Jim Matchette has accepted the position as National Sales Manager for Drag Specialties effective February 1, 2004.
     A member of the LeMans Corporation team since 1995, he began his tenure as a Parts Unlimited road rep in Florida before moving up to the Janesville corporate headquarters where he initially took on the tasks of Dealer Development. Matchette later served as Northeastern Regional Sales Manager before again turning his focus to the ever- expanding dealer network for Parts and Drag.
     “I’m very gratified to be offered the opportunity to take on this new role with new responsibilities,” Matchette said of his new appointment. “In my years with LeMans I’ve had the pleasure of watching Drag Specialties grow into the number one distributor of V-twin accessories and hard parts, and I look forward to working with Drag’s managers, regional reps, and dealers to take the entire product line and brand to even higher levels and greater successes.”

     The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is urging motorcyclists nationwide, many of whom share the AMA’s disappointment in the light sentence imposed on former U.S. Representative Bill Janklow last week, to take constructive action to help prevent similar injustices from happening in the future.
     The AMA soon will announce a legislative-action strategy and a public-awareness campaign targeting inadequate sentencing laws in South Dakota and nationwide. The program will include events that coincide with the 2004 Black Hills Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.
     “The sentence imposed on Mr. Janklow is an affront to all motorcyclists, and it’s time to act,” said Edward Moreland, Vice President of AMA Government Relations. “But protests and symbolic gestures aren’t enough — we need to take the kind of action, nationally and locally, that changes the way the justice system sentences drivers who kill motorcyclists.”
     Janklow, who was convicted December 8, 2003, of second-degree manslaughter and three other counts related to a traffic crash that claimed the life of a Minnesota motorcyclist, was sentenced on January 22 to 100 days in the Minnehaha County Jail. Janklow will not have to spend time in the South Dakota State Penitentiary, and he could be eligible for a work-release program after 30 days in jail.

     Lindby Custom, Inc., makers of the patented Lindbar combined engine guard and highway peg, held an Open House recently to show off their sparkling new facility in Placentia, California. They are now located at 320 Crowther Ave., Placentia CA 92870. Phone: 714-528-0085.

Attendees at Lindby’s January Open House munch on some great Italian food served in their new R&D area.

UB Enterprises, makers of motorcycle exhaust systems and one of the foremost participants in speed trials at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, has announced a “motorcycle only” event there in September.
     This first annual event, organized and run by BUB in conjunction with its major sponsors, promises to be an exciting race meet and a chance for all motorcycle enthusiasts to ride the famed salt flats.
     Never before have motorcycle designers, builders and riders had their own speed trials at Bonneville. Not only will this event offer that, but it also offers the opportunity for every type of rider to have a run on the salt flats. From the high-speed streamliners, to the guy who just loves to ride his bike, all will have the opportunity to push their machines to the limit.
     In addition, for the first time ever, BUB is offering prize money in a range of categories. The rider with the top time of the meet will be able to add $10,000 to their bank account! Even the smallest bikes have an opportunity to win some money with the “Top MPH per CC” ratio category.
     
      Some of the features planned for this event are:
• Internationally recognized FIM world record attempts (Pending FIM approval)
• AMA Sanctioning and Nationally recognized record attempts (Sanctioning pending)
• Prize money in a number of categories
• Vendor Alley for sponsors
• Hotel accommodations with special Event rates at the Rainbow, Peppermill & Montego Bay Casino Resorts, including nightly live entertainment
• Awards Banquet

     For those who don’t have the means to make an attempt for an ultimate land speed record, but want to be able to say “I have run at Bonneville,” this is the time! These speed trials will offer any entrant the opportunity to make a run down the track provided they meet all safety requirements and pass equipment inspections. For a small fee, these competitors will be able to make a pass down the salt flat, receive a t-shirt and their official timing slip for that run. BUB calls this the “Run what ya brung” entrant.
     If you are also tired of the prices of accommodation rising as soon as a group of motorcycles hit town for an event, then look no further. An agreement with the Rainbow, Peppermill & Montego Bay Casino/Hotels means that quality accommodation is affordable for everyone, and you can spend your money on getting there and racing, not worrying about having a bed to sleep in at night!
     BUB also wants to make sure that everyone has plenty to do in between the racing events. On display will be the current LSR holder, Dave Campos, who broke the record at 322 mph in the twin-engine Harley-Davidson Easyriders streamliner. Vendors will line the pits and there will be entertainment in the evenings at the Casino hotels, as well as the company of many like-minded motorcycle enthusiasts. On the final night, the Awards Banquet offers everyone the opportunity to wind down and chat with fellow racers and congratulate the top time category winners.
An FM radio frequency will be live at the event so entrants and spectators can get the latest information out on the salt of the times, who’s running, and more.
     BUB Enterprises President Denis Manning said: “We want everyone to have fun racing, regardless of the type of bike or speeds attempted. We want people to be able to live out dreams of making a pass at the famed Bonneville. We want those whose life dreams have been to get that ultimate record, be recognized for the work they have done and the efforts they have made. We want dreams born. We want records broken. We are here to have fun. We are here to race.”

Sunday, September 5th
Check in for pre-registered entrants: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Montego Bay Casino Resort or Bonneville Salt Flats
Scrutineering: 11a.m. - 5 p.m. - Bonneville Salt Flats
Casual reception: 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. - Montego Bay Casino Resort

Monday, September 6th
Check-in for pre-registered entrants: 9 a.m. - 12 noon - Montego Bay Casino Resort or Bonneville Salt Flats
Registration: 9 a.m. - Dusk - Montego Bay Casino Resort or Bonneville Salt Flats
Scrutineering: 9 a.m. - Dusk - Bonneville Salt Flats
Drivers Meeting: 12 noon - 1 p.m. - Bonneville Salt Flats
Commence trials: 1:30 p.m. - Dusk - Bonneville Salt Flats
Vendor Set Up: 9 a.m. - Dusk - Bonneville Salt Flats

September 7th, 8th & 9th
Speed Trials: Dawn - Dusk - Bonneville Salt Flats
Drivers Meeting: 9 a.m. - Bonneville Salt Flats
Scrutineering: 9 a.m. - Dusk - Bonneville Salt Flats
Presentation Banquet (9/9/04): 8 p.m. - Montego Bay Casino Resort

Friday September 10th
Speed Trial: Dawn - 3 p.m. - Bonneville Salt Flats
Drivers Meeting: 9 a.m. - Bonneville Salt Flats
Scrutineering: 9 a.m.- 11 a.m. - Bonneville Salt Flats
*Schedule Subject to Change

Prize Money Categories
(tentative—subject to change)
Some of these prize categories are yet to be defined at this time, but preliminary plans include:
• Top time of the meet: $10,000
• Top time for a conventional motorcycle $10,000
• Top time for an American V-Twin $5,000
• Top time for a Rinehart exhaust-equipped motorcycle $5,000
• Top time for a MPH-CC ratio $5,000
• Top time for a Metric V-Twin $5,000
Additional Categories (Trophy Prize)
• Top time for a “Run what ya brung” motorcycle

Seen at the recent V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati was Denis Manning (left) and his brand-spanking new Bonneville streamliner. Alongside is engineer Don Eslinger and pilot Rocky Robinson. In addition to attempting to break the world’s motorcycle land speed record, Manning and Team BUB are promoting a unique speed trials this fall at Bonneville.

he V-Twin Expo by Easyriders Magazine held in early February in Cincinnati was, by all accounts, an overwhelming success. Attendance was reported to be up more than double from any of the previous events.      In addition to displays of the latest in custom Harley accessories, the event was a virtual custom bike show, with the very latest in styles and designs. Most of the big names in custom building were on hand such as Arlen and Cory Ness, Dave Perowitz, Donny Smith, Randy Simpson, Billy Lane, Don Hotop and more.      A big attention-getter in the Drag Specialties booth was the debut of Denis Manning’s latest BUB streamliner that pilot Rocky Robinson will attempt to set a new world’s speed record in later this year.      Here’s our pictorial with some of the highlights.

	The Drag Specialties exhibit at the V-Twin Expo was jam-packed all weekend.
	The Performance Machine booth featured one of the many cool-looking customized Harley-Davidson V-Rods at the show.
	One of the keys to a successful custom project is the right gas tank. The Independent Gas Tank booth had plenty to look at.
Dunlop showed off its all-new 250 custom wide tire that will soon hit the market.
	Mark Blackwell (middle) presented Arlen and Cory Ness with an award of appreciation from the Victory Motorcycle Company for their contributions to the design of the company’s motorcycles in recent years.
	Allen Alvarez of Daytona Twin-Tech shows off the “New Tech Product of the Year” award he received at the V-Twin Expo for the company’s new fuel injection controller.
	One of the hot new customizers in the industry is Billy Lane from Florida. He was on hand at the show and checked out the BUB streamliner.
	Randy Simpson of Milwaukee Iron had some of his latest creations at the show. He was recently featured in a Discovery Channel TV program called “Southern Chopper.”
	Men in Black. Gathered at the Drag Specialties booth are (from left): VP of Sales Greg Blackwell, Kyle Rinehart (son of Gerald Rinehart), LeMans Chairman Fred Fox, Drag sales rep Randy Pelletier, motorcycle and NASCAR exhaust pipe maker Gerald Rinehart and Drag’s Tom Motzko.
	Metzeler Tire’s custom bike is about as custom as they come.

     It was wintertime, but in Florida that’s no excuse. The motorcycle sport goes on 12 months a year down there. The event? What else? The Sun Run in Fort Lauderdale and the crew from Drag Specialties was there.

You’d think it was the Fourth of July, but it was actually early December in Florida!

We didn’t get their names, but they seemed to like the Drag Specialties show
bikes on display at the event. Drag’s CJ Tikala poses with the group.