PWC sales on the upswing
The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) says PWC sales, hovering at about 80,000 units each year since 2002, might have increased dramatically in 2006.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association says 1.55 million PWC were in use in the United States in 2005, up
58 percent since 1996. The data shows three-passenger models account for the vast majority of PWC on the water today and nearly 90 percent of all sales in 2005. The more fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly four-stroke models also dominate the marketplace, accounting for at least 80 percent of sales.
According to a national study conducted in May by the Recreational Marine Research Center and National Marine Manufacturers Association, 94 percent of boaters planned on hitting the water this past summer despite rising gas prices, and overall boating participation increased by 2.3 million boaters in 2005, to 71.3 million.
“Rising gas prices have not deterred many boaters from enjoying the water as some might have expected,” said Maureen Healey, executive director of PWIA.
AMA Class of ’06 announced
Nine new members will be inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association’s Motorcycle Hall of Fame on Oct. 7.
Doug Chandler — Chandler took home AMA Superbike titles in 1990, 1996 and 1997. He is also one of only five racers to complete a “grand slam” in AMA National Championship racing.
Alfred Rich Child — Child was Harley-Davidson’s first export representative to Africa in 1922. He also served as managing director of sales in pre-WWII Japan. Following the war, Child founded the Rich Child Cycle Co., a distributor of BSA and Sunbeam motorcycles.
Wally Dallenbach, Sr. — Dallenbach put together the first Colorado 500 Charity Dirt Bike Ride in 1975 in an effort to advance the cause of environmentally sound land use and raise funds for communities and charitable institutions in Colorado.
Denis Manning — A designer and fabricator, Manning built the innovative streamliner that allowed Cal Rayborn to shatter Don Vesco’s long-standing motorcycle land-speed record in 1970, as well as Chris Carr’s recent record of 350.884 mph. He also is founder of aftermarket motorcycle exhaust pipe company B.U.B. Enterprises.
Heikki Mikkola — The “Flyin’ Finn,” Mikkola racked up four world motocross championship titles and 32 Grand Prix victories.
Burt Munro — Immortalized in the 2005 film “The World’s Fastest Indian,” New Zealand native Munro devoted his entire life to pursuing his dream of setting a world land-speed record with his 1920 Indian Scout.
Cook Neilson — Editor of Cycle magazine during the 1970s, Neilson was a leading AMA Superbike racer in the 1970s and gave Ducati its first AMA Superbike victory at Daytona. Under his direction, Cycle published the first-ever head-to-head tests of individual bikes, a format used in every category of enthusiast media today.
Roger “Sodie” Soderstrom — Soderstrom’s career spanned 20 years and included five national wins in class C competition. As a Harley-Davidson dealer, Sodie also was an active supporter of the sport and helped numerous racers launch their careers.
Melbourne “Mike” Wilson — A dirt tracker, dealer and sponsor of notable racers, Wilson serves as an ambassador of the sport and active proponent for preserving motorcycling’s history and heritage.
Ehlert combines ATV, snowmobile units
Ehlert Publishing Group has combined its all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile divisions into one unit, which will now be called the Ehlert Off-Road Group. The new group will include five industry-leading publications and correlating Web sites: ATV Magazine, ATV Sport, Snow Goer, Snow Week and the Ultimate Snowmobile Buyers Guide.
The Ehlert Off-Road Group will be under the guidance of powersports industry veterans John Prusak and Mark Rosacker. Prusak will serve as publisher/editorial director. He has been with Ehlert for 13 years and has served in a variety of roles.
Rosacker will serve as associate publisher/advertising director. He has been with Ehlert for 11 years, starting as an advertising sales representative for the company’s snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle titles. Rosacker will head up an experienced sales team that includes ATV Sales Manager Allison Gruhn, advertising sales representatives Lane Uherka and Laura Kiesler, and National Sales Representative Kelly Schulman.
The following editorial changes also have been announced:
Snow Goer Editor Tim Erickson will now also serve as editor of ATV Magazine, while Jerrod Kelley remains the editor of ATV Sport;
Chris Vogtman has been named managing editor for both of the ATV titles;
Veteran snowmobile editorial staff member Lynn Keillor has been named editor of Snow Week;
Tom Kaiser was recently hired as associate editor for both of the ATV titles and will serve as Powersports Business’ ATV?editor. psb