In addition to its extensive Parts Unlimited sales force, the key brands found in the Parts catalogs need people to handle the behind-the-scenes promotion and related details. A number of new positions were recently announced to address the growth of these important product lines.



     Icon has announced Rob Bevins as the Northeast Regional Product Specialist. Rob graduated from Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY in 2003 while working two years at BMW of Manhattan. In 2004, he made a move across country to California to work with Thor Motocross as the Amateur Rider Support. For two years, he took care of up-and-coming motocross riders before making his move back across the country to his hometown of Wallkill, N.Y. When not out visiting dealers with Parts Unlimited reps or attending one of many events throughout the year, Rob can be found playing a relaxing game of golf. He also has over 10 years of off-road and street riding and enjoys all types of bikes. Rob’s stepfather, Rick Pence is also a well-respected and long-time Parts Unlimited rep in the Northeast region.
     After successfully owning and running Blaze Cycle Worx in Atlanta, GA. for the past 10 years, Matthew Cramer has changed gears and scenery by joining Parts Unlimited as the new Metzeler/Pirelli Tire Product Specialist while relocating to Breckenridge, CO. Before becoming a business owner, Matthew completed the AMI course in Daytona Beach, FL and worked side jobs that eventually lead him to his business. He was also the owner of Team Chaos, which won the Middleweight Superstock National Championship in the 2001 WERA Series. As a member of the AMA for over 10 years, Matthew has enjoyed everything from road racing to woods riding and Hare Scrambles aboard a CRF 450X and a KTM 300XCW. Matthew’s new duties will have him attending shows and events across the country as well as visiting dealers with Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties reps.
     Thor has announced the addition of Ryan “Sparky” Kessinger to the family as the newest Regional Marking Specialist in the Southwest Region. Ryan attended and graduated in 2000 from Valparais High School in Indiana before setting his sights on his motocross racing dream. After many seasons of racing locally, Ryan put his riding skills to the test in 2003 and gave the infamous Daytona Supercross a shot prior to landing a gig at FMF International as an inside salesman on the apparel side. One year ago, Ryan finally made the move from the mid-west to sunny California in hopes of eventually landing a job with Parts Unlimited. Now residing in Carlsbad, CA and acting as the Southwest Regional Marketing Specialist, Ryan will work from home as well as travel within the Southwest region calling on dealers in addition to riding with Parts Unlimited reps with the intention of pushing each and every line Thor offers.



     Parts Unlimited has announced the arrival of Korrin “Hardkore” Koonce as the new Alpinestars Product Specialist. Korrin graduated from Marysville Pilchuck High in Marysville, WA in 2000 before moving into the Powersports Industry. Her most recent employment came from Cycle Barn Motorsports Group in Arlington, WA. Some of Korrin’s main responsibilities were overseeing merchandising within the showroom as well as apparel leader for two and a half years. Outside of work, Korrin enjoys riding four bikes she’s accumulated. Whether it’s street or dirt, her CRF150, CR80, CBR 600RR or KX85 will do the trick. She also enjoys snowboarding and wakeboarding. Although Korrin will be based out of her home in Marysville, WA. she will also be seen traveling with Parts Unlimited reps from all over the country visiting dealerships. As Korrin is out training and educating dealers about the Alpinestars product line she will also be attending showcases, hospitalities, seminars, dealer rides and other industry related events as part of her duties.
     Icon Motorsports has announced Bill Maye as the new Southwest Regional Product Specialist. Bill graduated from Moorpark College in 1991and entered the workforce of the Powersports Industry five years ago. His most recent stint in the industry came from Pro Italia Motors in Glendale, CA. where he was the Parts Manager for a year and a half. Some of Bill’s duties included, but were not limited to, overseeing purchase orders, inventory levels and merchandising the showroom. He raced Pro Mod and other drag bikes for ten years from 1990-2000 and has 22 years of street riding under his belt. Bill currently rides his 2002 RC51 every chance he gets and enjoys following Indy, Champ Car and F1 in his down time. Bill’s new role at Icon will have him working from his home in Simi Valley, CA. as well as traveling with Parts Unlimited reps across the country visiting dealers along the way in addition to attending showcases, hospitalities, seminars, dealer rides and various other industry events.
     Thor announces Brandon Wagner as the new South Central Regional Marketing Specialist. Brandon graduated in 2000 from Plano High School in Plano, TX. before attending and graduating from Collin County Community College. After college, he became an independent rep in the Texas region for companies such as One Industries, Troy Lee Designs and Ogio. Brandon is a life long enthusiast and has grown up around the industry as his father Steve owned a dealership. He has also raced motocross for the past six years and enjoys riding any chance he gets. Now residing in Royse City, TX. and acting as the South Central Marketing Specialist, Brandon will work from home as well as travel within the South Central region calling on dealers in addition to riding with Parts Unlimited reps.
     Z1R has announced Jen Wald from Denver, CO. will be the newest Product Specialist added to the team. With a Marketing degree from University of Denver, Jen landed a spot over at Mile High Harley-Davidson in Aurora, CO. where she oversaw the marketing and selling of motor-clothes. She strategically planned and placed product throughout the store to ensure the highest outcome in sales as well as monitored inventory levels and customer service. Jen will be based out of her home in Colorado, while visiting and informing dealers about the latest Z1R information across the country with Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties reps. She will also be attending many shows and events related to the industry. Outside of work, Jen tries to put as much riding time in as possible when not spending time with friends and family.      Parts Unlimited has announced the arrival of Korrin “Hardkore” Koonce as the new Alpinestars Product Specialist. Korrin graduated from Marysville Pilchuck High in Marysville, WA in 2000 before moving into the Powersports Industry. Her most recent employment came from Cycle Barn Motorsports Group in Arlington, WA. Some of Korrin’s main responsibilities were overseeing merchandising within the showroom as well as apparel leader for two and a half years. Outside of work, Korrin enjoys riding four bikes she’s accumulated. Whether it’s street or dirt, her CRF150, CR80, CBR 600RR or KX85 will do the trick. She also enjoys snowboarding and wakeboarding. Although Korrin will be based out of her home in Marysville, WA. she will also be seen traveling with Parts Unlimited reps from all over the country visiting dealerships. As Korrin is out training and educating dealers about the Alpinestars product line she will also be attending showcases, hospitalities, seminars, dealer rides and other industry related events as part of her duties.
     Icon Motorsports has announced Bill Maye as the new Southwest Regional Product Specialist. Bill graduated from Moorpark College in 1991and entered the workforce of the Powersports Industry five years ago. His most recent stint in the industry came from Pro Italia Motors in Glendale, CA. where he was the Parts Manager for a year and a half. Some of Bill’s duties included, but were not limited to, overseeing purchase orders, inventory levels and merchandising the showroom. He raced Pro Mod and other drag bikes for ten years from 1990-2000 and has 22 years of street riding under his belt. Bill currently rides his 2002 RC51 every chance he gets and enjoys following Indy, Champ Car and F1 in his down time. Bill’s new role at Icon will have him working from his home in Simi Valley, CA. as well as traveling with Parts Unlimited reps across the country visiting dealers along the way in addition to attending showcases, hospitalities, seminars, dealer rides and various other industry events.
Thor announces Brandon Wagner as the new South Central Regional Marketing Specialist. Brandon graduated in 2000 from Plano High School in Plano, TX. before attending and graduating from Collin County Community College. After college, he became an independent rep in the Texas region for companies such as One Industries, Troy Lee Designs and Ogio. Brandon is a life long enthusiast and has grown up around the industry as his father Steve owned a dealership. He has also raced motocross for the past six years and enjoys riding any chance he gets. Now residing in Royse City, TX. and acting as the South Central Marketing Specialist, Brandon will work from home as well as travel within the South Central region calling on dealers in addition to riding with Parts Unlimited reps.
     Z1R has announced Jen Wald from Denver, CO. will be the newest Product Specialist added to the team. With a Marketing degree from University of Denver, Jen landed a spot over at Mile High Harley-Davidson in Aurora, CO. where she oversaw the marketing and selling of motor-clothes. She strategically planned and placed product throughout the store to ensure the highest outcome in sales as well as monitored inventory levels and customer service. Jen will be based out of her home in Colorado, while visiting and informing dealers about the latest Z1R information across the country with Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties reps. She will also be attending many shows and events related to the industry. Outside of work, Jen tries to put as much riding time in as possible when not spending time with friends and family.

fter five races in the 2007 World Motocross Championship, Thor-sponsored Josh Coppins is leading the MX1 class for his Team Yamaha Rinaldi. After an impressive sweep of both motos at the previous GP in Italy as well as a win in the first moto of Round 5 in Germany, Coppins crashed in the 2nd moto to give the overall victory away. But he still left there leading by 43 points as the series headed to Sugo, Japan.

ad news hit the motocross community last March when Arlan “Lucky” Vines went down hard in a local motocross race. No one knows exactly what happened, but Vines ended up spending over three weeks in the ICU with a very serious head injury.
     Vines is probably best known as being the father of Freestyle Motocross legend Trevor Vines, but ask anyone who races in the Ohio area and they will tell you that Lucky is a “Dad” to everyone at the track.
     The sixty-seven year old Vines had his friends and family worried for a while, but he then started showing some small signs of improvement. Things really picked up once he was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital. In fact, he is now getting pretty close to being back to his old self. At press time Lucky was expected to be going home soon after a long, taxing ordeal and, of course, the Vines family thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers through this difficult time.



e are saddened to report that John Wyckoff passed away May 13th of prostate cancer. Wyckoff, one of the motorcycle industry’s true pioneers, worked probably every kind of job the sport had to offer. In his earlier years he worked in retail stores as a mechanic, parts manager and store owner. He worked for Cycle News East in the 1970s and also repped for Drag Specialties for a few years until moving in-house as Director of Marketing. He later founded Intersport Fashions West and was its Chairman, as well as serving on AMA and MIC Aftermarket boards of directors. In 1990 John was awarded the “Key Award” by the MIC, joining Vaughn Beals of Harley-Davidson, Soichiro Honda, founder of Honda, among others.
     After selling his shares of Intersport Fashions West, Wyckoff became very active in writing and consulting. He wrote two editions of “Mind Your Own Business,” a popular book for motorcycle retail store management, and also did consultation work for Harley-Davidson, Inc., ADP Lightspeed and other clients. He was an active speaker at industry seminars and in 2005 was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the V-Twin Expo by Easyriders.
     The Wyckoff family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of John Wyckoff to: Prostate Cancer Support Association of New Mexico, Inc., 909 Virginia NE #109, Albuquerque NM 87108 or: Chamber Music Albuquerque, P.O. Box 3343, Albuquerque NM 87190-3343.
     We don’t have John’s date of birth in our files, although he used to say he was older than dirt. Godspeed old friend.



he powersports industry lost a true legend on May 6th. CJ Ramstad and his son, JJ, were both killed in a head-on car crash in Minneapolis. CJ leaves behind his wife Karla, daughter Marly and a host of lifelong friends who respected and admired his love for and incredible insight into the snowmobile, motorcycle and ATV business.
     CJ was famous for his strong opinions and valuable perspective on the industry. He published several books and volumes of magazine editorial since the early sixties. His work as a photojournalist was unprecedented and his archive of pictures is a treasured legacy reaching back to the very beginning of the snowmobile industry.
     Most of all, he brought creative impetus to the business with magazines like Snow Week, Sno-Goer, Minnesota Snowmobiling, Supertrax, All-Terrain Vehicle and Minnesota Off-Road.
     Always on the watch for injustices and bad politics, CJ was an outspoken critic whose research was impeccable and his opinions immersed in truth. He will be sadly missed and long remembered.