Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128330
in M o t o r c y clin g BMW FEATURED MARIJUE BMW will be the featu red mar que at AMAVintage Moto rcycle Days 2004 , a th ree-day event hosted by the Ame rican Moto rcyclist Association, July 16- 18 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Cou rse in Lexington , Ohio. In celebrating the 81-yearold marque, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will benefit th e Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum and will feature an exhibit of classic motorcycles and mem orabilia, including one of the largest displays of vintage BMW motorcycles on loan from vintage club members and independent collectors. With more than 40,000 spectators expected , the weekend promises to be the largest and best vintage BMW event of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. World Stunt Champion Jean-Pierre Goy - we ll known for his spectacular stunts in several James Bond films - will treat spectators to performances throughout the weekend event. Alternat ing between different BMW models, Goy executes rolling burnouts in clouds of smoke, wheelies, and terrifies hapless volunteers from the audience, and otherwise defies the laws of physics. Goy is the world -record holde r for the lo ngest conti nuous wheelie - over 100 miles and the stoppie distance record - 383 feet - and numerous other achievements. Many U.S. riders are unaware that BMW began manufactu ring motorcycles several years before it produced automobiles, beginning with the R 32. designed by Max Friz in 1923. As a rem inder of its rich motorcycle heritage , BMW Motorrad USA also will offer a Mobile Tradition Exhibition. This extensive review of seminal motorcycle models and large narrative walls demonstrates BMW's rally theme of "Over 80 years driven by the need to ride" and includes a spe cial exhibition catalog. This exhibition will be supplemented by an even larger display of vintage motorcycles brought by collectors and owners, organized by the Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners. Ltd. club. BMW Motorrad USAwill also offer demo rides on all curr ent BMW motorcycle models . including the new R 1200 GS and K1200 LT. There will be special presentations by several guest spe akers, including Fred [akobs , the resident archivist and historian at Mobile Tradition. Mr. Jako bs has justly been called "the living repository " for BMW's unusual motorcycle heritage, and BMW fans will have a unique opportunity to get the "right" answer to those nagging questions about arcane , yet fascinating, histor ical incidents and personalities, such as a billof sale for the purchase of a BMW motorcycle in 1929 by Henry Ford - the Henry Ford . In addition to BMW -sponsored events, AMAVintage Motorcycle Days will feature American Historic Motorcycle Racing Association (AHRMA) road racing - tw o days of AHRMAmotocross. plus observed trials and dirt -track racing - which is expected to attract more than I 100 competitors. AMAVintage Motorcycle Days 2004 also will feature two vintage bike shows ; the tradit ional all-brands AMASwap meet. North America's largest; a slate of guest speakers, including renowned des igner Craig Vetter; an array of vendors featuring new products from top manufacturers and dealers; the annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Auction of motorcycles and memorabilia; and the return of Rhett Rotten's original 1941 "Wall of Death " drome. Spectator tickets for AMAVintage Motorcycle Days 2004 are available from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course at 1BOO-MID-OHIO or www.midohio.com . For more information about AMAVintage Motorcycle Days 2004, visit wwwAMADirectlink.com. 104 JUNE 30, 2004 • CYC LE NEWS 40th Anniversa ry BUSY SPANIARD Former factory A1stare Corona Suzuki rider Gregorio Lavilla, who currently works as a Suzuki test rider. has been especially busy lately. He recently participated as a rep lacement for injured Japanese rider Yukio Kagayama in the British Superbike Championship at Thruxton, where he finished on the podium on the Rizla Suzuki. He then stepped in as a MotoGP wild card for Team Suzuki at Catalunya outside Barcelona, Spain, last Sunday to develop new parts for the prototype GSV-R in front of his Spanish fans. With team regular John Hopkins nursing a broken thumb, and with a new motor now up and running, further development needed to be carried out by Lavilla in addition to team rider Kenny Roberts Jr. The team stayed at Catalunya on Monday to do further testing for Bridgestone tires, as the company has been desperately trying to come up with solu-