Ups & Downs
Ups & Downs
ROUNDUP
UP: To Chick-fil-A, for its whacked-out sense of humor. Promoting its “Eat Mor Chikin” advertising campaign, the fast-food enterprise created “The 2002 Chick-fil-A Calendar: Cows to the Extreme.” Among the dozen computer-enhanced images is January’s “Mootocross,” which depicts a high-flying heifer performing “the rare Supercow Fender Grab.” Funny stuff.
DOWN: To skyrocketing insurance premiums, for making some riders question the cost of motorcycle ownership. Citing more claims (the apparent downside of strong bike sales) and the effect of last September’s terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. on what was already an unstable economy, increasingly bike-savvy policy providers are hoisting rates-in some cases, astronomically. Moreover, some previously motorcycle-friendly firms have stopped insuring bikes altogether. “Good thing is,” explained a spokesman for one provider, “most companies aren’t going to drop experienced riders, even if they now have policies against writing certain bikes.”
UP: To America’s motorcyclists, for making 2001 another record-breaking year for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States. Through the 20 Ride for Kids events held last year, more than $2.8 million was raised. “Our goal when we started the RfK program 18 years ago was to find the cause and cure of childhood brain tumors,” said Mike Traynor, foundation president. “Today, we stand on the threshold of seeing our mission achieved.” PBTFUS currently funds 35 research and family support grants totaling more than $3 million. This year, 22 events are planned.
