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World Trials
Come to Duluth
Minnesota will be in the world spotlight this June 1-2
as Spirit Mountain in Duluth hosts the 9th & 10th round
of the World Championship Observed Trials of the FIM,
Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (the global
motorcycle competition sanctioning body). Roughly 40
competitors from Europe, Japan and North America will be
coming to Duluth to take part in the first world round
Observed Trials to take place in Minnesota. Spirit Mountain
with its craggy rocks and waterfalls has gained the respect
and admiration of US trials riders who used it in 1998 and
2000 for a stop in the US Trials Championship and twice
voted it the best trials site. For those of you unfamiliar
with observed trials it is the ultimate test of fineness and
control as riders try to negotiate their bikes over, through
and across a variety of obstacles including logs, rocks,
cliffs, streams and ledges without putting a foot down or
crashing. The beauty of the sport for fans is that you can
be mere feet from the competitors as they go through each
section. Also instead of being confined to one area of the
competition you move from section to section at will
allowing you to follow a favorite rider or simply take in
all areas of the trials. The gates will open both days at 8
am with the trials to begin at 11 am on Saturday and 10:30
am Sunday. Tickets are available in advance for $20 for one
day or $30 for both. For more information and direction go
to www.worldroundusa.com
and for more information on observed trials in general go to
www.trials.net.
SuperCross
The reigning 250cc Supercross champ, Ricky Carmicheal
took his third victory of the season at the Metrodome during
the 7th round of Supercross Feb. 16th. Chad Reed took his
second career win in the 125cc class. The win by Carmicheal
narrows the gap between him and series point leader David
Vuillemin. Look for a full report of the race in the next
issue of MMM.
Life is
Strange
From our big wacky world file comes these three stories:
First, Mexico City has begun a new campaign to help drivers
deal with the huge traffic problem on the streets of the
capital city. They have hired a troupe of mimes that will
team with four special traffic officers to perform street
theater sketches that will encourage better driving. They
will be stationed at the cities most dangerous intersections
and their routine will include such favorites as "Buckle
up", "Put down that cell phone", "Obey all traffic laws" and
my favorite "Hey, why are you trying to hit me with your
car?" This latest move by Mexican officials was in response
to it's last failed traffic control measure, re-assigning
all citation writing from Mexico City's 900 traffic cops to
64 female officers that officials felt would be less likely
to accept bribes. Since that move in 1999 traffic problems
have soared.
Second, as
reported by Reuters news service a Finnish motorcyclist,
Anssi Vanjoki, has been hit with what is undoubtedly the
world's largest fine for speeding. Vanjoki was clocked going
75 kph in 50 kph zone in the city of Helsinki (essentially
the equivalent of doing 45 mph in a 30 mph). His fine for
this flagrant disrespect for the law was equivalent to
$103,638 US dollars. Why so much? In the European "utopia"
that is Finland your fine for speeding is determined by the
level of your salary. Vanjoki happened to be a high-level
executive for the Nokia and therefore the fine was set to
the "level of his means". Vanjoki has refused to discuss the
incident. But I imagine Vanjoki will declare himself
unemployed if ever stopped for speeding again.
Finally, a Belgian
undertaker, Rene Wiegman, has a new service to take the
deceased for one last ride. Wiegman has developed a hearse
per se out of a Harley Electra-Glide that has a special
platform for the coffin on a sidecar outrigger. According to
Wiegman the last ride service has become extremely popular
with local bikers and in his words, "It's the most beautiful
service I know." We at MMM would like to see the addition of
a sportbike funeral where a special coffin trailer is towed
around the decease's favorite racetrack by possibly a YZF-R1
or RC-51.
The
Hellsraisers Ball
Life sometimes imitates movies. In Plainview, New York
60 people were taken in to custody after a large fight broke
out at a motorcycle and tattoo expo called, ironically
enough, "The Hellraiser Ball". Four people were shot, one
fatally, and others injured when the fight erupted between
rival gangs, the Hell's Angels and the Pagans. Apparently,
the fight started when 100 Pagans arrived at the expo which
was sponsored by the Long Island chapter of the Hell's
Angels. Among the items confiscated by the police from the
combatants were numerous knives, baseball bats and even an
Uzi submachine gun. Police officials stated that the event
was under surveillance but was not expected to be
violent.
M.M.M.
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