From a press release issued by AHRMA:

Les Archer: AHRMA’s Bike Week grand marshal

No one enjoyed as much success competing on Nortons in international motocross than Les Archer. Among the crowing achievements of his long racing career were the 1956 European Motocross Championship (then the equivalent of the world championship) and the overall win leading the British team to victory in the 1954 Motocross des Nations.

Archer will share tales of his racing exploits in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s when he serves as grand marshal for the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association during Daytona Bike Week in early March.

Born in 1930, Archer was the third generation of a family immersed in the south England motorcycle scene. He began racing scrambles in 1946 on a Matchless, but soon he moved to roadracing and in 1947 finished second in the lightweight class at the Isle of Man TT. That same year he won the prestigious Hutchinson Milano race on an EMC 250cc two-stroke, 14 years after his father won the same trophy at the famed Brooklands circuit. While serving in the military, Archer returned to motocross and took up observed trials as well. He rode his one and only International Six Days Trial in 1951 as part of the British Army team, narrowly missing a gold medal due to mechanical problems.

Out of the Army in 1952, he took up motocross full time and began experimenting with the machine that made him famous. Even though Norton didn’t even offer a scrambler in its lineup, Archer and longtime mechanic Ron Hankins developed the legendary Manx model into a potent motocrosser. Archer competed 15 seasons aboard Manx-based machines, sometimes in more than 30 races per year. His 1956 European championship was won with the maximum number of points available.

Archer will be reunited with the last of his Manx Nortons, owned by AHRMA board chairman Fred Mork, at the March 1 vintage national motocross at Waldo Motorsports in Waldo, Fla., and he will be guest of honor that evening at AHRMA’s annual off-road awards banquet in Gainesville.

On Sunday, March 2, at 1 p.m. Archer will be part of an AHRMA Great Men autograph session at the American Motorcycle Institute in Daytona Beach. Then on Monday and Tuesday, March 3 and 4, he will again sign autographs with the Great Men at 11 a.m. in the paddock area of Daytona International Speedway during AHRMA Classics Days roadracing.

For more details, visit the Bike Week preview page at www.ahrma.org.

From a press release issued by Buell American Motorcycles:

NEW BUELL LIGHTNING LOW XB9S,

STREETFIGHTER PERFORMANCE FOR SHORTER RIDERS

Milwaukee, Wis. – Buell Motorcycle Company recently revealed the 2003 Lightning Low XB9S, a new model with a 1.5-inch lower seat height than the standard Lightning XB9S. The Lightning Low delivers uncompromised street performance in a package that will be more comfortable for a shorter rider.

The Lightning Low XB9S has a seat height of just 28.6 inches, achieved by altering the front and rear suspension and reshaping the seat pad. According to Buell engineers, the Lightning Low retains the responsive handling and exhilarating performance of previous Buell models. The Lightning Low also offers the same lean styling and advanced design features found on the innovative Buell Lightning XB9S and Firebolt XB9R, including fuel-in-the-frame, oil-in-the-swingarm, and Zero Torsional Load front brake, with the muscular torque of a 92-horsepower, 984cc air-cooled, 45-degree V-Twin engine with Dynamic Digital Fuel Injection.

The new Lightning Low XB9S will be available in Buell dealerships in February with an MSRP of $9,995.

Buell Motorcycle Company is a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. To learn more about Buell Motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style, and performance only found on board a Buell. Call 1-800-4909-9635 for the Buell dealer nearest you. Or pull into www.buell.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former racer Steve McLaughlin, 54, is back in the U.S. after 15 years living abroad and producing international races, and is looking for work in the racing industry. Now based in Southern California, he is willing to relocate.

McLaughlin was behind the 1970s proposal that led to the establishment of the AMA Superbike Production class, which then became AMA Superbike, which became the premier AMA class in 1986.

In 1988 McLaughlin and his backers established the Superbike World Championship, the first FIM series to feature worldwide television coverage of every round. At the end of the 1988 season McLaughlin sold his interest in the series and went on to produce individual races in Australia, Mexico and Europe.

He became a partner in a German company, Moto Motion International, which promoted nine FIM Grands Prix in Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany between 1990 and 1997.

Moto Motion also started and ran the Pro Superbike Series in Europe between 1990 and 1999, and McLaughlin’s duties included directing and producing over 200 television shows covering the series, broadcast live on Eurosport.

McLaughlin’s career has also included sales promotion stints with Ford, Volkswagen and Nissan (then Datsun), as well as motorsports marketing, promotion and TV production with DSF Advertising.

He was involved with the original Superbowl of Motocross at the Los Angeles Coliseum, handling event promotion and advertising, and a few years ago promoted an independent Supercross race at the Coliseum called “Summercross” to avoid a trademark dispute with AMA or Clear Channel.

During McLaughlin’s time at Moto Motion, the company initiated successful litigation with both the German Federation and DORNA over use of the Pro Superbike trademark.

McLaughlin road raced from 1964 into 1980, when he formed and ran American Honda’s first AMA Superbike program, signing Freddie Spencer to ride.

McLaughlin won three AMA Superbike races, winning at Daytona on a Butler & Smith BMW R90S in March 1976, riding a 944cc Yoshimura GS750 Suzuki to victory at Laguna Seca in September 1977, and winning on a Yoshimura Suzuki GS1000 at Daytona in March 1978. McLaughlin finished second in the 1976 AMA Superbike Championship and sixth in the 1978 AMA Superbike Championship.

McLaughlin led the 1975 Daytona 200 on a Yamaha TZ750 but crashed, remounting to finish sixth.

During his riding career McLaughlin was known for bringing in outside-the-industry sponsors, including Armor-All, and for extending the tailsection on his TZ750 down and forward to make room for better sponsor logo presentation.

His father, John, also a racer, was one of six riders who formed AFM and was involved in the organization of the first Grand Prix in the U.S., held at Daytona in the early 1960s. John McLaughlin was inducted into the AMA Hall Of Fame Museum in 2001.

Steve McLaughlin can be contacted at (909) 990-2109.

From an e-mail:

Recovered – most of it, anyway


Before


After

RSC’s company TZ250 had been taken from our trailer which was parked in southern MA. Due to the local city paper putting an article on the front page of their Town News on Friday 1/24/03 the bikes was recovered locally. The persons involved realized that the bike was very hot due to that article and the blanketed e-mails we had sent out. There was nothing they could do with it parted out or as a complete bike.

(See related post, 1/24/2003 OK, Listen Up: Don’t Do This, And If You Do, Know The VIN # Of Your Stolen Racebike)

From a press release issued by AHRMA:

AHRMA, WERA Vintage & Jennings GP host ‘Spring Classic’

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association, WERA Vintage and Jennings GP are teaming up to host a three-day pre-Daytona “Spring Classic” at the northern Florida roadrace facility, Feb. 26-28.

The two racing organizations will honor one another’s licenses for the event, as well as those issued by the U.S. Classic Racing Association and Canada’s Vintage Road Racing Association.

Things kick off Wednesday, Feb. 26, with a practice day run by Jennings GP (formerly North Florida Motorsports Park), open to any motorcycle eligible for the following days’ AHRMA and WERA Vintage racing. The highly regarded motorcycle-only track, nearly 2 miles in length and with 14 turns, is located off I-75 north of I-10. For registration and other information, call 904-707-1737 or visit www.jenningsgp.com.

Thursday the 27th is WERA Vintage day. An open practice session will be offered in the morning, followed by WERA’s full race program for vintage machines through mid-1990s twins and multis. Any AHRMA machines not eligible for WERA Vintage classes — including some of the newer singles, twins and triples — are welcome to participate in the morning practice. Information: 804-539-2065, www.weravintage.org.

On Thursday evening, Jennings GP will serve a free barbecue buffet to all racers and guests.

The “Classic” wraps up Friday with Round 1 of AHRMA’s 2003 Historic Cup Series, sponsored by Pro-Flo Performance Motorcycle Products. Classes are available for pre-war machines up to 1980-and-earlier Vintage Superbikes, plus the modern Sound of Singles, Battle of Twins and Sound of Thunder. For 2003 the modern Production Singles class has been expanded to include supermotard motorcycles. Information: 615-851-3674, www.ahrma.org.

There is a discount for pre-entering each of the three days’ events.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Willow Springs Motorcycle Club racer Craig Raines, who was injured in a multi-bike incident during WSMC races at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California January 19, is out of Intensive Care and is expected to make a full recovery.

That’s the word coming from WSMC Operations Manager Kenny Kopecky, who spoke to both Raines and his father Tuesday, January 28.

Kopecky was also involved in the crash that saw three riders collide and two crash at approximately 140 mph in Willow Springs’ turn eight/nine area. Raines was airlifted from the track with a closed head injury and later placed into a medically-induced coma due to brain swelling.

From a press release issued by Pirelli:

PIRELLI CONTINGENCY RACERS MUST REGISTER ONLINE FOR 2003

(Rome, GA) Pirelli has adopted a new system for racers registering for contingency support.

Effective immediately, all racers must register online at Pirelli’s new U.S. website, www.us.pirellimoto.com . Click on the “Pirelli Racing Contingency” link, read the information, and then click on the “Contingency Web Site” link. The online form shows the racer information required. It also includes a personal User ID and password that will allow racers to view their personal account status, see the contingencies earned, and create contingency certificates by choosing the posted earnings.

Rich Munson, Pirelli Race Manager, said the forms are not yet complete, but should be within a matter of weeks. He said the new system will allow racers to use their Pirelli contingency certificates “much faster than in the past. Which means our racers will now be able to get their new tires as fast as they earn them.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Bicycle and motorcycle manufacturer Cannondale Corporation (Nasdaq: BIKE) announced Monday, January 27 that it “intends to file a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code” Tuesday, according to a press release from Cannondale.

In the release, Cannondale states it has reached agreements with its lenders CIT/Business Credit, Inc. and Pegasus Partners II, L.P. where the lenders will provide Cannondale with “post-petition financing” to continue its bicycle business.

“The interim financing will be used to continue the operation of our bicycle business,” Cannondale Founder and President Joe Montgomery is quoted as saying in the release.

Cannondale and Pegasus also have an “agreement in principle” where Pegasus would purchase most of Cannondale’s bicycle business and continue operations with current management, pending court approval.

In a separate transaction, Pegasus would also purchase Cannondale’s motorsports operation – the source of the company’s troubles. Montgomery is quoted as saying, “The motorsports division was threatening the bicycle division. Although we believe in the value of our motorsports products, we did not have sufficient financial resources to make the additional investments necessary. We look forward to bringing a renewed focus to our core bicycle business and to working through this present challenge with the greatest possible speed.”

According to a January 27 report by Dow Jones Business News, Cannondale had first quarter profits of $628,000 for its bicycle business in 2002 with a pre-tax loss of $7.4 million for its motorsports division.

In the meantime, Cannondale has suspended all motorsports operations, pending the potential sale.

Cannondale’s subsidiaries in Europe, Japan and Australia – which accounted for about 42% of Cannondale’s total sales in 2002 – are not included in the filing.

Workers laid off from Cannondale’s Bedford, Pennsylvania bicycle factory will be recalled, but laid off workers from Cannondale’s motorsports factory in the same city will not be recalled.

From a press release issued by JT International:

Camel and Honda Pons embark on a new partnership in MotoGP

Geneva, January 28 2003 – JT International and the Grand Prix team Honda Pons are proud to announce the birth of a new partnership that will see the tobacco giant’s Camel brand holding the Title Sponsorship of the MotoGP World Championship team for the next three years.

The new partnership between one of the most famous cigarette brands worldwide and a team with the pedigree of Honda Pons, with its 20 years of experience in World Championships, is a perfect match.


From left, Max Biaggi, Sito Pons, Tohru Ukawa.

The team, expertly managed by two-time World Champion and IRTA President Sito Pons, and headed by technical genius Antonio Cobas is one of the most successful teams in MotoGP, finishing as one of the top three teams in the last three Championship seasons. With the incorporation of 2002 Championship runner-up Max Biaggi and third-placed Tohru Ukawa, both riding the supremely dominant Honda RC211V, the prospects for success for the Camel Pramac Pons team are extremely high.


Max Biaggi.

Following its acquisition of the international operations and brands of R.J. Reynolds in 1999, JT has become one of the top three global tobacco companies with tobacco sales of 453.5 billion cigarettes and 31.4 billion USD in fiscal year ended March 31, 2002. JT owns three of the top five tobacco brands worldwide, including not only Camel, but also Mild Seven, sponsor of the Renault Formula One team.


Tohru Ukawa.

While this is the Camel’s first participation in Motorcycle Road Racing Championships, the brand has had a long time association with Motor Sports, most notably with its involvement in Formula 1 in the late 80’s and early 90’s, with the Jordan, Lotus, Benetton and Williams teams.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, Camel is one of the world’s leading brands, sold in nearly 100 countries. Leveraging its rich heritage as one of the most renowned consumer brands worldwide and its reputation for innovation, Camel introduced its latest generation product range in 2002, supported with a new brand logo and advertising campaign. The MotoGP sponsorship is another move by Camel to enhance its international premium image, in an effort to increase market share globally.

The official presentation of the Camel Pramac Pons team will take place on the evening of March 14th 2003 in Barcelona, at a venue to be confirmed.

Patrick Enright (Camel Commercial Vice-President, JTI):
“We are extremely excited about the new partnership with Honda Pons. To enter into the MotoGP arena, as Title Sponsor of a team is a significant milestone for Camel and we are delighted that the Camel brand will be represented around the world by such a prestigious and successful team. We are convinced that the technical expertise and experience of the Camel Pramac Pons team, coupled with the brilliance of born-winners Max Biaggi and Tohru Ukawa, will bring much success both on and off the track to everyone involved in the project.”

Sito Pons (General Manager, Camel Pramac Pons):
“We are delighted to be able to welcome Camel into the world of MotoGP and particularly honoured that they have chosen to work with our team for the next three years. Right from the beginning Camel have demonstrated a whole-hearted commitment to the new MotoGP project and the passion, enthusiasm and experience they bring is a great plus not only for our team, but also for the Championship as a whole. Our aim, as always, is to win and now, with Camel’s support, we have added the final piece to the jigsaw of what we hope will be a championship-winning combination of riders, team, bike and sponsor. And in Max Biaggi and Tohru Ukawa, we certainly have the riders with the ability to claim the much-coveted World Title for the Camel Pramac Pons Team.”