Thanks for the coverage, I think?

The Sunday, March 7 issue of the Minneapolis Star Tribune had a story about the new Polaris EV. The story entitled, “Can Green Be Gold?” ran as an “exclusive” in the Sunday edition. I enjoyed some of the off-road-focused article and thought the author – David Phelps – did a good job of interviewing multiple sources and gaining feedback from Polaris about its new electric vehicle, but thought it was still too unbalanced.

Before I go on, I must say the Star Tribune has been less than kind to ATVs in recent years and has featured many one-sided stories (at least that’s my take) against the operation of OHVs. Many articles have focused on their alleged destruction of the environment, noise and even injuries and death. I was pleased to see the paper see the new EV as a positive business story, but displeased with so much focus on noise and the environment. And yet nothing concrete was mentioned about electric vehicles and their impact on our future environment. Nor how much of the environment it takes to build one/dispose of one compared to a normal gas-powered machine. In addition, what about the EV’s potential for indoor use (as one of my trusted colleagues pointed out)? No mention.

Even the story’s pull quote (which is in bold and as large as the subhead) featured Matthew Norton of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and not someone from the U.S. Military, Polaris or its defense team. He said, “The Quiet is a huge benefit. It will alleviate a lot of the discord that happens when people are forced to live near lots of noisy machines. But it will not alleviate soil disturbance and damage to vegetation.” (Source: Star Tribune)

A better quote would have been from Matt Homan, vice president of the Polaris off-road division, when he said, “You’re saving money on gas and you’re paying for the benefits of stealth and being green.” (Source: Star Tribune)

Here are the other hidden verbal attacks on our current OHVs/ATVs.

The story describes current ATVs as:

Noisy, disruptive to the environment, scary for wildlife (so is man!) and disruptive to herds and multi-acre neighborhoods.

Here’s the most opinionated and unnecessary portion of the story, “Norton added that quiet machines might also allow riders to go places they shouldn’t be, such as private property, without alerting others to their presence.” (Source: Star Tribune)

GNCC Pro ATV Results: 2010 Round 2

Well, two rounds are complete and the points race is extremely tight in the 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Pro ATV class. With the action from the opening weekends of racing in Florida and Georgia, which saw Chris Borich win the opener and follow that with a second at Round 2 in Georgia, I’d bet the entire season goes this way. As expected, reigning champion Chris Borich is on top on his Suzuki, but Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser has the same amount of points (55), but is listed in second. Kiser, who ended Borich’s nine-race win streak, won for the first time since the 2009 Florida opener (13 races).

Right in the mix are Can-Am’s Adam McGill and multi-time GNCC champion Bill Ballance, who is racing what is said to be his final full season. McGill, his first season on the DS450, is 16 points behind and made the podium in Florida. For McGill, he hasn’t won a pro overall since Round 10 of 2008, but continues to challenge for the podium. Ballance reached the final stair of the pro podium in Georgia and now trails by 18 points. Can-Am’s other pro, Chris Bithell, sits comfortably in fifth, is just three points back of Ballance and 21 behind Borich after his twin top five showings.

Round 2 Movers:

Up: was stuck in eighth place after the first lap and still in sixth with one lap to go. However, the highly skilled racer kicked it into another gear and moved into fourth.

Down: Bithell led the race for the first three laps, but fell fell to fifth on Lap 4 and could not regain any positions. Brent Sturdivant dropped from ninth to 15th and then couldn’t finish the final lap.

Biggest news to me thus far:

1. The biggest surprise is seeing less than 20 pros line up for the races. There were 16 in Florida and just 15 in Georgia. Meanwhile the Pro-Am class has had 23 and 24, respectively.

2. I guess this one shouldn’t be a surprise, but … Walker Fowler might want to move to the Pro ranks now! The proven racer may be young, but he finished eighth overall and beat 8 pros in the process. Sure, in Florida he had a rather uneventful ride, but that’s racin’.

3. Brandon Sommers, currently in 11th, is out of the top 10 in points. I know he has the skills and I expect him to climb the ladder and get back in the top six.

4. Jeffrey Pickens has been a pleasant surprise on his Yamaha with two seventh-place runs. He’s a crafty GNCC vet, has the speed, but can he remain consistent?

5. Where are all the Hondas? Four pros ride “Red,” but have failed to crack the top five at either event.

Top 10 XC1 Pro  Points (2 Rounds complete)

Rank, make, number, name, total points (wins)

1. SUZ 001 CHRIS BORICH, 55 (1)

2. YAM 002 TAYLOR KISER, 55 (1)

3.  CAN 003 ADAM MCGILL, 39

4. YAM 004 BILL BALLANCE, 37

5. CAN 013 CHRIS BITHELL, 34

6. YAM 015 JEFFREY PICKENS, 28

7. POL 010 JARROD MCCLURE, 27

8. KTM 005 BRYAN COOK, 26

9. YAM 012 JOHNNY GALLAGHER, 26

10. YAM 007 DONALD OCKERMAN, 23

For complete results and individual classes, visit www.gnccracing.com.

Say It Ain’t So, Digger

I knew one day it could happen. I expected there would be a time – obviously – when “Digger” Doug Gust would retire (hang ’em up, walk away, call it quits). While I don’t know the real reasons behind Digger’s rumored retirement, I doubt it had anything to do with old age. An ATV legend and legitimate hero like Gust can’t stop racing —it’s not fair to the fans or me!

I’ve always been impressed with a guy, from the Midwest, who could whip other MX riders, many of which are half his age, and remain the constant professional and all-around good guy. Cockiness was always a trait foreign to him. And talk about approachable! While other past GNC Champions like Tim Farr and Shane Hitt left the game several years ago, Gust continued to pound the dirt and help raise ATV racing to another level. Sure, in recent years Gust has lost out to a the more youthful riders like Dustin Wimmer, Chad Wienen and Josh Creamer, but he still was a threat to podium and challenge for a spot in the top three at the end of the year.

What I find the most shocking about Gust’s retirement is that fact that no manufacturer or major aftermarket companies gave him a good enough deal to keep him on the track — at least to my knowledge. Suzuki went with Wimmer and Creamer and rumors of Polaris deal have yet to pan out. Like I said, I don’t know all the details and whether or not Gust has officially turned down any companies, but it will be disappointing not to see him race if that’s how it plays out.

I know Gust has the right to end his career. Clearly it’s his body, his time and his choice, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be saddened by it. Believe me, if I had the resources and funding, he’d be on my race team. His leadership, popularity and professionalism make him invaluable in my opinion.

If we don’t see No. 55 on the track in 2010, he will be missed. Oh, and I beg Doug to prove me wrong. If this is the end, he put on quite a show, deserves recognition for his contributions to this sport and a round of applause.

Growing Up Empty? Kids Without Quads

It is really a shame that my son and daughter, 7 and 6 respectively, can’t learn to love the sport that paid my bills that last decade, developed life-long friendships and given me a career others call the greatest job in the world. I’ve traveled the world and ridden OHV trails in almost every state and love to interact with nature in this manner. I’ve shared a tiny bit (two small backyard rides on an older loaner vehicle) of the ATV experience with my two young kids and loved every minute of it. Seeing them smile and learn to ride was an experience I’ll never forget. It’s also one I’ll have a hard time every reliving since the CPSIA legislation went into affect. I can’t even get the appropriate sized (50cc) youth quad for them to ride. This also means I can’t test the machine for publication (online or in a magazine). The restrictions also prevent me from aiding the industry and its manufacturers (and ultimately the consumer) by showcasing the machines and each vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses.

I’ll never let them ride a larger displacement ATV because they are too little, have too little experience and it is unsafe and irresponsible. This CPSIA lead ban needs to be reworded or rewritten to exclude ATVs and other small displacement OHVs. I can understand protecting my eighth-month-old son from ingesting lead-coated baby toys, but to eliminate family interaction and joy in both my life and my kids’ is unfair and unsafe.

That’s why I’ve taken the step to contact member of Congress and let them know why they need to alter this legislation. I signed the petition at the Indianapolis Dealer Expo, but don’t want it to stop there. I’ve also contacted members of Congress on my own. I no longer want my kids to miss out in the sport I love.

Here’s are some key points the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) said we nee to point out to our members of Congress:

Excerpt from Russ Ehnes’ article in the NOHVCC newsletter:

“Enthusiasts and other stakeholders should reinforce three key reasons why youth ATVs and motorcycles should be excluded from the CPSIA’s lead content provisions:

1. The lead content poses no risk to kids. Experts estimate that the lead intake from kids’ interaction with metal parts is less than the lead intake from drinking a glass of water.
2. The key to keeping youth safe is having them ride the right size vehicle. Kids are now at risk because the availability of youth ATVs and motorcycles is limited due to the lead ban.
3. The lead ban hurts the economy for no good reason when everyone is trying to grow the economy and create jobs. MIC estimates that a complete ban on youth model vehicles would result in about $1 billion in lost economic value in the retail marketplace every year.”

You can also check out this info from the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC). Here’s how you can let your voice be heard. Visit Stop The Lead Ban and do your part.

2010 GNCC ATV Pro Class Results – Round 1

It looks like Chris Borich is still the rider to beat in the GNCC XC-1 Pro ATV ranks, as the Sunbury, Pa., racer won the opening round of the 2010 GNCC series in River Ranch, Fla on his Suzuki.  Mounting a come-from-behind charge, Borich passed his way into the lead on the final lap and never looked back. Out of 16 pro riders, Borich was in fifth place after lap one and still “stuck” in fourth place as late as lap three. However, the reigning champ kick it up a notch after that moving to second place and then first on the final lap.

Multi-time champion Bill Ballance earned fifth aboard his Yamaha. Ballance’s teammate, understudy and Florida-native, Taylor Kiser finished second on the YFZ450X (roughly a second behind).  The Can-Am tandem of Adam McGill and Chris Bithell finished in third and fourth, respectively.  McGill ran a great race aboard his DS450, leading the first four laps and earning the third stair of the podium.

Other notables: The top Polaris rider was Jarrod McClure in sixth. KTM’sBryan Cook, in his debut race on orange, earned 10th. The top Honda rider was Brent Sturdivant, who took 11th. Brandon Sommers – overcoming his sickness, earned  12th in front of Harold Goodman, who has said he compete at all the GNCCs this season. The biggest position changes during the race were recorded by Johnny Gallagher (from 14thto eighth) and Donald “Big D” Ockerman (Holeshotwinner; third place on lap one and ninth at the end). For the complete Round 1 wrap-up, click here!

For complete 2010 Can-Am GNCC ATV racing results, visit GNCCRacing.com

Westgate River Ranch

River Ranch, FL – Round 1

XC1 Pro – Class Results

Place Nbr Name Hometown Brand Laps Elapsed

1 001 CHRIS M BORICH SUNBURY, PA SUZ 5 02:05:14.437

2 002 TAYLOR M KISER ALVA, FL YAM 5 02:05:15.843

3 003 ADAM K MCGILL WEST UNION, WV CAN 5 02:05:17.656

4 013 CHRIS P BITHELL IRWIN, PA CAN 5 02:06:10.359

5 004 BILL V BALLANCE SMITHS GROVE, KY YAM 5 02:09:51.953

6 010 JARROD M MCCLURE KASKA, PA POL 5 02:13:55.171

7 015 JEFFREY E PICKENS UNIONTOWN, PA YAM 5 02:14:44.359

8 012 JOHNNY F GALLAGHER AURORA, OH YAM 5 02:15:28.515

9 007 DONALD S OCKERMAN MARSHALL, IL YAM 5 02:17:04.171

10 005 BRYAN COOK CASAR, NC KTM 5 02:17:44.203

11 149 BRENT STURDIVANT MONTROSE, WV HON 5 02:22:06.937

12 006 BRANDON SOMMERS MILLERSBURG, OH YAM 5 02:24:09.250

13 708 HAROLD L GOODMAN ROMULUS, MI HON 5 02:36:00.484

14 040 CRAIG A BOWMAN LEBANON, IN HON 5 02:39:50.875

15 023 TODD S DEMAREE VERSAILLES, IN SUZ 5 02:40:01.093

16 330 SLOAN JACKSON LEBANON, IN HON 3 01:33:47.140

The morning podium consisted of two women and one talented Super Senior class racer. Lexie Coulter won the overall on her Can-Am. The Suzuki mounted Glenn  Pritchard took second ahead of another Women’s class racer in Jennifer Albright. See more Amateur results. Levi Coen (90 Mod 12-15) won the youth division.

ATV Racing Sponsorship

Don’t give up hope, young racers and ATV racing fans. It’s sad to hear the news of some racers not getting factory deals or having to retire because the level of support is no longer happening. However, we must be mindful of how much support this sport still receives. Although we have less factory support this year than in previous racing seasons, it’s good to see a few positives from the ATV racing industry. To hear about sponsorship from the ATV aftermarket and ATV manufacturers is always good. And I know there are certain “contracts” and support systems we don’t get to hear about, whether secretive or not.

I recently saw on Facebook that Lone Star Racing became the title sponsor for the Media All-Stars team, which is run by ATV racing die-hard Jorge Cuartas. Both ATV pro Pat Brown and Cody Grant will benefit from the support. This reminds me of the years before factory support, where race team names were very long and often showcased ALL the companies behind the rider. (Example: Pat Brown aboard his Lone Star Racing/Media All-Stars/XYZ/PDQ/123/ABC-backed race quad as opposed to Factory XX’s Pat Brown).

It’s also encouraging to read about Can-Am signing on with the GNCC Racing series for another three years of sponsorship and adding to its level of support. That agreement (click here) shows a level of commitment to the sport from an ATV manufacturer and also sends the message of support, the belief in ATV racing and more. In fact, any quad maker supporting the sport’s racers (like Can-Am, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM, Polaris and others) and racing circuits deserves credit, whether it’s on a national, regional (Yamaha with ITP QuadCross) or even a state or niche level (example: mud racing, Baja). They all should be thanked for these partnerships.

Although the support has dwindled, we still see signs of hope and a level of attention and support we should appreciate. Sure, you could say, “They sell to racers, so they should support our sport.” That wasn’t always the case, remember? Let’s keep everything in perspective and focus on the positives and opportunities we currently have, not those we’ve lost.

American company acquires foreign company? Polaris?

It may seem shocking to most, especially in this recession as well as the state of the country where typically the news headlines talk mostly about American companies leaving or being acquired by foreign entities.  The somewhat shocking news of the exact opposite happening raises and eyebrow for me.  This company is Polaris of all companies.  Now not being a hard core fan or follower of Polaris’s development of machines over the years I will be brief.  My perceptions of Polaris’s ATV’s are mixed.   I see the small displacement and older models very problematic, while the newer models are light years ahead of previous models and fairly reliable in the long run.  What does this have to do with the recent acquisition of Swiss Auto power sports?  I think Polaris will be coming out with some very exciting and probably radical ATV and motorcycle designs that people actually want to buy.  Even though I probably will never buy a Polaris I am excited in them taking a risk in developing new engines and technology that can only help the industry as a whole in the future.

To read the press release follow this LINK.   To read a more in depth analysis on the acquisition CLICK HERE

Stripped thread, don’t fret

This article builds on some tips and tricks from my Removing damaged fasteners  article.

Stripped threads are something that strikes fear in even the most seasoned mechanics.  Stripped threads will have the novice do-it-yourself-er nearly breaking down in tears.   Of course stripped threads seem to always crop up or happen at the most in-opportune times and places.  Its always that last fastener that is either a frequently inserted and removed (ie. drain/fill plug) or the last fastener required to finish the assembly.  A stripped thread stops you dead in your tracks, unless you have a plan.  In this article I will discuss a few methods for common thread repairs.

Causes: Stripped threads are caused by a few things but are most commonly caused by two issues.  Issue 1: Dissimilar metals being screwed together, in the example of the drain plug, usually the case is aluminum and the plug is steel.  The steel plug wears the aluminum threads out from repeated in-and-out over time as steel is harder than the soft  low grade aluminum used in engine cases.  Issue 2: Over torqued or tightening of the fastener thus tearing the threads out of the hole.

Remedies: The first one is obvious, tighten and torque the fastener to the proper spec outlined in the service or owners manual.  Next would be to use ant-seize compound regularly to help lubricate the threads going in and coming out.  This also prevents electrolysis and corrosion from the contact of dissimilar metals
Thread inserts:

Invariably the threads are stripped so you need to replace them with new.  There are several ways to do this, from drilling a larger hole and tapping it for a larger fastener, but in the case of a drain plug for example there may not be enough material left to do that or it is just impractical.  Here is where thread inserts come into play.  There are two major brands Heli-Coil and Time-Sert,  essentially both of the end results are the same-brand new threads the exact same size as the original.  Each type requires drilling out a slightly bigger hole (removing the existing threads) and tapping the “new” hole for the insert to thread into and lock in place.  Now you have instant new threads. 

Now to the first timer this will seem intimidating, but take your time and follow the directions.  Below are some tips for the first timer.

Tips: Use a thick grease on the drill bit and tap to collect most of the metal filings from falling into places you don’t want them.  Go slow with the drill to make sure you are as straight as possible.  Work the tap in and out until you create the new threads for the insert, trying to thread it one time all the way through can risk breaking the tap and then you have a real mess as it will be nearly impossible to remove.

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.

DragonFire Racing Black Magic Long Travel Suspension System

Introducing Black Magic by DragonFire Racing. DragonFire Racing says it offers the “most state-of-the-art suspension systems in the SxS market.

Black Magic suspension systems feature lightweight chromoly-plated boxed A-arms, 300M axles, and Fox and Elka coil-over shocks. Suspension travel is in excess of 13 inches per kit. This is a direct replacement kit, often utilizing remote rear and front shock towers to provide the proper shock ratios and structural support necessary for the increased travel. [Read more]

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