Where real journalism meets italicized smart-assed comments.

by Gus Breiland
Issue #75--May 2005

* Riders Needed

* U.S. World Round at Spirit Mountain, Duluth MN

* Winona - Minnesotan for "Loud Pipes Risk Rights"

* Speak Up Motorcyclists

Riders Needed
The Lifetime Fitness Triathlon and MMM need your and your motorcycle this July 16th. For those not familiar with the Lifetime Triathlon, it is a nationally televised race that attracts top triathletes from around the world. 25 volunteer riders are needed to help with transportation of race officials during the bicycling portion of the triathlon.

Riders will act as escorts for the race marshals who monitor the race to help keep it fair and safe. As an escort, you will have a race marshal assigned to you and will be responsible for taking them around the racecourse. The course is laid out on the parkways and scenic roads around south Minneapolis and St. Paul and is closed to all motorized traffic except yours. It is a fun and challenging experience. Publisher Wanchena has done escorts for triathlons on several occasions and says it's incredibly fun and gives you a front row seat for watching a world class triathlon. Requirements for volunteers include availability on the morning of Saturday July 16th from 8am till around noon and once before the race date to pre-ride the course. You must be comfortable with carrying a passenger on a complex course and be able to maneuver around various obstacles. Larger touring, sport-touring and cruiser motorcycles are preferred for the comfort of you and the race marshal. Quiet exhaust is a must as the race is televised on NBC and loud exhaust disrupts the TV audio crews.

Does this sound like it's for you? Interested riders should email MMM at mnmc@comcast.net with the following information: Your name, Email address, Phone, T-shirt size and Type of motorcycle. Or call the MMM office at 763.315.5396.

U.S. World Round at Spirit Mountain, Duluth MN
That is right, grown men and women will be descending upon Spirit Mountain the first weekend of June to do amazing and just plain wrong things on weird looking bikes in spandex and lycra. The best waterfall-leaping motorcycle riders in the world will test their courage against some of the United States' most stunning terrain here Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5.

"As we saw in our 2002 and 2004 world events, this is beyond extreme," said event organizer Steve Ahlers of Duluth. "And it happens in only one place and on only one weekend in North America."

An elite group of 40 observed trials motorcycle riders from throughout Europe, Japan and North America will compete the first weekend of June in the Spirit Mountain World Round, the fourth of 10 locations (or rounds) that comprise the 2005 world championship series of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).

"The world-level riders love coming to Duluth for its beauty and terrain," Ahlers said. "Their only complaint has been that some obstacles we threw at them weren't challenging enough for the top five or 10 riders. We don't think that's going to be a complaint in 2005."

This marks the third time a world-championship event will be held in Minnesota. Some of the most spectacular section areas from 2004 will be tweaked and used again. There are plenty of cliffs at Spirit Mountain, however, and following a trend from last year, even more of the obstacle sections will be located close to the parking, pit and podium area.

One of Spirit Mountain's signature obstacles, a jaw-dropping 14-foot sheer rock face, will be used for the third year. For the first time, however, riders will have to leap off the cliff rather than attempt to ride up it. Former world champion, Dougie Lampkin, destroyed the front end of his motorcycle when he crashed at that wall last June.

All spectators at the event can enter a drawing for a free Gas Gas motorcycle or quad. The winner can select from a 280 TXT Pro trials bike, 250 EC enduro bike, 250 MC motorcross bike, or a 300 Wild HP all-terrain vehicle.

Gates to the event will open at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5. The competition will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Featured will be the main class for the world's top riders, a junior trial world cup class forages 18 to 20, and an FIM youth trials cup class for riders 16 to 18 on machines of 125 cc, or about half the size used in the higher classes.

Cost for tickets is $20 per day, or $30 for both days. Tickets are half price for those under 10 and free for those under 6. Advance tickets are available, starting April 1, via e-mail at www.worldroundusa.com.

This is definitely a MMM "Must Do" event. You will witness things that just shouldn't happen on a motorcycle and if you are like most of the MMM front office, thoughts of owning your own Trials bike will creep into your head. We look forward to seeing you up north. Bring a camera and rain gear as they ride in the rain.

Winona - Minnesotan for "Loud Pipes Risk Rights"
WINONA, Minn.--After complaints from local citizens and then City Council members, Police Chief Frank Pomeroy announced a crackdown on loud motorcycles. Police won't say what they consider to be too loud. Instead of measuring the noise level, officers will use a part of the city's noise ordinance that prohibits operating a vehicle in a way that results in "unnecessary'' noise. That means officers will have discretion to determine whether a biker is breaking the law, much like they interpret whether a party is too loud. "Officers have to use their judgment all the time,'' Pomeroy said. City officials acknowledge that the definition of nuisance is vague. "Is there a lot of discretion there? Yes,'' said Bruce Nelson, an assistant city attorney. "I guess unnecessarily loud is in the ear of the beholder.''

For those of you reading this with stock cans or properly designed street legal exhaust please feel free to ride down the scenic river and enjoy a wonderful part of south east Minnesota. Take an early morning ride and enjoy the peace and quiet that is south east Minnesota. You never now, you may just find the Ridin' Gnome.

Speak Up Motorcyclists
If you have ideas to make motorcycling safer in Minnesota, it's time to step up to the plate. The Department of Public Safety is recruiting new members for their Motorcycle Safety Advisory Committee. This committee advises the State of Minnesota on all matters related to motorcycle safety: rider training, testing, licensing, and education.If you think riders need more input into their state program, this is your chance to provide it. The committee meets for two hours on the third Thursday of every other month (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov) in St. Paul at 5 p.m. If you're an active, avid rider and want to play a role in improving the safety of motorcyclists, contact pat.hahn@state.mn.us, or visit www.motorcyclesafety.org to learn more about the committee and download an application form. Deadline for applications is May 18, 2005.

Want do to something for motorcycle safety? Don't know how or where to start? This is a gift from the Motorcycle Gods. As a committee member you have direct input on important decisions regarding how State of Minnesota makes motorcycle safety. Your knowledge and experience is a valuable resource.

M.M.M.