Franks Biker News July 21st archive

KTM 990 Super Duke makes its Racing Debut at Laguna Seca
Monterey, CA - It was a storybook weekend for the #394 ride of Eric Gulbransen as he became the first man in history to race a KTM 990 Super Duke in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class.

Following the announcement of the approval of the KTM 990 Super Duke motorcycle to serve as the 11th different motorcycle eligible to compete in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class, Gulbransen showed up “Ready to Race” at the Laguna Seca MotoGP. Pit boss, Michael Meissner of Tri-Valley Moto, couldn’t have been more excited by the fan appreciation and encouragement from all involved, “We were swamped by fans all weekend long and even barbecued with some of them in the pits. We spent hours telling Super Duke stories and were amazed to see AMA officials wearing KTM “Ready to Race” stickers on their pit shirts. Turn workers cheered alongside the fans for our KTM rider as we took the checkered flag in qualifying.”

The KTM 990 Super Duke proved competitive as Gulbransen finished 28th of 44 riders on a stock bike. “The stock 990 Super Duke was amazing. The bike is impressive in the corners and allowed me to make up time I lost from being underpowered on a stock bike on the up hill.

Next Event: AFM Race – Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA  More motorsport news on the Racing Channel

 

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Bloody and long-lasting: the feud between Hells Angels and Outlaws - Times Online - The history of the bitter hatred between the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and the American Outlaws Association is shrouded in claim, rumour and counter-claim.
Some sources say that it began in Monterey, California, in 1964 when four Angels were accused of rape. The need to pay the brothers’ legal bills allegedly drove the club to become involved in crime.
Other reports suggest that the rivalry dates from 1969 when an Outlaw allegedly raped the wife of a leading Hells Angel. This led to the murder of three Outlaws in Florida.
Whatever its origins, the feud has proved to be long-lasting, international and bloody.
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Members of outlaw motorcycle clubs — of which the largest are the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos — have clashed with each other around the world.
Authorities in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein are dealing with a biker gang war as the Bandidos try to move into an area regarded by the Hells Angels as their territory.
In March this year Angels and members of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club replicated the January 2008 Birmingham airport riot with a gang fight in the terminal building in Sydney that left one man dead.
In 2007, shortly after the murder of Gerry Tobin, an attempt was made in Scandinavia to blow up an Outlaws clubhouse, and in Copenhagen there has been violence this year between Angels and local criminal gangs.
Police estimate that there are several hundred fully fledged, patch-wearing members of the clubs in Britain. The first British Hells Angels charter was established in London in 1969 while the Outlaws did not have a chapter here until 2000, when a Birmingham club was recognised by the US parent organisation.

 

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Motorcyclist hits dog - News-Leader.com - A Strafford man was injured after his motorcycle hit a dog in Greene County, according to a report from the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Billy Cowan, 51, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to St. John's Hospital in Springfield, the patrol said. Cowan was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
The accident occurred Sunday about 12:20 p.m. on Farm Road 245, about a mile east of Strafford, according to the patrol.

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Butler motorcyclist injured in collision with deer - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - A Butler woman was injured when her motorcycle struck a deer Sunday night, according to DeKalb County police.
Laura J. Bowen, 51, was driving her Honda Shadow east in the 4500 block of U.S. 6 at approximately 7:40 p.m. when a deer crossed her path. Bowen was unable to avoid striking the deer and hit it head-on.
Police said Bowen was thrown from the motorcycle and skidded about 60 feet before coming to rest in the driving lane.
Bowen broke her collarbone and was taken to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, where she is listed in stable condition, police said.

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Motorcyclist injured in collision - Laconia Citizen - LACONIA — A Pittsfield woman was injured when her motorcycle collided with another motorcycle on North Main Street Sunday afternoon.
Laconia police reported that Christine B. Mullen, 33, of 167 Mountain Road, Pittsfield was traveling north on North Main Street near Folsom Street at 2:43 p.m. when she collided with a second motorcycle driven by Kevin L. Palmer, 49, of Epsom which had slowed to turn into a parking lot.
Police said Mullen indicated she was distracted and did not immediately realized Palmer had slowed down. She then collided with the back his motorcycle.
Mullen was taken to Lakes Region General Hospital for treatment of shoulder injuries and road rash. Palmer was not hurt, police said.
Officer Jeff Wholley investigated the accident. 

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Motorcyclists Injured In Accident - Hillsboro Reporter - Two West residents were injured, one critically, after their motorcycle was involved in an accident.
Department of Public Safety reports indicated that the wreck occurred on Farm Road 2114 south of Aquilla at 7:39 p.m. Tuesday, July 14.
Brian Wise was the driver of the bike. He, along with passenger Lauren Snokhous, was taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical in Waco by West EMS.
Ms. Snokhous remained in critical condition at the medical facility Friday morning, July 17, but the driver had been released.
A car involved in the wreck was driven by Jesse Gregg of Whitney, reports indicated.
Trooper Bryan Washko investigated.

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Motorcyclist, 39, dies in crash - Minneapolis Star Tribune - A Saginaw, Minn., man died after crashing his motorcycle into the side of a residence Friday night.
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office reported that Brian Elfving, 39, was westbound on Maple Grove Road in Solway when he lost control of his 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and crashed into the side of the home at 6194 Maple Grove Road.
Elfving was not wearing a helmet when the crash occurred.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation, authorities said.

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'Cause they like to ride, and it's for a good cause - Youngstown Vindicator - AUSTINTOWN — Cheryl Parsons handed out maps and collected registration forms before jumping on her motorcycle and joining hundreds of other folks who participated in Sunday’s Big Bike Ride across the local countryside.
The event allowed Parsons to put her efforts into two areas she’s passionate about — her charity work and her motorcycle.
“This was amazing for me,” she said, after returning to Harley- Davidson Biketown, where the run started Sunday morning and ended later in the evening. “This gave me a chance to ride, but to also ride for something I believe in, to ride for a cause. You can’t beat that.”
Parsons got involved with the March of Dimes a few years ago through her union at work. A relatively new rider, she said she jumped at the chance to help Biketown owners Tom and Shirley Wronkovich with their inaugural fund-raising event benefiting three area charities — the March of Dimes, the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley and Angels for Animals.
“And it was fantastic,” said Parsons, who’s been riding her own motorcycle just over a year. “I’ve always rode on the back of my husband’s bike, but when I retired last year, I decided I was going to ride myself. Days like today, I’m glad I’m doing it.”
Sunday’s bike run drew about 450 operators with at least 200 passengers. Participants made their way to the Biketown lawn, where they feasted on the dinner provided for them and listened to classic rock performed by The House Band.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the response,” said Shirley Wronkovich, crying as she watched the motorcycles depart around noon in a single group escorted by local police. “We really appreciate everyone’s support. It’s amazing when you see so many bikes in one place, all to help these charities. It’s amazing. It’s really exciting.”
The Rescue Mission fights homelessness and hunger; Angels for Animals rescues abused and abandoned animals; and the March of Dimes works to make a difference in infant mortality and birth defects. The Wronkoviches said they admire the work of each of the three charities and wanted to do something at Biketown to benefit them all.
“Whether you want to support one of them or all of them, there was an opportunity here today,” she said. “This was the first time we’ve tried something like this. I think it’s definitely something we’ll do again, definitely.”
Beckie Kuehn and her husband, Doug, of Boardman are fairly new riders, having never participated in a formal bike run until Sunday’s Big Bike Ride.
“I’ve donated my time to charity through work and thought this was something my husband and I could do and be part of,” she said. “This is only our second year of riding, and we wanted to get involved and make the most of it. And it’s been great. Everyone’s great, and people really want to do something good. It’s nice to be part of that.”
And then there were the veteran riders such as brothers Dan and John Reed of Diamond, who said they appreciate any opportunity to take their bikes to the highway.
“It’s just a good day to go for a ride,” said Dan Reed. “It’s nice to do something good for a good cause, too, but it’s still about the ride. You get all of those bikes riding together, going the same direction. That’s nice, really nice.”

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Motorcycle club forming local chapter - The Tribune-Democrat - A local chapter of Americas Guardians Motorcycle Club has been established in the Johnstown/Windber area.
The club was initially established in 2007 in Utah.
Membership is open to active, former, or retired law enforcement and public safety personnel, firefighters, paramedics, corrections officers, doctors, nurses, EMTs and active duty or retired military veterans who served honorably.
It will also be open to citizens in the community who have a high regard for public safety.
Meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. the first Saturday each month at the American Legion Post 137, 312 14th St., Windber.
For more information on the club, go to http://www.americasguardianspa2a.com/PA2B.html .

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Motorcyclist dies in collision on Tates Creek Road - Kentucky.com - A Nicholasville man died Friday when the motorcycle he was riding on Tates Creek Road in Lexington collided with a car, Lexington police said.
Christopher Michael Cibull, 34, was traveling south on Tates Creek Road when he lost control of his 1993 Suzuki SV650 motorcycle and slid across the lane, Lexington police said. The motorcylce collided with a 1994 Ford Mustang about 2:45 p.m.
Cibull suffered multiple blunt-force trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Fayette County Coroner's Office.
The driver of the Mustang, whose name has not been released, was taken to University of Kentucky Medical Center for a voluntary blood analysis, Lexington police said. 

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Niles motorcyclist, 21, killed in crash - WOOD-TV - NILES, Mich. (WOOD) - A 21-year-old Niles man is dead after rear-ending a car on South 11th Street.
Betty Halasi, 70, was driving northbound on South 11th between Bell Road and U.S. 12 and stopped for a dog in the road, police said. As she resumed driving her 2008 Toyota, she was rear-ended by a motorcycle driven by Stephen Maines, 21.
Maines died and his 16-year-old passenger was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind. She was treated for minor injuries.
Halasi and her passenger were not injured.
The accident remains under investigation.

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Bikers ride against muscular dystrophy - Baraboo News Republic - More than 1,400 riders on 1,200 motorcycles revved their engines along the scenic back roads of Sauk, Dane and Iowa counties Saturday for the 24th annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Freedom Ride.
The ride, which departs annually from the Harley-Davidson dealership in Sauk Prairie, has raised more than $1.6 million since 1985. Last year, about $104,000 from registration fees and pledges got passed on to the MDA to fund research and provide services to more than 600 families affected by muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases in southwestern Wisconsin.
MDA regional field representative Cathy Stagmer said the association focused on more than 40 such diseases, which affect the muscular and nervous systems and lead to muscle weakness, an inability to build strength, and often a shorter life expectancy. Well-known forms include Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, and Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS.
Stagmer said proceeds would help fund the MDA’s summer camp, assist families in paying for clinic visits, and chip in for assistive devices such as walkers, wheelchairs and communication devices.
"A wheelchair can cost in the thousands," she said. "We’re really providing help today through those services and hope for tomorrow through the research."
Crystal Mundt, general manager at Sauk Prairie Harley-Davidson, said preparation usually began seven to eight months before the ride itself, and required "hundreds of thousands" of hours of volunteer and employee time to prepare the route and register and manage all the participants.
One volunteer was Jeff Barrette of Madison, a biker who had watched his stepson progress through muscular dystrophy until he could no longer feed himself. He said his stepson had "a very good mind, trapped in a body that just doesn’t work."
Barrette said he had been participating in the Freedom Rides since 1995, as well as other MDA fundraisers, and was emotional as he described his investment in the association.
"When you see that his life is not going be any better than that, you want a cure, and you want it now," he said.
He said the MDA’s annual summer camp was an important part of helping children with muscular dystrophy feel normal again, taking part in activities that included fishing and motorcycle rides.
"For these kids it’s just a wonderful opportunity because they don’t have the opportunity that we have, and they’re never going to have that," Barrette said.
Ten-year-old Annie Heathcote of Mazomanie, this year’s MDA goodwill ambassador for the region, said she was "so happy" to see everyone who had come for the ride.
"I think it’s really great seeing all the people that come out here to help (the) MDA," she said.
Heathcote said she was a fan of motorcycles, and had enjoyed the rides given to children at the MDA summer camp.
"I like the noise and that they go fast," she said.
Mundt said it had been getting more difficult to hold such rides, as increasing traffic in the area and road construction hindered routes.
She said the ride usually attracts 1,200 to 1,500 bikes, or nearly 1,800 riders. Cool weather may have deterred some from showing up this year.
Meanwhile, at least one biker blamed economic fallout. Richard Wagner of Palmyra, who has been participating for six years, said he usually rides with a group of 10 bikes, but this year they were down to half that. "Some people just couldn’t afford it," he said.
Wagner said he also had trouble raising donations. While he had in the past been able to contribute nearly $1,000 from friends and family members, he brought only $355 this year.
Still, many who showed up were longtime riders who would not be deterred.
Eric Landsverk of Stoughton, who was riding with his wife Carla, said they had been coming for more than 10 years, through pouring rain and, once, a hailstorm that forced the riders to stop and take shelter under pine trees.
"It’s definitely worth it," Carla Landsverk said. "The money goes to people who need it, and the police stop traffic for you. When else do you get to run right through red lights?"
David and Evon Slater, also from Stoughton, said they have been participating for nearly 15 years. Evon, whose mother had multiple sclerosis, said while they rode all the time anyway, the cause was worth their time.
"It’s for the kids," David Slater said. "It’s always for the kids."
"It’s an awesome sight," said Dee Dee Lindquist, who manages the rider training program at the dealership and helped with set-up for the event. "When that whistle goes off and all the riders start, it’ll give you goose bumps."