Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

w road racing team semi will be on display at the Post Ride Party, where Bostrom will sign autographs and mix with the crowd, Bostrom has also donated a set of racing leathers, and he will appear on stage to give them to the lucky winner at approximately 12:45 p,m, Other Cruise 4 Kids activities include a street rod show, food, a special effects show, back-lot CBS studio tours, and live entertainment by 2000 Ibs, of Blues, The Soul Dogs with David Carradine, and Sticky Fingers, a Rolling Stones cover band, For more information, visit www,cruise4kids,org or call 800/5502445, n Proton Team KR revealed their new four-stroke hardware on the eve of the Malaysian Grand Prix, showing a full-size model of their V-five 990cc four·stroke engine, code-named XM, the Roman numerals for 990, The launch took place at the massive Proton car factory on the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur, where Kenny Roberts also announced a third partner for the venture, Lotus Engineering will be joining Proton and his England-based GP Motorsports engineering company in the high-intensity development program for the new machine, which is intended to be ready for the first race next year. "We started with a clean sheet of paper in February, and decided on the five-cylinder configuration then," said Roberts, who was in good quipping form, "Trying to do what we're trying to do in this time frame is, frankly, stupid," he added. Roberts also confirmed that they will stick with Bridgestone tires next season, after excellent progress in the Japanese company's first season in the biggest class, and keep the same two riders that joined them at the start of the season - Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu AokL "They've surprised us all with their determination and ability, and I'm really pleased that they have decided to stay," Roberts said. The resin-model engine showed a compact layout, with the same three-forward two-rear cylinders as the Honda. But it differs in important respects. Where the Honda has a 72.S-degree Vee, which offers the oppor· tunity for balance, the Proton motor has a 50-degree layout, with a balance shaft at the front. "I preferred that because the more compact engine gives us the chance to move it around more in the chassis. The friction from the balance shaft is almost negligible, and I don't think it will be an issue, at first." said Roberts, "At first, I thought a three-cylinder engine would be the way to go, for the first two or three years. But I don't want to be scratching for horsepower again in a couple of seasons. I'm tired of watching our riders get overtaken on the straights." This was a comment on the three-cylinder two-stroke, pretty much unbeatable in the comers, but as much as 12·mph slower on the straights, "When we started, the three·cylinder was the right concept, but it Action Sports Promoter Drew Wolfe has announced that the 18th Annual Team Harescrambles Championship of the World will take place October 26-27 at Linscotts farm near Albany, Ohio, For more information, see their website at www.actionsportsracing.com. AFM, in association with Fastrack Riders Association (FRA), is re-Iaunching the AFM South Chapter next year, according to a release issued by AFM, AFM South will host six races March through October in 2003 at California Speedway and Buttonwillow racetracks, Trophies, prize money, and championship points will be at stake, Riders can compete for the overall AFM Championship by attending just three more races outside their local chapter schedule, or they can focus on the home chapter's championship on the home tracks, according to AFM, After much negotiation between FRA and AFM, they have agreed to team up and restart the AFM South Chapter, which has been dormant for 12 years, The AFM is a nonprofit California corporation that was founded in 1954 by a group of sport riding enthusiasts, It is the oldest organization in the country dedicated solely to motorcycle road racin9, and is governed by a Board of Directors elected by the membership, Under new ownership this year, the 10-year-old Fastrack Riders Association had a very successful first year at California Speedway with .......................................................................................... · : changed very quickly when tires improved and allowed the fourcylinder bikes to use more of their power," said Roberts. He did not expect power to be an issue with the V-five, at least for the first few years. After that, they might consider bUilding a V-six, depending on the ability of the tires to cope with tHe extra weight. "We're an engineering company, and we want to try new ideas," he said. The new engine has four valves per cylinder, and will have fuel injection. But the inlet tracts on the model were sealed with tape, giving no clues. "It will not be fly-by-wire," he said. The development program is already under way, with parts arriving at the England base - the engine model was created at the Proton rapid prototyping facility, and was useful for such matters as checking fit and serviceability in the chassis, and refining exhaust and cooling plumbing. "We will have engines running in November, and expect to be track testing in late December," said Roberts, "It won't be easy, because we're competing against the best in the world. But we have shown we can build a bike that can go around comers faster than anything. Now we need to prove that a four· stroke is what we need." Lotus were represented at the launch conference by director DaVid Taitt, who admitted that they had so far had no involvement with the project. "We are world leaders, and we will bring our abilities to the project," he said; "mainly in aerodynamics and combustion dynamics," Roberts added: "We're the first of a very, very rare breed - of people who build and race their own motorcycle, We want to beat them not with more people, but with smarter people," American tuning ace Rob Muzzy had been involved with the design since its conception, he said, Michael Scott d o 8 n u " u i' -.J turnouts is excess of 150 riders, The obvious synergy between AFM organization and FRA personnel proVided enough incentive and capability to re-establish AFM's presence once again in Southern California. David Pyles, president of Fastrack, said: "We are very excited about haVing an AFM South race schedule at California Speedway next year, and we plan on hosting our own Test-and-Tune track days on the Friday before the race weekend, This should give riders unfamiliar with the course not only a chance to learn the track, but get their bikes sorted out, too. It also gives spectators plenty of opportunity to see the action all weekend long." Fastrack's main purpose is to get the racing off the street and onto the tracks where it belongs, For barely the cost of attending a NASCAR event. a rider can enjoy a day at the track going as fast as he or she feels comfortable, Groups are divided according to rider ability, and be9inners must take an orientation class to familiarize themselves with track procedure and rider safety, Larry Pointer, Vice PreSident of Operations at FRA, said: "The AFM has begun the process of appointing South officers to the AFM Board of Directors, and we'll start appointing other positions to the South AFM Board very soon. We're also going to establish a rider round table for feedback. We need to find out which classes are going to be more popular down here · in this market, and we're working to develop a network of corner workers and other volunteers to make all thiS happen," For more information on FRA and AFM South activities, visit the website at ww.fastrackriders,com, or call David Pyles at 949/488-0543. The AFM can be reached at www,afmracing,org, or call 5101796-7005. A new No Fear-sponsored film centered on the 2002 AMA/Chevy Trucks U,S, Motocross Championship, "The Great Outdoors. n will premiere follOWing the AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 23, Troy Adamitis, best known for his videos "Frezno Smooth" and "Chain Smoke," directed' the film, a gritty documentary that follows all 12 rounds of the 2002 AMA U,S, Motocross Championship, "This film will bring an in-depth look at the U,S, Motocross Championship," said Jeff Surwall of No Fear, "No Fear has done a number of freestyle videos, and we thought it was about time to do a movie on the motocross series, These riders are certainly some of the best athletes on the planet, and we wanted to give people a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes, At first, we thought Ricky Carmichael's domination of the championship was going to make for a boring season, but as he kept winning and then started making a run at the perfect season, the tension grew and it turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened, We'll look back on this some day and be glad that we were able to document RC's incredible season," "The Great Out- .. . ,. : resumes for the 2003 season, Resumes can be sent via e-mail to : . CFW@motocross,com, or by regular mail to Carbon Fiber Works, 108 : North St" Rindge, NH 03461, CORRECTION: Mike Tobermann finished third in the Vet C class at PROMOTED: Mike Bell, to the chief operations officer for White Brothers, effective immediately, the Brown Jug Enduro held in South Carolina, Our coverage of that event listed Tobermann as being Mike Tokeman, NAMED: John Bui. to vice president of finance for White Brothers, effective immediately, CHANGED: The Wild Turkey GP at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California, will be heid on November 10: the CRC Sponsor- HIRED: Lori Clark, as vice president of operations for White Brothers, effective immediately, ship Series motocross at L.A. County Raceway in Palmdale, California, will be held on November 17, For more information, call 661/272-8889, ACCEPTING: NJK Leathers is currently accepting racer resumes for MARRIED: Defending D36 Northern California Enduro Series Champion Tim J, Stowe and his longtime girlfriend, Angela Nicole Shoemaker, in Woodland, California, on September 28, Stowe, a 2001 ISDE silver medallist. skipped being at this year's ISDE in order to stay home for his wedding and honeymoon, the 2003 racing season, Resumes can be sent to NJK Leathers, 1040 Calle Cordillera, Suite 101, San Clemente, CA 92673, NAMED: Mike Wright, as president of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, Wright has been the executive director fo the GWRRA .. since October of 1996, and he will continue in that capacity with his ACCEPTING: Carbon Fiber Works is currently accepting racer .............................. "" new responsibilities as president. · 'f'\ . . 0:: U 0:: I e n _ - - - - - - - Continued on page 100 _ os • OCTOBER 23, 2002 3 LJ 'I J j ...J J n L I'"' L

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