Hot News – September 26, 2005

Motorcycle bootmaker Cruiserworks, LLC has been purchased by Robert Goforth of Hillsborough, NC. Goforth has owned other successful businesses, is a motorcyclist and avid outdoorsman. The previous owners, Beth and Allen Veach, will assist in the transition of the business. The new Cruiserworks address is 505-C Cornerstone Ct., Hillsborough, NC, 27278; 800/955-1187; www.cruiserworks.com.

WORLD’S LARGEST HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP
Bruce Rossmeyer, CEO of 10 Harley-Davidson locations, plans to open the world’s largest Harley-Davidson dealership on Oct. 21, 2005 in Ormond Beach, Fla.
The 150-acre development called Destination Daytona, located at the intersection of US-1 and I-95, features a 109,000 sq. ft. H-D facility, including a 53,953 sq. ft. showroom displaying more than 200 bikes. The site is also home to the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s “Official Visitor Information Center.”
Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson is the first installment of Destination Daytona, an all-inclusive biker’s destination for bike lovers from all over the world, which is slated to open in May 2006. When complete, Destination Daytona will include a hotel and condominium village, themed restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and retail stores, outdoor amphitheatre, the American Motorcycle Institute, a 100,000 sq. ft. convention center, and nearly 50,000 sq. ft. of motorcycle-related businesses.
Rossmeyer currently owns 10 Harley-Davidson locations, including the Ft. Lauderdale and Daytona Beach locations.

AMA Racing Banquet Set
The 31st annual AMA Pro Racing Championship Awards Banquet, previously scheduled for Nov. 19, has been rescheduled for Nov. 20 at Paris Las Vegas. The event culminates AMA Pro Racing’s championship season and honors the leading riders who have competed in AMA Motocross, Supercross, Superbike, Flat Track, Supermoto and Hillclimb.
The banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $125 and include admission, hors d’oeuvres and dinner. For ticket information, call 614/856-1900, ext. 1232, or visit www.amaproracing.com.

V-Twin Expo, February 4-6
Jim Betlach, producer of the V-Twin Expo, says he expects more than 400 exhibitors to use approximately 1100 booths during the sixth annual event, scheduled Feb. 4-6, 2006, at the Cinergy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The V-Twin Expo focuses exclusively on the V-twin motorcycle market. The annual Expo includes seminars for dealers, an industry reception and honors for industry leaders and their innovative products.
Seminars scheduled for the Expo include The Power of 1% by John Wyckoff, the Latest Trends in Standard and Custom Refinishing by Jon Kosmoski, and a seminar on insurance by Dale Lingard. There’s also an open forum panel with the Motorcycle Industry Council’s American V-Twin group and an all-new V-Twin Expo discussion designed to update attendees with new legislative and the impact it will have on business.
Dealers can register online now for the 2006 Expo at: www.vtwin-expo.com. To learn more about exhibit space availability, contact V-Twin Expo Exhibitor Sales at 952/443-4168. For sponsorships and general information, contact Reaction Management at 623/551-1847.

Chinese to Buy Benelli
China’s Qianjiang Group Co. Ltd. plans to purchase Italian motorcycle brand Benelli from electrical appliance manufacturer The Merloni Group.
The deal follows assurances from Qianjiang’s management that Benelli scooters and motorcycles will continue to be built at its Pesaro factory in central Italy, according to published reports.
Qianjiang is China’s biggest motorcycle maker and the deal represents its first acquisition in Europe.
Established in 1911 by Teresa Benelli, the company started as a car and motorcycle repair shop and built its first motorcycle in 1921.

AutoTrader.com
sets up partnerships
Classified advertising company AutoTrader.com has entered into two partnerships. In one deal, used car shoppers on AutoTrader.com will have access to free Carfax Vehicle History Reports for cars being sold by participating dealers. In a second deal, AutoTrader.com will supply new and used vehicle listings for Web site NADAguides.com.
Also a part of the NADA deal, NADAguides.com — operated by N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides — now serves as the premier vehicle pricing source at AutoTrader.com and will be integrated into all key areas of AutoTrader.com relevant to buying and selling cars.
Carfax, Inc., Fairfax, Va., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the R.L. Polk & Co. Founded in 1986, Carfax Vehicle History Reports, are used to confirm a clean title history or help purchasers identify previous salvage history, odometer fraud, flood damage and more.
Founded 72 years ago, N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides, Costa Mesa, Calif., publishes vehicle valuations and specification infor-
mation for new and used automobiles, powersports vehicles, boats and RVs.
AutoTrader.com, Atlanta, Ga., aggregates in a single location more than 2.8 million vehicle listings from 40,000 dealers and 250,000 private owners, the largest selection of vehicles attracting more than 10 million qualified buyers each month.

H-D Adds Rental spots
The addition of new locations in Soldotna, Alaska; Barre, Vt., Dendermonde, Belgium; Glasgow, Scotland; and Cape Town, South Africa, brings Harley-Davidson’s Authorized Rental program to more than 250 participating facilities worldwide.
Every factory-backed rental includes the use of a Harley-Davidson helmet and raingear, short-term luggage storage and 24-hour roadside assistance.
For more information, visit www.hdrentals.com.

DUCATI INDUCTS THREE FOUNDING MEMBERS INTO NEW HALL OF FAME
During the annual Ducati Dealer meeting held in Chicago, Ill., the company announced the formation of a North American Ducati Hall of Fame. The purpose is to recognize individuals who have made a significant impact in the history of Ducati in North America, said Michael Lock, CEO.
The first three founding members are Doug Polen, Eraldo Ferracci, and Bruce Meyers. Polen is recognized for his victories in racing. He was the winner of two consecutive World Superbike Championships in 1991 and 1992 and he brought home Ducati’s first AMA Championship in 1993.
Ferracci managed a successful Ducati WSBK team, winning the championship in 1991 and 1992. In 1993 and 1994, the Fast By Ferracci team won the AMA Championship and put Ducati on the map in the USA.
Meyers is the founder of BCM Motorsports Inc., in New Hampshire. Meyers’ influence made New England a Ducati stronghold.

NY tightens ATV, Sled Use
New York Gov. George Pataki has signed two new laws affecting powersports enthusiasts. The first raises fines for riding ATVs on posted farmland, and the second sets a 55 mph speed limit for snowmobiles on public lands and trails.
The ATV law begins Nov. 1, setting graduated maximum penalties ranging from $250 and 15 days in jail for the first offense to $550 and 90 days in jail for a third offense within 18 months.
The multi-part snowmobile statute begins in February 2006 with a new maximum state 55 mph speed limit (exempt for races and rallies in possession of permits from the state parks commissioner).
Taking effect April 2006, the second part of the measure increases the annual registration fee to $100 for nonmembers of snowmobile clubs, but leaves the current $45 fee for snowmobilers who belong to clubs. Also, the fine for operating an unregistered snowmobile will increase from $100 to $200.
The final provision in the new snowmobile law pertains to safety. It requires snowmobile operators ages 10 to 13 who have a valid safety certificate to be accompanied by someone 18 or older. Currently, young people with a safety certificate may ride alone.
An estimated 300,000 ATVs operate in New York and officials say 170,000 snowmobiles are registered.

H-D Donates $4.6 Million for Muscular Dystrophy
Harley-Davidson’s fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) topped $4.6 million this year, the company announced during the Sept. 4-5 Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. The contribution brings the total fundraising for Harley-Davidson’s 25 years of involvement with the MDA to $55 million.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company President and COO Jim McCaslin presented the $4.6 million. “Harley-Davidson’s family of dealers, suppliers, riders and employees were hard at work this year planning open houses, rides and other special events to raise money for MDA,” McCaslin said during the Telethon broadcast.
Harley-Davidson has been a national sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1980.

American V-Twin unit Makes Progress
The Motorcycle Industry Council, Inc. (MIC) American V-Twin Committee recently met for the fifth time this year.
Key points of discussion at the meeting, held in Irvine, Calif., involved progress on a potential EPA engine emissions certification program for on-highway motorcycle engines and the feasibility of developing an in-use, on-highway motorcycle sound test procedure.
Last April, MIC spoke with EPA staff about their stated intentions to develop an on-highway motorcycle engine certification program. Currently, such an EPA engine certification program does not exist. Custom motorcycle builders and small volume manufacturers must certify the complete motorcycle even if they install an engine that is used in another motorcycle that has already been EPA certified.
At EPA staff’s request, MIC drafted provisions for a program that would allow small volume, on-highway motorcycle manufacturers and custom motorcycle builders to purchase EPA certified engines and install them without having to recertify the motorcycle. The MIC draft engine certification program was reviewed by the MIC American V-Twin and OE Technical Committees and presented in July to the EPA who is now considering the proposal.
The American V-Twin Committee also discussed recent progress with the MIC OE Technical Committee on the feasibility of developing an appropriate in-use, on-highway motorcycle sound test procedure. Motorcycle noise is a major concern nationwide and many states and municipalities are considering the adoption of varying in-use standards and test procedures that could be detrimental to the industry. The committee’s objective in creating this test is to provide states and municipalities with an easy, economical, reliable and uniform means for controlling excessive motorcycle noise.
Support for exploring the development of an in-use on-highway test procedure has also been expressed by the Motorcycle Sound Working Group and some members of the SAE Motorcycle Committee. The SAE Motorcycle Committee will discuss this issue with MIC at their next meeting in October. MIC probably would be the key source for funding a sound test program to support the development of a new SAE sound test procedure.