Etc.
etc.
WIN THE VR880 "CW SPECIAL"
Here's your chance to cop a $20,000 Vintage Rebuilds Norton for five measly bucks. The VR880 "Cycle World Special" is a collaborative effort between VR's Kenny Dreer, this magazine and the Ride for Kids charity. It will be raffled off ($5 per ticket, five for $20), all proceeds going to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. To see the electric-start, triple-disc hot-rod in person and enter the raffle, stop by the Cycle World booth at the International Motorcycle Show in your area. For mail-in raffle entries, see the ad elsewhere in this issue or visit www.ride4kids.org. For details about the bike, log on to www.vintagerebuilds.com.
QUICKER GIXXER
The wooded, rolling hills nearby Georgia’s Road Atlanta Raceway made it impossible to gather topspeed numbers for last month’s road test of Suzuki’s new GSXR600. That said, we’ve since run the ultra-lightweight repli-racer past the CW radar gun in California. The result was 156 mph, 3 mph faster than the previous model.
SAFE SHIPPING
Making plans for this year’s Honda Hoot? The Federal Companies, agent for Allied Van Lines, now provides Honda Riders Club of America members with uncrated motorcycle transportation throughout the continental U.S. And yes, residential pickup and delivery are available. For further information, log onto Federal’s website, www.funtransport.com.
FLOWER POWER
Southern California off-road enthusiasts successfully blocked plans to close 48,000 acres of the Imperial Sand Dune Recreation Area-a.k.a. Glamis. A lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and other environmental groups against the Bureau of Land Management contended the BLM failed to comply with the 1973 Endangered Species Act in managing the California Desert Conservation Area, specifically Pierson’s milkvetch, a short-lived perennial that produces small purple flowers. “We agreed to closure of the areas containing the largest plant populations, which were ironically outside the original closure agreement,” said Jim McGarvie of the San Diego Off-Road Coalition. The new agreement will govern OHV issues in the area until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues its opinions, which are expected in late 2001. In related news, President Clinton created a new national monument on a 440-square-mile parcel of Southern California desert. The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument protects the mountains and valleys outside of Palm Springs that are home to bighorn sheep and other endangered species. The national monument designation bans mining and off-road riding, and requires the government to develop a blueprint for managing the land. Since taking office in 1993, Clinton has designated 10 national monuments, shielding some 3.7 million acres of land.
MEET THE NEW BOSS
Robert Rasor is the new AMA president. He replaces J. Scott Thorton, who retired after just one year on the job. Rasor has been an AMA staffer since 1973, serving in various capacities, including heading the all-important government-relations department. Rasor is also a member of the FIM’s management council and president of its road-safety commission. Rasor takes over at a time when the AMA is experiencing the most rapid growth in its 76year history. “My main goal as AMA president will be to continue that growth curve,” Rasor said. “A bigger, more organized AMA means a stronger voice for all of America’s motorcyclists.”
