Smallest motorcycle?
Sweden’s Tom Wiberg, 40, has built what he says is the world’s smallest motorcycle, weighing in at just 2.4 pounds. He built the tiny cycle to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for a second time.
He holds the Guinness record for world’s largest motorcycle with his “Bigtoe” bike, which is 7.5-feet high, 15.5 feet long with a top speed of 62 mph. It was built in 1998 and is powered by a Jaguar V-12 engine. His new machine, mamed “Smalltoe” measures 2.5 inches high and just 4.5 inches long. It reaches a top speed of 1.2 mph, powered by a tiny, ethanol-fueled engine from a remote-controlled model airplane. The tiny bike is listed as the world’s smallest on the Guinness World Records Web site and will be featured in the next printed edition.
POLARIS really goes WILD
Polaris Industries, based in Medina, Minn., and the Minnesota Wild National Hockey League team, launched their latest partnership initiative with the unveiling of a custom-painted, Wild-themed Victory Vegas motorcycle and Polaris snowmobile.
The Victory motorcycle along with a Polaris snowmobile are the star attractions of an online auction taking place from Nov. 10 through Dec. 18 for the motorcycle and Feb. 2 through March 17 for the snowmobile, with proceeds to benefit the 10,000 Rinks Foundation. Rinks is a non-profit organization that raises money for youth hockey and other community groups. Check it out at www.wild.com.
DUCATI NAMES EVENT COORDINATOR
Vince Chiaro has been named public relations and event coordinator for Ducati North America. He’ll be working directly with the marketing team at Ducati N.A. headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. Chiaro, a mechanical engineer, has worked as a mechanic at the Jim Russell Racing School.
In other Ducati news, Eric Bostrom is set to lead the Ducati challenge on the 2004 AMA Superbike championship. The 27-year-old from San Francisco will form part of the factory-supported Ducati effort to claim the AMA title for the first time since 1994.
MPA offers MOTORCYCLE STARTERS
Motorcar Parts of America has introduced a new line of motorcycle starters. Motorcycles represent a new vehicular segment for the 35-year-old company. MPA has facilities in Torrance, Calif., and Nashville, Tenn., as well as overseas in Singapore and Malaysia. Details are available www.motorcarparts.com.
Yamaha, Toyota Offer Special Truck
Toyota and Yamaha have teamed up to develop a truck that makes hauling watercraft, snowmobiles, motorcycles and ATVs nearly as much fun as riding them — the Tundra Double Cab Toyota/Yamaha Concept Truck.
But Yamaha dealers, don’t get your hopes up. It is only a concept truck and not scheduled to be sold through dealers.
The truck is a cross-promotion between Toyota and Yamaha. The truck will be at several auto shows and Yamaha will have it for a while to drive to special events, photo shoots, etc.
Built to meet the needs of active families or groups hauling their favorite toys, the Toyota/Yamaha Concept Truck is loaded with extra features: a special paint scheme and logo, an interior by Bartlett Corporation, a one-of-a-kind bumper guard and grille with skid plate, a Donahoe Racing performance suspension featuring off-road coil-over front shocks, bead-lock wheels from Walker Evans and Goodyear Wrangler MT/R 285/70R17 tires, a Universal Engineering bed rack keeping motorcycles snug during transport, and a supercharger developed by Toyota Racing Development, Inc. (TRD) has been added to help haul the load.
Hull Joins Samson
Danny Hull has joined Samson Motorcycle Products Inc. as chief of research and development and corporate driver. Hull was most recently lead mechanic and crew chief for Roger Lee Hayden, Kurtis Roberts, Eric Bostrom and Nicky Hayden. Samson produces premium motorcycle exhausts markets.
