From a press release issued by Don Emde:

DETAILS OF DAVID EMDE FUNERAL SERVICES

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003

Time: Noon

Location: Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary, 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita CA 91902. Ph: 619-498-4600.

General driving directions: Bonita is east of Chula Vista. For those coming from the north, take 805 South through Mission Valley and National City to the Chula Vista area. Take the “E Street / Bonita Road” exit and turn left. Glen Abbey is approx. 1 mile East of 805 on the right. Take the first entrance to Glen Abbey and follow the signs to “The Little Chapel of the Roses.”

Other notes:

All friends and family of David are invited to attend.

Motorcycles are more than welcome.

Dress as you like, casual is okay.

There will be a few pre-planned speakers, but we will open up the service for anyone who would like to say a few words about David.

There will not be any activities at Glen Abbey prior to the services, but there will be a reception afterwards in the Rancho Bernardo area and everyone is welcome to come. Maps will be handed out at the service.

For anyone coming in the night before, there is a La Quinta Inn at the 805/Bonita Road exit. We checked and as of Tuesday, they had rooms available for Monday night 9/22. Their local phone number is 619-691-1211 (Toll free 800-531-5900). They have setup a group rate, just say you are in for the David Emde services at Glen Abbey.

Regarding donations, in cooperation with Ron Ketchum of Escondido Cycle Center, the Emde family is setting up a fund for David’s son Brian. A fundraiser event is planned by ECC and donations are also encouraged. Send to: Brian Floyd Emde Scholarship Fund c/o Escondido Cycle Center, 1415 Montiel Rd., Escondido CA 92026. For information on the fund contact either Don Emde (949-215-4780) or Ron Ketchum (760-745-1615).

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

HAYES, HAYDEN EXTEND AMA SUPERSTOCK BATTLE TO THE WIRE

Spies poised to win Formula Xtreme at Barber Motorsports Park

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 17, 2003) — The final AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship race of the season at Barber Motorsports Park on Sept. 19-21, will see the crowning of four champions. The closest of the title races this year has been the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series. Attack Suzuki’s Josh Hayes narrowly leads Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden by just 8 points. Hooters Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec, third in the series rankings, still has an outside shot at the title. In the Lockhart-Phillips Formula Xtreme Series five-race winner Ben Spies has a commanding 30-point lead and needs only to finish 23rd or better to clinch his first AMA Pro Racing Championship. Mat Mladin needs only 38 points from the combined Superbike doubleheader to clinch the Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship title. While Rich Oliver already has the MBNA 250 Grand Prix title secured all eyes will be on the longtime racing veteran to see if he can complete a perfect undefeated season in that series.




Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series

After opening the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock season with an 11th and 10th-place finish in the first two rounds, no one considered Attack Suzuki’s Josh Hayes a serious contender for the title. However, a second-place result at Road Atlanta made some sit up and take notice of Hayes. Then the rider from Gulfport, Miss., put together a solid run of five-straight podium finishes, including wins at Monterey, Calif., and Lexington, Ohio, which catapulted him to the top of the standings. Conversely Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden looked to be a shoo-in for the series title after winning the opening three rounds of the series aboard a specially built for Superstock ZX636. But then a mid-season slump that saw Hayden miss the podium in four straight races cost the Kentuckian the series lead.

The top two riders had a great showdown last month at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va. Hayden held on to win his fourth Superstock race of the year over Hayes, but Hayes cited caution as part of his explanation of why he didn’t make a strong move for the lead late in the Virginia race. “I had to be smart at VIR and come out of there with the points lead,” Hayes said of the VIR race. “There are still 17 laps to go in this championship. When we get to Barber it will be a different story and I’ll take a few more chances to make sure I win the series.”

Hayden, the oldest of the three racing Hayden brothers, is trying to become the first rider to win the AMA Superstock Series on a machine with less than 750cc engine displacement. In addition to trying to win his first AMA Pro Championship, Hayden is hoping to give Kawasaki its first Superstock title (in past years known as the 750 Supersport) since Scott Russell won the series in 1992. Suzuki wants to prevent that from happening.

Still in the AMA Superstock Championship picture is Czech native Haskovec. The Hooters Suzuki rider is a first-time winner in the series this season and has become a fan favorite for his sheer enthusiasm for racing.


Lockhart-Phillips Formula Xtreme Series

This series is Ben Spies’ to win or lose. Since moving to the factory Yoshimura Suzuki team this year Spies has blossomed into the leading up-and-coming rider in AMA road racing. After going through a bout of what he called overconfidence mid-season, Spies has come back strong with three straight Formula Xtreme victories. Now only Graves Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster has what could be best described as a long-shot at winning the title he’s tried so hard to get for three years. Unless Spies fails to finish it appears that Buckmaster will once again walk away thinking “what if”. Buckmaster, who narrowly lost the Formula Xtreme title in 2001 and 2002, led the series for much of this season before Spies made his rally. One consolation for Buckmaster, should he win at Barber, will be the satisfaction that he would tie Kurtis Roberts and Eric Bostrom atop the all-time AMA Formula Xtreme wins list.


MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series

The curtain comes down on the longest running AMA road racing series when the MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series finale runs at Barber on Sept. 21. It would be fitting for Rich Oliver to close the series with a victory. The 42-year-old Californian, the all-time wins leader in AMA 250GP history, announced that this would be his final race. Oliver will be the last champion of a series that includes an illustrious list of past champions such as Randy Mamola, Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, John Kocinski and Jimmy Filice just to name a few. If Oliver wins Sunday it would mark his third perfect season in MBNA 250 Grand Prix.

Live coverage of the 250GP race begins at 2 p.m. Eastern, Sunday, Sept. 21, on Speed. The Formula Xtreme finale will be shown at 5 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 30. For additional information on this weekend’s doubleheader contact Barber Motorsports Park at (205) 967-4745 or visit www.barbermotorsports.com

From a press release issued by event organizers:

The Church of Speed has secured promises of contingency support for the Festival of Speed III, January 23-25 2004 at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, Louisiana.

The companies that have commited are Walt Shaefer and Michelin tires, Dunlop Tires, EBC brakes, GPR dampners, SilkolineStore.com and GMD Computrack.

We are hoping others will come on board, interested companies please contact Kevin Nolde at 225-675-5879.

CoS will also post a $200 track record bonus, the NPR track record is currently held by Greg Moore on a GSX-R1000 on Michelin Slicks at a 1:12.33.

CoS is also hosting practice and schools every Monday at NPR. We run a variety of circuits and begin at 8:30 am.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

By John Ulrich

–Meeting Dave circa 1973, when I was a cub reporter, didn’t know anybody, and could hardly get any racers to answer my questions. He answered my questions, with a smile.

–Seeing Dave crash himself up the night before the AMA National at Ontario Motor Speedway, fooling around on an XR70 in the parking lot, circa 1974.

–Watching Dave win late-night minibike short-track races held on the tennis court at Harry Klinzmann’s parents’ house in a ritzy neighborhood in Anaheim Hills, California, with chaise-lounge pads duct-taped to the net poles to provide “safety,” circa 1975.

–Watching Dave on his private Yamaha battle and beat Kenny Roberts on his Yamaha Motor Corp. Yamaha heads-up to win the AMA 250cc race at Laguna Seca, circa 1976.

–Hanging out with Dave at the Suzuka 8-hours, 1980.

–Sharing the podium with Dave (along with his teammate Harry Klinzmann, Eddie Lawson and his teammate Ron Pierce, and my teammate Bruce Hammer) after the AFM Pro Budweiser 6-Hour at Riverside Raceway, in 1981.

–Seeing Dave show up to race at Willow Springs again last year, his mile-wide grin the same as it ever was.

Godspeed, David. Godspeed.

From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2003
ROUND 12 – CINZANO RIO GRAND PRIX
16TH SEPTEMBER 2003 – EVENT PREVIEW

RIO RACE NEXT STOP FOR FUCHS KAWASAKI TEAM

Four races in five weeks, that’s the demanding MotoGP schedule that faces Fuchs Kawasaki riders Andrew Pitt and Garry McCoy as they prepare for this week’s South American adventure at the Rio Grand Prix.

The Rio race is round 12 of the MotoGP World Championship and traditionally takes place on Saturday rather than the more usual Sunday. It is the first of a series of multi-continent flyaway events that will take the Kawasaki squad through Brazil, Japan, Malaysia and Australia.

It’s a long, tough trip with GP teams and riders working out of packing crates and away from their traditional European bases. However there is a silver lining for Pitt and McCoy.

The reward for the Australian pair is that the final flyaway race, before a return to Europe for the season grand finale, is their home Grand Prix at Phillip Island on October 19th, where they will have the once-a-year opportunity of racing before family, friends and home fans.

McCoy and Pitt will face vastly different challenges at Rio as they try to reverse the disappointment of the recent Portuguese GP. As with the at Estoril, the Kawasaki team goes to Rio for the first time with no data or base settings to work from in this first development year of the 990cc ZX-RR MotoGP machine.

MotoGP rookie Pitt has another new track and culture to learn as he prepares for his Brazilian debut. However Pitt, who won the Supersport World Championship with Kawasaki in 2001, has proved to be a fast learner in his first season aboard the prototype Ninja ZX-RR.

Meanwhile, McCoy is a Rio regular and is familiar with the unpredictable conditions, both weather and track, that can be part of the racing equation in Brazil. While dismayed to be a non-finisher at the recent Portuguese race, the resilient McCoy is hoping the wider and faster Nelson Piquet Circuit will provide the opportunity to maximise the performance of the ZX-RR.

The Rio circuit has a couple of unusual features apart from its bumpy and abrasive surface. The road course is combined with an Indy car oval track and there are two cross-over points for the car circuit. Then there are the two parallel straights, the shorter of which contains the start-finish line and pit garages while the super-fast 1,000 metre main straight rockets its way past a huge grandstand that provides a panoramic view of the whole complex.

Garry McCoy
“Every time I go back to Rio the track seems like its torn up more than the last time; maybe we get spoilt in Europe with mostly smooth tracks, but it can be pretty wild over the bumps, a little like a motocross track. I know the track as a rider, but the tough part is that unlike most of the other factory teams Kawasaki is going there for the first time without data from previous races. There are some changes of direction that might be hard on us, but also there are some faster corners and a long straight and Kawasaki have been tweaking our motors recently so that should help. It can be either hot or raining and tyre wise Dunlop have made some positive progress for both conditions, but if I had to pick right now I guess a wet race might be a little better for the ZX-RR at this stage.”

Andrew Pitt
“I’ll be in Rio a few days early to try and shake off the jet lag and have a look around and get the feel of the place, as I’ve never been there before, either as a racer or a tourist. I’ll probably try and get on a scooter and do some laps and work out which way the corners go. First practice on Friday morning will be a learning session for me as I know the track will look a lot different at 300km/h on the ZX-RR. But I’m looking forward to the challenge; I learn tracks pretty quick and hopefully we can find a race set-up that gives us a chance of moving forward, running at the back is no fun.”


From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION
Preview Rio Grand Prix at Jacarepagua
18 – 19 – 20 September 2003

HONDAS EXPECTED TO FLY DOWN IN RIO

The Nelson Piquet circuit on the fringes of the bustling conurbation of Rio de Janeiro hosts the first and only South American based MotoGP race of the intense 2003 season on Saturday 20 September, with all three of the top Honda RC211V riders in the series having tasted victory at least once so far.

The top three championship positions at this important juncture of the season are filled by the V5-powered triumvirate of 2002 World Champion Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda RC211V), Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) and Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V). Rossi sits on 237, Gibernau on 191 and Biaggi on 161.

Such has been the consistency and speed of these men and their Honda machines that the next nearest challenge is 48 points behind Biaggi’s total and comes from MotoGP returnees Ducati, in the shape of Loris Capirossi (Ducati). MotoGP rookie Troy Bayliss (Ducati) is a further seven points adrift.

The second season of four-stroke MotoGP regulations has been a real battle for wins from day one, with Gibernau four times puncturing the frequently indestructible force field surrounding multiple world champion Rossi. More recently Rossi has found new focus and powers of race long concentration allowing him to secure the last two race wins, for a season total of five.

Rossi in full flow is an awesome sight to behold, and his personal record of five Rio wins, spread through all solo classes, is a telling statistic for his rivals to consider at this juncture. Rossi’s form is back to its exquisite best, having won the most recent Brno and Estoril MotoGP events, taking him to a career total of 55 in all classes.

“I am very happy after the last two GPs with good results,” said the 2001 and 2002 World Champion. “We worked very hard on the bike with the team and after the summer break we came back and concentrated at 100%. I think earlier in the season maybe we lost a little bit of our concentration. We made a few mistakes but now we are coming good for the important part of the season. We have had good success in Rio and I have many good memories of this track in the past. We hope to make more of the same results that will be good for the championship.”

The man who matched Rossi blow for blow for much of the season, Sete Gibernau, is optimistic about his upcoming Rio performance but recognises that the nature of the 4.933 km circuit can catch out the unwary, even on day one.

“Of course I’m very enthusiastic going into the Rio race,” said the rejuvenated Spaniard. “The race is important and I’m willing to fight for the win on Saturday. The track is not one of my favourites but I don’t dislike racing there. The big factors at Rio are the weather – sometimes it rains – and the tyres. Tyre choice is crucial at Rio and you have to get the set up right as soon as possible so you know your tyre choice is the right one.”

For Max Biaggi, his most recent experiences of the RC211V have imbued him with enthusiasm for the fight in South America.

“I had a good result in Estoril and I hope the next race will be even better,” said Biaggi, the Donington race winner. “I pretty much like the layout of the circuit but not the tarmac. Normally the grip is not good and it’s quite bumpy. You need a very good set up there. Anyway there are a couple of things that make me positive about Rio: the first one is that the RC211V is a naturally very, very well balanced machine, the second is that we made a step forward with the set up in Estoril. Hopefully we’ll improve even more from there.”

For Tohru Ukawa (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) his 2003 season has featured a mixed bag of results, and he sits seventh after 11 rounds.

“We had a good race at Estoril and I feel a lot happier now – after a few poor results earlier on,” said the 30-year-old Japanese. “The team worked very hard at the Brno test and at Estoril and we found solutions to some problems. Now I hope we can keep carry on the same way for the rest of the season.”

Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) has enjoyed his rookie MotoGP season so far but more importantly has been a thorn in the side of many more experienced competitors on several occasions.

“I’ve been feeling better and better on the bike recently and am really looking for some good finishes from the last few races,” said Hayden, who has another reason to be at his best at Rio. “I was pretty disappointed with the result in Portugal where I had come into the weekend with some high expectations from the previous two races. It only really started to come good at the end of the race and it’s too late then! I’ll be looking to get on pace quick in Rio and I definitely want to move up the riders table before the end of the season.” Hayden currently lies ninth on overall classification.

Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda RC211V) is playing the role of Bridgestone tyre development rider and full-on racer for his team, and Rio offers yet another challenge to his talents.

“We had a better day in Estoril, I’m happy with the race overall,” said three time SBK race winner, currently in 12th place. “We are closer to our rivals and I hope we carry on improving when we get to Rio. It will be my first race at the track.”

Another MotoGP rookie Ryuichi Kiyonari (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) faces a stiff test of his abilities at Rio, and hopes he will be able to put in new personal bests once more.

In the 250cc Championship Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) sits third overall, part of a five-man group covered by only 22 points. World Championship leader Manuel Poggiali is at the head of a whole gaggle of Aprilia riders in contention with Rolfo.

Having scored a win on the undulating twists of Sachsenring he rates the very different Rio as a tough trial for both man and machine this weekend.

“Rio is a track I don’t really like very much,” confessed Rolfo. “In the past the bikes I have raced there suffered on the two long straights. The biggest problem at Rio is set up to run the long corners on the track. Maybe the Honda I have now will be better suited to the circuit than what I raced before.”

One man who looks forward to Rio, for more than just professional reasons, is Argentinean rider Sebastian Porto (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW). Based in Europe for almost all the year, Porto moves closer to home when the circus heads for Rio.

“I travelled home to Argentina after Estoril, celebrating my 25th birthday with my friends,” said Porto, who will start his 120th GP this weekend. “Sure Rio is a special place for me I won the race last year. Rio is the closest race to my home so a lot of Argentine fans come to the race. We make progress with the bike each race so I hope we have improved again since Estoril. I’m looking forward to the race.”

Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS125R) was blessed with some good fortune at Estoril in the previous 125cc championship round, his two main rivals clashing and Pedrosa taking the opportunity to move 38 points clear of his nearest rival Stefano Perugini (Aprilia).

Pedrosa now finds himself in an unexpectedly clear leading position, and may have to modify his normal approach of going for the win at all costs this weekend.

“Rio is one of those places where we might get rain, I hope not this year,” said Pedrosa. “It rained last year and I was doing OK in third place until my boot slipped off the footrest and touched the rear brake and I crashed. The way things worked out at Estoril was good for me but if it rains at Rio I will not take any risks. I just hope it stays dry.”

Masao Azuma (Ajo Motorsports Honda RS125R) was a convincing winner of the Rio race in 2002, and is understandably looking forward to similar riding conditions to last year.

“Last year Rio was a fantastic race for me, I have good memories of Rio,” said Azuma. “When the surface is clean it has good grip, also in the wet. If I could choose between wet and dry right now I would prefer the wet with the set up we have for the rain.”

Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) has some experience of the Rio circuit.

“I raced at the track in Rio last year, it’s not so bad,” understated the young Swiss. “Like all tracks in the championship its OK for me. I like the atmosphere in Brazil, it’s a nice country and I enjoyed racing there.”

The Rio race takes place on Saturday 20 September, not the more usual Sunday of most other MotoGP weekends. This means that official qualifying also starts one day earlier than normal, on Thursday 18th.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Longtime WERA Race Starter, “Airborne” Al Wilcox, 84, suffered a heart attack on September 13 at home in Trenton, New Jersey. Al was taken to a local hospital and had emergency surgery performed. According to his daughter Julie Smyers, “Daddy is doing pretty good and should be back home in a week to recuperate. He is my bionic father. All the doctors say he looks like he is 60!”

Al Wilcox was AMA National #49 Harley-Davidson factory flat track racer in the 1940s. He raced on the beach at Daytona and at tracks all over the nation. After his racing career, Al worked as Race Starter for the AMA for many years, then moved on to starting races for WERA in 1974. The Mid-Atlantic Road Racing Club, MARRC, honored him as a lifetime member in 1984. Al’s unique style of waving the checkered flag and jumping three feet in the air for the winner, earned him the nickname “Airborne” Al Wilcox. One of Al’s passions was rollerskating. Al was a master at the roller rink and could dance and perform tricks like few others. After knee and hip replacements along with doctor’s orders, the jumping and rollerskating had to stop.

He recently started the WERA National road races at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia on August 1-3. Unfortunately Al will not be able to make the WERA races at Summit Point on September 20 and 21. Look for him next year.

Cards and letters of encouragement can be sent to: Al Wilcox, 22 Vermont Street, Trenton, New Jersey, 08648-4537.

Roger Lyle
Wheaton, Maryland

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Please forward my deepest condolences and sincerest regards to the Emde family. I cannot unfortunately find the words to express my sadness at the loss which has been put upon us.

As another rider, who happened upon the scene moments after it occured, I would like to address something. After my emotions have settled, I have come to the realization that I was not prepared to try and help in an emergency situation. I was ill prepared to be of much help, other than running traffic after the initial 911 calls went out. I urge you (Roadracingworld.com), to ask people to take emergency medical/accident training classes. I will be taking emergency classes shortly, so that if I ever encounter another situation again, I will be able to help.

I ask you, to ask people to take basic emergency assistance courses so that the number of these tragedies can be lessened. It’s a terrible feeling, to feel that you should have been able to do something, anything, and were not able to. It’s a feeling, that for one incident in my life, I will never be able to forget, that I should have been able to help and wasn’t. I will however be prepared the next time, and I ask that our fellow riders be prepared as well.

I would also like to personally thank the local neighbors who were very helpful and kind. We appreciated your concern over a fellow rider, and your support in getting help. There was a gentleman passerby, who I would like to thank as well for his efforts. The EMT/Fire/Ambulance crews, thank you for your devotion to your jobs. I know that it was greatly appreciated by all. Thank you all for all your help.

May God welcome you with open arms, Dave.

Gordon Rayburn
Ramona, California

Via e-mail:

THANKS FROM THE EMDE FAMILY

On behalf of the entire Emde family, let me say thank you to all who have sent their kind words to us at this difficult time. Through his racing years and later as a motorcycle salesman, riding instructor and enthusiast, my brother David made many friends and we appreciate their support.

We should have his funeral service arrangements finalized later today. The tentative plan at the moment is for a service next Tuesday (9/23) at Glen Abbey Mortuary in our hometown of Bonita, California (San Diego area).

We will send out the exact date, time and location once we have everything set.

Thank You,

Don Emde

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

WSMC racer (#188) Jody Hendley, 38, died of cancer Saturday, September 13 at his home in Mission Viejo, California, according to friend and teammate Eric Pinson.

He is survived by his wife K.C., two sons, ages 16 and 8, and a daughter, age 6.

Hendley was a contractor by trade and owned his own drywall company, Off The Wall Drywall.

Hendley rode for Bartels’ Harley-Davidson for most of his racing career and finished fourth in the 1997 AMA Super Twins Championship behind Eric Bostrom, Dave Estok and Jake Zemke. In more recent years, he raced regularly with the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California. Hendley would routinely beat Ducati Superbike racers on his Harley Sportster and Buell Lightning.

According to Pinson, Hendley was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and underwent several unsuccessful treatments. Knowing he would not survive the cancer, Hendley last raced at Willow Springs July 20 and took third in the Battle of the Twins Heavyweight race.

Per his wishes, Hendley will not have a formal memorial or funeral service.

Pinson said plans are being made to start a scholarship fund for Hendley’s children, but no details were available at post time.



More, from a racer who knew Jody Hendley:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Jody was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met at the track. In all my conversations with him he was always very pleasant, positive, and always quick to smile. He was also damn fast on his Harley. He was a colorful character and I’m sorely going to miss him–as I’m sure very many will.

Robbie Dowie
WSMC #6
Torrance, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Jody Hendley. I didn’t know him well but enjoyed talking with him on numerous occasions at Laguna. He seemed to have a great attitude and his speed on the Sportster he raced in Pro Thunder was amazing!

Tyler Sandell
Seattle, Washington


FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Jody was one of my teammates on the SoCal Buell Dealers 24-Hours of Willow Springs effort in 2000. I was a first timer at Willow, struggling to get up to speed, and he calmed me down and gave me a lot of great advice and feedback as I learned the track. He was one of those rare individuals that made you feel like a close friend from the moment you met him. He was so positive and upbeat, not to mention ultra fast and smooth. It would be hard to find a better endurance racing partner, or friend. Thank you, Jody, for setting such a fine example of kindness, caring and friendship. Godspeed.

Paul James
CCS/F-USA #247

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS AND MAKES RECORD DONATION TO THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION

$7.2 million check presented to MDA during company’s anniversary celebration

MILWAUKEE — Harley-Davidson Motor Company surpassed its 100th Anniversary celebration fundraising goal by presenting a check to the Muscular Dystrophy Association for $7,286,191.57, making Harley-Davidson MDA’s top corporate partner for 2003. Harley-Davidson Motor Company President and Chief Operating Officer Jim McCaslin made the announcement during the 100th Anniversary Party on Sunday, August 31 in Milwaukee, WI. The company set an original goal of raising $5 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The Harley-Davidson family of customers, dealers employees and suppliers conducted various fundraising activities including rider pledges, dealer fundraisers, motorcycle raffles and pin sales. Fundraising activities for the Muscular Dystrophy Association took place worldwide over the 14-month period leading up to the Harley-Davidson Anniversary Celebration in Milwaukee.

“We considered our 100th Anniversary fundraising goal for the Muscular Dystrophy Association to be ambitious, but we knew it could happen with hard work from everyone involved,” said McCaslin. “I’m personally grateful to our customers, dealers, employees and suppliers who rose to the occasion and helped us not only meet but surpass our expectations.”

The 100th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson marked the 23rd year the Motor Company has been associated with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. During that time, the Harley-Davidson family of customers, dealers, employees and suppliers have raised more than $47 million to aid research and program services for children and adults with neuromuscular disease. The Funds raised at the various 100th Anniversary events will help support life-saving research, comprehensive medical care and the very special MDA Summer Camp.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight street, custom and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson/Buell dealers and customers.