moto Liberty $350
Bill & Maggie Carr, $250
BBVR, $125
Nathan and Angela Church $100
David H. Haynes, $100
Todd Clark, $100
Eric Hinz, $60
Matthew Carr $50
Matthew Kennedy $50
Frank Gonzales, $20
John Stewardson, $9.45

The Roadracing World Action Fund is a 501.c.3 not-for-profit organization with a mission statement to help prevent racetrack injuries by educating race organizers, racetrack officials and racers on the benefits of using soft barriers.

Accounting Details
Road Racing Expenditure Details
Updated 12/30/2003

Direct purchase of soft barriers: $101,350
Shipping/Customs: $5654.75
Bank Fees: $344.05
Soft Barrier Deployment Crew Training: $700
Transportation & Installation: $4689.47
Corporation/Business Fees: $612
Online Auction Fees: $221.99
Printing: $346.42
Misc Supplies: $39.59
Donation to AMA Pro Racing for purchase of soft barriers: $104,104

Total Spent: $218,062.27

Total Donations Collected $260,529.75
Misc. Income $92.32

Cash on hand: $42,559.80


Dirt Track Expenditure Details

Direct purchase of soft barriers: $9200
Shipping/Customs: $2717.72
Transportation & Installation $2174.77

Total Spent: $14,092.49

Total collected: $18,697
Cash on hand: $4604.51

All administrative costs, including the percentage taken by credit card companies on credit card donations, have been absorbed by Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Mike Smith has left MotoBritalia of Woodstock, Georgia, where he handled racing programs and was also Service Manager.

Smith says he is starting his own business along with his brother-in-law (and former Superbike World Champion) Scott Russell, providing one-on-one streetbike and road racing training.

Smith can be contacted by phone at 404-771-3971.

From a press release issued by the Wegman Benefit Fund:

Spike TV will be taping the short track ice races Saturday evening, January 17th, and the Steel Shoe Fund 3-hour ice endurance race on Sunday, January 18th at Sunset Tavern on Lake Koshkonong in Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin. This event is sponsored in part by Moose Off Road, a division of Parts Unlimited.

Sunset Tavern will also be hosting short track races Saturday nights as well as Super Ice Moto events Sundays every weekend in January and February. For more information on the Sunset Tavern events call Tom Gimmer at 920-563-5702. For information on the Steel Shoe Fund 3-hour charity event call Al Sumner at 262-754-0686.

Gordon Lunde
Wegman Benefit Fund
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
414-321-2338

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Fans will have two opportunities to chat with Suzuki MotoGP racer John Hopkins next week.

Hopkins will hold online chat sessions at www.hopperracing.com January 8 at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time and again at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, for the European fans.

Hopkins is currently celebrating the holidays at his home in Ramona, California.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.



The Roadracing World Action Fund was presented an award in recognition of its efforts to prevent racetrack injuries from Sandia Motorcycle Roadracing Inc. (SMRI), Monday at the Fund’s office in Lake Elsinore, California.

Juan Romero, the outgoing President of the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based organization, took time away from visiting family and friends in Carlsbad, California over the holidays to present Fund founder John Ulrich with the award in person.

The framed glass etching read: “To the Roadracing World Action Fund in great appreciation for your contribution to the safety & growth of motorcycle road racing in New Mexico during the 2003 season. Thank you from Sandia Motorcycle Roadracing, Inc.”

The Fund deployed 15 sections of Airfence Bike safety devices for use by the AMA-sanctioned and –chartered SMRI at Sandia Motorspeedway early in the 2003 racing season, and the money was well spent, according to Romero.

“We had two guys go into it this year where it’s protecting a concrete wall,” Romero told Roadracingworld.com. “The guys were both fine, and there wasn’t even any damage to their bikes. We’ve even had shifter kart guys run into it with good results. The stuff is incredible, unbelievable.”

For additional information on the SMRI, go to www.smri-racing.org.

The Roadracing World Action Fund is a 501.c.3 not-for-profit organization with a mission statement to help prevent racetrack injuries by educating race organizers, racetrack officials and racers on the benefits of using soft barriers. From April of 2001 through October 10, 2003, the Fund has received over $253,000 in donations, of which it has disbursed over $218,000 to purchase, transport and deploy soft barriers, train racetrack personnel on installing and repairing soft barriers and to provide education on racetrack safety. Overhead, including credit card transaction fees, labor and office space, is donated to the Fund by Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. To make a donation to the Roadracing World Action Fund or to learn more improving racetrack safety by deploying soft barriers, go to http://venus.13x.com/roadracingworld/actionfund or call (800) 464-8336.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From a Staff Sargeant we know, who raced with CCS Southwest before being deployed to Iraq, and who will remain anonymous:

The children of Iraq need our help. They are in desperate need of paper, pencils, pens, and any other school equipment. We have been giving them our own personal equipment to try to help out but we only brought so much. These children are the future of Iraq so we would like to set them up any way possible, and get them used to the idea that Americans are their friends. If you could send just one pencil or a notepad it would help them so much. This country is pretty torn up and Saddam did not really care too much about any of that stuff so we are trying to change it. Please send school supplies c/o:

Lt. Col. Gary Garvey
Expeditionary Group Chaplain
506 AEG/EHC
APO AE 09359

Other than that, things are OK over here. It got pretty crazy where I am at the night we caught Saddam. Most of the Iraqis came out of their houses with AK47s and started shooting in the air. We were dodging bullets for a couple of days. It is sad that for almost a quarter of a century Saddam killed the Iraqi people and when we caught him it was supposed to be over. Well, with all their celebration fire they killed an unofficial (there are probably a lot more but people have either hidden the bodies or buried them) nine Iraqis and injured over 40. So they just did it on their own without him.

We are progressing great over here. Just about a week ago we were chasing around another top 10 guy close to Iran. We have a saying with our aircraft: Why run, you will just die tired?

Well, I hope everyone is doing great. I would hope that some of you could send some school supplies for the children of Iraq. It is for a great cause and I am sure if you were in their boat you would appreciate it greatly.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Greg Moore and long-time girlfriend Misty Rose were married December 20th, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The couple honeymooned for seven days, snowboarding and snowmobiling in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.