Home Blog Page 7370

Air Fence Fund Contributors Write…

Many letters and e-mails have poured in along with the latest round of donations to our Air Fence from contributors Mark Hatten (a racer), former racer Jon DeMent, racer Chris Eklund, Mike Canfield, Team Daemon Racing, Mark Hellvig, Jamieson D. Yonker, Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports, Marty Voelker, Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing, Dean de St. Croix, Norm Viano aka ‘Lawdog’, Jim Frost/NEDoD, Mike Brown’Team 222 Wayyyy 2 Old 2 Fat and 2 Slow, former racer Paul Black, FMX star Dustin Miller, Paul Kingsburgh, Paul Zavada, Chris Story, racer Dean Scarpa, Ripley M. Howe, racer Chris Kelley, and Fred Olsen. Here are a few of the letters.

Jon DeMent wrote: “I applaud your efforts, and pledge $25 towards the air fencing. I wish it could be more. As an old former club racer, I only wish such protection had been available in my day, I might walk without the telltale racer’s limp.”

Racer and MSF Instructor Chris Eklund wrote: “I want to say thank you for all you do for all of us racers and enthusiasts. This is a great example of someone that not only vocalizes the problems with the AMA but is willing to do something about it. I challenge the AMA to do the right thing. I challenge the AMA to…dig into their own pockets to provide the Air Fences and safety equipment necessary to protect the very riders that put money into their coffers. At the very least, the AMA should match dollar-for-dollar the wonderful contributions made here for improving rider safety. I hope your actions here result in improved safety for all racers in AMA competition. I also hope your efforts will convince the AMA to get out of competitive motorcycling and concentrate on the legislative and legal activities that originally convinced me to join over 10 years ago. I willingly pledge $100 and hope that in some way it will make a difference. I will be placing a check in the mail tomorrow. Thank you once again.”

Mike Canfield of Chandelle Motorsports wrote: “I applaud your aggressive action in support of the safety of Motorcycle road racers. I, too, have seen my riders and friends transported from racing events. While not all would have been help by an Air Fence, some very serious injuries may have been lessened had these fences been in place. I cannot contribute a great deal of money, but I cannot let this fund go by without participating in some way. My conscience and concern for all who participate in the sport we love will not allow it. Thank you for instituting this fund.”

Bruce Leung wrote “The check I mailed yesterday was made out to AMA Pro Racing. Would it be better to send one made out to Roadracing World? If so, say the word and I’ll send a new one (and ask you to destroy the first one.”
And yes, Bruce, if the check is made out to Roadracing World we don’t have to count on anybody at the AMA figuring out how to act in a timely fashion, and can just go ahead and start buying the Air Fence and getting it deployed.

Racer Mark Hellvig wrote, “I am just a second-year Novice racer pretty strapped for cash. But one cannot put a price on safety, especially for the sport that has captured our hearts and minds so very much. If I ever become good enough that I am in a National and see an Air Fence covering some immoveable object, I may be assured enough in my own safety to twist the throttle just a little more, push a little harder, and get a little faster, just as every racer should be able to do now. I am donating $100 in hopes that one day, my son/daughter and I can sit down and watch a full-grown Hayden, Hopkins, Acree, etc. racing in World Grand Prix, and tell them about a wicked crash they had back in the day and how track safety protected them from serious injury. Thanks.”

Jamieson D. Yonker wrote, “I would like to pledge $20 toward the purchase of Air Fence to be used in AMA Pro Racing.”

Kevin Jordan wrote, “I would like to congratulate John Ulrich in starting this fund-raising drive. The AMA has let too many racers get injured or killed and it is time we try to put a stop to it. I will be entering the racing arena in the near future and hope to compete in AMA events, so I am in full support of this. Please accept my pledge of $100 towards the purchase of the Air Fence.”

Marty Voelker wrote: “I have already sent in my check for the Air Fence but I made it out to the AMA as instructed. If you need it changed (as may be the case as I read the latest) please return it and I will make it out to the proper payee.”
And yes, Marty, if it’s made out to Roadracing World we can avoid any stalling tactics by AMA and get on with deployment of Air Fence.

Paramount Racing owner Trent Thompson wrote “After witnessing far too many deaths as a result of no Air Fence, Paramount Racing applauds John Ulrich and Roadracing World for their hard work on making Air Fence a reality. Paramount Racing would like to pledge $5000 to the Air Fence fund. Once again, thanks for all your hard work on this drive.”

Racer Dean de St. Croix wrote: “I spend my days wrapped up in the responsibility of owning my own small business, being a single father for half of the week, caring for my employees and looking forward to the next time I can get on my racebike. I take my racing very seriously and understand that it is essential to my life and happiness. Ask my ex-wife. To a great extent and to varying degrees I think this is true for even the most dedicated professional, through the weekend racer, to varying degrees.

“My friends and family ask me how I can go out and risk so much for a (simple) thrill. The question is hard to answer. In fact there is no answer–at least not a good one and it is definitely not simple. Except to say that my life and my contribution to others would be so much less if I couldn’t share my passion in this way. I guess this is what my life is.

“In my arrogance I could say that if my friends share in my passion whether directly or through my everyday life then we are all better for it. I know I share in theirs–it just might not be racing bikes.

“Reading your mag over the years and others has made me acutely aware of your contribution regardless of context to our sport and thus my life. Perspective is irrelevant–the fight is the important point. I know you know this. My point is I appreciate it right or wrong (my experience–right).

“When I scanned your site as I do a number of times a day and saw your request for Air Fence I immediately sent in $100. It makes sense. It makes sense to just get the fence and figure out how to make the logistics all work out later. That’s the easy part. Finding people to carry the stuff around, to set it up and manage it is the easy part. I have always been successful in business and with my racing by just doing it. The phrase makes sense–especially when lives are in the equation. The lack of ability to take responsibility for personal decisions is one thing I have always despised. I despise it even more when people are charged with this task and wrap/protect themselves in process and buracracy. We as racers embrace our vulnerability every time we step onto the track. We revel in it and grow from it. We live because we challenge ourselves in the ultimate way. My friends and family don’t see this. They don’t see when they get in front of five people to make a presentation or sell a product, but it is the same thing. Racers just add a certain physical parameter to the equation that makes us challenge our living.

“Why are these people afraid to take responsibility and just make a decision? Are they racers? Why can’t American Honda or Yamaha or Suzuki–or even Miguel or Nicky or Doug reach into the change pocket and buy the whole thing? Are they responsible? Are we? Who cares? That’s not the point. Who looks better or who is implicated the next time some racing organization wants something? What is the precedent? Who cares? And I think we are all smarter than that.”

The list of contributions so far follows:
Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing $5000
Anonymous $4725
Steve Brubaker/Race Tire Service $3000
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Jonathan Glaefke $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Fred Renz/Yoyodyne $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock $1000
Don Emde/In Memory of Cal Rayborn $1000
Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School $1000
Intrepid Café Racers $775
Team Daemon Racing $600
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Brooks Gremmels/Shogun Motorsports $500
Jim Di Salvo/Alien Racing $500
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie/WERA BBS $200
Scott Jenkins $200
Chris Kelley $150
Robb McElroy $150
Tim Chin/Team Bandit $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales $125
Mike Brown: Team 222 Wayyyy 2 Old, 2 Fat and 2 Slow $125
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell/TZ250.com $100
Bart Fuqua $100
Brian Stokes $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor $100
David McElvain/NEDoD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Paul Kingsburgh/RC45.net $100
Lucky Deleoni $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato $100
Norm Viano/Lawdog Sports Mgmt $100
Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports $100
Val Gregory/In Memory of Dirk Piz $100
Dave Gess $100
Rob Berland $100
Paul Black $100
Steve Hewitt $100
Mike Ciccotto $100
Tripp Nobles $100
Scott Rehl $100
Steve & Lorraine Aleport $100
Jeff Rozycki/WERA BBS $100
Tyson Kamp $75
Max Buxton/NEDoD $50
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Jim Frost/NEDoD $50
Steve Martinez $50
Frederick Olsen $50
Don Moody $35
Lindsey Leard $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Mark Hatten/Meccanica Corse Racing $29
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
Rene Ferron $25
Sean Patrick Brisini $25
Richard Korol $25
Eric and Khristine Lowanger $25
S.C. Pittman $20
Jamieson D. Yonker $20

To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Monday-Friday, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected]. For background information, see Time To Take Back The AMA post from Tuesday morning. Stay tuned for more details, as we work toward our goal, $87,000 or 30 beautiful sections of Air Fence.

Updated Post: Homeboy Palazzo Qualifies On Pole For Willow Sportbike Race

0

Home-track hero Marc Palazzo put his Synergy Racing Technologies Honda CBR600F4i on the pole for tomorrow’s race, turning a fastest lap of 1:24.241 in conditions that had improved–with less wind–since this morning.

Fast times follow:

1. Marc Palazzo, Honda, 1:24.241
2. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:24.244
3. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:24.354
4. Joe Gill, Yamaha, 1:24.535
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:24.774
6. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:24.844
7. Paul Harrell, Yamaha, 1:24.999
8. Lance Isaacs, Honda, 1:25.068
9. Shane Prieto, Suzuki, 1:25.275
10. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:25.755
11. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 1:25.844
12. Karl Lowry, Yamaha, 1:25.889
13. Jacob West, Yamaha, 1:25.929
14. Brian Kovarick, Yamaha, 1:26.039
15. Jason Paden, Suzuki, 1:26.138

In Aprilia Cup Challenge Series qualifying, Willow Springs homeboy Andre Castanos was fastest ahead of New Zealander (and defending Champion) Aaron Clark and Massachusetts’ Jeff Wood. Fastest times follow:

1. Andre Castanos, 1:29.973
2. Aaron Clark, 1:30.755
3. Jeff Wood, 1:30.758
4. Dan Fischer, 1:30.833
5. Vicky Jackson-Bell, 1:30.930
6. Shannon Silva, 1:32.236
7. Derek McKelvie King, 1:32.654
8. Tom Knutson, 1:32.191
9. Michael Hannas, 1:33.191
10. Thad Halsmer, 1:33.394
11. Oliver Chami, 1:33.955
12. Mat Wissel, 1:34.203
13. Joshua Sortor, 1:35.099
14. Jason Morse, 1:35.198
15. Page Gathings, 1:36.006.

In Buell Lightning qualifying, Michael Barnes was quickest ahead of Justin McReynolds. Fastest times follow:

1. Michael Barnes, 1:28.381
2. Justin McReynolds, 1:28.504
3. Tripp Nobles, 1:29.570
4. Joe Hammond, 1:29.777
5. Jeff Johnson, 1:31.000
6. Dan Bilansky, 1:31.374
7. Brian Bodine, 1:31.853
8. Jason Smith, 1:31.873
9. William Finnerty, 1:34.269
10. John Burns, 1:35.180
11. Greg Avello, 1:36.588
12. Steve Luxem, 1:37.354
13. Brian Frank, 1:38.028
14. Paul James, 1:39.371

AMA May Plan To Sell Pro Racing Subsidiary To Investment Group For $30 Million

0

AMA Pro Racing (aka Paradama) CEO Scott Hollingsworth has openly discussed the possibility of selling AMA Pro Racing’s “properties” (as he refers to the various AMA Pro Racing series) as a package to an investment group, and has mentioned $30 million as the sales price, a reliable source said Saturday.

Hollingsworth made the revelation while interviewing candidates for the new position of Director of Commercial Development for AMA Pro Racing, and named, as an example, a prominent Wall Street firm with no motorsports experience, the source said.

Roadracingworld.com was unable to contact Hollingsworth for comment at post time.

No indication was available as to why Hollingsworth would consider selling to an investment firm with no motorsports experience instead of talking to SFX Motor Sports, whose executives have expressed strong interest in buying AMA Pro Racing outright. SFX runs most of the events in the wildly successful AMA Supercross Series and also owns road racing promoters Formula USA and CCS.

The Air Fence Saga: $64,567 For 22 Sections Of Fence In Four Days, With More To Come

The Roadracing World Air Fence Fund stands at $64,567, which means we’ve gone from zero to 22 sections of Air Fence in four days.

That’s 22 sections, or 660 linear feet of Air Fence.

In three years of talking about buying Air Fence, AMA Pro Racing has purchased zero sections, and the AMA Pro Racing inventory of Air Fence has dwindled to three sections (90 feet), and one section leaks so badly that it must be refilled after every class or practice session is run.

What does this mean? It means that our AMA racers now will have six times as much Air Fence to cover steel and concrete walls and dirt embankments. It means that our AMA racers will have a better-than-ever chance of avoiding injury from sliding or flying into walls and embankments. And we’re not just talking about famous, highly paid stars, we’re talking about every man and woman on the grid, not just the front-row runners, but those back in row 20 as well.

If you know, admire or care for any AMA racer, helping us get Air Fence–not just talk about getting Air Fence–is the best way to support our AMA racers.

The late-Friday push over the $64,500 mark came with generous donations, including one of $2900–enough for a complete section of Air Fence–from Jonathan Glaefke, and a donation of $1450 from Fred Renz of Yoyodyne, who said, “I’d like to buy half a bag…”

Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School donated $1000, and the Intrepid Cafe Racers collected $775 as group. And donations from Tim Chin/Team Bandit, Steve and Lorraine Aleport, Jeff Rozycki/WERA BBS, and Max Buxton/NEDoD pushed the total over the top.

The list of contributions so far follows:
Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing $5000
Anonymous $4725
Steve Brubaker/Race Tire Service $3000
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Jonathan Glaefke $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Fred Renz/Yoyodyne $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock $1000
Don Emde/In Memory of Cal Rayborn $1000
Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School $1000
Intrepid Café Racers $775
Team Daemon Racing $600
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Brooks Gremmels/Shogun Motorsports $500
Jim Di Salvo/Alien Racing $500
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie/WERA BBS $200
Scott Jenkins $200
Chris Kelley $150
Robb McElroy $150
Tim Chin/Team Bandit $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales $125
Mike Brown: Team 222 Wayyyy 2 Old, 2 Fat and 2 Slow $125
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell/TZ250.com $100
Bart Fuqua $100
Brian Stokes $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor $100
David McElvain/NEDoD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Paul Kingsburgh/RC45.net $100
Lucky Deleoni $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato $100
Norm Viano/Lawdog Sports Mgmt $100
Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports $100
Val Gregory/In Memory of Dirk Piz $100
Dave Gess $100
Rob Berland $100
Paul Black $100
Steve Hewitt $100
Mike Ciccotto $100
Tripp Nobles $100
Scott Rehl $100
Steve & Lorraine Aledort $100
Jeff Rozycki/WERA BBS $100
Tyson Kamp $75
Max Buxton/NEDoD $50
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Jim Frost/NEDoD $50
Steve Martinez $50
Frederick Olsen $50
Don Moody $35
Lindsey Leard $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Mark Hatten/Meccanica Corse Racing $29
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
Rene Ferron $25
Sean Patrick Brisini $25
Richard Korol $25
Eric and Khristine Lowanger $25
S.C. Pittman $20
Jamieson D. Yonker $20

To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected]. For background information, see Time To Take Back The AMA post from Tuesday morning. Stay tuned for more details, as we work toward our goal, $87,000 or 30 beautiful sections of Air Fence.

Now It’s $59,592 For 20 Sections Of Air Fence With More To Come

0

Paramount Racing team owner Trent Thompson and Steve Brubaker of the Eastern-U.S. Dunlop race tire distributor Sport Tire Service have helped kick our Air Fence Fund up to $59,592 or enough for 20 beautiful sections of Air Fence, or 600 linear feet of protection for our AMA racers.

Thompson kicked in an impressive $5000 and Brubaker plunked down $3000 to buy Air Fence. And racer Mark Hatten pledged $29 and sent this note: “As a AMA Charter Life Member, I no longer have to pay my $29 annual dues. As an AMA Pro Racing license holder and Pro Thunder racer, I can’t think of a better way to spend that $29 than chipping in towards the purchase of Air Fence sections. In fact, I’ll gladly send my $29 each year to Roadracing World if they continue to spearhead worthy effort like this.”

Former Daytona 200 winner Don Emde sent $1000 in memory of Cal Rayborn and other new donations have come in from Robb McElroy, Norm Viano, Kevin Jordan, Val Gregory in memory of Dirk Piz, Dave Gess, Rob Berland, AMA Pro racers Mike Ciccotto and Tripp Nobles, Scott Rehl, Jim Frost, Steve Martinez, Frederick Olsen, Don Moody, Rene Ferron, Sean Patrick Brisini, Richard Korol, Eric and Khristine Lowanger and Jamieson D. Yonker.

The contributor list now looks like this:

Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing $5000
Anonymous $4725
Steve Brubaker/Race Tire Service $3000
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock $1000
Don Emde/In Memory of Cal Rayborn $1000
Team Daemon Racing $600
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Brooks Gremmels/Shogun Motorsports $500
Jim Di Salvo/Alien Racing $500
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie $200
Scott Jenkins $200
Chris Kelley $150
Robb Mc Elroy $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales $125
Mike Brown $125
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell $100
Bart Fuqua $100
Brian Stokes $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor $100
David McElvain/NEDoD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Paul Kingsburgh/RC45.net $100
Lucky Deleoni $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato $100
Norm Viano/Lawdog Sports Mgmt $100
Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports $100
Val Gregory/In Memory of Dirk Piz $100
Dave Gess $100
Rob Berland $100
Paul Black $100
Steve Hewitt $100
Mike Ciccotto $100
Tripp Nobles $100
Scott Rehl $100
Tyson Kamp $75
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Jim Frost/NEDoD $50
Steve Martinez $50
Frederick Olsen $50
Don Moody $35
Lindsey Leard $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Mark Hatten/Meccanica Corse Racing $29
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
Rene Ferron $25
Sean Patrick Brisini $25
Richard Korol $25
Eric and Khristine Lowanger $25
S.C. Pittman $20
Jamieson D. Yonker $20

To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World Monday-Friday at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected].

For background information, see Time To Take Back The AMA post from Tuesday morning. Stay tuned for more details.

And THANK YOU to all the people who care enough about our racers to get this done by contributing to our Air Fence fund.

The Air Fence Drive’s Big Number Passes $55K

Donations continue to come in and the amount of money raised for purchasing Air Fence has rolled past $55,000. That’s almost 19 sections and 570 linear feet of beautiful Air Fence to protect our brave AMA racers, everyone from Nicky Hayden and Miguel Duhamel and Jimmy Filice to Ben Spies, Justin Blake, Ceasar Gonsales, Bruce Lind, Mike Ciccotto and everybody else on the grid. Stay tuned for more updates.

Air Fence Fund Shoots Past $50K; Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca and Willow Springs Promoters Look Forward To Using Additional Air Fence

0

Speedvision Productions, the promoters of AMA Superbike Nationals at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca, expressed support for the Roadracing World Air Fence fund-raising drive Friday morning. According to Speedvision Productions’ Dan Murphy, the company will be happy to deploy Air Fence purchased with money raised by Roadracing World, to supplement the company’s own recent purchase of Air Fence.

Greg Huth of Willow Springs Raceway, which will promote a round of the AMA Superbike Series in September, also expressed support for the project on Friday morning.

And proving that racers know how to make things happen quickly, the Roadracing World Air Fence fund headed past $50,000 and beyond on the strength of new donations from racer Bill St. John, racer and Shogun Motorsports owner Brooks Gremmels, racer Steven Hewitt and Alien Racing/Cruise America Grand Prix Racing’s Jim DiSalvo, himself a former racer and the parent of a current racer.

With the help of racers, mechanics, team owners, fans, former racers and companies involved in racing, the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund is going to get Air Fence for the use of our AMA racers at every track, and it’s not going to take us three years or two years or even four months to do it.

Shogun’s Harrell Fastest In Sport Bike Practice At Windy Willow

0

Paul Harrell took his Shogun Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6 to the front of the Sport Bike field during Thursday afternoon practice in cold, overcast, windy conditions at Willow Springs Raceway. Harrell’s fastest lap was a 1:24.860.

Hooters Suzuki’s Mike Ciccotto was second-quickest on a GSX-R600 at 1:24.903, with Synergy Racing’s Marc Palazzo third-quickest on a Honda CBR600F4i at 1:24.911.

Top times follow:

1. Paul Harrell, Yamaha, 1:24.860
2. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:24.903
3. Marc Palazzo, Honda, 1:24.911
4. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:25.393
5. Lance Issacs, Honda, 1:25.664
6. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 1:25.883
7. Jacob West, 1:25.911
8. Joe Gill, Yamaha, 1:26.095
9. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:26.286
10. Ty Howard, Yamaha, 1:26.430
11. Brian Kovarick, 1:26.573
12. Karl Lowry, 1:26.827
13. Shane Prieto, Suzuki, 1:26.880
14. Jason Paden, Suzuki, 1:26.888
15. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:27.380
16. Stoney Landers, Kawasaki, 1:27.526
17. Brian Gibbs, Suzuki, 1:27.549
18. Shawn Conrad, 1:27.572
19. Shannon Ball, 1:27.572
20. Kevin Pate, 1:27.872

In Aprilia Cup Challenge practice, Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing’s Vicky Jackson-Bell was quickest at 1:31.526, followed by defending Champion Aaron Clark at 1:31.789. Top times follow:

1. Vicky Jackson-Bell, 1:31.526
2. Aaron Clark, 1:31.789
3. Dan Fischer, 1:32.269
4. Andre Castanos, 1:32.886
5. Jeff Wood, 1:33.331
6. Derek McKelvie King, 1:33.380
7. Oliver Chami, 1:35.197
8. Max Wissel, 1:35.694
9. Jason Morse, 1:35.855
10. Josh Sortor, 1:35.971

Lopez Fastest In F-USA Unlimited Superbike At Blustery Willow

0

Grant Lopez topped the time charts during Unlimited Superbike practice on a cold, blustery day at Willow Springs, riding a Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R750.

Local star Ken Chase was second-fastest on a White Tip Motorsports GSX-R750, followed by Mike Ciccotto on a Hooters Suzuki GSX-750, Paul Harrell on a Shogun Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1, and Tray Batey on a Blackmans Racing Aprilia RSV Mille R.

The times follow:

1. Grant Lopez, Suzuki, 1:23.280
2. Ken Chase, Suzuki, 1:23.292
3. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:23.482
4. Paul Harrell, Yamaha, 1:23.753
5. Tray Batey, Aprilia, 1:23.757
6. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:23.970
7. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:24.103
8. Lance Issacs, Honda, 1:24.342
9. Joe Prussiano, Yamaha, 1:24.414
10. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:24.449
11. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:24.513
12. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:24.560
13. Marc Palazzo, Honda. 1:24.862
14. Mike Himmelsbach, Aprilia, 1:24.886
15. Craig Connell, Ducati, 1:24.959
16. Ty Howard, Kawasaki, 1:25.067
17. Michael Barnes, Kawasaki, 1:25.345
18. Brian Gibbs, Suzuki, 1:25.323
19. Brian Kovarick, 1:25.706
20. Joe Gill, Yamaha, 1:25.975

Updated Post With Additional Information: AMA Claims It had Secret Plan to Buy Air Fence All Along As Our Fund Reaches $48,208

0

The AMA issued a press release April l9 attempting to discredit the Roadracing World Air Fence fundraising drive, claiming the existence of a secret AMA plan to buy and deploy Air Fence.

This despite AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth telling Roadracing World’s John Ulrich (at Daytona in March) that he had been unable to convince the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors to agree to purchase new Air Fence.

“I hope you haven’t written a check I can’t cash,” said Hollingsworth, referring to a report on roadracingworld.com that the Pro Racing Board was considering buying additional Air Fence. In fact, the Board was unable to reach agreement on the purchase and had not put together the funding.

Now that Roadracing World has decided it’s time to stop talking and start taking action by launching a donation drive to purchase Air Fence, AMA Pro Racing has changed its story and claimed that purchase of the new Air Fence has been in the works since late last year.

But two days ago, a Board member complained in an e-mail to Roadracing World that he had been diligently working on a plan to purchase Air Fence for a month. One month ago was March 2001, not December 2000. Yet AMA Pro Racing now claims that the purchase has been in the works since December of last year.

The AMA release read as follows.

“AMA PRO RACING BRINGS CLARITY TO RECENT DISCUSSIONS ON AIR FENCE
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — In December 2000, the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors took action to initiate a plan for the purchase of 30 additional units of Air Fence to be used at rounds of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship.

The estimated cost to purchase, staff, transport and store the fencing exceeds $450,000 for a three-year period, not including ongoing maintenance and repair costs.

“A formal announcement of this program was planned once all details were complete. It should be noted that a four-month lead time is required for the delivery of this quantity of air fence.

“AMA Pro Racing appreciates the individuals and corporations pledging support throughout the development of this important initiative. Visit amaproracing.com for updates on this and other AMA Pro Racing news and race results. “

In response to the AMA press release, Roadracing World’s John Ulrich said, “The AMA release is the usual excuse for why something hasn’t happened. I’ve been pushing these guys to get more Air Fence since Grant Lopez, Miguel Duhamel, and Thomas Wilson slammed into bare concrete walls two or three years ago. At this time the AMA has three sections of Air Fence, one of which leaks badly. In two and a half days, I’ve raised $48,000, enough for 16 sections of Air Fence, with donations coming from individual AMA members, race teams, racing enthusiasts, and companies involved in racing, without any help whatsoever from anybody at the AMA headquarters. Talk is cheap and it’s easy for bureaucrats to make plans.

“It’s also worth noting that they didn’t say they’ve already come up with the money to enact this grand plan, they just said they’re working on it and were planning to announce the plan when they were finished, which is what they always say.

“What we’ve done is make something happen. That’s what racers do, and we’re not going to stop until we have funded 30 new sections of Air Fence. And if I have to buy a truck and transport and deploy it myself, that is what I’m going to do. How is that a bad thing?”

A spokesman for an Air Fence supplier based in Europe has told Roadracing World that Air Fence could be delivered to Road Atlanta in time for the AMA National there next month.

The Roadracing World Air Fence fundraising drive has already raised $48,208, and the list of contributors continues to grow, with new donations from racer Dean Scarpa, Anonymous, Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports, Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing, Debbie Roy, and many other racers, team owners, teams and fans. The current donation list follows:

Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Anonymous $4725
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock $1000
Team Daemon Racing $600
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie/WERA BBS $200
Scott Jenkins $200
Chris Kelley $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales/WERA BBS $125
Mike Brown $125
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell/TZ250.com $100
Bart Fuqua $100
Brian Stokes $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor $100
David McElvain/NEDOD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Paul Kingsburgh/RC45.net $100
Lucky Deleoni $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato $100
Paul Black $100
Tyson Kamp $75
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Lindsey Leard $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
S.C. Pittman $20

To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected]. Readers should feel free to call their parts, tire and accessory suppliers and urge them to make a contribution to improve safety conditions for AMA racers. For that matter, contact local dealers and ask them to encourage their OEMs to contribute. For background information, see Time To Take Back The AMA post from Tuesday morning. Stay tuned for more details.

Air Fence Fund Contributors Write…

Many letters and e-mails have poured in along with the latest round of donations to our Air Fence from contributors Mark Hatten (a racer), former racer Jon DeMent, racer Chris Eklund, Mike Canfield, Team Daemon Racing, Mark Hellvig, Jamieson D. Yonker, Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports, Marty Voelker, Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing, Dean de St. Croix, Norm Viano aka ‘Lawdog’, Jim Frost/NEDoD, Mike Brown’Team 222 Wayyyy 2 Old 2 Fat and 2 Slow, former racer Paul Black, FMX star Dustin Miller, Paul Kingsburgh, Paul Zavada, Chris Story, racer Dean Scarpa, Ripley M. Howe, racer Chris Kelley, and Fred Olsen. Here are a few of the letters.

Jon DeMent wrote: “I applaud your efforts, and pledge $25 towards the air fencing. I wish it could be more. As an old former club racer, I only wish such protection had been available in my day, I might walk without the telltale racer’s limp.”

Racer and MSF Instructor Chris Eklund wrote: “I want to say thank you for all you do for all of us racers and enthusiasts. This is a great example of someone that not only vocalizes the problems with the AMA but is willing to do something about it. I challenge the AMA to do the right thing. I challenge the AMA to…dig into their own pockets to provide the Air Fences and safety equipment necessary to protect the very riders that put money into their coffers. At the very least, the AMA should match dollar-for-dollar the wonderful contributions made here for improving rider safety. I hope your actions here result in improved safety for all racers in AMA competition. I also hope your efforts will convince the AMA to get out of competitive motorcycling and concentrate on the legislative and legal activities that originally convinced me to join over 10 years ago. I willingly pledge $100 and hope that in some way it will make a difference. I will be placing a check in the mail tomorrow. Thank you once again.”

Mike Canfield of Chandelle Motorsports wrote: “I applaud your aggressive action in support of the safety of Motorcycle road racers. I, too, have seen my riders and friends transported from racing events. While not all would have been help by an Air Fence, some very serious injuries may have been lessened had these fences been in place. I cannot contribute a great deal of money, but I cannot let this fund go by without participating in some way. My conscience and concern for all who participate in the sport we love will not allow it. Thank you for instituting this fund.”

Bruce Leung wrote “The check I mailed yesterday was made out to AMA Pro Racing. Would it be better to send one made out to Roadracing World? If so, say the word and I’ll send a new one (and ask you to destroy the first one.”
And yes, Bruce, if the check is made out to Roadracing World we don’t have to count on anybody at the AMA figuring out how to act in a timely fashion, and can just go ahead and start buying the Air Fence and getting it deployed.

Racer Mark Hellvig wrote, “I am just a second-year Novice racer pretty strapped for cash. But one cannot put a price on safety, especially for the sport that has captured our hearts and minds so very much. If I ever become good enough that I am in a National and see an Air Fence covering some immoveable object, I may be assured enough in my own safety to twist the throttle just a little more, push a little harder, and get a little faster, just as every racer should be able to do now. I am donating $100 in hopes that one day, my son/daughter and I can sit down and watch a full-grown Hayden, Hopkins, Acree, etc. racing in World Grand Prix, and tell them about a wicked crash they had back in the day and how track safety protected them from serious injury. Thanks.”

Jamieson D. Yonker wrote, “I would like to pledge $20 toward the purchase of Air Fence to be used in AMA Pro Racing.”

Kevin Jordan wrote, “I would like to congratulate John Ulrich in starting this fund-raising drive. The AMA has let too many racers get injured or killed and it is time we try to put a stop to it. I will be entering the racing arena in the near future and hope to compete in AMA events, so I am in full support of this. Please accept my pledge of $100 towards the purchase of the Air Fence.”

Marty Voelker wrote: “I have already sent in my check for the Air Fence but I made it out to the AMA as instructed. If you need it changed (as may be the case as I read the latest) please return it and I will make it out to the proper payee.”
And yes, Marty, if it’s made out to Roadracing World we can avoid any stalling tactics by AMA and get on with deployment of Air Fence.

Paramount Racing owner Trent Thompson wrote “After witnessing far too many deaths as a result of no Air Fence, Paramount Racing applauds John Ulrich and Roadracing World for their hard work on making Air Fence a reality. Paramount Racing would like to pledge $5000 to the Air Fence fund. Once again, thanks for all your hard work on this drive.”

Racer Dean de St. Croix wrote: “I spend my days wrapped up in the responsibility of owning my own small business, being a single father for half of the week, caring for my employees and looking forward to the next time I can get on my racebike. I take my racing very seriously and understand that it is essential to my life and happiness. Ask my ex-wife. To a great extent and to varying degrees I think this is true for even the most dedicated professional, through the weekend racer, to varying degrees.

“My friends and family ask me how I can go out and risk so much for a (simple) thrill. The question is hard to answer. In fact there is no answer–at least not a good one and it is definitely not simple. Except to say that my life and my contribution to others would be so much less if I couldn’t share my passion in this way. I guess this is what my life is.

“In my arrogance I could say that if my friends share in my passion whether directly or through my everyday life then we are all better for it. I know I share in theirs–it just might not be racing bikes.

“Reading your mag over the years and others has made me acutely aware of your contribution regardless of context to our sport and thus my life. Perspective is irrelevant–the fight is the important point. I know you know this. My point is I appreciate it right or wrong (my experience–right).

“When I scanned your site as I do a number of times a day and saw your request for Air Fence I immediately sent in $100. It makes sense. It makes sense to just get the fence and figure out how to make the logistics all work out later. That’s the easy part. Finding people to carry the stuff around, to set it up and manage it is the easy part. I have always been successful in business and with my racing by just doing it. The phrase makes sense–especially when lives are in the equation. The lack of ability to take responsibility for personal decisions is one thing I have always despised. I despise it even more when people are charged with this task and wrap/protect themselves in process and buracracy. We as racers embrace our vulnerability every time we step onto the track. We revel in it and grow from it. We live because we challenge ourselves in the ultimate way. My friends and family don’t see this. They don’t see when they get in front of five people to make a presentation or sell a product, but it is the same thing. Racers just add a certain physical parameter to the equation that makes us challenge our living.

“Why are these people afraid to take responsibility and just make a decision? Are they racers? Why can’t American Honda or Yamaha or Suzuki–or even Miguel or Nicky or Doug reach into the change pocket and buy the whole thing? Are they responsible? Are we? Who cares? That’s not the point. Who looks better or who is implicated the next time some racing organization wants something? What is the precedent? Who cares? And I think we are all smarter than that.”

The list of contributions so far follows:
Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing $5000
Anonymous $4725
Steve Brubaker/Race Tire Service $3000
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Jonathan Glaefke $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Fred Renz/Yoyodyne $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock $1000
Don Emde/In Memory of Cal Rayborn $1000
Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School $1000
Intrepid Café Racers $775
Team Daemon Racing $600
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Brooks Gremmels/Shogun Motorsports $500
Jim Di Salvo/Alien Racing $500
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie/WERA BBS $200
Scott Jenkins $200
Chris Kelley $150
Robb McElroy $150
Tim Chin/Team Bandit $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales $125
Mike Brown: Team 222 Wayyyy 2 Old, 2 Fat and 2 Slow $125
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell/TZ250.com $100
Bart Fuqua $100
Brian Stokes $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor $100
David McElvain/NEDoD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Paul Kingsburgh/RC45.net $100
Lucky Deleoni $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato $100
Norm Viano/Lawdog Sports Mgmt $100
Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports $100
Val Gregory/In Memory of Dirk Piz $100
Dave Gess $100
Rob Berland $100
Paul Black $100
Steve Hewitt $100
Mike Ciccotto $100
Tripp Nobles $100
Scott Rehl $100
Steve & Lorraine Aleport $100
Jeff Rozycki/WERA BBS $100
Tyson Kamp $75
Max Buxton/NEDoD $50
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Jim Frost/NEDoD $50
Steve Martinez $50
Frederick Olsen $50
Don Moody $35
Lindsey Leard $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Mark Hatten/Meccanica Corse Racing $29
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
Rene Ferron $25
Sean Patrick Brisini $25
Richard Korol $25
Eric and Khristine Lowanger $25
S.C. Pittman $20
Jamieson D. Yonker $20

To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Monday-Friday, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected]. For background information, see Time To Take Back The AMA post from Tuesday morning. Stay tuned for more details, as we work toward our goal, $87,000 or 30 beautiful sections of Air Fence.

Updated Post: Homeboy Palazzo Qualifies On Pole For Willow Sportbike Race

Home-track hero Marc Palazzo put his Synergy Racing Technologies Honda CBR600F4i on the pole for tomorrow’s race, turning a fastest lap of 1:24.241 in conditions that had improved–with less wind–since this morning.

Fast times follow:

1. Marc Palazzo, Honda, 1:24.241
2. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:24.244
3. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:24.354
4. Joe Gill, Yamaha, 1:24.535
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:24.774
6. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:24.844
7. Paul Harrell, Yamaha, 1:24.999
8. Lance Isaacs, Honda, 1:25.068
9. Shane Prieto, Suzuki, 1:25.275
10. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:25.755
11. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 1:25.844
12. Karl Lowry, Yamaha, 1:25.889
13. Jacob West, Yamaha, 1:25.929
14. Brian Kovarick, Yamaha, 1:26.039
15. Jason Paden, Suzuki, 1:26.138

In Aprilia Cup Challenge Series qualifying, Willow Springs homeboy Andre Castanos was fastest ahead of New Zealander (and defending Champion) Aaron Clark and Massachusetts’ Jeff Wood. Fastest times follow:

1. Andre Castanos, 1:29.973
2. Aaron Clark, 1:30.755
3. Jeff Wood, 1:30.758
4. Dan Fischer, 1:30.833
5. Vicky Jackson-Bell, 1:30.930
6. Shannon Silva, 1:32.236
7. Derek McKelvie King, 1:32.654
8. Tom Knutson, 1:32.191
9. Michael Hannas, 1:33.191
10. Thad Halsmer, 1:33.394
11. Oliver Chami, 1:33.955
12. Mat Wissel, 1:34.203
13. Joshua Sortor, 1:35.099
14. Jason Morse, 1:35.198
15. Page Gathings, 1:36.006.

In Buell Lightning qualifying, Michael Barnes was quickest ahead of Justin McReynolds. Fastest times follow:

1. Michael Barnes, 1:28.381
2. Justin McReynolds, 1:28.504
3. Tripp Nobles, 1:29.570
4. Joe Hammond, 1:29.777
5. Jeff Johnson, 1:31.000
6. Dan Bilansky, 1:31.374
7. Brian Bodine, 1:31.853
8. Jason Smith, 1:31.873
9. William Finnerty, 1:34.269
10. John Burns, 1:35.180
11. Greg Avello, 1:36.588
12. Steve Luxem, 1:37.354
13. Brian Frank, 1:38.028
14. Paul James, 1:39.371

AMA May Plan To Sell Pro Racing Subsidiary To Investment Group For $30 Million

AMA Pro Racing (aka Paradama) CEO Scott Hollingsworth has openly discussed the possibility of selling AMA Pro Racing’s “properties” (as he refers to the various AMA Pro Racing series) as a package to an investment group, and has mentioned $30 million as the sales price, a reliable source said Saturday.

Hollingsworth made the revelation while interviewing candidates for the new position of Director of Commercial Development for AMA Pro Racing, and named, as an example, a prominent Wall Street firm with no motorsports experience, the source said.

Roadracingworld.com was unable to contact Hollingsworth for comment at post time.

No indication was available as to why Hollingsworth would consider selling to an investment firm with no motorsports experience instead of talking to SFX Motor Sports, whose executives have expressed strong interest in buying AMA Pro Racing outright. SFX runs most of the events in the wildly successful AMA Supercross Series and also owns road racing promoters Formula USA and CCS.

The Air Fence Saga: $64,567 For 22 Sections Of Fence In Four Days, With More To Come

The Roadracing World Air Fence Fund stands at $64,567, which means we’ve gone from zero to 22 sections of Air Fence in four days.

That’s 22 sections, or 660 linear feet of Air Fence.

In three years of talking about buying Air Fence, AMA Pro Racing has purchased zero sections, and the AMA Pro Racing inventory of Air Fence has dwindled to three sections (90 feet), and one section leaks so badly that it must be refilled after every class or practice session is run.

What does this mean? It means that our AMA racers now will have six times as much Air Fence to cover steel and concrete walls and dirt embankments. It means that our AMA racers will have a better-than-ever chance of avoiding injury from sliding or flying into walls and embankments. And we’re not just talking about famous, highly paid stars, we’re talking about every man and woman on the grid, not just the front-row runners, but those back in row 20 as well.

If you know, admire or care for any AMA racer, helping us get Air Fence–not just talk about getting Air Fence–is the best way to support our AMA racers.

The late-Friday push over the $64,500 mark came with generous donations, including one of $2900–enough for a complete section of Air Fence–from Jonathan Glaefke, and a donation of $1450 from Fred Renz of Yoyodyne, who said, “I’d like to buy half a bag…”

Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School donated $1000, and the Intrepid Cafe Racers collected $775 as group. And donations from Tim Chin/Team Bandit, Steve and Lorraine Aleport, Jeff Rozycki/WERA BBS, and Max Buxton/NEDoD pushed the total over the top.

The list of contributions so far follows:
Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing $5000
Anonymous $4725
Steve Brubaker/Race Tire Service $3000
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Jonathan Glaefke $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Fred Renz/Yoyodyne $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock $1000
Don Emde/In Memory of Cal Rayborn $1000
Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School $1000
Intrepid Café Racers $775
Team Daemon Racing $600
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Brooks Gremmels/Shogun Motorsports $500
Jim Di Salvo/Alien Racing $500
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie/WERA BBS $200
Scott Jenkins $200
Chris Kelley $150
Robb McElroy $150
Tim Chin/Team Bandit $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales $125
Mike Brown: Team 222 Wayyyy 2 Old, 2 Fat and 2 Slow $125
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell/TZ250.com $100
Bart Fuqua $100
Brian Stokes $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor $100
David McElvain/NEDoD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Paul Kingsburgh/RC45.net $100
Lucky Deleoni $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato $100
Norm Viano/Lawdog Sports Mgmt $100
Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports $100
Val Gregory/In Memory of Dirk Piz $100
Dave Gess $100
Rob Berland $100
Paul Black $100
Steve Hewitt $100
Mike Ciccotto $100
Tripp Nobles $100
Scott Rehl $100
Steve & Lorraine Aledort $100
Jeff Rozycki/WERA BBS $100
Tyson Kamp $75
Max Buxton/NEDoD $50
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Jim Frost/NEDoD $50
Steve Martinez $50
Frederick Olsen $50
Don Moody $35
Lindsey Leard $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Mark Hatten/Meccanica Corse Racing $29
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
Rene Ferron $25
Sean Patrick Brisini $25
Richard Korol $25
Eric and Khristine Lowanger $25
S.C. Pittman $20
Jamieson D. Yonker $20

To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected]. For background information, see Time To Take Back The AMA post from Tuesday morning. Stay tuned for more details, as we work toward our goal, $87,000 or 30 beautiful sections of Air Fence.

Now It’s $59,592 For 20 Sections Of Air Fence With More To Come

Paramount Racing team owner Trent Thompson and Steve Brubaker of the Eastern-U.S. Dunlop race tire distributor Sport Tire Service have helped kick our Air Fence Fund up to $59,592 or enough for 20 beautiful sections of Air Fence, or 600 linear feet of protection for our AMA racers.

Thompson kicked in an impressive $5000 and Brubaker plunked down $3000 to buy Air Fence. And racer Mark Hatten pledged $29 and sent this note: “As a AMA Charter Life Member, I no longer have to pay my $29 annual dues. As an AMA Pro Racing license holder and Pro Thunder racer, I can’t think of a better way to spend that $29 than chipping in towards the purchase of Air Fence sections. In fact, I’ll gladly send my $29 each year to Roadracing World if they continue to spearhead worthy effort like this.”

Former Daytona 200 winner Don Emde sent $1000 in memory of Cal Rayborn and other new donations have come in from Robb McElroy, Norm Viano, Kevin Jordan, Val Gregory in memory of Dirk Piz, Dave Gess, Rob Berland, AMA Pro racers Mike Ciccotto and Tripp Nobles, Scott Rehl, Jim Frost, Steve Martinez, Frederick Olsen, Don Moody, Rene Ferron, Sean Patrick Brisini, Richard Korol, Eric and Khristine Lowanger and Jamieson D. Yonker.

The contributor list now looks like this:

Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing $5000
Anonymous $4725
Steve Brubaker/Race Tire Service $3000
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock $1000
Don Emde/In Memory of Cal Rayborn $1000
Team Daemon Racing $600
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Brooks Gremmels/Shogun Motorsports $500
Jim Di Salvo/Alien Racing $500
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie $200
Scott Jenkins $200
Chris Kelley $150
Robb Mc Elroy $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales $125
Mike Brown $125
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell $100
Bart Fuqua $100
Brian Stokes $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor $100
David McElvain/NEDoD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Paul Kingsburgh/RC45.net $100
Lucky Deleoni $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato $100
Norm Viano/Lawdog Sports Mgmt $100
Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports $100
Val Gregory/In Memory of Dirk Piz $100
Dave Gess $100
Rob Berland $100
Paul Black $100
Steve Hewitt $100
Mike Ciccotto $100
Tripp Nobles $100
Scott Rehl $100
Tyson Kamp $75
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Jim Frost/NEDoD $50
Steve Martinez $50
Frederick Olsen $50
Don Moody $35
Lindsey Leard $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Mark Hatten/Meccanica Corse Racing $29
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
Rene Ferron $25
Sean Patrick Brisini $25
Richard Korol $25
Eric and Khristine Lowanger $25
S.C. Pittman $20
Jamieson D. Yonker $20

To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World Monday-Friday at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected].

For background information, see Time To Take Back The AMA post from Tuesday morning. Stay tuned for more details.

And THANK YOU to all the people who care enough about our racers to get this done by contributing to our Air Fence fund.

The Air Fence Drive’s Big Number Passes $55K

Donations continue to come in and the amount of money raised for purchasing Air Fence has rolled past $55,000. That’s almost 19 sections and 570 linear feet of beautiful Air Fence to protect our brave AMA racers, everyone from Nicky Hayden and Miguel Duhamel and Jimmy Filice to Ben Spies, Justin Blake, Ceasar Gonsales, Bruce Lind, Mike Ciccotto and everybody else on the grid. Stay tuned for more updates.

Air Fence Fund Shoots Past $50K; Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca and Willow Springs Promoters Look Forward To Using Additional Air Fence

Speedvision Productions, the promoters of AMA Superbike Nationals at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca, expressed support for the Roadracing World Air Fence fund-raising drive Friday morning. According to Speedvision Productions’ Dan Murphy, the company will be happy to deploy Air Fence purchased with money raised by Roadracing World, to supplement the company’s own recent purchase of Air Fence.

Greg Huth of Willow Springs Raceway, which will promote a round of the AMA Superbike Series in September, also expressed support for the project on Friday morning.

And proving that racers know how to make things happen quickly, the Roadracing World Air Fence fund headed past $50,000 and beyond on the strength of new donations from racer Bill St. John, racer and Shogun Motorsports owner Brooks Gremmels, racer Steven Hewitt and Alien Racing/Cruise America Grand Prix Racing’s Jim DiSalvo, himself a former racer and the parent of a current racer.

With the help of racers, mechanics, team owners, fans, former racers and companies involved in racing, the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund is going to get Air Fence for the use of our AMA racers at every track, and it’s not going to take us three years or two years or even four months to do it.

Shogun’s Harrell Fastest In Sport Bike Practice At Windy Willow

Paul Harrell took his Shogun Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6 to the front of the Sport Bike field during Thursday afternoon practice in cold, overcast, windy conditions at Willow Springs Raceway. Harrell’s fastest lap was a 1:24.860.

Hooters Suzuki’s Mike Ciccotto was second-quickest on a GSX-R600 at 1:24.903, with Synergy Racing’s Marc Palazzo third-quickest on a Honda CBR600F4i at 1:24.911.

Top times follow:

1. Paul Harrell, Yamaha, 1:24.860
2. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:24.903
3. Marc Palazzo, Honda, 1:24.911
4. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:25.393
5. Lance Issacs, Honda, 1:25.664
6. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 1:25.883
7. Jacob West, 1:25.911
8. Joe Gill, Yamaha, 1:26.095
9. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:26.286
10. Ty Howard, Yamaha, 1:26.430
11. Brian Kovarick, 1:26.573
12. Karl Lowry, 1:26.827
13. Shane Prieto, Suzuki, 1:26.880
14. Jason Paden, Suzuki, 1:26.888
15. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:27.380
16. Stoney Landers, Kawasaki, 1:27.526
17. Brian Gibbs, Suzuki, 1:27.549
18. Shawn Conrad, 1:27.572
19. Shannon Ball, 1:27.572
20. Kevin Pate, 1:27.872

In Aprilia Cup Challenge practice, Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing’s Vicky Jackson-Bell was quickest at 1:31.526, followed by defending Champion Aaron Clark at 1:31.789. Top times follow:

1. Vicky Jackson-Bell, 1:31.526
2. Aaron Clark, 1:31.789
3. Dan Fischer, 1:32.269
4. Andre Castanos, 1:32.886
5. Jeff Wood, 1:33.331
6. Derek McKelvie King, 1:33.380
7. Oliver Chami, 1:35.197
8. Max Wissel, 1:35.694
9. Jason Morse, 1:35.855
10. Josh Sortor, 1:35.971

Lopez Fastest In F-USA Unlimited Superbike At Blustery Willow

Grant Lopez topped the time charts during Unlimited Superbike practice on a cold, blustery day at Willow Springs, riding a Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R750.

Local star Ken Chase was second-fastest on a White Tip Motorsports GSX-R750, followed by Mike Ciccotto on a Hooters Suzuki GSX-750, Paul Harrell on a Shogun Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1, and Tray Batey on a Blackmans Racing Aprilia RSV Mille R.

The times follow:

1. Grant Lopez, Suzuki, 1:23.280
2. Ken Chase, Suzuki, 1:23.292
3. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:23.482
4. Paul Harrell, Yamaha, 1:23.753
5. Tray Batey, Aprilia, 1:23.757
6. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:23.970
7. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:24.103
8. Lance Issacs, Honda, 1:24.342
9. Joe Prussiano, Yamaha, 1:24.414
10. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:24.449
11. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:24.513
12. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:24.560
13. Marc Palazzo, Honda. 1:24.862
14. Mike Himmelsbach, Aprilia, 1:24.886
15. Craig Connell, Ducati, 1:24.959
16. Ty Howard, Kawasaki, 1:25.067
17. Michael Barnes, Kawasaki, 1:25.345
18. Brian Gibbs, Suzuki, 1:25.323
19. Brian Kovarick, 1:25.706
20. Joe Gill, Yamaha, 1:25.975

Updated Post With Additional Information: AMA Claims It had Secret Plan to Buy Air Fence All Along As Our Fund Reaches $48,208

The AMA issued a press release April l9 attempting to discredit the Roadracing World Air Fence fundraising drive, claiming the existence of a secret AMA plan to buy and deploy Air Fence.

This despite AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth telling Roadracing World’s John Ulrich (at Daytona in March) that he had been unable to convince the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors to agree to purchase new Air Fence.

“I hope you haven’t written a check I can’t cash,” said Hollingsworth, referring to a report on roadracingworld.com that the Pro Racing Board was considering buying additional Air Fence. In fact, the Board was unable to reach agreement on the purchase and had not put together the funding.

Now that Roadracing World has decided it’s time to stop talking and start taking action by launching a donation drive to purchase Air Fence, AMA Pro Racing has changed its story and claimed that purchase of the new Air Fence has been in the works since late last year.

But two days ago, a Board member complained in an e-mail to Roadracing World that he had been diligently working on a plan to purchase Air Fence for a month. One month ago was March 2001, not December 2000. Yet AMA Pro Racing now claims that the purchase has been in the works since December of last year.

The AMA release read as follows.

“AMA PRO RACING BRINGS CLARITY TO RECENT DISCUSSIONS ON AIR FENCE
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — In December 2000, the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors took action to initiate a plan for the purchase of 30 additional units of Air Fence to be used at rounds of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship.

The estimated cost to purchase, staff, transport and store the fencing exceeds $450,000 for a three-year period, not including ongoing maintenance and repair costs.

“A formal announcement of this program was planned once all details were complete. It should be noted that a four-month lead time is required for the delivery of this quantity of air fence.

“AMA Pro Racing appreciates the individuals and corporations pledging support throughout the development of this important initiative. Visit amaproracing.com for updates on this and other AMA Pro Racing news and race results. “

In response to the AMA press release, Roadracing World’s John Ulrich said, “The AMA release is the usual excuse for why something hasn’t happened. I’ve been pushing these guys to get more Air Fence since Grant Lopez, Miguel Duhamel, and Thomas Wilson slammed into bare concrete walls two or three years ago. At this time the AMA has three sections of Air Fence, one of which leaks badly. In two and a half days, I’ve raised $48,000, enough for 16 sections of Air Fence, with donations coming from individual AMA members, race teams, racing enthusiasts, and companies involved in racing, without any help whatsoever from anybody at the AMA headquarters. Talk is cheap and it’s easy for bureaucrats to make plans.

“It’s also worth noting that they didn’t say they’ve already come up with the money to enact this grand plan, they just said they’re working on it and were planning to announce the plan when they were finished, which is what they always say.

“What we’ve done is make something happen. That’s what racers do, and we’re not going to stop until we have funded 30 new sections of Air Fence. And if I have to buy a truck and transport and deploy it myself, that is what I’m going to do. How is that a bad thing?”

A spokesman for an Air Fence supplier based in Europe has told Roadracing World that Air Fence could be delivered to Road Atlanta in time for the AMA National there next month.

The Roadracing World Air Fence fundraising drive has already raised $48,208, and the list of contributors continues to grow, with new donations from racer Dean Scarpa, Anonymous, Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports, Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing, Debbie Roy, and many other racers, team owners, teams and fans. The current donation list follows:

Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Anonymous $4725
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock $1000
Team Daemon Racing $600
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie/WERA BBS $200
Scott Jenkins $200
Chris Kelley $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales/WERA BBS $125
Mike Brown $125
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell/TZ250.com $100
Bart Fuqua $100
Brian Stokes $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor $100
David McElvain/NEDOD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Paul Kingsburgh/RC45.net $100
Lucky Deleoni $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato $100
Paul Black $100
Tyson Kamp $75
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Lindsey Leard $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
S.C. Pittman $20

To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected]. Readers should feel free to call their parts, tire and accessory suppliers and urge them to make a contribution to improve safety conditions for AMA racers. For that matter, contact local dealers and ask them to encourage their OEMs to contribute. For background information, see Time To Take Back The AMA post from Tuesday morning. Stay tuned for more details.

0FansLike
0FollowersFollow
0FollowersFollow
1,620SubscribersSubscribe

Latest Posts