Pre-entry deadline approaches for AMA
Racing Vintage Grand Championships
Pro off-road racer Mandi Mastin designing
vintage hare scrambles course; long-time
vintage proponent Rick Doughty serving as
event consultant
PICKERINGTON, Ohio --
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)
reminds vintage racers that time is running
out to pre-enter for this year's biggest
vintage racing weekend: the AMA Racing
Vintage Grand Championships, held in
conjunction with AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in
Lexington, Ohio, and the Ashland County
Fairgrounds in Ashland this July 24-26.
The AMA Racing Vintage
Grand Championships will crown AMA Racing
national champions in vintage motocross,
road racing, dirt track, hare scrambles and
trials. Two outstanding riders will also
earn the titles of AMA Track Racing and AMA
Off-Road Racing Vintage Grand Champions
based on their cumulative point totals
across related disciplines.
In addition to traditional
vintage classes, there will be classes for
post-vintage motorcycles, as well. In
certain classes and disciplines, kids as
young as 12 will also battle for national
titles on machines smaller than 250cc.
Details are available under Racing at
AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com.
Pre-entry closes this
Friday, July 17. Although riders will still
be able to enter at the event, there are
significant rewards for pre-entering.
Each rider who pre-enters
the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships,
where off-road registration is just $40 for
the first class and $25 for the second,
qualifies for two free $10 gift cards
redeemable at BikeBandit.com, where AMA
members receive an additional 10 percent
discount. Pre-entered riders also will
receive two free entries to the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in
Pickerington, Ohio.
The AMA Racing Vintage
Grand Championships are coming together with
the help of several AMA-chartered clubs and
individual AMA members. These include WERA
Motorcycle Roadracing, which is supporting
vintage road-racing operations; Mandi Mastin,
who will lay out and work the hare scrambles
race; Don May, Royce Cline and other members
of Trials Inc., who will staff the trials
competition; members of Dayton MC, one of 11
clubs chartered with the AMA since the
Association's inception in 1924; Jim Pooler,
who will provide technical assistance in
road racing; and Vintage Iron's Rick
Doughty, who will serve as technical
adviser.
Hare
scrambles racers support ISDE effort
Mastin is a bonafide American off-road
racing star. She's a member of the 2009 AMA
Team USA that will vie for world
championship honors at the International Six
Days Enduro (ISDE) in Figueria da Foz,
Portugal, this Oct. 12-17. A five-time ISDE
medalist and a member of this year's U.S.
Women's Team (that also includes Maria
Forsberg and Lacy Jones), Mastin will design
and help run the vintage hare scrambles
course that will see action on Friday, July
24.
"Being an avid off-road
racer and enthusiast, I was thrilled for the
opportunity to work with the AMA and design
and help run the AMA Racing Vintage Grand
Championships hare scrambles," Mastin said.
"My father has been involved with racing
off-road motorcycles for years and has
actually rode and raced many of the bikes
that now qualify as vintage."
Competitors in the vintage
hare scrambles also will race with the
knowledge that they are helping the U.S.
effort at the ISDE.
"Going to the ISDE every
year is extremely expensive, and many fans
have helped me over and over with fund
raising," Mastin said. "The AMA has allowed
me to run this race as a fund raiser for the
ISDE and moneys earned from this event will
go directly to getting my bike and me to
Portugal to recapture the Women's World
Trophy Cup that we last won in 2007.
"Please come and ride your
vintage bike at an excellent facility, have
a good time, experience AMA Vintage
Motorcycle Days and help support two good
causes: the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Museum and the Team USA ISDE effort."
Opportunity
to advance vintage racing
Doughty, who has been involved in vintage
racing on the national level for 22 years
and has been vintage racing himself longer
than that, says that he was attracted to
helping at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand
Championships because it provided a unique
opportunity to advance U.S. vintage racing
to another level.
Doughty is also is the
person behind Vintage Iron (VintageIron.com),
a full-service vintage motorcycle shop in
Yorba Linda, Calif., that offers
hard-to-find parts, gear and restoration
work. Doughty has a number of national
vintage motocross championships and also has
competed in vintage road racing, trails,
dirt track and off-road events.
"I'm thrilled to be a part
of the inaugural AMA Racing Vintage Grand
Championships," Doughty said. "Vintage
racing is about having fun, recapturing our
history and keeping people involved in
motorcycling. This is a great opportunity to
develop the sport of vintage motorcycle
racing in this country and move it forward
to better meet those goals."
Doughty says that he's
particularly looking forward to the
competition for the honors of AMA Vintage
Grand Champions.
"I'm really interested in
seeing how the AMA Track Racing and Off-Road
Racing Vintage Grand Championships are
decided," Doughty said. "This concept is a
great idea, and particularly for this year,
it will provide a major incentive for racers
to give it their all. There can only be one
person in each discipline who will be the
first ever AMA Vintage Grand National
Champion."
AMA Vintage
Motorcycle Days is vintage motorcycling
extravaganza
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, proceeds of
which go to support the AMA Motorcycle Hall
of Fame Museum, includes
national-championship vintage racing, North
America's largest motorcycle swap meet, bike
shows, demo rides of current production
bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows,
the new product Manufacturers' Midway and
club corrals featuring marque and regional
clubs, and the AMA Used Bike Corral.
The Marque of the Year for
2009 is BSA, whose bikes became synonymous
with racing in the United States when the
brand swept the top five positions at the
Daytona 200 in 1954. The Classic Clubs this
year are the Sandcast Only Owner's Club (SOOC),
and the International CBX Owners
Association.
This year is particularly
special because it commemorates the 85th
anniversary of the AMA, and features a
parade of classic motorcycles representing
the past 85 years. Volunteers are encouraged
to contact the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Museum, which is organizing the parade, for
information about participating in it. More
information about the parade is at
MotorcycleMuseum.org.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future
of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle
lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks
of life, and they navigate many different
routes on their journey to the same
destination: freedom on two wheels. As the
world's largest motorcycling organization,
the AMA advocates for motorcyclists'
interests in the halls of local, state and
federal government, the committees of
international governing organizations, and
the court of public opinion. Through member
clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA
sanctions more motorsports competition and
motorcycle recreational events than any
other organization in the world. AMA members
receive money-saving discounts from dozens
of well-known suppliers of motorcycle
services, gear and apparel, bike rental,
transport, hotel stays and more. Through its
Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA
preserves the heritage of motorcycling for
future generations.
Charges laid against Comanchero
following investigations into fatal Sydney
Airport fight – Gangs Squad -
Tuesday, 14 Jul 2009 05:04pm
Gangs Squad detectives have charged an
alleged member of an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang
(OMCG) who was arrested today following
ongoing investigations into a fatal fight at
Sydney Airport earlier this year.
A 26-year-old Liverpool man presented
himself at Burwood Police Station about
12.15pm today. Police will allege he is a
member of the Comanchero OMCG.
He was taken to Burwood Police Station where
he was charged with riot. He’s been refused
bail to appear at Burwood Local Court
tomorrow.
This follows the arrest earlier today of a
27-year-old man at a home on St Johns Road
at Auburn. Police will allege he is also a
member of the Comanchero OMCG. He was taken
to Auburn Police Station where he was
charged with murder.
Today’s arrests relate to ongoing
investigations by detectives into a fatal
brawl at Sydney Airport on Sunday 22 March.
Anthony Zervas was treated at the scene
after allegedly being assaulted; however,
later died at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
Strike Force Metter was established to
investigate the incident and comprises
detectives from the State Crime Command’s
Gangs Squad and Homicide Squad, along with
officers from the Central Metropolitan
Region.
B.C. court rules Hells Angels not an
outlaw gang
- Vancouver Province -
It’s not a crime to be a member of the Hells
Angels.
A B.C. Supreme Court jury took that
suggestion by defence lawyers to heart in
their verdict Monday after a 10-month trial
for four members of the notorious biker
gang.
The jury convicted Ronaldo Lising, Jean
Joseph Violette, Randall Richard Potts and
John Virgil Punko of various counts of
assault, extortion, threatening and weapons
offences.
But the jury acquitted the men of committing
crimes for the benefit of a criminal
organization, namely the Hells Angels.
The jurors began deliberations in the
lengthy case on Friday morning and continued
throughout the weekend.
The controversial case stemmed from a raid
on the clubhouse of East Vancouver chapter
of the Hells Angels.
Key to the Crown’s case was testimony from a
controversial witness — Michael Plante — who
infiltrated the motorcycle club.
The 41-year-old stood to earn up to $1
million from police for his testimony.
Plante worked as a doorman at the Cecil
strip club in downtown Vancouver. Plante
said he was charged six or seven times with
crimes arising from fights at the Cecil but
was never convicted.
He became a police informant against the
Hells Angels in July 2003 after he was
arrested following the alleged extortion of
a man named James Betnar, believed to owe
$20,000 to a Hells Angel member named David
O’Hara.
Plante was released on $2,500 bail — money
put up by Potts, he said.
Plante then approached police about becoming
an informant.
For $2,000 a month, he began feeding police
information.
For example, in the fall of 2003 he said he
received two handguns and two silencers from
Potts and kept them in his apartment.
In April 2004, he signed a contract to earn
up to $1 million from the police.
Plante became an official friend of the club
in September 2004 but quit in January 2005.
As an agent, the RCMP supplied him with a
Harley Davidson motorcycle — and the lessons
to learn how to ride it — as well as a 1997
Ford Mustang, the latter vehicle fitted out
with listening devices and a camera in the
trunk.
He also received $4,000 a month from police
for living expenses.
The Hells Angels have long insisted they are
not a criminal organization. According to
the website www.hells-angels.com,
prospective members have to be “true
motorcycle enthusiasts and their motorcycle
is their primary means of transportation.”
Hells Angels “have runs to raise money for
local charities and are a brotherhood,” says
the website.
Bandidos mystery witness to testify
- London Free Press -
He can only be called M.H. -- and he's the
most anticipated witness in the Bandidos
murder trial.
This morning, in court in London, he's
expected to enter the witness box to begin
what's believed to be lengthy testimony into
what he saw the night eight men associated
with the Toronto chapter of the motorcycle
club were shot to death in Elgin County.
After a three-week hiatus, the jury gets
back to work at the Bandido trial with a
flourish, finally hearing from the man who
says he was at Wayne Kellestine's farm on
April 8, 2006.
M.H. has been referred to frequently during
the trial that began March 31.
Elgin County Crown attorney Kevin Gowdey
spoke about him in his opening statement
with a promise his testimony would tell what
happened in Kellestine's barn that night.
The jury has heard about failing loyalties
and tensions that had been building for
months.
Animosity grew between the Toronto chapter
-- also recognized as the Canadian national
chapter -- and the ambitious, fledgling
Winnipeg probationary chapter that was their
charge.
The jury has heard the Winnipeg chapter was
anxious for full status.
There were also calls from Bandido
international headquarters in Texas to pull
the patches of the Toronto chapter because
they were no longer following the rules of
the club -- and the jury has seen e-mails
plotting out the tension in the months
before the deaths.
M.H., travelled from Winnipeg with Sandham,
Mushey and Gardiner to Kellestine's farm two
weeks before the men died.
He was there for the shootings and will
describe what happened at the farm and about
the internal conflict that led to the fatal
day.
The jury has already reviewed a mountain of
evidence -- photographs, e-mails, maps, and
videos -- and heard from many witnesses,
including police officers, one victim's
wife, two girlfriends, civilians and an
archeologist.
The trial has had several stops and starts,
the most lengthy delay because of a change
in defence lawyer for Mushey.
Brampton-based lawyer Michael Moon has taken
over the senior defence role after Edward
Royle left because of a serious family
illness.
Before the long break, Superior Court
Justice Thomas Heeney promised the jury the
case would enter "the home stretch" once it
resumed.
THE DEAD
The bodies of George Jessome, 52, George
Kriarakis, 28, John Muscedere, 48, Luis
Raposo, 41, Frank Salerno, 43, Paul
Sinopoli, 30, Jamie Flanz, 37, and Michael
Trotta, 31, all of the Toronto area, were
found shot to death and left in vehicles
along a rural Elgin County Road near
Shedden, about 14 km from Kellestine's farm.
THE ACCUSED
Six men have pleaded not guilty to
first-degree murder -- Wayne Kellestine, 60;
Frank Mather, 35, of Dutton-Dunwich; Brett
Gardiner, 25, of no fixed address; Michael
Sandham, 39; Marcelo Aravena, 33, and Dwight
Mushey, 41, of Winnipeg.
Passing attempt fatal as motorcyclist
dies -
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - A Fort
Wayne man critically injured in a motorcycle
crash on the city’s far south side Sunday
has died.
Police found Charles Hawkins Jr., 43, lying
on the pavement road aside his Suzuki
motorcycle in the 6300 block of Decatur
Road, south of Paulding Road, just before 9
p.m. Sunday.
Hawkins was taken to a hospital in critical
condition and died shortly after his
arrival, police said.
Police say Hawkins crashed during a failed
attempt to pass another vehicle, also
driving south on Decatur Road.
The motorcycle went into the gravel on the
side of the road and crashed, hitting a sign
near Brendonwood Park Apartments, off
Hystone Drive.
Hawkins was not wearing a helmet.
Police say speed played a role in the crash.
The driver of the vehicle in front of the
motorcycle was not struck or injured.
The crash remains under investigation by the
Fort Wayne-Allen County Crash Team.
Underwood benefit ride set for Sunday
- Maryville Daily
Times - A benefit ride in memory of
Brody Claiborne Underwood has been scheduled
for Sunday, July 19, at 9:30 a.m.
The benefit ride will help the family offset
the funeral and additional expenses
associated in the death of their son, who
drowned at a neighbor's pool on June 25.
There is no set charge. All motorcycle
experience levels are encouraged to make a
donation to join the benefit ride starting
at Alcoa Good Times, 2019 Topside Road. The
ride will leave Alcoa Good Times at 10 a.m.,
riding the Foothills Parkway, stopping at
the base of the Dragon for a soft drink,
stretch and fellowship; the ride will end at
The Pizza Kitchen at 9411 Northshore Drive,
between Kroger and Ebenezer.
Travis Redmon, proprietor of The Pizza
Kitchen, is donating 15 percent of the total
food and soft drink sales to participants at
the end of the ride.
Anne Arundel cyclist killed in crash
Saturday -
Baltimore Sun - A 31-year-old Shady
Side man died when the motorcycle he was
driving crashed into a tree Saturday. Anne
Arundel County police said Robert Joseph
Griffith of the 5200 block of Lake Ave. was
southbound on Route 3 on a 2007 Suzuki about
1:15 a.m. when it started to weave in the
roadway. Griffith was in the area of Capitol
Raceway Road when the motorcycle struck a
curb on the left side of the pavement, went
airborne and struck a tree. Paramedics
pronounced Griffith dead at the scene. He
was wearing a helmet.
Motorcyclist dies in crash on I-90 near
Liberty Lake -
The Spokesman Review -
A Coeur d’Alene man was killed in an
overnight motorcycle accident along
Interstate 90 near Liberty Lake that went
undiscovered until an hour after daybreak
Monday.
Thomas P. Spencer, 25, was found dead about
7 a.m. near his wrecked 2006 Honda
motorcycle.
Washington State Patrol troopers said a semi
driver spotted the wreckage in a field near
the Appleway on-ramp, just west of Liberty
Lake. A trooper who was sent to the scene
discovered the body, according to a patrol
dispatcher.
Investigators said Spencer was riding east
on the freeway and failed to negotiate a
turn to the left. His motorcycle left the
roadway and struck a wire fence, power box
and post. He was thrown from the vehicle;
the motorcycle came to rest in a field.
Spencer was wearing a helmet.
Thoughts are with veterans during poker
run, pig roast -
SouthCoastToday.com -
FREETOWN — Ed Vickery, a veteran and beloved
town resident who died two years ago, must
have smiled down at the 200 people who
turned out to support the third annual
Freetown Memorial Park Fundraiser Motorcycle
Poker Run and Pig Roast on Sunday.
Sunday's event was dedicated to Vickery,
who, said New Bedford Veterans Agent Donat
"Dan" LeBlanc, was such a fixture in town
that employees at a local restaurant quietly
had a plaque put up in his memory,
technically a violation of franchise policy.
"I think that it is great that so many
people came out. My father was a proud
Marine and Korean vet," said son John
Vickery.
Nine-year-old Jason Vickery, his grandson,
was on hand and excited about his first
motorcycle ride with his father on a bike
that once belonged to his grandfather.
"He was just a great guy. Extremely
patriotic. I remember when I was a kid,
whenever the national anthem played on TV,
we had to stand up," said Sheila Baker, his
daughter.
The run raised funds for the installation of
Police and Fire department plaques, which
are awaiting engraving.
Money was also being raised for a memorial
to Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler J.
Trahan, an East Freetown resident who was
killed in Iraq on April 30.
Many of those in attendance said they were
there to support the Trahan family and those
serving in the armed forces.
Justin Cobb, 21, of East Freetown is a
Marine Corps infantryman serving in Iraq,
but his father, Jim Cobb, and stepfather,
Rudy Arruda, were two of the first to arrive
at the Freetown Veterans of Foreign Wars
post starting point.
"My son and Tyler were friends," Cobb said.
"Tyler was over our house at Christmas.
Before he left, he told me that he would
look out for Justin. I would like to think
that he is still looking out for Justin,
just from up above."
For Arruda, it was a chance to support his
stepson and remember his own father's
service in World War II.
Ralph Gurney, a member of the Freetown
Memorial Park Committee, indicated 129
motorcycles made it the best turnout for the
70-mile run through the back roads of
Bridgewater, Norton, Rehoboth and Taunton.
As they have every year, the Norton VFW
welcomed riders with hot dogs and beverages.
There was also a special stop at Memorial
Park, where riders spent a few quiet moments
of reflection.
"Someone has been leaving flowers and
wreaths at Memorial Park. They change it
every season. It's a mystery as to who has
been doing this," said Gurney of the fresh
display of geraniums at the park.
Along with supporting those in the armed
forces, many said they were there for the
joy of riding.
"It's all about freedom. You work all week
but then on weekends you can just ride and
feel the sun and the wind on your face,"
said Robin Grant, a member of KARMA Women
Riders.
"When I ride, I just concentrate on the
ride. Some people mow their lawn to clear
their heads; I ride my motorcycle," said Ed
Porawski.
At the end of the ride, there was a pig
roast and a raffle for Ed Vickery's leather
vest and a battery charger donated by KARMA,
among other items.
Morgantown-area motorcycle rider still in
critical condition -
Reading Eagle -
A Morgantown-area man remained in critical
condition Monday in Reading Hospital with
injuries suffered when his motorcycle
collided with a pickup truck on Route 625 in
Brecknock Township, officials said.
J. Robert Miller, 42, of Caernarvon
Township, Lancaster County, suffered
multiple injuries in the crash, which
occurred about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Brecknock
police said.
Police gave this account:
Miller was traveling south when the
motorcycle and the northbound truck
collided. Miller was flown to the hospital.
Police said there was a helmet found on the
road after the crash but they aren't certain
if Miller was wearing it.
The driver of the truck, Giuseppe Cerniglia,
53, of Reading was not injured.
He was wearing a seat belt.
Detectives with the Berks County district
attorney's forensic services unit are
assisting in the investigation, which
continues.
Amity Township motorcyclist's death in
Adams County ruled an accident -
Reading Eagle -
A certificate of accidental death was issued
Monday for an Amity Township man who was
killed in a weekend motorcycle accident in
Adams County.
Michael E. Levan, 52, was killed when his
motorcycle crashed into a utility pole guy
wire and he was thrown from the bike Sunday
about 1 a.m. in Menallen Township, state
police at Gettysburg said.
The Adams County coroner's office said he
died of multiple injuries.
Levan was riding north on Carlisle Road when
he lost control of his motorcycle on a right
curve and hit the guy wire, troopers said.
He was not wearing a helmet, they said.
Boonville man dies after accident
- Utica Observer
Dispatch - CANASTOTA — A Boonville
man was killed and his passenger was in
serious condition Monday after the
motorcycle they were on collided with a
pickup truck, according to a news release
from the Canastota Police Department.
Ronald D. Nicholson, 61, was transported to
Oneida Health Care, where he later died from
his injuries, police said. His passenger,
Joyce A. Anna, 68, of Boonville, was ejected
from the motorcycle and transported to
University Hospital in Syracuse where she
was in serious condition Monday night.
The accident happened on state Route 13 at
around 2:22 p.m., when a pickup truck
operated by Kenneth Mathias, 36, of Minoa,
was traveling northbound making a left turn
into Lyon's Auction, police said.
Nicholson's motorcycle was traveling
southbound when Mathias turned the pickup
truck into the path of the motorcycle,
causing the collision.
Mathias was not injured in the accident. The
accident is still under investigation and
Canastota police are requesting witnesses
contact them at 697-2240.
Sebastian motorcyclist doing well a week
after fatal crash -
TCPalm -
ROSELAND — A Harley Davidson driver was in
good condition Monday, one week following a
crash that killed his passenger.
Craig Howard Johnson, 54, of Sebastian, was
being treated for injuries at Holmes
Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, a
hospital spokesman said.
Families and friends Friday buried Bonnie B.
Watson, 53, the passenger who died in the
crash. Watson had lived in Sebastian the
last few years before moving from Fort
Pierce, according to an obituary.
Johnson and Watson were riding southbound in
the 13600 block of U.S. 1 when the
motorcycle struck a curb at a Walgreens
driveway on July 5, the Indian River County
Sheriff’s Office said. Both riders were
thrown off the motorcycle.
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