Franks Biker News May 30th archive

D&D's OPEN PIPE TEAM SHOWS WELL @ SPRINGFIELD MILE
Posted: 28 May 2009 07:00 AM PDT
D&D Open Pipe Teaam
D&D Performance Enterprises’ Open Pipe Team was on the gas at the opening round of the 2009 AMA Pro Grand National Twins Championship at the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association's Springfield Mile.
The Captain, Chris Carr of Chris Carr Racing, piloted his XR750 equipped with a dyno-tuned D&D custom pipe to a podium and a thrilling 3rd place finish.
Rain stopped the action as Carr looked to be the rider to beat before the red flag. He was in the hunt at the end. With the laps running down, Carr and eventual race winner, Bryan Smith, were running wheel to wheel.
Lady Luck had left the building as the last lap draft-fest left Carr in third. Smith took 1st, Coolbeh 2nd with Mees Cummings and Kopp all the lead draft at the line. Jethro Halbert, McCoy, Matt Weidman (Silkolene / SuperTrapp) and Stevenscycle.com / Greg Crow Racing's Bryan Bigelow filled out the top ten.
RESULTS
PRO SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP MAIN EVENT (18 riders, 12 laps): 1. Michael Toon (Hon); 2. James Rispoli (Hon); 3. Shayna Texter (Suz); 4. JD Beach (Hon); 5. Brad Baker (Hon); 6. Jeff Carver (Yam); 7. John Long (Suz); 8. Corby Scherb (Hon); 9. Tony Davila (Hon); 10. Corey Crawford (Hon); 11. Stephen Vanderkuur (Hon); 12. Michael LaBelle (Yam); 13. Brian Tapp (Hon); 14. Colt Chebultz (Hon); 15. Kayl Kolkman (Hon); 16. Chaz Springsteen (Hon); 17. Michael Poe (Hon); 18. Andrew Smith (Hon).

GRAND NATIONAL TWINS CHAMPIONSHIP MAIN EVENT (19 riders, 25 laps): 1. Bryan Smith (H-D); 2. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 3. Chris Carr (H-D); 4. Jared Mees (H-D); 5. Nick Cummings (H-D); 6. Joe Kopp (H-D); 7. Jethro Halbert (H-D); 8. Willie McCoy (H-D); 9. Matt Weidman (H-D); 10. Bryan Bigelow (H-D); 11. Don Taylor (H-D); 12. Brandon Robinson (H-D); 13. Logan Myers (H-D); 14. Larry Pegram (Duc); 15. JR Schnabel (H-D); 16. Shaun Russell (H-D); 17. Jake Johnson (H-D); 18. Sammy Halbert (H-D); 19. Stevie Bonsey (H-D).

To get your motor running check out all the dyno-tuned exhaust pipes for your motorcycle at www.danddexhaust.com .

D&D's Open Pipe Team includes Chris Carr Racing and Jumpin' Jeff Schneider and ILLConduct Stunt Team.

SF Police To Motorcycle Enthusiasts: 'Turn That Crap Down!' - SF Weekly Blogs - Hey, you! The motorcycle freak on the chopper so loud it's rattling my fillings out! Yeah, you! The San Francisco Police Department would like a word with you -- a quiet word.
The SFPD will on Saturday announce a crackdown on choppers emitting a noise reminiscent of, as Kurt Vonnegut would have put it, "the opening of the zipper on the fly of God Almighty." The cops' response is the result of a number of noise complaints lodged with the Board of Supervisors, emanating (not surprisingly) from some of the city's tonier and more cruise-worthy zones: Fisherman's Wharf, the Marina, The Embarcadero.
Sergeant Bob Guinan, who oversees the city's motorcycle unit, says his officers will be on the lookout -- or, more accurately, on the hearout -- for motorcyclists who have altered the mufflers of their bikes to emit a sound louder than 95 decibels. (for purposes of comparison, a large orchestra usually clocks in at around 98 decibels, front row of a rock concert at 110, and actual pain starts at 130. Guinan said none of the police bikes go louder than 68 dB, no matter how hard you rev them).
Guinan blamed most of the noise on out-of-towners who head into the city "especially on a hot day on their custom bikes." Altering the muffler to emit an almost literally ear-bleeding bleat is a $300 to $400 operation -- "They enjoy the noise. It's part of having a Harley-type bike," said the sergeant.
He notes that police will not be chasing down noise offenders -- "We're not inclined to engage in pursuits for infractions of the vehicle code" -- but motorcycle cops have now been trained to recognize the sound of a chopper with an altered muffler and will make stops or take license plate numbers if the biker speeds off.
Cops will be handing out "fix-it" tickets; with proof of the muffler being restored to actually allow muffling, bikers will only have to pay a $25 administrative fee. Otherwise they risk a ticket in the hundreds of dollars -- and having their bikes impounded for a second offense.
Sounds like a solid idea -- and anything giving us an excuse to play the above Bubb Rubb and Lil' Sis video is more than welcome. 

Crash biker was banned - Manchester Evening News - A MOTORCYCLIST who died after he ploughed into a woman on a pedestrian crossing was banned from the roads.
It has emerged that Joe McCann was disqualified from driving until October 2010.
He had also been arrested twice on suspicion of driving while disqualified in 2003.
Mr McCann, 25, the father of a six-year-old boy, was riding a 1,000cc Suzuki on Victoria Avenue, Blackley, on Saturday night.
The bike hit the pedestrian as she was on the crossing outside a primary school before crashing into parked cars.
The woman remains in hospital with a number of broken bones in her arms and legs - but her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
He just shouldn't have been on that bike at all because he was a banned driver Police source
Since the tragedy, a huge floral tribute to Mr McCann, who was about to become a father for the second time, has been laid near the scene of the accident.
A police source said: "Of course, This is a terrible tragedy. But he just shouldn't have been on that bike at all because he was a banned driver. The woman he hit is in a terrible state. It's more a case of what bones she hasn't broken."
Friends have paid tribute to Mr McCann on the social networking website Facebook.
Lauren Wilds wrote: "Many people are devastated about your death Joe. You made me smile every time you walked in the room. I just wish I could've said goodbye.
"My sympathy goes out to all your family and friends. It's heartbreaking that you had to be taken away even though you are a decent, top lad with his own businesses, a six-year-old son, and a kid on the way. You had so much to live for."
Susan Flynn paid tribute to 'one of the most gorgeous blue-eyed boys' who was 'so suddenly taken away', adding that she was thinking about Joe's son and 'baby on the way'.
Martin Phoenix wrote: "I grew up with Joe. He was one of my best friends growing up.
He was just a great mate and my heart goes out to all his loved ones."
Toni Goss said: "Rest in Peace Joe, you have been reunited with your dad but that doesn't stop the pain everyone is feeling here."
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call 0161 856 3572. 

Superbikes mean a super weekend - Tooele Transcript-Bulletin - Racing fans and businesses will be in top gear this weekend as the HANNspree Superbike World Championship rolls into Miller Motorsports Park. The race, which is MMP’s biggest of the year, is expected to be viewed by a worldwide audience of 120 million viewers in 175 countries.
Roughly 20,000 of those spectators will be at the track from Friday through Sunday, joining 1,000 drivers and crew members already in Tooele preparing for the races, according to John Gardner, media manager at MMP.
Before the first checkered flag even falls, the event has already resulted in a surge in business for local hotels and restaurants.
“We have been completely booked for this weekend since December 2008,” said Moriah Hooper, front desk clerk at Best Western Inn Tooele. “Whenever there is a weekend event at Miller Motorsports Park we are full.”
The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites are also booked up for the races, primarily with crew members, according to Carrie Cushman, general manager.
“Most of our customers for the race are crew members that come in early, as opposed to fans that stay for the weekend,” Cushman said.
Applebees is bracing for a rush of race fans and crew members, based on last year’s Superbike races.
“Last year we were very busy during the races,” said Applebees manager Mike Osterud. “A lot of our business comes from crew members staying at the Holiday Inn. Our biggest problem last year was explaining Utah’s liquor laws to people from out of the country.”
Sostanza, Tooele’s newest fine-dining restaurant, wants to distribute flyers at the races to help race goers find their new place on Tooele’s Main Street, according to co-owner Teri Ellsworth.
Tracks Brewing Company is sponsoring two events this weekend in conjunction with the Superbike races to draw in fans. The first is a motorcycle helmet auction that will be a fundraiser for Biker’s Against Child Abuse.
“BACA gets a professional artist to decorate the helmets and then we auction them off,” said Tracks owner Dayne Applegate.
The second event is the appearance of the Corona race team at Tracks on Saturday night to sign autographs.
The Tooele County Chamber of Commerce will be doing live broadcasts from Denny’s with the Miller Group’s KFAN1320 AM radio during the Superbike races.
“We have several tickets to the races that we will be giving away on air,” said Debbie Winn, executive director of the Tooele County Chamber of Commerce. “We will also be doing spot adds inviting race goers to come in to Tooele to shop.”
MMP will pay for three Tooele County Sheriff’s Office deputies and three Utah Highway Patrol officers to be on site to provide security for the event.
“They will patrol the motorsports park, the parking lot, and nearby roads, and respond to any calls for emergency services,” said Tooele County Sheriff Frank Park.
Superbike fans were well behaved last year, Park said.
“We have had very few problems with the bike races in the past,” Park said. “The people are good and with the races not all starting or ending at the same time we do not have the problem with traffic flow like with some other events.”
Superbike is a boon to the county overall, according to Tooele County Commissioner Bruce Clegg.
“We are really excited to have the Superbike race here in Tooele County,” said Clegg. “It is a positive thing for the county, and it brings a lot of people here to the county that help our businesses, as well as the huge television audience that will see Tooele County.”

Officer, Outfit member indicted - ESPN - May 28, 2009 (WLS) -- Racketeering indictments have been handed up against a top Outfit member and a current Cicero police officer on charges that include armed robbery, arson and illegal gambling.
The case grew from a 2003 bombing of a gaming house in Berwyn that was allegedly ordered by the mob and carried out by members of a violent motorcycle gang.
The lead defendant is Mike Sarno, a career hoodlum who as a rising mob figure was known as "Fat Boy" due to his bulging, 350 pound waistline. Now, as a 51-year old boss Sarno is known in Outfit circles as "The Large Guy."
Sarno's home was among six locations that were the subject of search warrants last summer.
Sarno has already served time in prison for his involvement in organized crime.
The word "mob" is no where to be seen in Thursday's rackets indictments and federal prosecutors declined to speak the words "outfit" or "underworld." But they didn't have to.
Mike Sarno, the lead man charged, is already a convicted mob boss who investigators say has worked his way up through syndicate ranks during the past three decades.
When the I-Team last saw Mike Sarno, it was outside his home in suburban Westchester. On Thursday night, eight months later, Mr. Sarno was named in a federal grand jury indictment.
Sarno is charged with leading an eight year crime spree that featured lucrative jewel heists and forging an alliance with the outlaws motorcycle gang. Their partnership punctuated by a bombing in west suburban Berwyn, intended to take down a video poker machine company that was competing with the mob's own illegal gambling business.
"Our allegations in the indictment are that people broke the law; and that they broke it in a number of ways. Some having to do with illegal gambling, some having to do with robbery and theft and arson," said Patrick Fitzgerald, United States attorney.
Sarno, newly charged on Thursday, aka Big Mike, Mikey, Large and the Large Guy, allegedly oversaw enterprise gambling and that bomb attack.
From the time Sarno was known as "Fat Boy" and went to prison as a mob soldier 15 years ago, Outfit experts say he was destined to lead a street crew.
That is just what he did with the Enterprise, according to authorities who say the headquarters was a jewelry store in Cicero used to fence stolen goods.
The store, owned by outlaw biker Mark Polchan who was previously charged along with 85-year-old Samuel Volpendesto of Oak Brook and Kyle Knight who has pleaded guilty and is cooperating.
Four other men are charged with the robberies and jewel thefts including Volpendesto's son as well as James Formato, a former Berwyn policeman, and Dino Vitalo, an 18-year Cicero policeman who is still on the job.
"He was sent home on administrative pay leave. That's where he is now. He is off the streets. Town president immediately indicated that if these charges prove to be true they are sickening and there is no room in the Cicero Police Department," said Elio Montenegro, Cicero spokesman
There are no court dates yet in this case.
Cicero officials say at some point Officer Vitalo will be placed on unpaid leave.
Feds are allowing him to turn himself in at the time of arraignment; same for the ex-Berwyn cop. And, curiously, the same consideration is being given to Mike Sarno, the ex-con crime syndicate boss.
Sarno was not one of those arrested on Thursday. The U.S. attorney offered little explanation except to suggest that they do things for a reason.
Here are details provided by the United States Attorney in Chicago:
Five new defendants, together with two others who were initially charged last year with using a pipe bomb to damage a Berwyn video and vending machine business in 2003, were indicted on sweeping racketeering conspiracy charges alleging eight years of criminal activity, federal law enforcement officials announced today. The charges encompass at least nine armed robberies and thefts, arson, illegal gambling and obstruction justice, including by current and former suburban police officers who are among the seven defendants. New defendant, Michael Sarno, allegedly oversaw, directed and guided certain of the group's illegal activities, including causing previously-charged defendants Mark Polchan and Samuel Volpendesto, to bomb C & S Coin Operated Amusements, a video gaming device business in Berwyn, to eliminate competition and to protect and enhance the group's own business relationships, according to the indictment.
The indictment alleges that the seven defendants were associated in a criminal enterprise that existed since at least 2001 to generate income for its members through illegal activities, including: committing armed robberies and thefts from jewelry stores, businesses and private residences; transporting stolen goods across state lines; committing thefts and obtaining stolen items from interstate shipments of goods; purchasing, possessing and selling stolen goods; using threats, violence and intimidation to advance the enterprise's illegal activities; committing arson; operating and facilitating illegal gambling businesses, including the use of video gambling machines; obstructing justice and criminal investigations by tampering with and intimidating witnesses; obstructing justice and criminal investigations by gathering information about the existence and extent of ongoing federal criminal investigations from sources including corrupt local law enforcement officers and law enforcement databases; and traveling in interstate commerce to further the goals of the criminal enterprise.
The indictment seeks forfeiture of at least $1,878,172 from six of the seven defendants as proceeds of the alleged racketeering activity.
Law enforcement agents yesterday executed federal search warrants at more than two dozen suburban locations, including bars and restaurants, in connection with the ongoing investigation.
The 12-count superseding indictment was returned on May 21 and unsealed today, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Andrew L. Traver, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Alvin Patton, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago.
All seven defendants, including four currently in custody, will be arraigned at later dates in U.S. District Court.
Sarno, 51, of Westchester, also known as "Big Mike," "Mikey," "Large," and "the Large Guy," allegedly oversaw the group's illegal gambling ventures and received a share of the illegal profits from Polchan, 41, formerly of Justice, who also occupied a leadership role. The indictment alleges that Polchan identified targets for robbery and used his business, a sole proprietorship operating under the names "M. Goldberg Jewelers," and "Goldberg Jewelers," located at 1203 South Cicero Ave., in Cicero, to conduct meetings with criminal associates, as well as to obtain, store, and sell stolen goods that were either transported across state lines, obtained through robbery or thefts from interstate shipments, or obtained through the fraudulent use of access devices, such as credit cards.
Polchan also used Goldberg Jewelers to plan the group's illegal gambling activities with Sarno, and to temporarily house video gambling devices prior to distributing them to various locations, including clubhouses operated by the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, of which Polchan was a member.
Polchan and Volpendesto, 85, of Oak Brook, remain in federal custody since they were arrested and charged last summer with participating in the bombing of C & S Coin Operated Amusements. On Feb. 25, 2003, a pipe bomb was detonated outside a building at 6508 West 16th St., in Berwyn, that housed several businesses, including C & S, which at the time leased coin-operated vending and video machines. The explosion outside the storefront entrance to C & S caused broken windows and damage to the interior ceiling and wood frame above the doorway to the business. No one was injured in the explosion, which occurred at night. The new indictment contains the same three counts  conspiracy to use, and actual use of, an explosive device to damage property, and use of a pipe bomb  that were pending against them previously. Polchan and Volpendesto have both pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Also indicted were:
James Formato, 42, a former Berwyn police officer who allegedly acted as an interstate courier for stolen money; conducted physical surveillance of potential targets of illegal activity under the guise of carrying out his duties as a police officer; participated in an attempted armed robbery; and provided information concerning ongoing law enforcement investigation into illegal enterprise activity, including the bombing of C & S Coin Operated Amusements;
Mark Hay, 52, who allegedly participated in robberies of jewelry stores; identified potential targets for robbery; participated in the surveillance of robbery targets; and acquired stolen vehicles for use in robberies;
Anthony Volpendesto, 46, Samuel Volpendesto's son, who also allegedly participated in robberies of jewelry stores; identified potential robbery targets; and participated in the interstate transportation of stolen goods; and
Dino Vitalo, 40, a Cicero police officer since 1991, who allegedly caused law enforcement databases to be used to provide information about potential targets of illegal activity and ongoing federal law enforcement investigations; provided advice on possible federal law enforcement activity; searched the area surrounding Goldberg Jewelers for electronic surveillance equipment used by federal law enforcement; and filed a false police report in order to provide a false alibi for other members of the conspiracy.
As part of the racketeering conspiracy, the indictment alleges that one or more of the defendants participated in robberies, some armed, of jewelry stores and commercial businesses in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, and in some instances caused stolen jewelry to be transported across state lines. The robberies included the:
May 23, 2002, robbery of items valued at approximately $60,000 from Jacqueline's Jewelry in Valparaiso, Ind.;
June 6, 2002, robbery of items valued at approximately $48,000 from Husar's House of Fine Diamonds in West Bend, Wis.;
July 9, 2003, armed robbery of items valued at approximately $78,221 from Uffenbeck Jewelers in Fond du Lac, Wis.;
July 24, 2003, armed robbery of items valued at approximately $236,902 from LD Jewelers, in Hickory Hills, Ill.;
April 26, 2001, robbery of The Gold Mine Jewelry Store, in St. Charles, Illinois, the stolen items having a total value of approximately $29,780;
May 1, 2002, robbery of items valued at $239,752 from Lenna Jewelers in Hinsdale;
March 2003 attempted armed robbery of an individual who resided in Berwyn; and the
Aug. 25, 2003, armed robbery of items valued at approximately $645,517 from Marry Me Jewelry Store in LaGrange Park.
And one or more defendants allegedly participated in the 2002 residential burglary of a home on Rockwell Street in Chicago, stealing approximately $540,000, of which at least $150,000 was later transported to Florida.
In addition to the racketeering conspiracy against all seven defendants, Sarno and Polchan were charged with operating an illegal gambling business between 2002 and at least July 2008.
Formato alone was charged with one count of conspiracy to obstruct of justice, while Polchan and Vitalo were charged together in a separate count with conspiracy to obstruct justice. Polchan alone was also charged with one count of possession of stolen goods from interstate shipments; three counts of filing false individual federal income tax returns; and one count of failing to file a federal income tax return.
An earlier defendant in this investigation, Kyle C. Knight, 45, formerly of Merrillville, Ind., who was charged in 2007, has pleaded guilty to supplying explosives used in the C & S bombing and a series of robberies, and he is cooperating while awaiting sentencing.
Federal officials said the investigation is continuing, and they commended the assistance of the Berwyn Police Department. The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Markus Funk and Amarjeet S. Bhachu.
If convicted, the charges in the indictment carry the following maximum terms of incarceration: racketeering conspiracy  20 years; conspiracy to use an explosive device to damage property and using an explosive device to damage property  a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years; using a pipe bomb  a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least 30 years and a maximum of life; obstruction of justice  20 years; operating an illegal gambling business  5 years; possession of goods stolen from interstate shipments  10 years; filing false tax returns  3 years; and failing to file a tax return  1 year. In addition, each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000, except the failing to file count, which is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum fine of $100,000. Defendants convicted of tax offenses must be assessed mandatory costs of prosecution and remain liable for any back taxes, interest and penalties owed. The Court, however, would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.