From a press release issued by Dr. Rob Tuluie:

Tul-aris Tests in West Virginia University’s Wind Tunnel

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For the last two months the Tul-aris Team, together with faculty and students at West Virginia University in Morgantown, VW, have been working on a joint wind tunnel project. The goal of this project is to develop the UVW wind tunnel for use in motorcycle aerodynamic testing and to improve the aerodynamic design of the Tul-aris for lower drag, optimized lift distribution and optimum air box intake designs.

So far, the Tul-aris Team built a full-scale model of the Tul-aris complete with all the bodywork, tank, wheels, handlebars and footpegs for the dummy rider. This full-scale model was sent to VWU, where Prof. Gary Winn (himself an ex-motorcycle racer and the first AHRMA executive director), Dr. Wade Huebsch, Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Eng., Dr. Gary Morris, Professor, MAE and Mr. Gerald Angle, Graduate Research Assistant, MAE supervised the project and coordinated resources and student efforts.

Much of the technical wind tunnel setup and instrumentation work was undertaken by Gerald Angle, the lead graduate student on the project. A total of 39 students of Prof. Winn’s Engineering Design class participated. Two student teams competed for the best aerodynamic design, which included use of proprietary vortex generators.

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Pictured, together with the Tul-aris mock-up, at the Student design fair are (left to right): Hassann Hamad, Eryn Hammond, Dr. Gary Winn and Justin Bushneck

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Over the next few months we plan to perform a validation exercise to compare mock-up and actual bike results back-to-back in the wind tunnel. We will also continue to develop aerodynamic improvements on the Tul-aris, focusing on upper fairing design, seat design and airbox intake design. Hopefully some of these improvements can be implemented in time for the first race at Daytona International Raceway in late February/early March of 2002, in the Formula USA Unlimited GP class.

From a press release, which seems to indicate that WSMC is not involved and that the 51st rider to show up to practice will be sent home:

Willow Springs Raceway Announces Motorcycle Riding School

World Champion Eddie Lawson to Assist with On-Track Instruction, Q & A

Willow Springs International Motorsports Park owner Bill Huth today announced the formation of the Willow Springs Motorcycle Academy. The new organization, owned and operated by Willow Springs Raceway, will target street riders who want to learn more about high performance motorcycle riding, or want to find out more about riding on a closed course in a controlled environment. There will also be separate, track-only sessions for licensed racers who would like to test and tune their racebikes prior to the monthly Willow Springs Motorcycle Club races.

“Motorcycles seem to be most active group at the raceway now,” commented Huth, who has owned the track since 1962. “I think there are a lot of riders out there who might not want to race, but would like to come out and see what it’s all about. We have three tracks here that we’ll be using for the school, and each one will give the riders something different to work on and learn about. With Eddie [Lawson] out here helping, I think we’re really going to have something special for people.”

The first schools will use the historic 2.5-mile road course. As the program expands, both the New Streets of Willow and the new paved oval will also be used. Huth believes the variety of tracks will let riders work on different skills with a much higher level of safety and comfort.

Four-time 500cc World Champion Eddie Lawson agrees. “I think when people get a chance to get on this new paved oval, they’re really going to be surprised at how much fun it’ll be,” Lawson commented. Huth also feels the new oval will be ideal for developing cornering and bike handling skills in conjunction with sessions on the main road course and Streets of Willow. “Riders can go either direction, to work on either left or right hand turns. And it’s really safe because of all the runoff area.”

The school will be limited to a maximum of 20 students and will include classroom lessons combined with on-track sessions and “chalk talks” discussing various riding techniques. Classes will be broken into two riding groups, with no more than ten students on the racetrack at a time to maximize safety and individual attention. The classroom sessions will be conducted by Mitch Boehm, Editor of Motorcyclist magazine. Boehm has a long history as a research and development rider, journalist, and motorcycle racer. Eddie Lawson will join Boehm for the on-track sessions and will help to answer specific questions riders might have about riding skills or techniques.

The cost for either the school or the open tuning and testing is $150.00 per rider. Riders who are either a current member of the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club or who can present a valid professional or expert level racing license from a recognized organization such as WERA, AFM, Formula USA, or the AMA can also sign up for the tuning and testing sessions. The school is open to all riders, and is required for any rider who does not have an approved racing license.

The first school will be held on Friday, January 18, 2002. The maximum number of students is 20. The maximum number of riders who would like to sign up for open testing is 50. Open tuning and testing will be split into two groups of no more than 25 riders each. The groups will be based on motorcycle displacement.

Riders who wish to enroll in the school or sign up for open testing should contact the raceway in advance to confirm a spot. Schools will start at approximately 8:00 a.m. Students are urged to arrive early to complete signup, payment, and technical inspection of their motorcycles. Those wishing to participate in open testing only can arrive at any time during the day. Because of the limited number of participants, advance registration is highly recommended.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Title this Rich Oliver’s not-so-excellent adventure talking to AMA Pro Racing VP John Ferris. According to Oliver, in the discussion, Ferris revealed that:

–Fan surveys of last couple of seasons ranked 250cc Grand Prix second-to-last in fan appeal, just ahead of Pro Thunder

–AMA doesn’t want there to be Thursday practice and doesn’t want to send staffers in on Wednesday to set up the track due to “budget issues” and the chance that Air Fence* could be damaged (and never mind that it could be saving the same riders on which the AMA show depends on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and never mind that this was apparently not an issue when AMA Air Fence was deployed two days before the 2001 WERA GNF at Road Atlanta to accomodate a private riding school).

–250cc Grand Prix is on the way out because manufacturers don’t want to import the bikes or support the class, but there will be a definite two-year grace period after the decision is made to eliminate the class, during which it will continue to run.

–The 250cc class is a haven for older riders who have found a late-career niche (and never mind guys who have come up or are coming up in the class, such as Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, Kurtis Roberts. Chris Ulrich, Michael Hannas, Jason DiSalvo, Cory West, etc.)

–The best training classes for up-and-coming riders are, in order, Formula Xtreme, 750cc Supersport and 600cc Supersport. And Formula Xtreme has the extra benefit that the bikes are inexpensive to build (and never mind the issue of training young guns on 180-horsepower bikes that eat tires, or the expense of all those tires and the required-to-be-competitive Ohlins forks, Brembo radial brakes and racing swingarms).

–Sponsoring the 250cc class in the future will cost a prospective sponsor “less than $50,000” (no hard figure given) while current sponsor MBNA paid AMA “between $50,000 and $75,000” to promote MBNA credit cards; AMA assigned the class to MBNA because it was available, with most of the money used for things other than the class and its point fund.

(We’re not sure we’re happier knowing the level of racing expertise at the highest levels of AMA Pro Racing, as demonstrated here!)

*Trademark of Airfence Safety Systems

This just in, from racer Bruce Lind’s wife, Edie (Lind has been hospitalized as the result of complications related to his crash at Laguna Seca last July):

Bruce is still hospitalized, but making progress. He actually got to have clear broth yesterday and Jell-o and broth this morning.

The doctor said this morning that maybe he would be released by Sunday. Bruce told him he thought he should be able to go home by tomorrow (Friday). I suggested to Bruce that possibly the doctors want him to be able to eat some kind of solid food before they let him go — but he thought that they were being “ridiculously conservative.”

Sure, right — being able to eat is such a conservative requirement.

But it’s wonderful to see Bruce being himself again!

Edie

This just in, from an AMA associate member:

I just phoned for ballots for myself (an associate member) and my husband (life member), as “directed” to in AMA’s reply.

Receptionist connected me to Tom Barlow’s voice mail. His outgoing message said “if you are calling to request a ballot, leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you to make arrangements for you to get a ballot, if you’re eligble . . . .”

Why not just “leave your name and mailing address and AMA number”? Then they could send a ballot or an explanation of why you’re “not eligible”.

OR, the obvious solution – why not make it available via Adobe on their Website?


(Editorial comment: Good question. And the obvious answer is, because the good old boys who control the AMA make voting as difficult and as complicated as possible, to discourage participation, and to improve their chances of retaining power and control of what has become a personal fiefdom.)

From a press release:

CCS Reports Record 2001 Season of Growth and 2002 Plans of Expansion

AURORA, Ill. (December 19, 2001) – Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division announced today unprecedented growth in the Championship Cup
Series presented by Lockhart Phillips USA.

CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips USA officials announced six impressive growth statistics associated with America’s largest road racing series.

1. In 2001, CCS saw 23,745 entries at its events compared to 16,789 in 2000; a 41% increase in total entries.

2. In 2001, CCS saw 4530 licensed riders, compared to 3710 in 2000. That is a 20% increase in CCS licensed riders. (That brings the number
of Formula USA licenses issued to a total 5160.)

3. In 2001, Formula USA and CCS sanctioned 80 events accounting for 46,219 total road racing entries. (A 577 entries-per-event average.)

4. In 2001, CCS paid out $114,000 in cash purses to its racers, and CCS’ contingency sponsors added another $535,000 in cash and products.
In 2002, CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips USA has committed $290,000 in cash purses for its riders, a 155% increase over last season.

5. In 2002, CCS presented by LPUSA will promote races at three new racetracks, bringing its total number of facilities to 27 for the season.

6. In 2002, CCS presented by LPUSA will offer more than 108 days of on-track activity for its members.

“We’re extremely proud of everyone in our road race division and the CCS program is leading the way in sportsman road racing by supporting riders with a selection of events, race management, safety and fun. When we acquired CCS two seasons ago, we anticipated rapid growth in amateur racing and it’s extremely rewarding to see that the wheels are definitely in motion. In 2002, we are looking forward to utilizing even more of our resources to continue to help amateur racing grow,” said Charlie Mancuso, President of
Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division.

The 2002 Championship Cup Series presented by Lockhart Phillips USA follows:

February 2-3, Streets of Willow*, Rosamond, Calif.

February 9-10, Homestead*, Homestead, Fla.

February 23-24, Oak Hill Raceway, Henderson, TX

Feb 28-March 3, Daytona Int. Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl

March 9-10, Firebird East Chandler, AZ

March 16-17, Moroso Motorsports Park West Palm Beach, Fla.

March 23-24, Gateway Int. Raceway*, Madison, Ill.

March 30-31, Texas World Speedway, College Station, Tex

April 6-7, N. FL Motorsports Park, Jennings, Fla

April 6-7, Blackhawk Farms, South Beloit, Ill

April 13-14, Oak Hill, Raceway Henderson, TX

April 13-14, Virginia Int. Raceway, Danville, VA

April 13-14, Firebird Int., East Chandler, AZ

April 13-14, Thunderhill Park, Willows, Calif.

April 20-21, Moroso Motorsports Park, West Palm Beach, Fla.

April 26-28, Road America**, Elkhart Lake, Wisc.

April 27-28, New Hampshire Intl. Speedway, Loudon, NH

April 27-28, Las Vegas Classic Course, Las Vegas

May 4-5, Motorsports Ranch, Cresson, Tex

May 4-5, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

May 11-12, Summit Point, Summit Point, WV

May 18-19, Blackhawk Farms, South Beloit, Ill

May 18-19, Hallett Racing Circuit, Hallet, OK

May 18-19, New Hampshire Intl. Speedway, Loudon, NH

May 18-19, Firebird Int., East Chandler, AZ

May 26-27, Moroso Motorsports Park, West Palm Beach, Fla.

June 1-2, Blackhawk Farms, South Beloit, Ill

June 1-2, Rausch Creek, Valley View, PA

June 1-2, Streets of Willow, Rosamond, CA

June 8-9, New Hampshire Int. Spdwy, Loudon, NH

June 15-16, Texas World Speedway, College Stations, Tex

June 15-16, Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA

June 22-23, Homestead, Homestead, Fla.

June 22-23, Buttonwillow, Buttonwillow, Calif

June 29-30, Mid-America Motorplex, Glenwood, Iowa

July 6-7, New Hampshire Int. Speedway, Loudon, NH

July 13-14, Oak Hill Raceway, Henderson, TX

July 13-14, Gateway Int. Raceway Madison, Ill.

July 13-14, Summit Point, Summit Point, WV

July 20-21, Moroso Motorsports Park, West Palm Beach, Fla.

July 20-21, Blackhawk Farms, South Beloit, Ill

July 20-21, Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA

July 27-28, New Hampshire Int. Speedway, Loudon, NH

July 27-28, Virginia Int. Raceway, Danville, VA

August 3-4, Mid-America Motorplex, Glenwood, Iowa

August 10-11, Gingerman Raceway, South Haven, Mich

August 10-11, Texas World Speedway, College Stations, Tex

August 10-11, Thunderhill Park, Willows, Calif

August 17-18, New Hampshire Int. Speedway, Loudon, NH

August 24-25, Blackhawk Farms, South Beloit, Ill

August 24-25, Moroso Motorsports Park, West Palm Beach, Fla

August 24-25, Blackhawk Farms, South Beloit, Ill

Aug 30-Sep 1, Hallett Racing Circuit, Hallet, OK

Aug 31-Sept 1, New Hampshire Int., Loudon, NH

Aug 31-Sept 1, Roebling Road, Faulkville, GA

Sept 7-8, Blackhawk Farms, South Beloit, Ill

Sept 7-8, N. FL Motorsports Park, Jennings, Fla

Sept 7-8, Summit Point, Summit Point, WV

Sept 7-8, Las Vegas Classic Course, Las Vegas

Sept 14-15, Gateway Int. Raceway, Madison, Ill.

Sept 21-22, Rausch Creek, Valley View, PA

Sept 21-22, Texas World Speedway, College Station, Tex

Sept 21-22, Moroso Motorsports Park*, West Palm Beach, Fla

Sept 28-29, Gingerman Raceway, South Haven, Mich

Sept 28-29, New Hampshire Int. Speedway, Loudon, NH

Oct 5-6, Gateway Int. Raceway*, Madison, Ill.

Oct 5-6, Thunderhill Park*, Willows, Calif

Oct 5-6, Virginia Int. Raceway, Danville, VA

Oct 5-6, Firebird Int. Raceway, Chandler, AZ

Oct 12-13, Motorsports Ranch, Cresson, Tex

Oct 12-13, Shenandoah Circuit*, Summit Point, WV

Oct 16-20, Daytona Int. Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Schedule may be subject to change. For the latest information, visit ccsracing.com.

* Double points rounds
** Twin Sprints Weekend

From a press release:

Clear Channel Entertainment announces Multiple Sponsorships with Buell

Sponsorship integrates Buell American Motorcycles into EA SPORTS Supercross, Speed Stick presents National Arenacross Series, U.S. Hot Rod Monster Jam and IHRA events

AURORA, Ill. (December 20, 2001) – Clear Channel Entertainment announced today a multi-platform sponsorship agreement with Buell American Motorcycles. The sponsorship offers a multitude of branding and marketing strategies to Buell through a combined association with the EA SPORTS Supercross, Speed Stick National Arenacross, U.S. Hot Rod Monster Jam and IHRA motor sports events produced by Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division.

Under the agreement, Buell is an ‘Official Associate Sponsor’ of the EA SPORTS Supercross events in 2002, where Buell will receive commercials within supercross live webcasts, jumbotron and Diamondvision messages during events, and onsite displays in expo and pit areas. Buell motorcycles is also a special presenting partner in opening ceremonies at all EA SPORTS Supercross events.

In the Speed Stick presents National Arenacross Series, Buell is also an ‘Official Associate Sponsor’, where they will receive event exposure similar to their EA SPORTS Supercross benefits, while additionally being featured in national television commercials within the Arenacross televised season on The Speed Channel. (formerly Speedvision)

Under the Clear Channel Entertainment agreement, Buell is also named the ‘Official Street Bike Of Monster Jam’, where Buell Motorcycles will be prominently featured at 20 select U.S. Hot Rod Monster Jam events. Buell will be featured in regional radio and print event marketing campaigns as well as participate in the Monster Jam interactive pit parties in selected events.

Also influenced by the relationship is Clear Channel Entertainment’s IHRA (International Hot Rod Association) events. In ten markets, Buell will be prominently featured as the “Official Street Bike” of IHRA and sponsor of the Summit SuperSeries presented by Pontiac and Buell. Adding to the already tremendous rewards of the new series, the winner in each of the five Summit SuperSeries divisions will receive a Buell motorcycle.

“Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division was able to collectively bring together marketing options for Buell’s line of American motorcycles, specifically the new Firebolt XB9R and Blast motorcycles. The Buell brand is redefining what street performance motorcycling is all about and the EA SPORTS Supercross, Speed Stick presents National Arenacross, U.S. Hot Rod Monster Jam and IHRA events offer exposure to motorcyclists who are taking notice,” said Erik Buell, President of Buell.

Roy Janson, Vice President of Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division said, “We’re pleased to have Buell motorcycles on board with us this year. Not just because they’re America’s only true sportbike, but also because Buell Motorcycles, a division of Harley-Davidson Inc., are completely dedicated to putting sportbikes on the street that generate excitement and attention, the same sort of excitement and experience you get from attending our motor sports events. It makes perfect sense. We are completely honored to have Buell as an ally in our events in 2002.”

Responding to our posting of AMA member Clinton Whitehouse’s personal experience trying to get a ballot for the ongoing Trustee election sent to him via mail, (see related 12/19/01 post), AMA President Rob Rasor sent this e-mail:


You do both your readers, and the credibility of your publication, a disservice by informing them that no provisions have been made to provide ballots for Life and Associate members in my assistant’s absence. This is simply not true.

Ballots will be made available to eligible members during the holidays and you should advise your readers to call our office between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, EST; our receptionist will direct them to the appropriate staff member.

Robert Rasor, President
American Motorcyclist Association
(614) 856 – 1910, Extension 1226
[email protected]
www.AMADirectLink.com



It is ludicrous for Rasor to dispense any judgements regarding credibility, seeing as he was the author of the AMA’s pathetic, unsuccessful attempt to disqualify Trustee candidates Kevin Schwantz, Jeff Nash and John Ulrich by applying a new interpretation of the AMA bylaws which had never been used before and which would have disqualified more than half the sitting Trustees. Be that as it may, roadracingworld.com replies to Rasor as follows:



The post was based on AMA member Clinton Whitehouse’s personal experience. Maybe this is similar to the situation in which your VP of Membership mis-informed us by telling us new members (who joined after Sept. 1) could vote (see related post, 9/18/01). In any case, it looks like you need to do a better job of training your employees and ensuring they know what they’re talking about when they interact with members.

From a press release:

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship will face an invasion from south of the border in its 2002 season.

A round of the Formula USA National Road Race Series will be held in conjunction with the fifth stop on the Canadian national tour at Mosport International Raceway July 19-21. The Mosport event will be the fourth race in the eight-round Formula USA championship.

The remainder of the 2002 Parts Canada Superbike calendar remains virtually identical to last season’s seven-race series. The campaign will once again open and close at Shannonville Motorsport Park, near Belleville, ON. Races will also be held in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Halifax.

“The Mosport event will undoubtedly be the biggest motorcycle road race held in Canada in over a decade,” said Colin Fraser of series organizer Professional Motorsport Productions. “We will have a field including some of the best motorcycle road racers from the United States as well as our top Canadian competitors.”

“We’ve said all along we were going to bring great motorcycle racing back to Mosport,” added Bar Hodgson of SUPERSHOW Events, promoter of the Mosport round. “We’re working our way back up there and we’re really excited. We’re billing it as the Canada/U.S. Match Races. That’s how we see it.”

The 2002 Formula USA schedule includes races at Daytona International Raceway, Summit Point Raceway in Virginia, New Hampshire International Speedway, Wisconsin’s Road America, Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania and Portland International Raceway.

The series’ feature class, Unlimited Superbike, runs to rules similar to those used in the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike national support class. Formula USA also includes a Sportbike division comparable to the Canadian Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike category.

“There will be some small adjustments made to the rules of our respective classes,” Fraser explained, “but all parties involved think it is worth it.”

Waterford, WI racer Shawn Higbee of KWS/Millennium Suzuki is the defending Formula USA Unlimited Superbike champion. Maple Ridge, BC’s Steve Crevier, riding for Honda Canada will bid for his third straight Parts Canada Superbike crown in 2002.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship opens May 17-19 on the Shannonville Motorsport Park ‘Pro Track’ before shifting west for rounds at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park June 7-9 and Namao Airport in Edmonton June 14-16.

Montreal’s Autodrome St-Eustache hosts the national series July 5-7 before the big Mosport event two weeks later. From there, the competitors travel east to Atlantic Motorsport Park in Halifax for an Aug. 9-11 date before the traditional finale on Shannonville’s ‘Long Track’ over the Aug. 30-Sept. 1 Labour Day Weekend.

One addition to the 2002 schedule is an ‘invitation only’ Pro test day at the revamped Circuit Mont-Tremblant the day following the St-Eustache event. The trial is being run with a view to adding the famed road course to the 2003 series calendar.

PMP also unveiled a pair of changes to qualifying procedures in the 2002 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

Bonus points will now be awarded to the four front row qualifiers at each series round, with four points going to the pole winner, three points to the second fastest qualifier, two points for third and one for fourth. Previously, only the top three qualifiers have earned points, with pole position worth 10 points, second good for six and third picking up four.

There will also be a two-point bonus for the racer who leads the most laps in each feature race.

Additionally, pole qualifying for the Superbike feature class will take place Saturday afternoon. Last season the four front row grid positions were locked in Friday, with Saturday’s qualifying session setting the remainder of the field.

Pole qualifying for the Open Sport Bike and Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike national support classes will continue to run Saturday afternoon.

Highlights of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship will once again be shown in a half-hour format on The Sports Network (TSN). Support class highlights will appear on Dave Hatch’s “Motorcycle Experience”, which is shown on TSN and the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).

Full coverage of each event will appear in a one-hour program on OLN and in Quebec on Reseau des Sports (RDS).

2002 Parts Canada Superbike Championship Schedule

May 17-19, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

June 7-9, Race City Motorsport Park, Calgary, AB

June 15-16, Namao Airport, Edmonton, AB

July 5-7, Autodrome St-Eustache, St-Eustache, QC

July 19-21, Mosport International Raceway, Mosport, ON

Aug. 9-11, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Shubenacadie, NS

Aug. 30-Sept. 1, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com