April 3, 2006 – Distributor Report

New powersports tech degree available in Missouri
Linn State Technical College (LSTC) plans to offer the only Associate of Applied Science degree program in Missouri focused specifically on developing technicians for the powersports industry.
LSTC’s Powersports Technology two-year degree program will include eight-week paid internships, hands-on learning and general education courses. The offering, which recently was approved by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, will begin classes in the fall.
LSTC officials worked closely with the Missouri Powersport Dealers Association (MPSDA) to create the program, and all students who apply must be sponsored by an MPSDA member.
LSTC seeks shop equipment donations, like motorcycle and ATV lifts, tire changers, balancers, cleaners, a dyno and more.
For additional information, contact LSTC’s Office of Admissions at 800/743-8324.
Tucker Rocky Founder Invests in Airline
Robert Nickell, the founder of Tucker Rocky who later sold the company to current owner LDI and is now a regent at the University of North Texas, is joining with a partner to invest $5 million in VAI Partners, the company providing a portion of the funding for the launch of Virgin America airlines.
Nickell’s partner is Virgin America Chairman Don Carty, former chief executive of American Airlines. Carty received 65,106 shares in Virgin America when he became chairman last month.
Carty and Nickell invested in VAI as Carty-Nickell Investments.
Parts and Drag Super showcases to appear in 11 Cities
LeMans Corporation’s Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties will be teaming up to host 11 Super Showcases across the nation this year.
More than 40 vendors will utilize 15,000-20,000 sq. feet for the showcase showroom to display new ATV, street, V-twin and off-road products.
Each showcase will begin with a buffet dinner followed by product giveaways as well as introducing participating vendors. After dinner, dealers are invited to walk around and discuss products and business with vendors.
Weld Racing Announces Management Changes
Mark Finnie has resigned from his position as vice president of the Weld Motorcycle division to pursue other opportunities.
Greg Weld, CEO of Weld Wheel Industries, says Weld Racing now plans to consolidate its motorcycle division’s sales and marketing staffs with the company’s PRO Motorsports division.
“As the product line and market dynamics continue to develop and evolve, we have decided to make some strategic changes to better serve the V-twin industry,” Weld said. He said mating the two divisions will allow the company to have more collective resources to better inform customers, develop marketing campaigns and increase the level of customer service and satisfaction.
Weld’s PRO Motorsports division is led by Taylor Weld, Weld Group vice president.
In other staff changes, Rich Albertson has been promoted to sales manager, motorcycle products and Russ Bailey has been tapped to head up CNC machining operations.
Diamond Powersports Triples Sales
Parts supplier Diamond Powersports, Inc. said it received orders worth $181,429 in February, nearly triple the orders of $62,081 received in February 2005.
Diamond’s sales for January and February 2006 were $270,682, up 61 percent from $168,060 for the same two months in 2005.
Diamond Powersports specializes in lowering links, chain guards, kickstands, mirror caps and frame sliders. The company’s patented Flame Sliders are among the 400 different sport bike accessories it manufactures.
CycleCareers.com Launches New Features
CycleCareers.com, an online recruiting company serving the powersports industry, has designed a new homepage and added resources.
Cycle Career officials said the new homepage was designed to simplify site navigation and allow for future growth. Having descriptive links and more resources accessible from this page allows visitors to find what they need almost immediately, and makes for a more efficient user experience, said Shane Bowen, president and founding partner of Cycle Careers.
Bowen said new relationships with Dealership University and Powersport Institute also complement the product and offer a “much-needed resource for Cycle Careers visitors that are looking to get into the industry or for dealer principles looking to improve the performance of their staff.”
PowersportsTV Offers New Survey Feature
PowersportsTV.com, LLC (PSTV), Bellingham, Wash., now offers Outcome Customer Surveys, a new research tool to investigate and manage how consumers are making their powersports vehicle purchases.
PowersportsTV.com provides consumers a forum to research their next powersports vehicle purchase and then request a free price quote from a local dealer.
The PowersportsTV.com Outcome surveys will give consumers a way to describe their powersports purchase experience by capturing the essential factors of their entire purchase. By capturing this data, PSTV says it will be able to provide its network of dealers a new level of heightened awareness in relation to the consumer.
“This tool offers a lot of useful information; it asks valid questions that pertain to the dealer and what they are doing to win the business of the customer,” said Tony Peterson, Internet manager at Motoprimo Motorsports in Minneapolis. “In today’s market that is the information that is highly sought after. It’s not about ‘Please rate your experience from 1 to 10.’ It’s about how we can win your business forever, what do I need to do to make sure you buy from me, and that your children do the same.”
New manager at Kryptonite
Kryptonite, a brand in Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies Sector, announced that Dwight Gibson has been appointed by Ingersoll Rand to drive business development for the Portable Security business unit.
In this role, Gibson reports to Dave Gillrie, general manager, Global Retail Business, a new position within the sector. Gibson’s appointment is effective immediately.
Prior to this appointment, Gibson served as director of strategic planning and business development for Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies Sector.
In this role he helped to clarify sector strategy and developed plans to achieve growth aspirations. Gibson will be based primarily in Carmel, Ind., but will spend a significant portion of time at Kryptonite’s world headquarters in Canton, Mass. psb