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/128383
AMA Inducts Class of 2005 T he Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum announced its nine new members for the 2005 induction last week, with the induction of Ralph Berndt, Jerry Branch, Tom Cates, Tom Christenson, Doug Henry, Bill Johnson, Nick Nicholson, Scott Russell and Gavin Trippe slated for October 7-8 in Pickerington, Ohio. The class of 2005 includes some of raday's best-known racing champions and industry leaders, as well as memorable individuals who played a major role in creating and building the nation's rich motorcycling heritage, according to the Hall of Fame. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2005 includes, in alphabetical order, the following individuals: Ralph Berndt Dominant Harley-Davidson tuner from 1957 to 1967. Won four consecutive number-one plates with Carroll Resweber and George Roeder; eight mile wins; 14 halfmile wins; two short track wins; and four road race wins. Worked for over 30 years at Harley-Davidson Motor Company in both the racing and experimental division. Helped develop the modern-frame Harley Lowboy. Jerry Branch Master tuner of Harley-Davidson motors for AMA Grand National Dirt Track racing as well as tuner of stock-based engines for the street. Owner of Branch Flowmetrics. Known worldwide for his pioneering work on the flow bench with Harley-Davidson heads. Noted author of many books on Harley-Davidson engine optimization. Tom Cates General manager for K&N Engineering. Sales rep for Honda motorcycles in early I960s. West Coast BSA distribution manager in mid-I 960s, followed by BSA national sales manager. Served on the board of directors of both the Motorcycle Industry Council and the Trailblazers. Established several longdistance records at Daytona in 1969. Tom Christenson Last successful campaigner of Norton drag bikes in the U.S. National record holder in the 19705. Builder of the I620cc "Hog Slayer," the motorcycle that represents the bridge between drag racing's early amateur days and today's professional sport. The "Hog Slayer" was retired to the National Motorcycle Museum in England. Doug Henry AMA Motocross and Supercross Champion: 1993 125cc East Supercross; 1993 and 1994 125cc Motocross; 1998 250cc Motocross. 1998 AMA Athlete of the Year. Member of the United States 1998 Motocross des Nations team. Bill Johnson First U.S. importer and distributor of Triumph and Ariel motorcycles. Owner of Johnson Motors Inc. UoMo). Sponsored and promoted n and flat-track racing with such legendary racers as Joe Leonard and Skip Van Leeuwen. Pioneer in the establishment and growth of British motorcycle sales in the United States. Nick Nicholson Competitor and sponsor of Catalina Grand Prix. desert races, trials competition, scrambles, flat track and road racing. Multi-time win- McGuinness Closes Out TT Week With a Win john McGuinness powered relentlessly to victory in the biggest of the Isle of Man n races - the Senior n - on June 10. The Yamaha RI-mounted rider beat Honda's Ian Lougher, with Guy Martin finishing third on a Suzuki GSXRIOOO. McGuinness' victory was his second of the week and his eighth overall. "Fantastic - I so wanted to win the Senior race for the first time," said McGuinness, who as the winner of the two big-bike races, collected the joey Dunlop Trophy and a bonus of 10,000 British pounds. "Brilliant, I thoroughly enjoyed that race. The bike never missed a beat. I just kept my head down all of the way and have to thank everyone who has stood by me and made this possible." McGuinness completed his first of six laps in 17:46.77, an average speed of 127.36mph, a Senior race lap record and a performance that put him nine seconds clear of Lougher, who was chasing a second victory in the week. McGuinness maintained the pace at the front and by the second round of pit stops was 28 seconds ahead. Laugher was now second, but such was the pace of McGuinness that the two were running almost together on the road, while behind them Martin was holding on to third place. McGuinness took the victory by 34.68 seconds from Lougher, while Martin made his first-ever podium. Meanwhile, Californian Thomas Montano, riding a Munroe Motors MV Agusta F4 1000 S, ended up 13th in the race after averaging I 18.4 mph in the six-lap race. Since Montano finished within 105 percent of McGuinness' time, the finish earned Montana a Silver Replica n trophy. "The bike is so easy to ride," Montano said. "If I hadn't had a little clutch slip, I'd have gone even faster. The bike was awesome!" 8 JUNE 22, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS ner of Catalina Grand Prix and 1954 winner of the IOO-mile Daytona Beach race. One of the first Americans to compete in the British Scrambles. In 1959, Nicholson Motors Inc. became the American distributor of Greeves Motorcycles. Scott Russell AMA Superbike Champion 1992. AMA Superstock Champion 1990-1992. World Superbike Champion 1993. Superbike Rookie of the Year 1988. Athlete of the Year 1992. Won 1994 Suzuka Eight Hour. First five-time winner of the Daytona 200, earning him the nickname "Mr. Daytona." Gavin Trippe Legendary promoter of virtually every type of racing, including Trans AMA Series, U.S. Grand Prix Motocross, Superbikers, Trans-Atlantic Match Races, and Ascot half-mile dirt track. Brought the 500cc U.S. Grand Five-time Daytona 200 winner Scott Prix. of Motocross to America. Invented, Russell is one of nine who will be inducted promoted, and trademarked the into the AMA Hall of Fame in October. "Superbikers," the foundation for the public with reservations required for today's supermotard competition. One of the Museum reception and the induction. the promoters of the original ABC Wide "Each year, we're proud to honor the World of Sports Superbikers from 1979-85. memorable individuals who helped create The weekend honoring the class of 2005 such a vibrant and continuously expanding begins with a Friday, October 7 evening community of American motorcycle enthureception at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame siasts," said Mark Mendell, chairman of the Museum. Festivities continue on Saturday, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. "Last October 8 with the fourth annual by-invitayear's induction ceremony attendance tion-only Concours d'Elegance featuring broke all records. We hope that an even over 100 rare vintage motorcycles. The Hall greater number of industry members and of Fame weekend concludes with the inducriding enthusiasts will help us honor the tion dinner and ceremonies Saturday class of 2005 this October." evening. Attendance to all events is open to Bill Introduced To End Discrimination The AMA has announced that a bipartisan bill to end healthcare discrimination against motorcyclists and ATVers has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. On june 8, Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) introduced H.R. 2793 - "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act" which would bar healthcare discrimination against those who take part in legal transportation and recreational activities such as motorcycling, ATV riding, snowmobile riding or horseback riding. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) introduced similar legislation in the Senate with S. 577, "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act." The measures are in response to action taken by federal bureaucrats that legalized health-insurance discrimination against riders and others. "It's shameful to allow health insurers to discriminate against individuals who take part in perfectly legal hobbies and activities," Strlckiand said. '~ccording to this rule, a person injured while drinking and driving would be covered by their health insurance, but an individual who falls from a motorcycle may not. It just makes no sense." Burgess added: "The development of this bill could not have been possible without bipartisan congressional support and the hard work of the American Motorcyclist Association. I look forward to working alongside the AHA to get this legislation passed into law." On August 21, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to prohibit employers from denying healthcare coverage based on a worker's preex.isting medical conditions or participation in legal activities. such as motorcycling. But later federal bureaucrats reversed the law, writing rules to allow health-insurance discrimination against motorcyclists and others who engage in legal activities such as ATV riding or horseback riding. The AMA was outraged when federal bureaucrats went against the will of Congress, and it immediately lobbied Congress to right this wrong. Others involved in the effort include the BlueRibbon Coalition, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, ABATE of Wisconsin, ABATE of Ohio, the American Council of Snowmobile Associations, and the American Horse Council. "This loophole written by federal bureaucrats must be changed," said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "We need all AMA and ATVA members and all motorcyclists to contact the members of their congressional delegations to support legislation to fix this." Enthusiasts can send letters of support to members of Congress through the AMA Rapid Response Center at www.AMADirectlink.com.