Friday, September 28, 2012

AMA Hill Climb @ White Rose

Sunday, those hill climb crazies return to the AMA Class A National event at the White Rose MC's facility near Spring Grove/Jefferson, PA. I've attended this event a few times and hope to this Sunday. If you've never watched a real hill climb, you should. It's one of the oldest forms of motorcycling competition, and also one of the toughest...and most basic: fastest to the top wins (or furthest, if the hill beats everyone), which often leads to all manner of entertaining havoc. At the White Rose hill, riders launch against a 300-foot dirt hill; two jumps on the way up make it even more interesting. Anyone lucky and fast enough to cross the finish line with momentum to spare often takes a final giant leap over the crest, which can lead to moments like this one. Bikes range from converted MXers to purpose-built climbers powered by old British twins or late-model 4-cylinder screamers running either nitro or NO2. That the club can be reached via twisty back roads makes attending the event that much more fun! The first rider launches at 12:30, rain or shine. More event info on the White Rose MC site..

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Daytona Beach Prepares for Biketoberfest Rally

Get your motor running and head to the Daytona Beach area as Biketoberfest cruises into its twentieth year on October 18-21.  

 
“We are excited to celebrate the 20th year of this award-winning festival,” says Jeffrey Hentz, president and chief executive officer of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  “This year’s festival promises to be the best yet.” 
 
Recognized as one of the region’s top festivals by the Southeast Tourism Society, Biketoberfest annually attracts more than 100,000 motorcycle enthusiasts from North America and Europe to the Daytona Beach area for a long weekend of lively street festivals, concerts, motorcycle shows, demonstration rides and Fall Cycle Scene racing action at Daytona International Speedway.  
 
New to this year’s festival will be a welcome center located in downtown Daytona Beach in Riverfront Park at the corner of Beach Street and Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.  Sponsored by the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Daytona Regional Chamber Commerce, the welcome center will offer visitors the opportunity to register to win a Daytona Beach vacation getaway; pick up a copy of the official Biketoberfest® event guide; and enter a raffle to win a customized Harley-Davidson. 
 
In addition, visitors will find that an array of street festivals and gatherings await them, including three in Daytona Beach along Main Street, Riverfront Park and Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. -- each offering visitors a variety of delicious foods, live music and biker apparel.  Another popular locale is Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona on North U.S. Highway 1 in Ormond Beach.  Destination Daytona is home to Daytona Harley-Davidson, which features a 109,000-square-foot showroom.  Destination Daytona also includes an impressive selection of retail and specialty shops, restaurants and a concert pavilion.  Motorcycle rentals are also available at EagleRider’s Destination Daytona location.        
 
At Daytona International Speedway, visitors can enjoy free demonstration rides that allow them to test-ride the latest and greatest motorcycles. The speedway’s Fall Cycle Scene event will also include motorcycle racing, concerts, speedway tours and vendors.  In addition, bikers will get the chance of a lifetime to ride on the superspeedway in the annual Monster Dash.
 
Musical acts slated to perform during this year’s festival include popular heavy metal bands Warrant, Quiet Riot and rock star Lita Ford along with a host of local and regional musicians.    
 
For more information on Biketoberfest festivities, visit www.biketoberfest.org or call toll-free 1.800.854.1234.

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Monday, September 24, 2012

Motorcycle Safety Tips




Riding on a motorcycle can be lots of fun for adults of all ages. While motorcycles provide a great riding experience, they can be more dangerous than cars. The following article provides effective tricks and tips on how to improve motorcycle safety.

It's essential to make sure that one wears a motorcycle helmet at all times. While motorcycle helmets aren't required in all states, they can reduce the risk of serious head injury in the event of an accident. In addition to a motorcycle helmet, it's a good idea to make sure one wears long pants and a padded jacket. This will reduce the risk of road burns if one falls off his or her bike. In some cases, long pants can mean the difference between a pair of damaged pants and a skin graft.

It's also important to make sure that one drives in a defensive way. While all vehicles should obey the rules of the road, it's essential for motorcycle drivers to be ready for anything. For example, if a car is following a motorcycle at a close distance, try to move to a different lane. If this isn't possible, pull over on the side of the road and allow the other car to pass. While this may be inconvenient, it can reduce the risk of a serious accident.

In addition, it's essential to make sure that one is aware of the location of all vehicles on the road at all times. While people should use turn signals when changing lanes, many people forget to do this. Because of this, motorcycle drivers should pay attention to vehicles that are next to them on the highway. If possible, try to avoid driving in the blind spot of another vehicle. This can reduce the risk of a serious accident in the future.

It's also a good idea to make sure that one burns the headlights on a motorcycle at all times. Since motorcycles are more difficult to see on the road than a traditional vehicle, it's essential to make sure one's motorcycle stands out from other cars. In many cases, it's a good idea to have a light that oscillates in brightness.

This is a sponsored post by Robert Reeves, an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, helping individuals who have been seriously injured in motorcycle and automobile accidents in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina. 

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Friday, September 21, 2012

How Dangerous are Motorcycles, Really?


The open road.  Slicing through the wind as it crashes against your body.  That unforgettable feeling of simultaneous peril and freedom that only two wheels can offer.  These are the forces that drive people buy motorcycles.


However, the open road often comes at a price.  Before you run out to buy that new hog, you might want to take note of how motorcycles stack up against cars in terms of safety.  The following infographic breaks down the dangers that bikers face on the road every day, and how they compare to their 4-wheeled counterparts.

Take a peek at the infographic below (click to enlarge), created by the Houston-based personal injury Law Firm, Sutliff & Stout.  Find out exactly what risks you might be taking before you purchase that new bike.


This post courtesy of Sutliff & Stout, a provider of Legal Services for a variety of Personal Injury matters in Houston and Austin, Texas.

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