hris Carr was named AMA Pro Racing Speed Channel Athlete of the Year at the AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet held at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. It was the first time Carr has won the prestigious award after being nominated six times, including the last three years in a row.
     Upon learning that he had been nominated again Carr, 36, joked that he wasn’t getting his hopes up about winning. However, upon receiving the elusive award Carr was jubilant saying he was shocked and excited. He paid tribute to his wife and children and thanked his mom and dad for allowing him as a child to “chase a dream.” Carr laughingly compared himself to Susan Lucci, the soap opera star who was nominated multiple times for an Emmy award before finally capturing the prize.

Chris Carr makes his acceptance speech at the recent AMA Pro Racing
Awards Banquet.

      Carr’s success in AMA Grand National racing places him in the upper echelons of the sport’s hierarchy. His 62-career national victories makes him the winningest active rider in the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship and his series-leading five victories in the 2003 season places him in second in the all-time AMA Grand National wins category behind retired rival and recent Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, Scott Parker. Carr has more AMA Short Track wins than anyone having passed legends Kenny Roberts and Steve Eklund in 2003.
     Carr won his first AMA Grand National Championship in 1992 and followed that with titles in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003. He’s hoping to capture his fourth straight title (sixth overall) in next year’s 50th anniversary of AMA Grand National racing. Carr credited his championship to those around him. “I’m proud of our team from our sponsors, to my wife and kids, to my crew chief Kenny Tolbert and Rich Bates who put in a lot of time to allow me to win another championship,” said Carr. “They worked hard and this championship is more than a victory for just myself, it’s a victory for a lot of people and I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I have without them.”
     The AMA Pro Racing Speed Channel Athlete of the Year award is coveted among professional motorcycle racers and is awarded to the racer generally considered to have had the best overall year. A recipient’s overall career success can also be considered in the selection process. In addition to Carr, nominees for the 2003 award included Ricky Carmichael, Mat Mladin, James Stewart and David Watson.
For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit: www.amaproracing.com.

 eMans Corporation, the world’s largest distributor of motorcycle parts and accessories as parent company to Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties, has announced that it has added Steve Dye to its already substantial marketing effort, effective Monday, December 1st.
     Charged with the newly created position of Media Development, Dye will assist in overall marketing while developing specific initiatives aimed at evolving the distribution giant’s flow of new and existing product
information.
     Dye will work with LeMans Chairman Fred Fox, President/CEO Jeff Fox and VP of Sales Greg Blackwell in a variety of marketing functions, including media relations, market positioning for propriety lines, and in-house generated brochures and sales tools.
     “As Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties continue to spread its considerable efforts in our propriety product lines and our always-growing event sponsorship involvement in everything from Supercross to mini bike racing, Steve’s abilities will be an asset in ensuring that we continue to deliver our core message—that we are far and away the leader in the powersport industry,” Blackwell said.
     A frequent writer for national consumer publications like Racer X Illustrated and the Dirt Rider group and, most recently, the publisher and editor-in-chief of industry trade magazine Motorcycle Product News, Dye will also contribute to Parts Magazine in association with Don Emde Productions.
     “I’m simultaneously very excited, gratified, and pleased to have the opportunity to be associated with a company that is so totally and publicly committed to the sport of motorcycling in all its many facets,” Dye said. “While magazine writing and production will always be my second love—twisting a throttle being the first—receiving a call from Jeff Fox personally asking me to come aboard with Parts now ranks as the high point of my career. The chance to work directly with and learn from the best of the best was literally an offer I couldn’t refuse. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with many of the people in the Parts Unlimited family in the past, from vendors to the dealers, and I look forward to expanding those relationships.”
     Steve Dye can be reached at the LeMans Corporation home office in Janesville, Wisconsin at 608-758-1111.

t’ll be a roaring good time in Cincinnati come January 31. That’s when many of the manufacturers that offer aftermarket goodies to customize Harley-Davidsons and V-Twins converge in Ohio to show off their latest and the greatest. Held Saturday, Jan. 31 through Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, the Fourth Annual V-Twin Expo by Easyriders will be held at the Cincinnati Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
     Some of the participants who will be on hand include: Drag Specialties, Avon Tyres, Carriage Works, Inc., Comp-U-Fire Performance Products, Continental Tire North America, Crane Cams, Cycle Shack, Daytona Twin Tec, Deltran Corp., Dynojet Research, James Gaskets, Joker Machine, K&N Engineering, Legend Air Suspension, Lindby Custom, Inc., Metzeler Motorcycle Tire N.A., Performance Machine, Progressive Suspension, S&S Cycle, Samson Motorcycle Products, TP Engineering and Thunder Cycle Designs.
     Last year’s Expo marked the debut of Metzeler’s “tire that didn’t officially exist”—now seen on the back of many custom choppers, as well as the FatBook Flyer, a ground-up FatBook project bike that played “Beat the Clock” at Bonneville. You won’t want to miss it. Go to www.Vtwin-expo.com for more information.

     2003 saw Doug Vancil take both the National Championship as well as the Western Division Championship in the Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley Top Fuel category, and his wife, Julie Vancil of Vance & Hines/Drag Specialties, take the Wrench of the Year Award in the Pro Category.
     What will 2004 bring? We’ll all find out come March when AHDRA gets ready to rumble again. The National Points Series schedule has been announced and is listed below. All events are two-day events and are subject to change. To find out more about AHDRA, the categories, the racers or past seasons, log on to www.ahdra.com.

2004 AHDRA National Points Series
Date Location
March 1-3 Gainesville, FL
March 6-28 Phoenix, AZ
April 16-18 Dallas, TX
May 14-16 TBD
May 28-30 Atlanta, GA
June 11-13 Norwalk, OH
June 25-27 Seattle, WA
July 16-18 Budd’s Creek, MD
Aug. 13-15 Bristol, TN
Aug. 27-29 Woodburn, OR
Sept. 10-12 Indianapolis, IN
Oct. 1-3 Rockingham, NC
Oct. 22-24 Las Vegas, NV

The 2004 AMA Chevy Truck U.S. Superbike Championship schedule has been announced. For complete race details, go to www.ussuperbike.com. Dates and locations subject to change.

Date Arena Location
March 3-6 Daytona Int’l Speedway Daytona, FL
April 2-4 California Speedway Fontana, CA
April 30-May 2 Infineon Raceway Sonoma, CA
May 14-16 Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, AL
May 21-23 Pikes Peak Int’l Raceway Fountain, CO
June 4-6 Road America Elkhart Lake, WI
June 25-27 Brainerd Int’l Raceway Brainerd, MN
July 9-11 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, CA
July 23-25 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, OH
Sept. 3-5 Road Atlanta Braselton, GA
Sept. 17-19 Virginia Int’l Raceway Alton, VA

     Harley-Davidson Motor Company has promoted Matt Levatich to the position of Vice President - Materials Management. Levatich assumes responsibility for materials purchasing, logistics, distribution and supplier relationships and will serve on the Company’s 29-member Functional Leadership Group.
     Levatich, who joined Harley-Davidson in l994 as project engineer, has held sales director posts for European operations and managed the launch of the Company’s Buell motorcycle line in Europe. He also has served as director of the Harley-Davidson museum project. Most recently, Levatich was the Company’s Director of Development Purchasing.

     Harley-Davidson Motor Company surpassed its 100th Anniversary celebration fundraising goal by presenting a check to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) for $7,286,191.57, making Harley-Davidson MDA’s top corporate partner for 2003. The company set an original goal of raising $5 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
     The Harley-Davidson family of customers, dealers, employees and suppliers conducted various fundraising activities including rider pledges, dealer fundraisers, motorcycle raffles and pin sales. Fundraising activities for the Muscular Dystrophy Association took place worldwide over the 14-month period leading up to the Harley-Davidson Anniversary Celebration in Milwaukee.
     The 100th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson marked the 23rd year the Motor Company has been associated with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. During that time, the Harley-Davidson family of customers, dealers, employees and suppliers have raised more than $47 million to aid research and program services for children and adults with neuromuscular disease. The Funds raised at the various 100th Anniversary events will help support life-saving research, comprehensive medical care and the very special MDA Summer Camp.

     The AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championship will have a fresh look in 2004 as it features a combination of 19 returning and new events. The season begins on Thursday, March 4, 2004 during Daytona Bike Week and will wind its way across the United States before wrapping up on September 25, at the Du Quoin "Magic Mile" in Du Quoin, Illinois.
     Bruce Bober, AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Series Manager is anxious for the season to begin. “We're pleased to announce that the series will be visiting the West Coast with a stop at the Cow Palace in San Francisco," Bober said.
Bober added that the Knoxville race will be held in conjunction with the Honda Hoot, one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country.
     Chris Carr will be vying for his fourth consecutive title (sixth overall) in the 50th anniversary of AMA Grand National racing. Carr, recipient of the 2003 AMA Pro Racing Speed Channel Athlete of the Year Award, is one of the favorites of the series.

Date Arena Location Type
March 4 Municipal Stadium Daytona Beach, FL Short Track
May 1 Cow Palace San Francisco, CA Indoor Short Track
May 22 Florence Speedway Union, KY Half-mile
May 29 Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL T.T.
May 30 Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL Mile
June 12 The Red Mile Lexington, KY Mile
June 25 Atomic Speedway Oak Ridge, TN Short Track
June 26 Allen County Fairgrounds Lima, OH Half-mile
July 3 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH Half-mile
July 31 Hagerstown Speedway Hagerstown, MD Half-mile
Aug. 7 Farley Speedway Farley, IA Half-mile
Aug. 22 Peoria Race Park Peoria, IL T.T.
Aug. 28 State Fair Speedway Sedalia, MO Half-mile
Sept. 4 Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL Short Track
Sept. 5 Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL Mile
Sept. 11 Vernon Downs Vernon, NY Mile
Sept. 18 Scioto Downs Columbus, OH Half-mile
Sept. 24 Du Quoin State Fairgrounds Du Quoin, IL Short Track
Sept. 25 Du Quoin State Fairgrounds Du Quoin, IL Mile
Note: Dates and locations subject to change