About the PBTF Ride for Kids
Since 1984, the national Ride for Kids program and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) have promoted childhood brain tumor research and provided family support. The PBTF offers free literature about brain tumors in English and Spanish, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships for brain tumor patients. With the help of America’s motorcycling community, the PBTF has become the world’s largest non-governmental source of funding for childhood brain tumor research. For more information, go to www.CureTheKids.org or call 800/253-6530. Posted 12/28/07

Indy MotoGP Road Course On Schedule

Paving of the two new turn complexes of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is complete, and construction of the entire circuit remains on schedule for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14, 2008. Paving was finished Nov. 21, and most major phases of the project are now finished, said Kevin Forbes, IMS director of engineering and construction.

"We had an extremely ambitious, almost unrealistic schedule," Forbes said. "So we're right on schedule. Had we developed a schedule that was a lot more realistic, we'd be way ahead of that schedule…. With just a lot of perseverance, determination and great weather, it's done." Construction will continue during the winter, with most work completed by May 4, Opening Day for the 92nd Indianapolis 500. The 16-turn circuit will be finished in June or July, Forbes said, at least two months before the first MotoGP event at IMS.

Representatives from the FIM, motorcycle racing's worldwide sanctioning body, and Dorna, the commercial rights holder for MotoGP, visited IMS on Nov. 27-28 and were impressed by the progress made since their last visit, in August.

"They did a fantastic job," said Franco Uncini, the 1982 500cc World Champion and MotoGP rider safety representative. "Big improvements. We feel satisfied about the layout, the improvements, everything. We will come back for the final inspection, but for the moment, we feel very, very happy about the layout of the racetrack."

In construction terms, the 8,000 tons of asphalt laid for the new surface is small, but it was no easy task blending the old pavement of the Speedway's famed 2.5-mile oval - which comprises part of the course - with the pavement used in the infield sections of the road course.

"It's very delicate surgery," Forbes said. "It's like taking an artery and splicing it into another artery because they've got to flow perfectly together. You can't change the oval and affect the characteristics for the two oval events, but on the other hand, to come off the oval onto the road course has to be equally seamless for the road course events.

"That's where I feel the difficulty in this project lies. It's not the size of it, but the complexity and the sensitivity to the existing elements are what make this project very unique and tricky." Despite all the changes made to IMS since August, Forbes is excited about revealing the new circuit to the public.

"I think they're really going to surprise people," Forbes said. "I think even the long time, die-hard fans will look at this place in the spring and realize just how beautiful this race course is going to become."

"We are all very happy and all very excited,” FIM Safety Director Claude Danis said. “All fans of MotoGP and motorcycle racing around the world, they are all talking about Indianapolis. I think many people will come from Europe and the other countries of the world to see this MotoGP race in Indianapolis."

Tickets are on sale now for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP on Sept. 14, 2008. Tickets can be purchased either online at www.IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com or on the phone by calling 800/822-INDY. All tickets for this event are three-day tickets, with both reserved and general admission seating available.

Yamaha U.S.A. Employees Raise $5000 for Feed the Children Children

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. recently presented world-renowned charity Feed the Children with a check for $5,000 with support from the STAR Touring and Riding group and Yamaha employees. Yamaha has worked with Feed the Children for more than 10 years, raising several hundred thousand dollars and feeding tens of thousands of children. Feed the Children is an international and nonprofit relief organization that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack those essentials. Yamaha employees at the Cypress headquarters raised the $5,000 during the year through office-wide fundraisers and filled a Feed the Children food truck with 400 boxes of food, juice, chips and personal items. After the check presentation ceremony by Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. President Masato Adachi, 60 members of the Star Motorcycles Touring and Riding Association were led by police escort to deliver the goods via motorcycles. Working with the Community Action Partnership of Garden Grove and Calvary Chapel West Grove, the items were distributed to 400 local families in need.

"We are proud to support a meaningful and worthwhile organization like Feed the Children," said Bob Starr, general manager of corporate communications for Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. "Our Star riders are proud to personally contribute to such a worthy cause. Yamaha looks forward to continuing our support for many years to come.”

R80 G/S GETS a NEW HOME at BOB’s BMW MUSEUM

The 1981 R80 G/S belonging to Dr. Gregory Frazier is now on permanent display at Bob’s BMW Motorcycle Museum in Jessup, Maryland. The scarred and road-worn R80 G/S has earned a place of honor in the museum next to a pristine, straight-from-the-crate R80 G/S that was already part of the permanent collection. The "before and after" comparison of the two bikes adds another fascinating dimension to the display. According to Bob Henig, owner of Bob’s BMW: “With this historic bike on display the public can view the true durability of the original ‘Adventure Motorcycle.’ Greg literally rode this BMW into the ground as he wandered the earth and yet it always got him home. Some of the road grunge from Alaska, Africa and South America is still on the motorcycle! Most of the bikes in our museum are still in running condition, but considering what this one has been through, the fact that it too still runs is truly amazing. We’re extremely proud to add it to our BMW collection.” Dr. Greg says of the motorcycle: “It’s been hammered, often ridden hard and sometimes put away wet. There is not much left on it that has not been replaced or repaired. It‘s on the third speedometer, and my guess is it should have somewhere around 240,000 miles on the odometer. I had been moving it around my private studio to make room for other projects, only riding it a few times a year. So when Bob Henig offered it a public resting place where aficionados of these BMWs could see how one could be pushed, pulled and ridden to the extremes, I jumped at the chance. This one broke on me a few times, like in Bogotá, Colombia, when the front page of the newspaper said in big print, ‘Yankee Go Home!’ The sub-frame has met welders around the globe. The one set of parts I did not replace was the rod and main bearings, wanting to see just how long they would last. If it were a horse I would say it was now out to pasture, but like a good stud or race horse, this R80 G/S, one of the real warriors of the road, would rise to the challenge and still get me home.” For more information on Bob’s BMW Motorcycles, call 301-497-8949 or visit www.bobsbmw.com.

PBTF GRANT RECIPIENT WINS NOBEL PRIZE FOR
DEVELOPING GENE TARGETING

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) research grant recipient Mario Capecchi, Ph.D., of the University of Utah School of Medicine, has received the 2007 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. He shares the award with Oliver Smithies, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Sir Martin J. Evans, Ph.D., of Cardiff University, for developing "gene targeting" technology in mice. The discoveries made by Capecchi and the other scientists are being applied to everything from basic research to the development of new therapies for a multitude of diseases, the Nobel Prize committee said. "Gene targeting in mice has pervaded all fields of biomedicine," the committee said. "Its impact on the understanding of gene function and its benefits to mankind will continue to increase over many years to come." The PBTF supported Capecchi's work in 2000 with a grant for "A Conditional Mouse Model of Medulloblastoma." Medulloblastoma is the most common brain tumor of childhood and is associated with significant impairment and mortality. "We congratulate Dr. Capecchi for his Nobel Prize, and for his groundbreaking work in the field of gene targeting," said Dianne Traynor, PBTF Director of Research Funding and Advocacy. "To see so many of our research initiatives prosper gives us all an incredibly good feeling knowing our diligent efforts to fulfill our mission to help the children is producing world-class results." "Ride for Kids® fundraisers and the entire motorcycling community should be very proud of results like these that come from the hard work and determination of so many caring individuals," said national Ride for Kids® Director Kyle Clack. "It gives us all strength and increases our determination to continue to make a difference."

For more information, visit www.curethekids.org. Posted 10/12/07.

Cycle Trader To Sponsor 2008 AMA Premier Touring Series

Cycle Trader has been named a presenting sponsor of the 2008 AMA Premier Touring Series, as well as the title sponsor of the all-new National Convention Gypsy Tours and AMA Grand Tours Series, the American Motorcyclist Association has announced.

"Cycle Trader is well-known and well-respected for meeting the needs of motorcyclists buying and selling machines," says AMA Senior Vice President Greg Harrison. "They have always supported the AMA, and we are proud they've chosen to partner with us to power these quality recreational riding programs in 2008."

"We are extremely pleased that the AMA has chosen Cycle Trader as a 2008 title and presenting sponsor," said Lori Stacy, Vice President of Recreational brands for Cycle Trader. "We look forward to a long relationship with the AMA."

The AMA Premier Touring Series is a collection of road-riding rallies and tours with different formats to suit various tastes and numerous events across the country. For more information on the AMA Premier Touring Series, see the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com. For more on Cycle Trader and to see thousands of motorcycle-specific classifieds, visit www.CycleTrader.com. Posted 10/05/07.

CycleGadgets MOVES INTO NEW FACILITY– ADDS GPS GEOCACHE SITE FOR MOTORCYCLISTS

Eureka Springs, AR – CycleGadgets has completed the move into its brand new, 10,000-square-foot facility. The new location has quickly become a favorite stopping place for riders touring the Arkansas countryside. “Eureka Springs is smack dab in the middle of some of the best riding in the state,” writes Mario Caruso in the Arkansas rider’s guide. And for the avid motorcyclist, stopping at CycleGadgets is like finding an oasis in the desert. “The new facility is terrific; I felt like a kid in a candy store and the staff at the shop make you feel welcome and right at home,” comments Steve Combs, a BMW rider from Missouri.

“Because of our well-known expertise in the GPS market and the prevalence of GPS units among our customers, we thought it would be just plain fun to hide a geocache close by," Sean Franklin, co-owner of www.CycleGadgets.com with wife Laurene, said. "Geocaching is a relatively new, fast-growing, and entertaining adventure game for GPS users -- it’s kind of like a treasure hunt with a GPS." Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the features of a GPS unit; GPS users use location coordinates to find the cache. “Our cache,” added Laurene, “will be specifically geared for motorcyclists [and includes] a log book for rider comments and some other surprises. The GPS coordinates are listed on our web site.”

“We hope that adding our multi-cache site will encourage more riders to explore everything this wonderful area has to offer, as well as give the riders who visit our new facility a fun extra incentive,” stated Sean.

Cycle Gadgets began serving the motorcycling community with the launch of their customer service oriented website, www.CycleGadgets.com, in June of 2000. CycleGadgets specializes in unique, practical accessories for motorcyclists, including Garmin™ GPS systems, R-A-M™ and other specialty electronic device mounts, Gerbing Heated Clothing, Sliks helmet liners, enhanced lighting systems including PIAA, Hyperlites, Kisan, Motolight, and many other specialty products. While most products are available online at www.CycleGadgets.com, there are a few products exclusive to the Eureka Showroom. CycleGadgets is based in Eureka Springs, AR and ships worldwide. Posted 9/11/2007

Honda adds liquids to weight specs

Beginning this year, the official weight specification for all Honda powersports products will be a full wet, or "curb," weight, the company said in a statement dated August 6. Curb weight includes all standard equipment, required fluids, and a full tank of fuel.

"We are making this change to provide the public with a real-world figure, which is easier to verify and compare," a company official said. Posted 8/13/07.

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