Where real journalism meets italicized, smart-assed comments. by Thomas Day |
* Hudson and Dibbo’s Outlaw Outlaws for a Liquor License * Brainerd Sees Hines get his 11th * UK Kawasaki ‘Rides to Work’ * Way to go for Minnesota’s Andy Goldfine! Carmichael Gets 150 * MotoGP News * DuHamel's Comeback Is Done * 100,000 BMW Adventure Tourers * A Springbrook, Wi Couple Ventures Off On A 2-Year Moto Adventure * Triumph Is Redesigning the Triple * BMW Acquires A Husky * The Return of the CB750? * Talk About Being ObliviousTo Your Surroundings * Get Your Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary Tickets Now! * Kawasaki Bows to Tradition * Mladin Looking for Victory #60 * NHTSA Motorcycle Recalls * Got Pain? Squeeze Some Emus on Your Booboo |
Hudson and Dibbo’s Outlaw Outlaws for a Liquor License As a consequence of that event and the bar’s past history, the city and police department created an agreement requiring the following of Dibbo’s management: ”The installation and constant operation of video cameras on the premises in all public access areas, and that Dibbo’s will make tapes recorded on them available to police. Dibbo’s will also post signs saying activities in the bar are being recorded.” “Prohibiting the wearing of gang colors on the premises.” “Not allowing private motorcycle parties or meetings on-premise.” “Notifying police of any information Dibbo’s has about any motorcycle clubs coming to Hudson, and providing police with any information they have or receive about them.” Following the inciting incident at Dibbo’s, and the resulting agreement with the local police, the next Council meeting received a visit from several members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, in full “colors.” Apparently, they had been refused service earlier that day at Dibbo’s and wanted an explanation. The Hudson Star-Observer reported “. . . the group of around 15 Outlaws gathered in the City Hall parking lot and then filed into the crowded council chamber after the meeting had begun. There was already a larger-than-usual audience on hand . . .” “Hudson resident, Dave Anderson, a member of the St. Croix Valley Riders, was the first to come to the podium. He said the rules that were aimed at the Outlaws also had affected his organization, which could no longer hold its meetings at Dibbo’s. ‘We feel this discriminates against all motorcycle riders,’ he said. Anderson was followed by Kim Heinemann, president of the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce, who gave a rundown of coming Chamber events, including a Girls Night Out bike ride event planned for Sept. 7-8. Heinemann, apparently addressing the motorcyclists ringing the back walls of the council chamber, somewhat nervously added that it was a bicycle ride, and said, ‘Sorry.’ The clarification brought a ripple of laughter from the audience. “Then the Outlaw leader stood to address the council. ‘Jimmy,’ he replied in a gravelly voice when Mayor Breault asked him to identify himself. Jimmy said he had been at Dibbo’s on the night of April 14 when, according to Police Chief Andrew Smith, 30 to 40 members of the Outlaws took control of the nightclub. ‘Nobody got hit. Nobody got hurt,’ Jimmy said. ‘…We didn’t come into town to hurt anybody. We came into town to have some fun.’ The Outlaws leader said the rules the city has forced Dibbo’s to enforce are unconstitutional and that the motorcycle club would challenge them. ‘We will go there. And we will get arrested. And we will challenge you in court and win,’ he said, claiming that a court has ruled that similar regulations imposed on Milwaukee establishments are illegal. “The Outlaws leader lectured council members that they took an oath of office to uphold the constitution. Instead, they ordered a local business to violate it, he said. Motorcycle engines were heard rumbling past City Hall after Jimmy had his say, and the Outlaws left the meeting.” The bar’s manager, McGee, replied, “This is not a motorcycle club,” he said. “We don’t let anyone take us over and make us their hangout. We’re a family business. It’s been that way for 50 years.” Dave Anderson added “I just think that this is kind of a blanket Band-Aid ... to keep motorcyclists out of Dibbo’s. They’re discriminating against all [biker] organizations and clubs for something that happened one night.” Chief Smith stated that the arrangement with Dibbo’s was an attempt to work with a local business to address an outside problem. “The philosophy of the department is that when you have a local business where people’s livelihoods; their kids and families are wrapped up together, it is our duty to do what we can to ensure that that business continues. In this case, rather than just taking the liquor license away, which would have been easier, we worked together to develop a workable partnership to solve these problems.” Chief Smith stated that other Hudson businesses have complained about motorcycle club members attempting to intimidate them. As in Minnesota along the St. Croix Valley, motorcycle noise and traffic has been a common complaint from Hudson residents and businesses. In other areas, the Outlaws Motorcycle Club are in the news as 16 Michigan and Indiana members were rounded up in mid-August, after a multi-year, multi-authority investigation. Federal authorities and the Fort Wayne Police and South Bend Police Departments were among the agencies assisting in the investigations. Federal authorities claimed that the indictment of 16 members of the Michigan and Indiana Outlaws Motorcycle Club “struck a major blow to the organization’s criminal activity, which . . . includes selling drugs and using violence.” Authorities say the arrests breaks up a gang with chapters in Detroit, Wyandotte, Bay City, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne, Ind. Further away, in Dayton Beach, Tampa, and Jacksonville, Florida, FBI agents raided the Outlaws homes and headquarters. FBI Deputy Director Dan Roberts said that FBI agents confiscated 60 weapons from “gang clubhouses” during the Jacksonville search. The Outlaws are considered an “international criminal organization” by the U.S. government. “If you’re engaged in organized gang activity, we’re going to come after you,” said U.S. Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, who was in Detroit to take part in the indictment. “The indictment paints a picture; not of a harmless group of motorcycle enthusiasts, but of an international, organized, and violent criminal gang.” Brainerd Sees Hines get his 11th
After the Brainerd win, Hines has moved into the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle 2nd place position and secured a Countdown position. Krawiec is in 8th place, and is still in contention for a Countdown position. “My guys just made some great tuning calls this weekend,” Hines said after winning his third race this season. “We were a little behind after the first round of qualifying, but we figured it out. We just wanted to qualify and be ready for Sunday. “We were able to clinch a Countdown position and we won the race. It was a great weekend.” “We’ve been to back-to-back finals and I’m really excited about that,” Krawiec said. “That says a lot right there about the team we have. The guys have been giving me such a competitive motorcycle. The last two races show just how competitive we can be. I’m lucky to have the team I do, helping me along the way.” “My goal was to be in the top eight in my first year. It’s a tough field in this Countdown year, and I couldn’t be any happier to be so close to accomplishing that goal.” UK Kawasaki ‘Rides to Work’ Way to go for Minnesota’s Andy Goldfine! Carmichael Gets 150 With Carmichael gone, Andrew Short (Honda) and Timmy Ferry (Kawasaki) are left to battle out the season’s point’s lead, currently tied at 311 points apiece. Grant Langstonis in third place, trailing by 11 points. Carmichael said, “This is a sport that has made me and provided me a great life and lifestyle. I’ve surrounded myself with great sponsors and people that look out for me. It’s funny to think that 1996 was my first national, and its weird to think that this ride is over. Its time to move on and I’m happy with every decision I’ve made.” To put this record in perspective, the next rider on the career AMA Nationals win list is Jeremy McGrath, with 89 victories, followed by Bob “Hurricane” Hannah winning 70 AMA National events. Carmichael won 56 250cc AMA motos, more than double second place hall-of-famer, Bob Hannah’s 27 victories (Carmichael passed that mark in 2002). In 2002, Carmichael also made
Michelin must be wishing a bad case of laryngitis upon Valentino Rossi, since he doesn’t seem to be running out of complaints about how poorly the tire manufacturer’s products worked at Laguna Seca. Rossi is, essentially, claiming that Bridgestone beat Michelin in California, more than any other factor in the race results. Bridgestone did take the top three places at Laguna Seca. Rossi finished a disappointing fourth (30+ seconds back of the leader). Michelin is asking for a “spec tire rule” to level the traction field. MMM believes it would be better for racing and street riding if the best tires are allowed to develop, regardless of who makes them. The Italian government is after MotoGP hero, Valentino Rossi, for tax evasion. Apparently, Rossi hasn’t paid a tax pittance on his 60 million Euro earnings for the last six years. Of course, Rossi and his management company reside in London, but the report stated that he “resided in London, but not domiciled there”. The Italian government thinks Rossi should be a taxpaying Italian citizen. He’s not the first rich rider to evade national taxes. Troy Bayliss lives in Monaco. So did Michael Doohan while he was the 500cc king. Neil Hodgson and James Toseland hide out on the Isle of Man. If these guys evade national taxes, how do they get away with racing at home without going to jail after popping the champagne cork? DuHamel's Comeback Is Done At the time of his crash, he was third in points for the 2007 AMA Superbike championship. DuHamel is one of the winningest riders in AMA road racing history, and has always been a fan favorite. He has a long affiliation with the American Honda race team. DuHamel recently participated as a wild card rider at the Laguna Seca MotoGP event. “The impact was extremely hard,” said Duhamel, who crashed his CBR1000RR Superbike into the turn 12 wall. “I went into the wall feet first, then hit my side. I went through the first three rows of hay bales, and then hit the tire wall. I came to an abrupt halt. I thought for sure I broke my sternum because I couldn’t breathe. I have one broken rib, but they all hurt. From where I crashed and hit the asphalt to the wall is a short distance—maybe 25 feet or so. From hitting the ground, to hitting the wall seemed like it took barely a second. I saw the bike go into the wall and take out the air fence. I remember going through the hay bales, just blowing them up like they were mini shredded wheats. I don’t think I had the benefit of hitting the air fence. Mat Mladin and Kevin Schwantz placed extra hay bales there earlier in the day, exactly where I hit, so a big thanks to those guys.” “I want to take this time to thank everyone who has called, texted, faxed and visited me at the hospital,” said Duhamel. “The support has been amazing. I’ll be back out there as soon as humanly possible.” 100,000 BMW Adventure Tourers A Springbrook, Wi Couple Ventures Off On A 2-Year Moto Adventure Triumph Is Redesigning the Triple BMW Acquires A Husky The Return of the CB750? Nostalgia; that crazy emotion that makes obsolete technology seem new and interesting. Senility; the ailment that keeps our economy moving . . . backward. Talk About Being ObliviousTo Your Surroundings He was quoted as having felt “excruciating pain,” but failed to notice that he’d lost his right leg in the crash until he attempted to stop at the next intersection. He and the leg were taken to a hospital, but the leg was too damaged to reattach. And I thought riding with a broken finger was macho? Get Your Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary Tickets Now! Kawasaki Bows to Tradition Mladin Looking for Victory #60 Australian Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mladin, the six-time AMA Superbike Champion, is in serious contention for a 7th AMA Superbike championship. He is 17 points behind series leader, defending champ, Ben Spies. “Honestly I’m not thinking about the points,” Mladin said. “If I win this championship, then we’ve done a really good job. We’ve given a lot of points away this year. At Daytona and Utah, I made a silly mistake and crashed out of the lead. So we’ve given up a few this year. So to be in the position we’re in is very good, anyway. To win the next five races would honestly mean a lot more to me than winning the championship. To win 13 races in a year, that’d be pretty cool. It’d be one of my better years, that’s for sure, that I’ve ever had, and being 35 and over the hill, not too bad.” A master of understatement. NHTSA Motorcycle Recalls Harley Davidson 2006 VRSCR: Exhaust manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe can come in direct contact with the rider’s leg, which could lead to the possibility of burn injury to the rider. Dealers will add a new heat shield, P/N 66820-06 to cover the exhaust. 2007 Kawasaki KLX250s: Spot weld for the rear shock top mount can fail which could result in a crash. Dealers will replace the motorcycle. 2008 Kawasaki KLR650: Sidestand can drop while underway because of failure of the retaining pin on the frame. Dealers will buy back the motorcycle. Moto Guzzi 2003-2004 EV: Lower steering fork yoke could form a crack around the lower fork bearing, causing loss of steering control. Moto Guzzi 2006-2007 Griso: Poor quality fuel pump hose swells up and leaks fuel pressure, causing loss of fuel and engine stalling. Piaggio 2006-2007 Vespa GTS: Leaking graphite exhaust header pipe gasket directs hot exhaust gasses onto the rear brake hose, causing loss of brakes. Dealers will replace the header, pipe, clamp and gasket. Got Pain? Squeeze Some Emus on Your Booboo Go squeeze an emu on your busted up parts until you feel better. M.M.M. |
*This article was originally published in the September 2007 issue.
“It was awesome to have an all-Harley final with the new teammates,” Harley-Davidson Racing Manager, Anne Paluso, said. “It was such a big weekend for both riders in terms of earning a position in the Countdown to the Championship so we couldn’t be more pleased with how well this Screamin’ Eagle team did here in Brainerd.”