Copyright 2001 Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AHRMA co-founder Rob Iannucci and his associates have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court alleging that the AHMRA, the AMA and individual AHRMA trustees, officials and lawyers violated the Sherman Act, the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and the California Business and Professional Code in denying AHRMA membership and race entries to Iannucci and his team.

According to the complaint filed by Iannucci and his associates, “The defendants, both corporately and individually, have systematically attempted to drive plaintiffs Team Obsolete and Robert T. Iannucci from the sport and business by a pattern of collusive, fraudulent and tortious acts specifically designed to deprive Team Obsolete and Iannucci of their ability to participate in, and derive an income from, the construction, maintenance, public display and racing of historic motorcycles….Essentially the entire resources of defendant AHRMA have been committed to drive plaintiffs Iannucci and Team Obsolete out of the organization that they founded.”

Plaintiffs in the suit included Iannucci and three corporations he controls (Team Obsolete Ltd., Team Obsolete Products Ltd. and Team Obsolete Promotions Inc.) as well as Team Obsolete riders Jim Redman, Don Vesco, Dave Roper, Lon McCroskey M.D., Erik Green and John Kain.

Defendants include the AHRMA, the AMA, former AHRMA Trustee Bob Barker, AHRMA Director of Communications Matt Benson, AHRMA attorney Ed Bendelow, AHRMA Trustee John Goodpaster, AHRMA Trustee Matt Hilgenberg, former AHRMA trustee Mike Kirby, AHRMA trustee Rusty Lowry, AHRMA Board of Trustees Chairman Fred Mork, AHRMA Trustee Beno Rodi, AHRMA Tech Inspector Pete Silfven, AHRMA Trustee and Corporate Treasurer and former Executive Director Jeff Smith, AHRMA Trustee Rob Stickler, AHRMA Executive Director Jack Turner and AHRMA Trustee Allen Wenzel. The suit also targets unidentified co-conspirators, stating “Defendants John Does 1-15 are as of yet unidentified members of the AHRMA Board of Trustees and/or AHRMA employees who participated in the course of conduct described herein.”

The complaint details a series of disputes between Iannucci and AHRMA, which, in January 1997, led to Iannucci being denied membership in AHRMA and being informed that AHRMA chose to no longer do business with Iannucci. Subsequently, all Team Obsolete riders were banned from AHRMA events. In January 1999, riders Roper, Erik Green, Yvon Duhamel, Mike Green and Peter Watson were notified by Jeff Smith that their entries for the March 1999 AHRMA event at Daytona were rejected because they listed Team Obsolete as a sponsor. In February, McCrosky and Kain’s entries were rejected by Jeff Smith for the same stated reason. The riders in this case were allowed to compete after intervention by officials of Daytona International Speedway. But the AMA, which sanctioned the Sears Point event, and Sears Point Raceway itself, refused to intercede when Erik Green and Dave Roper had their entries denied for the April, 1999 AHRMA race at Sears Point. Green, Roper, Cal Rayborn, McCroskey and John Kain’s entries were refused for the June 1999 AHRMA race at Mid-Ohio, and again the AMA and the racetrack did not intercede. Don Vesco was refused entry to the September 1999 AHRMA event at Park City, Utah, because he listed Team Obsolete as a sponsor.

The complaint also states that Team Obsolete lost financial sponsorship from Megacycle Cams, Red Line Synthetic Lubricants and Vanson Leathers as a result of the ongoing problems Team Obsolete riders had getting into AHRMA events.

According to the complaint, the Defendants acted “intentionally and maliciously…for the express purpose of destroying the business and good will of Team Obsolete and Iannucci, preventing them from participating in Vintage motorcycle racing and eliminating Team Obsolete as a competitor….The acts of the Defendants constitute unreasonable restraints upon interstate trade and commerce and have crippled Team Obsolete’s and Iannucci’s business by depriving them of a substantial portion of their income.”

The complaint also alleges that “the defendants engaged in an unlawful conspiracy in restraint of previously mentioned interstate commerce in violation of…the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.” The complaint further alleges that “the Defendant AHRMA acting in concert with the AMA and acting through” Trustees “as well as other agents and employees acting outside the scope of their employment, engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity in violation of…the RICO Act.”

The complaint asks the court to force the defendants to pay triple damages “for the defendants willful and malicious acts,” order the reinstatement of Iannucci’s AHRMA membership, issue an injunction restraining the defendants from similar conduct in the future, and require the defendants to pay all legal costs and fees incurred by the plaintiffs.

The complaint was filed March 12, 2001 in United States District Court, Eastern District of New York.

Roadracing World was unable to contact AHRMA Executive Director Jack Turner and AMA Chairman of the Board of Trustees Rick Gray prior to post time. Roadracing World was able to contact AHRMA Trustee Matt Hilgenberg, but Hilgenberg said he had not yet been served with the complaint and could not comment.

In a telephone interview, Iannucci said that he had no choice but to file the lawsuit to end his mistreatment by AHRMA officials, and that he remains “willing to meet with responsible people of goodwill from AHRMA and AMA to attempt to bring this litigation to a just, fair and speedy end.”

In an April 3 phone call to Roadracing World, Greg Huth of Willow Springs Raceway said that enough sponsorship has now been lined up to make the AMA National originally scheduled for September 14-16 viable. The problem now is that AMA officials will not return phone calls or confirm the date on the AMA Superbike schedule, Huth said, adding that the track was determined to see the race happen even if it had to co-promote the event with Hansyllan Motorsports.

“I called to see if you can find out what is going on,” said Huth. “AMA won’t talk to anybody about anything. They will not return phone calls, FAXes or letters. I’d like to get a real word on it.

“Everything is lined up for the race to happen,” Huth continued. “But Hansyllan can’t get confirmation on the date.”

Hansyllan Motorsports’ Steve Rethmeier could not be reached at his office in Anaheim, California prior to post time. AMA Superbike Operations Manager Ron Barrick had not returned a phone call to his office in Virginia prior to post time.

Team Pro-Motion, an organization that holds open track days in the eastern United States, and Aprilia, an Italian motorcycle manufacturer, have teamed up for a special opportunity. Aprilia is making RS250 Challenge Cup racebikes and RSV Mille R streetbikes available to rent for one session, one half day, or a full day’s worth of riding at Team Pro-Motion track days. For an extra fee beyond the cost of the track day, riders can get the GP experience from the 62-horsepower, two-stroke RS250 or can emulate Troy Corser on the Ohlins-suspended V-Twin Mille R four-stroke.

Team Pro-Motion will also host three Aprilia track days where Aprilia demo rides and special instruction classes will be offered. All motorcycle brands will be welcomed on the track ride days, which are scheduled for April 16th at Pocono International Raceway, May 4th at Summit Point Raceway, and May 21st at Carolina Motorsports Park. A fourth date at Virginia International Raceway (North course) on July 2nd may be added.

For more information, contact Team Pro-Motion’s Linda Rabb at (215)675-5080 or any area Aprilia dealer, which can be located by calling Aprilia USA at (770) 592-2261.

In a phone call to Roadracing World, Willow Springs Owner Bill Huth said April 3 that he is determined to have an AMA Superbike National at his racetrack and will promote the event himself, if he can get AMA officials to return his phone calls.

“I’ll do the thing myself if I have to. I’m keeping the date, I want the date,” said Huth, adding that Hansyllan Motorsports gave up on the event because they could not get a straight answer on date confirmation from AMA officials. The race was originally scheduled for September 14-16.

But Huth added that he had been unable to get in touch with anybody at the AMA, and asked if the AMA phone number he had was the right one. (It was.)

Huth also said he is considering discussing co-promotion of the event with Doug Gonda, the promoter who sold Formula USA to SFX Motor Sports at the end of the 1999 season.

Vesrah Suzuki’s Mark Junge starred in both WERA National Challenge Series races he entered at Texas World Speedway on Sunday, running away with the Open Superstock win on a GSX-R1000 and holding off a charging Larry Denning to win in 600cc Superstock on a GSX-R600.

Denning won the Formula One race on a YZF-R1, while Scott Harwell won the 750cc Superstock and Heavyweight Twins races on his Suzukis. In Heavyweight Twins, Harwell beat John Branch on a Honda RC51 and Bill St. John on a Ducati.

Young Gun Jason Peters won the 125cc Grand Prix race and finished a close second in the Formula Two race. In Lightweight Twins, Bradley Champion won with St. John second and David Yaakov third.

Junge, Denning and Harwell all ran on Metzeler or Pirelli tires.

The Texas World round of the WERA National Challenge Series was hosted by RPM, a WERA affiliate.

Shogun Motorsports Owner Brooks Gremmels said April 2 that injured rider Ryan Landers will be replaced on the Shogun Motorsports team, adding that Landers will have some role in the team’s operations as long as he wishes to.

But as far as Landers’ riding career goes, Gremmels said, “It’s over. That part is over. It has to stop.”

Landers was injured during a CMRA/CCS Regional at Motor Sports Ranch in Cresson, Texas on Sunday, April 1.

Prior to talking to Roadracing World, Gremmels placed a post on the CMRA message board (www.cmraracing.com) that read “Yesterday, following his win in the Shogun Shootout, Ryan Landers was injured while racing in the Unlimited SuperSport race. Ryan fell and was struck in the head by another rider in an unavoidable accident. Ryan was transported to Harris Hospital in Ft. Worth. He was diagnosed as having a severe concussion.

“Ryan is nationally known for his riding talents but his reputation for having a heart bigger than Texas, is even greater. If it was left up to Ryan, he would be on the grid for his next scheduled race at Willow Springs on April 20. Instead, his parents, Johnny and Patti Landers, his team manager, Chuck Giachetto and his sponsors have joined in asking Ryan to retire from road racing. Ryan is a bright young man with a wonderful future ahead of him on whatever path he chooses. Those of us who have had the good fortune to be involved with Ryan want to thank his CMRA family for their support throughout his career.

“Should you wish, Ryan can be contacted by email at [email protected].”

Gremmels said that Landers lost the front end while passing a slower rider on the inside of a sweeping corner, crashed and slid in front of the other rider, who ran over Landers’ head. Landers was released from the hospital Sunday night after a CAT scan but was still suffering the effects of his seventh concussion.

Observers on site thought that Landers, who initially was not moving and not breathing, had died in the incident. He started breathing again and was transported to the hospital.

Landers has had a star-crossed career marked by bad luck and serious injuries, including severe damage to one elbow and arm.

The GPRA 125cc Grand Prix race that was aborted due to darkness during the Daytona Formula USA weekend will be run at Road America on Saturday, April 28.

According to GPRA’s Chris Wallace, “GPRA will in fact hold a make up race at Road America on Saturday, April 28 to allow those racers who were at Daytona and on the grid for the first start of the race to compete for the full purse and
points. There will be no additional fee for this make-up as fees were paid for Daytona. The normally scheduled round two of the Eastern region will take place on Sunday and is open to all GPRA licensed competitors.”

More information is available from www.gpra.org

American Ben Bostrom won the second World Superbike at Kyalami in South Africa, his first World Superbike race win outside of the United States.

Bostrom was fourth on his Ducati in the first race at Kyalami, and credited set-up changes made between races with his record-setting second-race speed.

Defending World Champion Colin Edwards won the first race on a Honda, but DNF the second race after briefly taking the lead from Bostrom.

Bostrom is now third in series points standings, behind Ducati’s Troy Bayliss and Aprilia’s Troy Corser.

First race results were:
1. Edwards
2. Bayliss
3. Corser
4. Bostrom
5. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki
6. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki
7. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki
8. Regis Laconi, Aprilia
9. Ruben Xaus, Ducati
10. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki

Second race results were:
1. Bostrom
2. Bayliss
3. Corser
4. Neil Hodgson, Ducati
5. Xaus
6. Laconi
7. Lavilla
8. Chili
9. G. Bussei, Ducati
10. Chambon

George Bruggenthies, President and General Manager of Road America, has hired Carson Wilkinson as the Wisconsin track’s first full-time Safety Director. Before accepting his new position in charge of Road America’s 75-member- strong emergency response team, Wilkinson worked for the track since 1995 on a part-time basis while also holding the position of Division Chief for Training Safety with the Kenosha Fire Department. Since starting his safety career in 1975, Wilkinson has served in several capacities from firefighter to the Safety and Rescue Chief for the Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs in conjunction with the Sports Car Club of America.

Bruggenthies was quoted in the press release issued by Road America as saying the addition of the new Briggs & Stratton Motorplex has doubled Road America’s racing capacity. According to Road America Communications Director Cheryl Barnes, the increase in racing activity and large spectator events from four to five in 2001 led to the need for the new full-time position which in turn led to Wilkinson’s hiring.

Road America is one of America’s premier road racing facilities and is located in east-central Wisconsin, about an hour north of Milwaukee.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. and Mind Arrow Systems, Inc. teamed up to produce two multimedia e-mail marketing campaigns, targeting 30,000 computer owners. Targeted consumers received information about either the Kawasaki Good Times Giveaway or the Kawasaki Good Times Sweepstakes. Each message contained video from current Kawasaki TV ad campaigns, a link to register for giveaways (including a Chevy Silverado truck, a ZX-6R sportbike, a Vulcan 1500 cruiser, a KX250 or special financing), and links to Kawasaki’s official motorcycle website and accessory site.

Kawasaki managers liked the ability to combine the flashy video footage with detailed information in a format that allows them to easily track the campaign’s results, in the form of giveaway registrations.