From a press release issued by WERA:

WERA GRAND NATIONAL FINALS AT ROAD ATLANTA WRAP UP 2003 SEASON; SUZUKI CUP FINALS TO DETERMINE CHAMPIONS

BRASELTON, Ga.- The hilly terrain of Road Atlanta will be alive this weekend, October 30-November 2, as WERA presents the Grand National Finals, where 56 champions will be crowned as the best racers in WERA come together for the culmination of an exciting 2003 season.

The WERA GNF is the biggest event of the season for the series, which is hailed as a breeding ground for up and coming talent in motorcycle road racing. All of WERA’s divisions will compete during the weekend, including the Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series, the National Challenge Series, the Vintage Series and winner-take-all Sportsman sprint races featuring the top riders from each of WERA’s seven regions.

Four full days of racing action begin on Thursday, October 30, when the National Vintage Series holds all of their final races, and the first nine Sportsman Series Finals get underway. Each sprint race will consist of eight laps around Road Atlanta’s 2.54-mile, 12-turn circuit. Racing begins following morning practice sessions.

The tenth round of the Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series gets the green flag on Friday, October 31, and will last for four hours as five classes of bikes battle for overall and class victories. The day will end with five more Sportsman Series sprint races.

Saturday’s racing features 15 races. The Sportsman Series Finals will conclude with ten sprint races, and six-lap heat races will be held to determine the starting grids for Sunday’s Suzuki Cup Finals. The classes for Suzuki Cup include TL1000R, GSX-R1000, GSX-R750, GSX-R600 and SV650. Racing begins at noon on both Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday, October 31, will have plenty of competition as the top riders in WERA battle for championships in the National Challenge Series sprint races. The Suzuki Cup Finals, which feature the top privateer Suzuki riders in the United States, will each be ten laps in length.

Tickets for the weekend start at just $20 for Sunday. A ticket for Saturday and Sunday is just $30, Friday through Sunday is $35, and the entire four days is only $40. Camping is also available in Road Atlanta’s wooded infield for an additional fee.

More information about the WERA Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta, including a schedule of events for the weekend, can be found on the Internet at www.wera.com.

From a press release issued by Brainerd International Raceway:

BIR’s “Etaconite track” could become test facility

Congressman Oberstar visits BIR, agrees that testing makes sense

BRAINERD, Minn. ­ With the help of federal grant money, Brainerd International Raceway could resurface most of its three-mile road course with special taconite tailings-based asphalt and then use the track as a valuable test facility in addition to continuing its tradition of offering world-class motorsports.

That was the determination by U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, who met last week with BIR officials to examine the asphalt portion of BIR’s newly reconstructed drag strip. The asphalt uses taconite tailings as a substrate instead of rock aggregate, which is more widely used in asphalt but doesn’t produce a product that is as durable as the tailings-based asphalt.

BIR invited the Congressman to the track to show him the taconite asphalt and to discuss alternative uses for the special asphalt. They also talked about the possibilities of using federal grant money to resurface its road course with tailings-based asphalt and then allow the Minnesota Department of Transportation and other agencies to monitor and test it as part of an effort to increase the use of the special asphalt on public roads nationwide.

The tailings-based asphalt has been used successfully on a few public roads on the Iron Range, but BIR offers the perfect conditions for state agencies to thoroughly test the product under extreme conditions, said BIR General Manager Scott Quick. “You won’t find any other road surface that gets the kind of pressure that our race track does. We have cars entering our first turn at 160 mph, which puts an extraordinary amount of pressure on that racing surface. Other areas of the track regularly see speeds between 70-100 mph. If that asphalt can withstand the beating it’ll get here, it can stand up to any kind of conditions that public roads nationwide would experience.”

Oberstar, from Minnesota’s 8th District, is the ranking Democrat on the federal Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He said that the idea of using this special asphalt on public roads is gaining popularity because the product is so durable it requires less patching and it doesn’t need to be replaced as often as conventional asphalt does. Plus, many markets, like the Twin Cities, are experiencing a shortage of available rock aggregate to make traditional asphalt.

Taconite tailings, which is the course, jagged rock-like material left behind from the taconite mining process, is found in abundance on the Iron Range in northeast Minnesota. In fact, 4 billion tons of the material are currently available. The cost is very affordable ­about $1 a ton ­ but because the tailings are so dense, transporting them is very expensive and difficult. Trucks transported BIR’s tailings from EVTAC Mining in Eveleth, Minn., but major road construction projects will require the material to be transported by rail or water, Oberstar said.

Oberstar said the transportation issue is being addressed through the federal Railroad Infrastructure Financing program, which is funding construction of short railroad lines from the mining basins, where the tailings are located, to main railroad lines. This is already being done at the Hibbing Taconite mine, and additional lines may be built at other mines.

“We have to have more durable highways,” Oberstar said. “This (BIR’s asphalt surface) is the quality of the rural roads, highways and interstates that that we want to build.” He added that one 40-foot semi-truck puts as much pressure on a road surface as 9,000 passenger cars.

What started out as an informational meeting with Oberstar turned out to be a mini-summit, with the focus being the special asphalt and its future. Among those attending the meeting were Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley; MnDOT Division Director Dick Stehr; Baxter Mayor Gary Muehlhausen; Brainerd Mayor James Wallin; Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce CEO Lisa Paxton; Dave Johnson, president of Anderson Brothers Construction in Brainerd, which produced BIR’s tailings-based asphalt; and Jodi Ruehle of the Tinklenberg Group, which is a Twin Cities-based consulting firm that specializes in advancing the uses of taconite tailings.

Last fall, BIR tore up its quarter-mile drag strip and reconstructed it, using concrete for the first one-eighth mile and tailings-based asphalt for the second one-eighth mile. The taconite tailings make the asphalt more consistent with concrete, making the transition from concrete to asphalt less dramatic for the dragsters, many of which run speeds over 300 mph. BIR officials believed that the new asphalt would make the track one of the fastest in the country, capable of producing world records. Last summer, the first full racing season with the new track, one world record and one national record fell.

BIR is a subsidiary of Michigan-based Sports Resorts International Inc., a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ exchange (SPRI). Now in its 34th season, BIR is one of North America’s largest racetracks, featuring 800 acres of rustic camping, 159 full-service RV sites and on-site condos. BIR is about 120 miles north of the Twin Cities, and it now has a new concrete drag strip that is one of the flattest and fastest in the country. Visit www.brainerdraceway.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Kenan Rappuchi married Margaret Amodio on September 27th, in Los Gatos, California.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Although this is the first time I have heard about a potential WSB race at Mont Tremblant I would like to make a few comments, noting that I was responsible for the re-design that brought the track from its 1960s format to FIA (car) A standard specifications.

While I always thought the track would be great for bikes, when redesigning it, my main focus was for cars, because that is what the owners wanted. At the time they showed no interest in bike events. Consequently there are some issues which may need to be addressed, although most can be handled quite easily.

The first turn cannot be used. It is scarily fast with a huge downhill at the apex. This is why I built a chicane inside the entry, which was used for the recent Superbike race and apparently worked OK.

Most run-offs should be OK but the wall on riders’ right at Turn 11 on the uphill approach to the bridge cannot be pushed back any further (I have already moved it back as far as technically possible). Instead this will require Airfence.

The turn-in to the chicane at Turn 1 needs a lot of Airfence on riders’ left across from the pit exit road and care must be taken to ensure that the median between the track and the pit exit road is kept absolutely flush with both surfaces.

There is a steep bank at riders left on the exit from Turn 8 (a long, 360-sweeper that is a bit too close to track edge). I wanted this moved but it never got done. It can still be moved and/or Airfence added. I am sure that Airfence will also be needed in some other places (Turns 3, 4 & 9) after all, this is one of the fastest tracks in North America.

Other issues. The paddock is only seven acres big, so care will be needed in selecting events. There is, however another paddock behind Turn 10 which is about eight acres, designed for overflow use. Just a bit awkward to coordinate but can work well.

Two foot bridges were designed. One over the pit lane and track near the entry to Turn One, the other before the entry to Namerow Corner. These are easy to install, if they are still available from the source I found.

There is no way the race control, media center, etc., will ever meet FIM WSB standards as they are re-creations of the old 1960s building with small modernizations. Claude Danis and WSB will have to make major concessions if they are to run a WSB event here.

Note that this was a 1960s-designed track which was redesigned with the goals of maintaining the character of the old track but brought up to meet 2000 car safety standards. We kept the shape of almost all the corners but completely reengineered every inch of track. It was not intended to hold major international championship events.

Mont Tremblant is as beautiful as Barber, located in the center of the village and next to a major ski area and large lakes which makes it perhaps the most attractive race venue anywhere in America, and maybe the world. Formerly known as St. Jovite it hosted F1 GPs in 1960 and 1962 and the first ever Can-Am race. It was a big player for a short while then fell into low level use, eventually becoming very untidy and unsafe. It was bought by a car enthusiast about six years ago for his own private use, with no intention of holding any events. He asked me to re-design it so that he could host a major, private invitation historic car event (hence the safety standards and FIA inspection), but chose not to run ALMS or other cars events at first. He has subsequently allowed an annual Grand-Am sports car race along with his historic event and a few club events, as well as, this year, a Canadian motorcycle race. However no recent event has been promoted on a large scale.

There is quite a lot of parking although I do not know how much this has been developed or cleared from the overgrown state it was in when I left the project. Viewing is excellent but will benefit from a few temporary grandstands.

Many drivers, including some international sports car stars, have rated Tremblant their favorite racetrack, and it is both very fast and very challenging. It certainly ranks with Barber for aesthetic impact and with Road America for sheer riding challenge and exhilaration, even if it is quite a bit shorter than RA.

With a bit of work I believe it can be a great bike track, although a bit more on the edge than some newer formats. Good riders will like it but must treat it with respect. Newer riders will need to get more experience if they want to get the most out of it!

Although I spent 18 months in hands on redesign and reconstruction I left the project shortly before it was completed and have not been back since. I have no ongoing involvement in the facility.

Hope this provides some background.

Alan Wilson
Castle Rock, Colorado

From a press release:

On October 4, 2003, David Reeder of Bunker Hill, Illinois was fatally injured while racing the Petersburg half-mile dirt track in Petersburg, Illinois. We are holding a raffle drawing in his behalf for his wife, Tammy, and 7-year-old daughter, Dustee. Dave’s insurance is refusing to pay any medical or funeral expenses (because he was killed in competition).

What we are raffling was donated to us by Bob Milleville, of Aid to Injured Riders. It’s one of only three, autographed, Nicky Hayden 2002 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship Number One plates.

This is truly a worthy cause, and this would make a beautiful centerpiece.

Tickets are $2 each, or three for $5, seven for $10, or 15 for $20. The drawing will be held at about 7:00 p.m. on December 13, 2003. Requests by mail must be received by noon on December 12.

Any and all donations are accepted.

Tickets are available now by mail. Mail a check or money order to:

Dave Reeder Fund
Prairie Thunder Motorcycle Club
P.O. Box 11192
Springfield, IL 62791-1192

From a press release issued by Troll Honda BQR:

Report on today’s fifth round of the Spanish Bancaja Fórmula de Campeones Motociclismo Superseries held on Sunday, October 26, 2003, 2003 at Albacete, Spain.

Noyes Now Leads Spanish Superstock by 2 Points One Race to Go

Kenny Noyes of Borrego Springs, California, finished second today at Cartagena, Spain, on his Troll BQR Honda CBR954RR and has moved into the lead in the Bancaja Fórmula de Campeones Motociclsimo Superseries, a national championship for Supersport machines, by a scant two points (90-88) with only a single round to run.

The race was won by local rider Jerónimo Castillejo, Honda CBR954RR, (from (from nearby Fuerte Alamos), now third in points. José Manuel Hurtado (MIR Suzuki GSX-R1000) went into the race leading by two points and now trails by two.

“Castillejo had a better rhythm at this track today and second was the best we could do. At one point my board showed Hurtado in sixth, but he came through at the end to take third and that means to win the title we have to beat him at Valencia,” said Noyes.

The final round of the Spanish Superseries will be run on November 9.

From a press release:

MUGGERIDGE AND PARKES CARRY TEN KATE HONDA HOPES

Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes will ride for World Champions, Ten Kate Honda in the 2004 World Supersport championship aboard the all-conquering CBR600RR machine.

The exciting pairing will aim to clinch a third consecutive World Supersport crown for the Dutch team. “We are very excited for next year and are very happy that Karl and Broc will be spearheading our challenge in 2004,” said team manager, Ronald ten Kate.

Muggeridge had a brilliant end to the 2003 season with three consecutive wins at Assen, Imola and Magny-Cours, lifting him up to fourth in the overall standings with 134 points.

“I am very happy to be racing with Ten Kate next year and I am sure I can fight for the title. I had glandular fever at the start of this year and that cost me the first half of the season. The team did a fantastic job all year and I am looking forward to working with everybody again,” said 29-year-old Muggeridge.

Fellow Australian, Parkes had his first ride for Ten Kate in the final round of the 2003 World Supersport championship at Magny-Cours in France but fell on lap 20 while in contention for a podium place.

“After a lot of disappointment this year, I am thrilled to be racing next year and it’s a bonus to be with such an impressive outfit as Ten Kate,” said Parkes who notched his first podium at Misano Adriatico, Italy with third place and finished the season in 13th place on 47 points.

World Supersport champion, Chris Vermeulen will race for Ten Kate Honda in the World Superbike championship on the all-new CBR1000RR Fireblade machine.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

2004 AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Oct. 24, 2003) — AMA Pro Racing has released its schedule for the 2004 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. The upcoming road racing season will begin with the 63rd running of the Daytona 200 during Bike Week in March and conclude with a double-header event at Virginia International Raceway in September.

AMA Pro Racing Vice President of Commercial Development, John Farris states that the 2004 schedule is similar to that of 2003 but with some subtle changes implemented to improve the series overall. “By design, we set out to make the flow of the 2004 schedule consistent with the just-concluded 2003 season,” said Farris. “At the same time, we tried to be responsive to the local situations of some of our promoters in order to make each event as successful as possible.” Farris cites the events at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga.; and Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va., as examples of races that received new dates for the 2004 season.

Travel patterns relative to the scheduling of events were also given careful consideration. “As we do every year with all of our series, we tried to construct a schedule that was favorable to the racers and teams competing in our series,” said Farris. “The 2004 schedule has a cadence to it that will not only benefit the needs of our participants but also help continue to build our TV audience by maintaining consistent tune-in times for Speed Channel.”

Speed Channel will continue to produce a live coverage television package of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship that will be broadcast to Speed’s universe of over 60 million homes.

The 2004 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship schedule is as follows:

Date, Location

March 3-6, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL

April 2-4, California Speedway, Fontana, CA*

April 30-May 2, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA*

May 14-16, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL*

May 21-23, Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, CO

June 4-6, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI*

June 25-27, Brainerd International Speedway, Brainerd, MN

July 9-11, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA

July 23-25, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH*

September 3-5, Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA*

September 17-19, Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA*

*Denotes double Superbike event

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy thrilled by first ride of road FP1

Carl Fogarty today put the road version of the newly launched FP1 – the first Malaysian superbike – through its paces with a first public ride around the Sepang circuit.

The four-times World Superbike champion joined Malaysian star Shahrol Yuzy on the road version of the race bike that has been used by his Foggy PETRONAS Racing team in the World Superbike championship this year, backed by Malaysian petroleum giant PETRONAS.

Yesterday, Carl was joined by Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sports Dato’ Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and PETRONAS’ Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Azizan Zainul Abidin in unveiling the FP1 in Kuala Lumpur.

And his delight at the look of the bike was reinforced by his first ride of the unique motorcycle.

Carl said: “There is no doubt that this will be the best looking bike on the roads but now I know that it will also be the best to ride. It felt so smooth, especially in the lower power ranges. As the track was quite damp I was having great fun spinning the back wheel coming out of the corners. I was actually quite surprised at the power of the bike – it genuinely does feel like a race bike on the road.”