Back in the saddle again…

Back in the saddle again. No, I’m not talking about the classic Aerosmith song though. As spring is upon us it’s time to get ready for another season of dirttrack racing. So, what have you been doing over the winter? Rebuilding for most of you I bet. For myself, I haven’t changed much for the 2009 season as far as equipment goes. I have however added a great group of new sponsors and kept some existing ones as well. Even though I live in the “frozen tundra” of Minnesota, all is not lost for racing. This winter I embarked into the world of ice racing. This was the type of racing I first participated in. when I started quad racing in the winter of 1990-91 and I was 15. Fast forward to now, it had been almost 15 years since I last competed on ice. Even though an ice racing setup is very similar to dirttrack, I wasn’t prepared for the surface that ice brings. The tracks were rutted with a lot of snow dust on top. I’ve ridden on whooped out terrain but ice has NO give compared to dirt. Not to mention it’s very cold. Regardless of my finishes I’m excited to hit the again next winter. I’ve learned a few tricks and know what to expect. But, ice racing aside, I’m ready for some great dirttrack racing myself. How about you?

So you want to go racing? Lets get started!

With the local race seasons fast approaching around the country, regulars are getting ready and kicking their training programs into high gear for the opening rounds of their respective race series’s.  How about you?  What if you have never attempted to race?  Where do you start?  What is in involved in competing in an event?  Well your in luck!  In the coming weeks I will answer these questions and more for all of those of you out there that have watched your local hero’s race and though “I would like to try that”. Now if you are thinking you have to be sponsored to start racing your wrong but if your interested in pursuing sponsorship read one of my previous blogs on the subject

Alright before you can go out and enter an event you need to first figure out what type of event you want to attempt.  There are a bunch of different types of races you could try, picking one that appeals to you is the first decision.  Next would be if the type of race is even feasible for your skill and fitness level.  And lastly if your machine is even eligible to enter into a class at the desired event.

Lets talk about what a person should expect at their first race. First off its a good idea to outline a few attainable goals. For example a primary goal would be just finishing the race/day without crashing, or set a reasonable lap time goal to reach. Its almost guaranteed that you will have no chance of winning your first race so goals like that or even top 5 or 10 is probably out of reach. Focus on riding your race and learning how to race. I cannot stress this point enough, there are many fast recreational riders out there but put them in a race and they quickly look out of place on the track. The key is don’t get too aggressive your first time out and end up making a stupid mistake that could injure you or someone else.

To find events in your area is pretty simple these days, with the internet and all the social networking sites and forums geared around ATV’s a simple search or asking a question on our own forum here at ATV Magazine can surely help.  Another place is your local dealerships usually have a bulletin board with flier’s for different races or events.  One thing I would steer clear of for your first foray into the racing world are nationally sanctioned races.  Even though most have an amateur class, they are usually for experienced amateurs and can be very expensive just to enter into one race where as a local or regional type race will be much cheaper and the competition will be a little tamer.  National type races usually require an AMA or ATVA membership or license alone with the gate or day fees.

Now mind you this is intended for the first time racer that is wanting to test the waters at a local race. The biggest thing to keep in mind is having fun, don’t take it too serious. As long as you felt you rode to your abilities and met your attainable goals.

Check back often for more in this series on how to get started at your first ever race, from setting up a basic pit to finishing the race as well as everything in between.

Shift Racing Strike Gear

Shift Racing has been in the business of making people look good for a long time.  Whats more is their riding gear not only looks good, it’s comfortable and provides ample protection should you find yourself coming disconnected from your quad.  With multiple color options to choose from their new Strike gear is some of the baddest looking gear out there.

[Read more]

Going To California

On Friday (March 27) my boss John Prusak and I are flying to LA to pick up a Toyota truck, a Raptor and a Rhino to do some riding in the Mojave Desert. Neither of us have rode in the area, and we hear it’s a good time.

After two days of that, I’ll be dropping John off so he can fly back to Minneapolis and, then, head to a Can-Am event at Carolina Adventure World later in the week. For me, I’ll continue up to Santa Barbara for a Fox Shox event. I’ll be riding quads, mountain bikes, potentially a dirt bike and will get a ride in Ford’s new F-150 SVT Raptor, which I can hardly wait for.

Then, I’m driving the rental car the 7+ hours up the Pacific Coastal Highway to meet up with some friends and an old co-worker up in San Francisco. Should have some fun pictures from the trip, and some good stories for upcoming issues of the magazine.

Hopefully you’re already riding, or getting ready to do some of your own. So it begins for us all… another exciting riding season. Stay tuned for pictures and to hear how it goes. Send me pics from what you’re doing and we’ll try to post them on the web or get them in the mags.

- Tom

Special tools for special jobs

If your a do-it-yourself type of person it is sometimes hard to determine where your abilities as well as your tool set end and when to call in and expert-a atv/motorcycle specific mechanic.  This article will suggest a few of these special tools that can be had fairly inexpensively.  Having these tools will also allow the do-it-yourself er to tackle more of the routine maintenance that other people would pay a shop $80 an hour to do. If you have not read my introductory article on “Getting your toolbox started” Read that first before proceeding.

Spark Plug wrench: Alright now most people would not consider this a “special” tool but in some cases (depending on engine design and model of ATV) a more specialized wrench other than a standard socket and ratchet is needed or just makes the job easier. Using either one of the tools shown makes accessing some spark plugs much simpler and faster. Think of it this way instead of hunting in your tool box for the correct sized open end wrench or that socket and ratchet, keep these handy for quick removal. I suggest buying one for each bike you have and storing it on the machine some where.

Axle nut wrench: This tool is especially helpful and almost necessary for proper removal or checking the tightness of your axle nuts or replacing the carrier bearings. It always seems that they loosen at the most inopportune times. With out this tool it is nearly impossible for most people to service their axle. Atv axle nuts typically run in the 40-50mm size range. Ham fist-ed mechanics and do-it-yourself-ers typically get out a pipe wrench or if they happen to have a 24 inch adjustable (Cresent) wrench to do the job. This is the best way to strip or round off the corners of the axle nuts thus necessitating replacement. Again I suggest buying the correct size for each machine you have and keeping them in the toolbox you take riding.

Valve adjustment tools: If you read my recent article “Lashing out, valve adjustments a brief introduction” I spoke about the different types of valve train arrangements. Well when it comes to tools it will depend on what you have. Feeler gauges are mandatory to do your own valve adjustments. Get the kind specifically for motorcycles, they are either bent with a 45 degree or 90 degree angle to get into the tight spots.

Clutch basket holding tool: If you have a fully manual or semi-automatic
transmission/clutch, this is one of those tools that is not always necessary (if you have shop air and an impact) but it always makes doing any type of clutch work a snap, especially if your replacing the basket or inner hub and bearings. There are several different types ranging from the universal style to ones from the OEM that are make and model specific. If you ever plan on doing your own clutch work this is an indispensable tool that is relativity cheap.

Flywheel puller: This tool is somewhat universal as in typically there are only a few sizes and threading that it will not fit. This tool is mandatory if you ever plan on doing ANY repairs or upgrades to your ignition system as well as repairs to the left side crank bearing and seal. This is another fairly inexpensive tool to have on hand in case you need to get to the ignition pickup that is behind the flywheel or take the flywheel off for lightening.

Snap ring pliers: Here is one that you will need if you start going deeper into internal engine repairs as many gears and shafts are retained by snap rings. One thing to note is buy the best quality you can, cheap pliers are just that, cheap, and generally break or bend on the larger snap rings. Trust me I have learned the hard way on this busting many knuckles.

Piston pin puller: This tool is sometimes required to remove the piston from the connecting rod during a top end rebuild. Its the only way to get the bin out if its somehow wedged or worn that it will not slide out by hand. By the way some pins are a press fit and a puller is absolutely required.

Alright I could go on and on getting deeper and deeper into more machine specific and job specific into the internal engine repairs, I just wanted to give an introduction into some of the most common “specialized” tools that the home mechanic will invariably need doing their own repairs.

Now when to take the machine into a professional for service is a tough one and its basically up to the riders discretion. Personally I take my machine in for jobs requiring extremely specialized tools that would cost $500 or more just to complete one step in the repair process. Examples would be: Boring or reaming cylinders or valve seats, replacement of valve guides and seats, crank bearing replacement, crank splitting, cylinder sleeve replacement and the list goes on. Unless your doing these operations on your equipment frequently enough, these tools are too expensive to have sitting around just for a once in the machines lifetime repair. Obviously you need to be skilled with some of these operations and that is where leaving it to a professional shop really pays, as most warranty their work for a period of time against workmanship.

In conclusion the tools listed above will allow the competent home mechanic to broaden his/her abilities to save a bit of labor cost on somewhat more labor intensive repairs than just changing the oil and filter.

GNCC Racing Television In HD on Versus Network

Morgantown, W. Va. (March 18, 2009) — Racer TV, the host program of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, returns to the Versus Network to cover the 2009 GNCC Series this April. The new season will mark the ninth year of GNCC Racing airing on television, and for the first time ever, the GNCC races will be broadcast in High Definition.

All 13 GNCC bike and ATV rounds, 26 races in total, will air on Versus Network in 30-minute episodes. Each race debuts on Saturday afternoon and then re-airs on Tuesday afternoon, with the opening episode airing Saturday, April 4th, at 2:30 p.m. EST and re-airing on Tuesday, April 7th, at 3:30 p.m. EST. That adds up to 26 hours of GNCC Racing on Versus Network, with additional re-airs planned.

This year’s television shows will be produced in house by GNCC series’ producer Racer Productions, following in the footsteps of the popular Racer X Motocross Show episodes from the AMA Motocross Championships. Jason Hooper, Director of New Media for Racer Productions, spearheads the effort.

“We think year’s shows will be cooler, livelier, and more fun than ever,” says Hooper, a former motocross and GNCC racer. “Our crew learned a lot from the Racer X Motocross Show, and we’ll apply the same principles here: action, fun, personality and cool angles. Plus, the shows will look incredible in HD!”

Jason Weigandt will handle hosting duties for the show. Weigandt, also the host of the AMA Arenacross Series on SPEED, the Supercrosslive! Presented by Parts Unlimited Web cast on supercrossonline.com, and the Racer X Motocross Show, has been with the GNCC Series since 2001, and joined the TV broadcast team in 2003.

The Racer TV production crew includes Mike Holbert, a former GNCC pro-class racer on bikes and ATVs. Holbert has been a part of the GNCC TV team since the shows began airing in 2001. Jeremy Saylor, who produced the GNCC shows for Gear Marketing and Media for the last three seasons, also remains on board.

The Can-Am GNCC Series is the only off-road racing series in America airing weekly cable TV programs. Racer TV sponsors Can-Am, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and Yamaha have contributed to the 2009 television program.

This year’s shows will focus on the battle for the GNCC XC1 and XC2 pro class titles. On ATVs, Yamaha’s Bill Ballance aims for an unprecedented 10th-straight GNCC Championship, with contenders such as Chris Borich, Adam McGill, Brandon Sommers, Taylor Kiser, Bryan Cook and William Yokley aiming to knock him off. On Bikes, the wide-open championship field includes Paul Whibley, Josh Strang, Nathan Kanney, Charlie Mullins, Jimmy Jarrett, Kurt Caselli, Barry Hawk and Thad DuVall.

2009 GNCC Racing TV Schedule on Versus Network
All Times Eastern Standard Time
Schedule Subject to Change. Check Local Listings

April 04, 2009 River Ranch ATV Premiere 2:30PM
April 07, 2009 River Ranch ATV Repeat 3:30PM
April 11, 2009 River Ranch Bike Premiere 2:30PM
April 14, 2009 River Ranch Bike Repeat 3:30PM
April 18, 2009 General ATV Premiere 3:00PM
April 21, 2009 General ATV Repeat 4:00PM
April 25, 2009 General Bike Premiere 2:30PM
April 28, 2009 General Bike Repeat 4:00PM
May 02, 2009 Steele Creek ATV Premiere 2:30PM
May 05, 2009 Steele Creek ATV Repeat 4:00PM
May 23, 2009 Steele Creek Bike Premiere 2:30PM
May 26, 2009 Steele Creek Bike Repeat 4:00PM
May 30, 200 Big Buck ATV Premiere 2:30PM
June 02, 2009 Big Buck ATV Repeat 4:00PM
June 06, 2009 Big Buck Bike Premiere 2:30PM
June 09, 2009 Big Buck Bike Repeat 4:00PM
June 13, 2009 Loretta Lynn’s ATV Premiere 2:30PM
June 16, 2009 Loretta Lynn’s ATV Repeat 4:00PM
June 20, 2009 Loretta Lynn’s Bike Premiere 2:30PM
June 23, 2009 Loretta Lynn’s Bike Repeat 4:00PM
June 27, 2009 Titan ATV Premiere 2:30PM
June 30, 2009 Titan ATV Repeat 4:00PM
July 04, 2009 Titan Bike Premiere 2:00PM
July 07, 2009 Titan Bike Repeat 4:30PM
July 11, 2009 Mountain Ridge ATV Premiere 2:00PM
July 14, 2009 Mountain Ridge ATV Repeat 4:30PM
July 18, 2009 Mountain Ridge Bike 2:00PM
July 21, 2009 Mountain Ridge Bike Repeat 4:00PM
July 25, 2009 John Penton ATV Premiere 2:00PM
July 28, 2009 John Penton ATV Repeat 4:00PM
August 01, 2009 John Penton Bike Premiere 2:30PM
August 04, 2009 John Penton Bike Repeat 4:00PM
August 08, 2009 Snowshoe ATV Premiere 2:30PM
August 11, 2009 Snowshoe ATV Repeat 4:00PM
August 15, 2009 Snowshoe Bike Premiere 2:30PM
August 18, 2009 Snowshoe Bike Repeat 5:00PM
Summer Break
October 03, 2009 Unadilla ATV Premiere 4:00PM
October 06, 2009 Unadilla ATV Repeat 2:30PM
October 10, 2009 Unadilla Bike Premiere 4:00PM
October 13, 2009 Unadilla Bike Repeat 2:30PM
October 17, 2009 Yadkinville ATV Premiere 4:00PM
October 20, 2009 Yadkinville ATV Repeat 2:30PM
October 24, 2009 Yadkinville Bike Premiere 4:00PM
October 27, 2009 Yadkinville Bike Repeat 2:30PM
October 31, 2009 St. Clairsville ATV Premiere 4:00PM
November 03, 2009 St. Clairsville ATV Repeat 2:30PM
November 07, 2009 St. Clairsville Bike Premiere 4:00PM
November 10, 2009 St. Clairsville Bike Repeat 2:30PM
November 14, 2009 Ironman ATV Premiere 4:00PM
November 17, 2009 Ironman ATV Repeat 2:30PM
November 21, 2009 Ironman Bike Premiere 4:00PM
November 24, 2009 Ironman Bike Repeat 2:30PM

Pro Armor ProAm Series Front Bumper

Pro Armor has launched the ProAm Series Front Bumper! This bumper was made specifically for the Rockstar, Makita Suzuki Championship team riders of Dustin Wimmer and Doug Gust.

The ProAm Series bumper adds a “factory look” to your quad. Made from 1-inch lightweight, durable aluminum, this bumper is built to punish the competition. It’s also available in powder-coated black.

The ProAm Front Bumper can be purchased from your local dealer, by contacting Pro Armor direct at 888/312.7667 or go to www.proarmor.com.

Don’t forget that Pro Armor is also offering FREE MONEY! Simply purchase $100 of Pro Armor or ProAm product from your local dealer and Pro Armor will give you a $20 gift certificate (purchase $200 and get a $40 gift card) good towards Pro Armor or ProAm products. Visit www.proarmor.com/freemoney for complete details.

Off-road Expo ‘Spring Break’ At Pomona Fairplex

Looking for something to do this weekend in Southern California? If so, head to the Pomona Fairplex and experience the 2nd Annual Off-road Expo presented by Toyota. If you’re into quads, trucks, side-by-sides, motorcycles, Hawaiian Tropic models and more, this is the place to be.

For Immediate Release
POMONA, CALIF. — The 2009 Off-Road Expo ‘Spring Break’ presented by Toyota will invade the Fairplex in Pomona Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, with everything off-road including vehicles, thousands of parts and accessories, unbeatable show deals and more. Exciting new activities take center stage including Can-Am ATV demo rides, Hawaiian Tropic Model Search pageants, motorcycle trials stunt shows, and a truck and 4X4 Show & Shine. [Read more]

Polaris Names Barker VP of Operations

Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS –Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) named Wes Barker as vice president of Operations. Barker brings more than 20 years of global experience driving lean operations and building efficient business cultures. He has an impressive record of success in building teams and driving results in the U.S., Asia, Europe and Mexico.

“We are thrilled to have Wes join the Polaris Leadership team and the strong operations group, as his background and skill set fits very well with the Company’s strategic direction,” said Bennett Morgan, President and COO Polaris Industries. “He is a proven leader with broad global experience and has a significant track record of successful implementation of Lean enterprise tools. Wes will play a key role in developing an ever-improving culture at Polaris while overseeing the manufacturing plants and managing relationships with suppliers around the world.”

Barker joins Polaris from Hubbell, Inc. where he was vice president, Global Operations, Hubbell Lighting Division, a $1.0 billion worldwide division that manufactures indoor and outdoor lighting solutions and controls. In that position, Barker successfully managed 4,400 people and all aspects of operations, including managing plants, manufacturers abroad, distribution centers, product engineering and technical applications.

Before joining Hubbell, Barker worked at Ingersoll-Rand Inc. for 11 years in a number of senior positions. In his last position at Ingersoll-Rand, he was director of Air Solution Global Operations, Industrial Technologies Sector where he managed 10 plants worldwide and 2,600 associates supporting $1.25 billion in revenue.

A leader in teaching and coaching Lean principles, Barker led an initiative at Ingersoll-Rand to develop Lean policy deployment roadmaps for all functions and integrated the policy within Ingersoll-Rand’s operating system.

Prior to his tenure at Ingersoll-Rand, Barker was a process engineering manager for the Manufacturing Department, Specialty Materials Division for Tosoh Inc., a Japanese manufacturer of high purity thin film materials for the computer industry.

Barker holds a B.S. in metallurgical engineering from Ohio State University in Columbus. A former motocross racer, he is a recreational product enthusiast with a love for high performance vehicles. Barker and his family will relocate to the Twin Cities in the near future.

About Polaris
With annual 2008 sales of $1.9 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER®, snowmobiles and Victory Motorcycles® for recreational and utility use. Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry, and one of the largest manufacturers of ORVs in the world. Victory Motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris® apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships. Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index. Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories, is available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com”>polarisindustries.com.

eturn email and destroy all copies of this communication, including all attachments.

Yoshimura/Hinson Racing Partner With Jeremiah Jones

PRESS RELEASE
Chino, Calif. – March 11, 2009 – Yoshimura just announced a new partnership with Hinson Clutch Components and racing legend Jeremiah Jones. At a recent Press Conference for Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Factory Racing ATV team, Brant Russell of Yoshimura and Wayne Hinson announced that the two companies have teamed up with Jones for race support.

“Wayne Hinson and I have thought about this for a long time,” Russell explained. “We came to the conclusion that there is no better person that we would rather have represent our products than Jeremiah Jones. ”

Jones will be out on the road at various ATV racing series representing these two companies with on-site support for pro and amateur racers. It is planned that Jones will be attending many AMA ATV Pro, Can-Am GNCC, Yamaha/ITP QuadCross, and WORCS series races plus as many large amateur events that can be fit into the schedule. In addition, Jeremiah will manage the amateur and pro race support programs, provide technical assistance and overall help and guidance to racers.

Wayne Hinson was equally excited about the partnership. “This is coming at the perfect time for us. We’ve had a lot of success with our new Back Torque Limiter (BTL) Hinson clutch plus we also have a new FSC Clutch kit which offers superior performance and durability for racing ATVs. We know that Jeremiah will help spread the Hinson name to all the amateur racers across the country in addition to the pros.”

Jeremiah will also be running all of the ATV sponsorship programs for Yoshimura. Quad racers in any category should contact Jeremiah to be considered for the Yoshimura support team.

“I’m very excited,” Jones said. “I always enjoy working with amateur racers and up and coming pros. It’s very gratifying for me to help bring them up to the next level. I’m going to be looking for not only fast riders but quality individuals who can represent these fine companies in a positive manner. ”

Jones will continue to run his Jeremiah Jones racing school with continued support from these companies – All Jeremiah Jones Racing School graduates will receive a sponsorship package from Hinson and Yoshimura.

Jones kicked off the job by attending the opening AMA ATV race at Glen Helen, California, and is scheduled to attend the Mill Creek this coming weekend. Look for Jeremiah under the Yoshimura / Hinson pop-up tents or cruising around the pits on his Suzuki Rockstar KingQuad.

Next Page »