Born To Ride News

Screamin’ Eagle Team is Undefeated in 2012 Pro Stock Motorcycle Season

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 6, 2012) – The Harley-Davidson^® Screamin’ Eagle^®/Vance & Hines team remains undefeated in 2012 as rider Ed Krawiec won his second NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle event of the season and regained the series points lead at the 32^nd Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Krawiec, the defending Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, rode a Harley-Davidson^® V-Rod^® motorcycle to win the final round of eliminations over Michael Ray on the GottSpeed Racing Buell.

Krawiec, who also won the season-opening event at Gainesville, Fla., qualified in the number two position at Atlanta with an Elapsed Time of 6.895 seconds. Harley-Davidson^® Screamin’ Eagle^®/Vance & Hines rider Andrew Hines qualified the team’s other V-Rod motorcycle in fifth position at 6.987 seconds. Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Sr. led qualifying at 6.894 seconds.

Krawiec advanced though the first two elimination rounds on Sunday when his opponents, the Edge Suzuki rider Michael Phillips and Geico Suzuki rider Karen Stoffer, each fouled at the starting line. In round three, Krawiec defeated Prana Z Racing Buell rider Shawn Gann to move on the finals.

Hines, who won in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle at Houston last weekend, defeated Savoie Alligator Farm Buell rider Jerry Savoie in the first round on Sunday, but lost to Ray by 0.002 seconds on a holeshot in round two. Ray had a 0.023 second reaction time and 6.970 ET to the 0.037/6.958 pass of Hines.

“My bike fell off just a little in performance, and Ray picked up a little, and we lost a really close one,” said Hines. “We are working on a better tune-up for this hot weather for my bike. But it was another great weekend for the team and we stay one-two in points.”

There was no drama in the final, as Krawiec posted a solid 0.028/6.905 run to defeat Ray’s 0.043/7.036 and earn the 13th Pro Stock Motorcycle win of his career. The race was Ray’s first final-round appearance.

“Right now we are getting awesome consistency in the first 60 feet from the V-Rods,” said Krawiec. “From qualifying through four rounds today, my bike was running 1.07 (seconds) and 1.08 except for a 1.09 late today when the track started to get really sticky. That consistent start is so important for us and is one reason why we keep winning rounds.”

With the win, Krawiec jumps past Hines from second into first place in Pro Stock Motorcycle season points. Krawiec leaves Atlanta with 337 points. Hines is 67 points back with 270. Lucas Oil Buell ride Hector Arana Jr., who lost in round one at Atlanta, is third with 224 points. Hector Arana Sr. lost to Ray in round three at Atlanta and is fourth with 190 points. Stoffer is fifth with 182 points.

The Pro Stock Motorcycles will next race on May 31-June 3 at the 43rd annual Toyota NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.

Company Information

Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit harley-davidson.com.

The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team is sponsored by Matco Tools and Dunlop.

Veteran Racer Takes First AMA Pro Win Since 1996

Sonoma, CA – Veteran racer Michael Barnes, one of the longest tenured riders in the AMA Pro Road Racing paddock, earned an emotional and hard-fought victory in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 series race at Infineon Raceway Sunday to break a 16-year victory drought.

Barnes doggedly pursued his Bartels’ Harley-Davidson/Scrubblade teammate Tyler O’Hara for ten of the race’s eleven laps, never trailing by more than a half-second at the start/finish line, but just as it appeared that O’Hara would deny Barnes victory for the second race in a row, a missed shift by O’Hara exiting the final turn gave Barnes the narrow gap he needed to slip by for the victory.

“Tyler’s so strong on the brakes. I could a get good drive and a good run on him out of a lot of different areas on the track but he was just that little bit stronger on the brakes,” Barnes said. “It caught me by surprise when he missed a shift because it was out of the last corner already. I just tucked in and made myself real narrow because he was close to the airfence, and I think he gave me a little bit of space there. There was just enough of a narrow opening for me to get through.”

Although he has earned numerous podiums and victories in other series, the win was the 43-year-old’s first AMA Pro victory since a 750 Supersport race at Las Vegas in 1996.

“Barney really earned it. He kept me honest the whole time. It just took one mistake. Coming out of [turn] eleven, my [transmission] popped out of gear,” O’Hara said. “I’m not disappointed at all, it’s just one of those things, and I’m actually really happy for Barney.”

Polesitter Kyle Wyman finished third, citing an arm pump issue that forced him to settle into a slower pace that allowed Barnes and O’Hara to escape at the front. Further back, Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson’s Shane Narbonne came out of top of a back-and-forth fight for fourth place against Michael Corbino (XP Motorsports/Rossiter’s Harley-Davidson), and Josh Chisum nipped Travis Wyman for sixth. Gerry Signorelli, David Estok, and Darren James rounded out the top ten finishers.

Final Results:

1. Michael Barnes (Bartels’ H-D/Scrubblade), 11 laps

2. Tyler O’Hara (Bartels’ H-D/Scrubblade), +0.149 second

3. Kyle Wyman (KLR Group/Vesrah), +10.238 seconds

4. Shane Narbonne (Suburban Motors H-D), + 20.564 seconds

5. Michael Corbino (XP Motorsports/Rossiter’s H-D), +20.775 seconds

6. Josh Chisum (Bartels’ H-D/Scrubblade), +26.382 seconds

7. Travis Wyman (Harv’s H-D), +26.438 seconds

8. Gerry Signorelli (Kuryakyn), +28.201 seconds

9. David Estok (Trev Deeley Motorcycles), +28.620 seconds

10. Darren James (Ruthless Racing/Deeley), +38.967 seconds

11. Michael R. Hannas II (Lilly Mae’s Cinnamon Rolls), +1:03.474

12. Pete Demas (Route One Racing), +1:03.971

13. Joe Rozynski (Kyle Wyman Racing), +1:16.432

14. Nicholas Hansen (Suburban Motors H-D), +1:22.097

15. Brice Cooper (Woodstock H-D), +1:22.232

16. Jeremiah Johnson (BE-EV.com/New Roc H-D), +1:22.394

17. Paul James (Hoban Cycle/Woodstock H-D), +1:28.272

XR1200 Championship Points

1. O’Hara, 83

2. Barnes, 77

3. K. Wyman, 74

4. T. Wyman, 47

5. Corbino, 43

6. Estok, 41

7. Signorelli, 38

8. D. James, 37

9. Chisum, 36

10. Narbonne, 33

The next round of the Vance & Hines XR1200 series is May 26-27 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT.

Company Background

Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit harley-davidson.com.

Ultimate Warm-Weather Comfort with Allover Mesh Construction

MILWAUKEE – When the weather turns hot, the new women’s  Josie 3-in-1 Mesh Jacket (P/N 97288-12VW, starting at $160) from the Harley-Davidson^® MotorClothes^® line delivers allover mesh construction for maximum airflow and comfort. It’s constructed from 100 percent polyester with a poly-mesh lining and features built-in pockets that accept accessory hydration packs for maximum cooling. Its removable windproof fleece hoodie with extended cuffs and thumb holes delivers added versatility in cooler temperatures and can be worn separately. Pockets at the elbows and shoulders accept lightweight, accessory body armor for increased protection. Available in XS – 3W sizes.

The Josie 3-in-1 Mesh Jacket is available now at most Harley-Davidson dealerships.

For additional information on Harley-Davidson MotorClothes Apparel and Collectibles, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call 1.800.LUV.2RIDE in the U.S. or Canada.

Atlantic Center for the Arts Hosts 145th Artists-in-Residence

Dates: MAY 14 – JUNE 3, 2012

Atlantic Center for the Arts hosts its 145th  artists-in-residence program with Master Artists: PAUL DRESHER- composer, JOANNE GREENBAUM- visual artist, GREGORY ORR- poet, and 24 Associate Artists from across the globe.  Selected through a competitive application process, the arriving artists will have the opportunity to work and collaborate with their contemporaries for three weeks.

Each residency gives the public five free opportunities to interact with artists over a three-week period. From opening receptions, to outreaches at universities and other cultural institutions, and an opportunity to tour artist studios and attend an informal presentation of their works, Atlantic Center provides amazing opportunities for the public to come in contact with, learn from, and engage with contemporary artists who are creating our cultural legacy.  Check calendar below for receptions & outreach events.

PAUL DRESHER, composer 

Paul Dresher is an internationally active composer noted for his ability to integrate diverse musical influences into his own personal style. He pursues many forms of expression, including experimental opera and music theater, chamber and orchestral composition, live instrumental electro-acoustic music performances, musical instrument invention, and scores for theater, dance, and film. As an experienced collaborator with artists from all performing disciplines, he also has been actively involved as a producer in collaboratively-created opera, music theater and new media projects.  For more information about Paul Dresher please visit www.dresherensemble.org

Associate Artists-in-Residence working with Paul Dresher include: Patricia Alessandrini of Colmar, PA; James Bunch of Champaign, IL; Patricia Burgess of New York, NY; Quinn Collins of Princeton, MA; Biddy Connor of East Brunswick, NJ; Ian Dicke of Austin, TX, Erik DeLuka of Charlottesville, VA; and Cassis Birgit Staudt of Brooklyn, NY.

JOANNE GREENBAUM, visual artist 

Joanne Greenbaum lives in New York City and Berlin, Germany. Her paintings have been exhibited nationally and internationally. Her exhibitions include survey shows at Haus Konstruktiv in Zurich, Switzerland, and Museum Abteiberg in Monchengladbach, Germany. She has also exhibited at PS 1, The Chinati Foundation in Marfa Texas, CCA Andratx, and the Schurmann Colection in Berlin. She is represented by D’Amelio Terras in NYC, greengrassi in  London and Nicolas Krupp in Switzerland. In addition, she is a recipient of a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Grant, Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellowship, The Pollock-Krasner Foundation, and has been an artist in residence at The Chinati Foundation, Marfa, Texas, as well as Skowhegan and Greenwich House Pottery. For more information about  Joanne Greenbaum, visit www.dameliogallery.com/artists/joanne-greenbaum/

Associate Artists-in-Residence working with Joanne Greenbaum include: Meghan Calhoun of Long Island City, NY; Martha Clippinger of Brooklyn, NY; Jennifer Cohen of Brooklyn, NY; Jason Dunda of Chicago, IL; Amanda Friedman of Brooklyn, NY; Rebekah Goldstein of San Francisco, CA; Pierre Obando of Sunnyside, NY; and Eli Ping of Brooklyn, NY.

GREGORY ORR, poet 

Considered by many to be a master of short, lyric free verse, Gregory Orr is the author of ten collections of poetry. His most recent volumes include How Beautiful The Beloved, published in 2009, and Concerning the Book that is the Body of the Beloved, published in 2005, both by Copper Canyon Press. His other volumes of poetry include The Caged Owl: New and Selected Poems (2002); Orpheus and Eurydice (2001); City of Salt, Finalist for the LA Times Poetry Prize; We Must Make a Kingdom of It; and The Red House.  Orr has received many awards and fellowships, including an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Guggenheim Fellowship, two NEA Fellowships, and a Rockefeller Fellowship at the Institute for the Study of Culture and Violence. For more information on Gregory Orr, visit www.blueflowerarts.com/booking/gregory-orr

Associate Artists-in-Residence working with Gregory Orr include: James Cooke of Higganum, CT; Caiatlin Doyle of East Hampton, NY; Elizabeth Kerlikowske of Kalamazoo, MI; Sophie Khlar of Houston, TX; JJ Penna of Princeton, NJ; Katherine Riegel of Brandon, FL; Elena Tomorowitz of Hattiesburg, MS; and Debra Wilk of Sanford, FL.

Friday, May 18, from 5 – 7 PM

Reception to welcome the Artists-in-Residence

ACA Pabst Visitor Center & Gallery, 1414 Art Center Ave., NSB.

Free/public invited. For more information, 386-427-6975

Monday, May 21 at 7:30 PM

Gregory Orr — reading – followed by Q & A, and book signing

ACA Joan James Harris Theater, 1414 Art Center Ave., NSB.

Free/public invited.  For more information, 386-427-6975

Thursday, May 24 at 6 PM

Joanne Greenbaum — illustrated talk – followed by Q & A

Florida Museum for Women Artists, 100 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand.

Free/public invited. For more information, 386-873-2976

Monday, May 28 at 7:30 PM

Paul Dresher – composer forum – followed by Q & A

ACA Joan James Harris Theater, 1414 Art Center Ave., NSB

Free/public invited. For more information, 386-427-6975

Friday, June 1 at 7 PM

INsideOUT- Closing reception/presentations and informal studio visits

ACA Joan James Harris Theater and artists’ studios, 1414 Art Center Ave, NSB.

Free/public invited.  Cash Bar. For more information, 386-427-6975

This residency is sponsored, in part, through the generous support of the Pabst Endowed Fund, which makes possible the Pabst Endowed Chair for Master Writers; The Joan Mitchell Foundation; 2012 Advance an Artist sponsors: Weldon & Brenda Frost. Enterprise Holdings Foundation, MetLife Foundation.

Rolling Thunder XXV “Ride for Freedom”

Washington DC

Rolling Thunder, Florida Chapter 11 from Brandon will be participating in this year’s Rolling Thunder XXV “Ride for Freedom” demonstration in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, May 27, 2012 . Rolling Thunder’s Ride for Freedom started out in 1988 with 2,500 participants. Now approximately 900,000 participants and spectators are involved with this annual demonstration. Bikers and spectators from as far as California, Canada and Australia come to Washington D.C. to ride to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall, referred to as the “Ride to the Wall.”

Rolling Thunder members are Veterans, non-veterans and/or motorcyclists, but anyone can participate in the demonstration or become a member of this incredible organization as long as you believe in the issue. The purpose of this demonstration is to bring awareness to the government so full accountability can be achieved for all Prisoners of War (POW) and those Missing in Action (MIA) from all wars.

Rolling Thunder is aptly named for the roar of their motorcycles, a sound not unlike the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam dubbed Operation Rolling Thunder. A title that would endure time and be trademarked in 1990.

Rolling Thunder, Inc is a class 501(c)(4) non-profit organization with over 100 chapters nationwide. While the annual Ride for Freedom is their biggest public demonstration, this Veteran’s orientated organization is active year round in an effort to publicize the POW/MIA mission, promote legislation to increase benefits for Veterans, perform flag raising ceremonies, visits schools and spends countless hours visiting Veteran’s hospitals. Rolling Thunder seeks to educate the public about the plight that many American POWs were left behind and to prevent Veterans from being left behind in the future. Rolling Thunder Charities®, Inc. a 501 (c)(3) also provides limited financial assistance to Veterans and their families.

Rolling Thunder is asking members and the public to remember Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl from Idaho, who was  captured in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009. Sgt. Bergdahl is the only known living American POW in Afghanistan.

 Join the effort to help American Veterans, POWs, and those who are MIA. The “Ride for Freedom” is a demonstration you won’t want to miss!

Rolling Thunder, Florida Chapter 11 meets the 4^th Saturday of each month at the Brandon Masonic Lodge, 203 North Moon Ave. Brandon, FL 3351. Check WWW.RollingThunderFL11.com for more information and scheduled future events.

Join the AMA at a Cycle Gear store and get a special gift

 PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) announced it is collaborating with Cycle Gear and its 95 brick-and-mortar stores across the country on an AMA membership drive in the month of May. Cycle Gear, with stores in 26 states, will be conducting an in-store promotion featuring a $100 gift package for shoppers who join the AMA, with a gift card for use at Cycle Gear stores or online at CycleGear.com, as well as special promotional gifts from Cycle Gear product sponsors.

“We’re proud to be working with Cycle Gear on this promotion, which helps all of motorcycling by growing the country’s premier advocate of the motorcycle lifestyle,” said Grant Parsons, AMA director of communications and marketing. “Cycle Gear has been coming on strong in recent years, and this partnership with the AMA is an impressive move for a company that is clearly showing its commitment to preserving and protecting the future of the sport with the AMA.”

Cycle Gear’s Johnny Lin, the company’s chief marketing officer, said he was glad to be partnering with the AMA to give back to the motorcycle community.

“At Cycle Gear, we believe that having a strong voice in the future of motorcycling is so important, and that’s why we’re promoting AMA membership at our stores and online-nobody works harder to preserve our sport,” Lin said. “At the same time, it’s a lot of fun to offer a great gift package from our stores and our partners to new and existing customers. Stop by one of our stores, or visit us online today at www.CycleGear.com.”

Said Dave Bertram, two-time national off-road champion, ISDE gold medalist, and CEO of Cycle Gear: “Cycle Gear is proud to help promote the important work that the AMA does on behalf of all riders. Motorcyclists today face an endless stream of legislation and laws restricting our rights to ride. Cycle Gear believes that the motorcycling community and businesses must continue to support groups that fight for fair legislation on behalf of American motorcyclists. As a business founded by racers and enthusiasts, we are long-time supporters of the AMA’s efforts and are committed to helping the sport of motorcycling.” 

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO, named 2012 Powersports Business Executive of the Year

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — PowerSports Business has named American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) President and CEO Rob Dingman its “2012 Powersports Business Executive of the Year.”

PowerSports Business – which publishes news, features and profiles for powersports dealers, manufacturers and suppliers — honored Dingman for the intensive efforts by the AMA to successfully overturn provisions of the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), known as the lead law, that effectively banned the sale of kids’ dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

“Dingman’s leadership during the three-year battle was impressive on a variety of fronts, but most importantly to the industry’s future riders,” PowerSports Business said in making the announcement. “The AMA’s grassroots efforts to put a face to those affected by the CPSIA showed legislators the importance of riding age-appropriate vehicles.

“The positive, healthy environment in which young riders thrive on their vehicles, and with their families, also helped to get the point across,” the announcement said. “For OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), aftermarket companies and track promoters, the lead law ban had obvious economic impacts.”

The CPSIA, which went into effect on Feb. 10, 2009, banned the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under, including kids’ dirt bikes and ATVs, that contained more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part.

The AMA was at the forefront of the fight to exclude child-sized motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA from the beginning.

A highlight of the effort was the “AMA Kids Just Want to Ride” campaign, which included a day of lobbying in Washington, D.C., by kids and their families affected by the CPSIA clad in off-road riding gear. The association also participated in news events to focus media attention on the issue, lobbied on Capitol Hill and organized campaigns to encourage riders and parents to contact their federal lawmakers and key decision-makers to exempt kids’ off-highway vehicles (OHVs) from the CPSIA.

“It’s thanks to the efforts of Dingman and his AMA team that those youngsters can return to their hometowns, and turn to you as dealers and OEMs for their next purchase,” wrote Dave McMahon, senior editor of PowerSports Business magazine in an accompanying editorial.

As a result of the lobbying on Capitol Hill, Congress received powerful statements from members of the AMA and its All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA), and on Aug. 12, Obama signed into law H.R. 2715, which granted kids’ OHVs a categorical exemption from the CPSIA.

“I’m very humbled by being named 2012 Powersports Business Executive of the Year,” Dingman said. “But the victory is the result of the intensive efforts of a lot of different people, from federal lawmakers to powersports industry officials and dealers to the kids and their families who ride every weekend.”

To read the announcement, go to PowerSportsBusiness.com. 

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

After a thrilling flight across the Atlantic last summer followed by several months at the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, this D-Day veteran aircraft is scheduled to arrive home today!

Kermit is estimating arrival time to be 1:30pm – just in time for our daily aerial demonstration!

The American Motorcyclist Association urges extra precautions during May: Motorcycle Awareness Month

 PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is urging all road users to look around, check your mirrors, and consciously watch for motorcycles during Motorcycle Awareness Month in May 2012.

Through legislative and gubernatorial proclamations around the country, May has been declared Motorcycle Awareness Month. The outreach to remind road users to share the road with motorcyclists and make a conscious effort to look for them is an annual effort by the motorcycling community, particularly since in many states few motorcycles were on the road in the winter and early spring months.

The AMA request follows the association’s successful “Get Out And Ride!” Month of April, which encouraged motorcyclists everywhere to enjoy the passion and excitement of motorcycling in the dirt and on the street. Each week during AMA Get Out and Ride! Month, the AMA focused on a special motorcycling theme, from riding solo to riding with others to riding for a cause to riding smartly.

“Motorcyclists take to the highways in large numbers every spring, and it’s the responsibility of all road users to acknowledge us safely and attentively,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “This is why many states and local governments officially promote motorcycle awareness during the month of May.

“Unfortunately, many road users are not always mindful of those with whom they share the road, and an annual reminder is helpful for them to recognize the flow of motorcycles in traffic, and make an extra efforts to watch for motorcycles,” Dingman said.

“One of the leading causes of motorcycle crashes is the fact that drivers don’t see motorcycles,” he said. “Simply put, drivers tell themselves to watch for cars, trucks, buses and pedestrians, but they don’t tell always themselves to watch for motorcycles. We want to change that.”

Drivers can avoid crashes with motorcyclists by taking extra care to watch for motorcyclists, especially at intersections, respecting the motorcyclists’ space on the road and by not following too closely.

“If all drivers would make a conscious effort to look twice before turning left across the oncoming lane of traffic at an intersection, crashes could be prevented and lives would be saved,” Dingman said.

For motorcyclists, the AMA strongly encourages the use of personal protective equipment — including gloves, sturdy footwear and a properly fitted motorcycle helmet certified by its manufacturer to meet theU.S. Department of Transportation standard — as part of a comprehensive motorcycle safety program to help reduce injuries and fatalities in the event of a motorcycle crash.

The AMA has long encouraged local and state governments to maintain or increase funding for motorcycle rider education and motorist awareness programs — two highly effective strategies to reduce the likelihood of motorcycle crashes.

The AMA also successfully lobbied for a new study into the causes of motorcycle crashes, which will be the first such comprehensive research in 30 years. The Federal Highway Administration has undertaken a crash causation study at the Oklahoma Transportation Center, an independent and well-respected transportation research facility at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. The study is expected to conclude in a year or two.  

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

 Early registration deadline extended for AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce that the deadline for early registration for the 2012 International Women & Motorcycling Conference has been extended through May 15 due to popular demand. The conference will take place July 26-29, in Carson City, Nev.

“We have been thrilled with the response to the conference thus far,” said AMA Marketing Manager Tigra Tsujikawa. “The extended deadline means that AMA members can still rack up significant savings for the next two weeks during member-only pre-registration.”

The discounted price of $125 represents a savings of $50 off the regular member rate. Tsujikawa pointed out the significant savings opportunity for those who become AMA members.

“With the non-member registration rate starting at $235, a $49 AMA membership not only pays for itself, but opens the door for those who want to take advantage of the additional member-only early registration discount,” she said.

Online registration is available at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=vw9ldxbab&oeidk=a07e5b2rc65a3dc83f3

Included in the AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference registration fee is entry to seminars, the marketplace and Moto Action center, the Saturday Women’s Health Fair, priority registration for manufacturer demo rides, the Friday Night Cookout and Saturday Night Celebration Party, as well as a conference t-shirt and gift bag.

Full conference details, as well as information about how to become an AMA member, are available at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Events > Women & Motorcycling or on the conference Facebook page at Facebook.com/AMAWomenAndMotorcycling.  

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.