Powersports Business articles from August 2005

Powersports Business archives from August 2005

APS honored for performance.(America's Power-Sports)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Dealer group America's Power-Sports was named Best in Business during an annual awards dinner presented by the Nashville Business Journal. The awards have recognized and promoted upcoming and outstanding businesses in the Nashville Tenn.,...

KTM to aid Museum.(HOTNEWS)
August 15, 2005... KTM says it plans to raise $30,000 for the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in three days during KTM's 2006 National Dealer Convention in Columbus, Ohio, August 20-23. The manufacturer says contributions will be donated from individual...

GE to close Vermont office.(GE Commercial Finance)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... GE Commercial Finance says it plans to close a Vermont office picked up when the company bought Bombardier Capital Inventory Finance Division on June 1 in a $2.3 billion deal. GE says the division's Colchester headquarters is expected to close...

PWC are making waves.(personal watercraft)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... It's been a long wait, but this could be the year that PWC sales finally post a healthy increase. Early season indications suggest that the 2005 season could climb as much as 20% over last years sales. One reason for the success: Consumers'...

Transportation bill would fund motorcycle study.
August 15, 2005... Approval of the federal transportation bill by Congress would fund the first nationwide motorcycle-crash study in almost 30 years. U.S. House and Senate conferees agreed to a compromise version of the $286.4 billion transportation bill, which...

U.S. PWC sales up 9% through May: May sales up 8%. Preliminary June sales indicate 25% gain.(personal watercraft)
August 15, 2005... After three consecutive years of flat sales, it appears that the U.S. PWC market is finally undergoing a significant turnaround. Last year, the market was running about 6%-7% ahead of 2003 sales through May, and it looked like the season...

Bennett Morgan: 100 days later.(BOTTOM LINE)(Interview)
August 15, 2005... EDITOR'S NOTE: Bennett Morgan was named president and COO of Polaris Industries in April, and since then the 18-year Polaris veteran has been getting his hands around the new job. He helped open the company's $35 million R & D Center, worked...

Polaris opens R & D facility.(Polaris Industries Inc., Minneapolis)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Polaris Industries Inc. has opened its new $35.5 million, 126,000 sq. ft. product development center in Wyoming, Minn. Research, development and testing at the facility will include prototype fabrication and assembly, laboratories for...

Clark Collins prepares to leave BlueRibbon.
August 15, 2005... Twenty years ago, off-road activist Clark Collins sat down with Idaho Gov. John Evans to talk about access issues. It was a meeting that was to change the battlelines between rigid environmentalists and off-road recreationalists. "The...

Arctic's 1Q profit triples.(Arctic Cat Inc.)
August 15, 2005... Arctic Cat Inc., Thief River Falls, Minn., reported net earnings of $448,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the fiscal 2006 first quarter ended June 30. This compares to net earnings of $124,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the same...

Sparta Completes $3 million private placement.(DIGEST)
August 15, 2005... Sparta Commercial Services, Inc., an Internet-based sales finance and leasing company dedicated exclusively to the powersports industry, says it has completed a $3 million private placement of units consisting of 6% Series A convertible,...

Nova signs with blue sky investor relations.(DIGEST)
August 15, 2005... Nova Communications, Ltd., the Reno-based parent company of AquaXtremes, manufacturer of the X-Board watercraft, has appointed Blue-Sky Solutions, LLC, as its investor relations firm. Nova Communications Ltd. is a publicly traded company on...

Yamaha six month sales up 11.3%.(FINANCIAL)
August 15, 2005... Japan's Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. says net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2005, were 677.0 billion yen, profit was 56.75 billion yen, and operating income was 56.7 billion yen. Yamaha changed its accounting period to calendar year last...

F & I and computers: business keeps rolling for powersports finance, insurance and computer companies.(FOCUS)
August 15, 2005... Companies offering finance, insurance and computer services in the powersports industry continue to create opportunities, hoping to catch business from consumers, dealers, distributors and manufacturers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] They...

HSBC to buy Metris.(Focus Digest)
August 15, 2005... HSBC Holdings Plc., the United Kingdom's biggest bank, plans to spend $1.59 billion to purchase credit-card issuer Metris Co., one of North America's top 20 credit card issuers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The deal between HSBC Finance,...

GE takes finance management to the internet.(Focus Digest)
August 15, 2005... AdvanceDesk is GE's new Internet-based finance management system that allows dealers to enter applications, check the status of loans, print documents, order supplies and complete other tasks related to GE financing. The AdvanceDesk Web...

Sparta's iPLUS speeds application processing.(Sparta Commercial Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Sparta Commercial Services, Inc., an Internet-based sales finance and leasing company for the powersports industry, has launched its proprietary point of sale, web-based origination platform, iPLUS (Internet Purchasing Leasing Underwriting...

New software combats theft.(Focus Digest)
August 15, 2005... With interest in retail loss prevention at an all time high, store operators are looking for better solutions to cut costly losses from employee and consumer theft. One-Step Data, Inc., Glendale, Calif., offers loss-prevention software that...

ARKONA moves, posts Q2 profit.(Focus Digest)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Effective Aug. 1, 2005, ARKONA, Inc., a supplier of management solutions in the powersports and automotive industries, relocated its corporate headquarters to a new 25,000-square-foot office space less than a mile from its former South Jordan,...

Softpower offers Web Services.(Focus Digest)
August 15, 2005... Softpower Business Solutions' Web Services technology uses the Internet to advance the exchange of information from dealer to manufacturers directly, more efficiently and cost-effectively. Bob Senger, president of Softpower, feels Web...

CycleTrader.com partners with BikeBandit.com.(Focus Digest)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... CycleTrader.com has formed a partnership with BikeBandit.com in a move Cycle Trader officials say will simplify the process for enthusiasts searching for parts and accessories. "We wanted to give our consumers a more complete selection of...

Technology improves customer service.(FOCUS: F & I, COMPUTERS)
August 15, 2005... Trends may come and go, but powersports dealers are always looking for ways to be more efficient. Technology companies geared toward the powersports industry have been developing new ways to streamline dealership operations in all aspects, from...

ARI to expand PartSmart offering.(FOCUS: F & I, COMPUTERS)
August 15, 2005... Beginning this fall, more than 10,000 dealers in the powersports industry will be upgraded to the enhanced PartSmart Version 8.0, an offering from ARI Network Services, Inc. which includes enhanced search capabilities, expanded diagram display,...

Directory.(FOCUS: F & I, COMPUTERS)(Directory)
August 15, 2005... F & I/WARRANTY SERVICE PROVIDERS Aftercare 905 Hyde Court Costa Mesa, CA, 92626-6900 800/832-3237 FAX: 714/546-0849 julia@motorcyclemanagement.com www.motorcyclemanagement.com/aftercare MMCS markets and...

eBay continues to improve dealer sales tool.(FOCUS: F & I, COMPUTERS)
August 15, 2005... Is the Internet a good way to sell used and non-current powersports equipment? Curtis Kroeker, a senior manager at eBay, certainly thinks so, and a growing number of powersports dealers seem to be agreeing with him. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Kawasaki, Suzuki recall 158,400 ATVs.(ATV Digest)
August 15, 2005... Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A., Irvine, Calif., is recalling approximately 155,000 of its 2001-2005 Prairie and Brute Force ATVs. The units were sold at Kawasaki dealers nationwide from August 2000 through July 2005 for between $4,400 and $7,400....

Polaris joins the SVIA.(Polaris Industries Inc., Minneapolis)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Polaris Industries, Inc., Medina, Minn., says it will join the ATV industry trade group known as the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA). The SVIA represents the ATV industry on a variety of matters including safety, technical...

Jianshe aims high.(Jianshe Industries Group, China)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... China's Jianshe Industries Group recently unveiled a new ATV, the Mountain Lion 400, to a handful of dealers near the U.S. distributor's headquarters in Madison, Wis. Jianshe is one of several Asian companies trying to get a foothold in the...

New ATV laws in N.D.(all terrain vehicles, North Dakota)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... North Dakota Century Code 39-29-01, which regulates the use of off-highway vehicles such as dirt bikes, ATVs and utility vehicles such as Mules, Odysseys and golf carts, took effect August 1. While municipalities have the option of whether...

Yamaha works with Safari Club International.(ATV Digest)
August 15, 2005... Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., Cypress, Calif., announced a commitment to helping Safari Club International's (SCI) mission of protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide as a corporate sponsor of the group's...

Competition heats up in the UTV market.(utility terrain vehicle)
August 15, 2005... The side by side utility terrain vehicle (UTV) segment is growing, and with it new and old players in that area are hoping to grow their marketshare. Arctic Cat was the most recent major manufacturer to enter that segment with its Prowler...

Milams Honda Kawasaki.(Power Profile)
August 15, 2005... CONTACT Milams Honda Kawasaki 1212 South Ohio Pine Bluff, AR 71601 870/534-3163 OWNERS Family owned; Charles E. "Bubba" Milam II, Principal BUSINESS PROFILE Milam's started as an Indian dealership in...

OHV organizations lobby on Capitol Hill.(off-highway vehicle)
August 15, 2005... Approximately 60 representatives from motorized off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation groups across the United States recently let Congressional Representatives and key executives at the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service know...

Washington plans OHV workshop, Nov. 5-6.(off-highway vehicle)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), in conjunction with off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts, will conduct a State Association Development Workshop and AMA Ride Into...

Triumph global sales up 29%.(Triumph Motorcycles Ltd.)
August 15, 2005... Triumph Motorcycles says global sales during its 2005 financial year (July '04 to June '05) were up 29% from sales in 2004. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company said sales in the UK were up 10%; North America sales increased by 40%; both...

KTM holds Adventure Rider Rally.(Cycle Update)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... The Second Annual KTM Adventure Rider Rally, "The Rocky Mountain Raid," was held July 30-31 in Ouray, Colo. Dedicated to the adventure motorcycle experience, KTM's three day festival was open to all Adventure motorcycle owners. Organizers...

Harley-Davidson introduces six new bikes.(MOTORCYCLE)
August 15, 2005... Harley-Davidson has introduced six new models for 2006 and a host of styling and engineering updates, all shown to consumers earlier this month at Sturgis. While the Motor Company plans to offer eight new paint colors and two-tone...

Buell offers two new models for 2006.(Buell Motorcycle Co.)
August 15, 2005... Buell Motorcycle Company's 2006 product line-up features two new models, the Ulysses XB12X Adventure Sportbike and the Lightning Long XB12Ss. The total line-up features eight models: the Firebolt XB9R and Firebolt XB12R "sportfighters";...

JD Power, Part II: how new-bike buyers choose their dealers.(MOTORCYCLE)
August 15, 2005... As mentioned in Part I, the methodology of the J.D. Power and Associates (JDPA) 2004 Motorcycle Competitive Information Study (MCIS) was to mail a survey to 45,062 people who had purchased a new street or dual-sport motorcycle between September...

Victory introduces seven models for 2006.(MOTORCYCLE)
August 15, 2005... Polaris officials describe the Victory Motorcycle division as "a growth engine" for the Minnesota-based manufacturer. And, if industry sales figures are any indication, Victory appears to be the fastest growing brand in the U.S. motorcycle...

S & S Cycle moves headquarters to new facility.(MOTORCYCLE)
August 15, 2005... Engine supplier S & S Cycle recently celebrated the opening of its new Customer Support and Dealer Training Facility in La Crosse, Wisc.--a building also scheduled to serve as the company's new headquarters. S & S President Brett Smith...

Japanese OEM 2005 production climbs, but exports decline.(MOTORCYCLE)
August 15, 2005... Japan's motorcycle manufacturers produced 129,104 units during June 2005, up 4.5% or 5,574 units compared with the production of 123,530 units produced during June 2004, according to a recent report by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association...

Renton Motorcycles.(Power Profile)
August 15, 2005... CONTACT Renton Motorcycles 3701 East Valley Road Renton, WA 98055-2301 425/226-4320 www.rentonmotorcycles.com OWNERS Robert Lanphere Terry Stallcop, General Manager BUSINESS PROFILE Bob Lanphere,...

Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson.(Power Profile)
August 15, 2005... CONTACT Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson 1820 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway Maryville, TN 37801 865/977-1669 www.smokymountainh-d.com OWNERS Scott and Monet Maddux BUSINESS PROFILE Founded in September 2004,...

USWRA joins APBA to create single U.S. sanctioning body.(PWC)
August 15, 2005... After nearly a year and a half of division in the United States--as both the American Power Boat Association and United States Watercross Racing Association duked it out for the hearts of U.S. racers and promoters--the APBA announced in July...

N.Y. law sets PWC age limit.(Making Waves)
August 15, 2005... Governor George Pataki signed into law a bill that raises the minimum age for operating PWC in New York from 10 to 14 years old. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New York is one of only three states that allowed 10-year-olds to operate personal...

Tadd tapped as NMMA Grow Boating director.(National Marine Manufacturers Association, Steve Tadd )(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has promoted Steve Tadd to the newly created position of director of Grow Boating, a new initiative designed to bring segments of the industry together to attract more participants to the...

Seven Awarded at MAATS.(Making Waves)
August 15, 2005... Boating Writers International and National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) presented seven companies with Innovation Awards during the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS), held in late July at the Las Vegas Hilton and...

Honda gives S.C. agency eight PWC.(Making Waves)
August 15, 2005... American Honda Motor donated eight Aqua-Trax to the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The agency plans to use the units to patrol the waters of coastal parks. Honda makes the AquaTrax and a variety of ATVs at a...

America's Motorsports.(Power Profile)(Company Profile)
August 15, 2005... CONTACT America's Motorsports 629 Myatt Drive Madison, TN 37115 615/859-7292 www.americasmotorsports.com OWNERS Family owned corporation. BUSINESS PROFILE America's Motor Sports began as a single line...

Final sentencing in Nelson arson.(Nelson's Speed Shop, Michigan)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... The final person associated with the arson of Nelson's Speed Shop, Greenville, Mich., has been sentenced. Thomas G. Klein, owner of rival dealership Tom's Cycle in St. John's, Mich., will pay $500,000 in restitution, spend five months in a...

Snowmobile Club liable in trail fatality.(Waumbek Methna Snowmobile Club )(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... The New Hampshire Supreme Court has ruled against a non-profit snowmobile club and its trail groomer in a lawsuit stemming from an accident in 2001 that killed a 15-year-old sledder on a trail which runs from Portland, Maine, through New...

Court sides against Saskatchewan Safety Council.(Snowmobile Report)
August 15, 2005... A former employee of the Saskatchewan Safety Council (SSC) was awarded seven months worth of compensation after a court found he was dismissed without cause. The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench said the SSC had no cause to terminate...

Highway Bill increases trail funds.(Snowmobile Report)
August 15, 2005... The new Highway Bill, which has yet to be signed into law, will continue and increase the Recreational Trails Program. If signed, the bill will give the program $370 million of funding over the next five years. Trail-based activity...

Tekrider to run support program.(Snowmobile Report)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Gamma Sales, a snowmobile accessories distributor in Orillia, Ontario, has contracted with Tekrider of Kinmount, Ontario, to run its Gamma Ambassador Support Program. This program will provide discounts for Gamma products. "It is our goal to...

Minnesota inventor develops integral bumper, skid plate.(Ron Bergman)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Ron Bergman of McIntosh, Minn., developed an integrally formed skid plate and bumper for a motorized vehicle and, in August 2002, filed it with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Now Bergman has been issued U.S. Patent No....

Ehlert Snow titles launch new Web sites.(Snowmobile Report)
August 15, 2005... The three snowmobile consumer titles at Ehlert Publishing Inc., Maple Grove, Minn., now each have a Web site. Snowgoer.com and Snowweek.com were launched on August 3; Snowmobilemagazine.com is scheduled to launch later in August. The three...

Snow industry plans for Haydays, Sept. 10-11.(39th Haydays Grass Drags and Swap Meet)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... The 39th annual Haydays Grass Drags and Swap Meet, dubbed "the official start of winter," is scheduled to take place September 10-11 in Columbus Township, Minn. The largest consumer show in the snowmobile industry, the event attracted...

Yamaha re-enters cross-country racing.(SNOWMOBILE)
August 15, 2005... Yamaha's newest flagship consumer model will turn into its flagship race machine, as Yamaha Motor Corp. re-enters the terrain racing fray. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yamaha will give full factory support to champion cross-country racer...

Bill continues Yellowstone issue.(SNOWMOBILE)
August 15, 2005... Arider attached to the Federal Interior Appropriations bill directs the National Park Service (NPS) to continue the authorization of up to 720 snowmobiles each day in Yellowstone National Park. This rider blocks the federal courts from barring...

Marshall holds open house in New York.(Poudre Sales Corp.)
August 15, 2005... Marshall Distributing's 2005 open house, held July 30-31 in Clifton Park, N.Y., attracted 30 suppliers, 18 sales representatives and 34 dealers, said Mike Hawrylo, Marshall Vice President of Operations. The event was designed to introduce...

Buell to speak at IDSA Conference.(Industrial Design Society of America, Erik Buell)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... think3, Inc., a supplier of industrial design and product development solutions, will host a breakfast during the Industrial Design Society of America's IDSA National Conference, with Erik Buell, chairman of Buell Motorcycles, as the keynote...

Musashi to add 120 jobs in S.C.(Musashi South Carolina Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... A U.S.-based ATV parts supplier to OEMs plans to add 120 new jobs in Bennettsville, S.C. Musashi South Carolina Inc. -- a part of Musashi of Japan--opened its South Carolina operations in 2000. A producer of ATV gears and assemblies and...

Coates Motorcycle appoints president & CEO.(Mark D. Goldsmith)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Mark D. Goldsmith has been named President and CEO of Coates Motorcycle Company Ltd. In the securities business for 40 years, Goldsmith began at the CPA firm of Frederick S. Todman & Co. He was VP of MKI Securities Inc., a NYSE member...

Husak joins Rucker Performance.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
August 15, 2005... Rucker Performance, a Fort Worth-based designer and manufacturer of custom motorcycles, has hired Meredith Husak as Director of Marketing and Public Relations. Husak's new position involves overseeing the communications, public relations and...

Intermot seeks U.S. exhibitors.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
August 15, 2005... Organizers of INTERMOT, the international motorcycle consumer and trade fair, say they expect a strong showing of U.S. products at the 2006 event, scheduled for October 11-15, 2006, in Cologne, Germany. Darrin Stern, Chicago-based U.S....

Fairchild introduces G-Line for women.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Hein Gericke's new G-Line features product the company says was designed by women for women. It is distributed by Fairchild Sports. "With the number of women riders increasing each year, creating the G-line was a natural expansion for Hein...

New sales manager at Mustang.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
August 15, 2005... Mustang, a manufacturer of aftermarket seats and a distributor of lifestyle merchandise, has appointed Rollin Karoll as sales manager. Karoll has more than 20 years of customer service and sales management experience. "Rollin's...

Jeep Give-A-Way.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
August 15, 2005... Motorcycle Stuff along with Dunlop, Warn, K & N, Kolpin, and Castrol are giving away a 2005 Jeep Wrangler valued at over $25,000. The drawing will be held at the Motorcycle Stuff booth during the Indy Dealer Expo on Saturday, February 18, 2006....

Clarification.(Correction Notice)
August 15, 2005... The Motorcycle Stuff Jeep Give-A-Way ad on Page 7 of the July 25, 2005, issue of Powersports Business stated dealers could earn chances to win a 2005 Jeep Wrangler through qualifying orders July 1, 2005, through January 31, 2006. No purchase is...

The second P in profit: people.(Dealer Checkup)
August 15, 2005... Editor's note: In the last issue, Bill Shenk introduced "The Four P's in Profit": Purpose, People, Products, and Performance. He also described the importance of each P to the others, and explained their developmental order-why the second P...

Dealer profit dips in June.(Top Guns)
August 15, 2005... Overall dealer profitability, as measured by Top Gun dealers nationwide, slipped in June, dropping to 9.5%, down from 10.2% in May. Overall net profit for the year through June was 8.1%, up from the 7.1% YTD figure recorded through May last...

ITP T-9 Pro-Lock wheels.(AFTERMARKET)
August 15, 2005... Specifications -- The all-new T-9 Pro-Lock is a pro-level racing beadlock model wheel available in four sizes--8 X 8, 9 X 8, 10 X 5 and 10 X 8--and two finish options: polished and black powdercoat. Lug patterns of 4/110 and 4/144. ...

Mattracks, Inc. LiteFoot Ultra-Ride UTV system.(AFTERMARKET)
August 15, 2005... Specifications -- Offering a GVW rating of 3500 lbs., the new LiteFoot Ultra-Ride model track conversion system features an adjustable, variable rate, four-link suspension specifically designed to meet the demands of 4X4 UTVs (Utility ATVs)...

Dowco Guardian PWC cover.(AFTERMARKET)
August 15, 2005... Specifications -- Designed to fit the most popular PWCs models, the Guardian custom-fit PWC covers are made from a marine-grade polyester. Covers are available in Caribbean Blue and feature a limited lifetime warranty. Benefits -- DOWCO's...

SBT parts catalog.(AFTERMARKET)(Buyers Guide)
August 15, 2005... Specifications -- SBT, Inc., a remanufacturer of more than 50,000 power plants over the past six years, has a new PWC Parts catalog. Benefits -- The catalog now includes a section devoted to four-strokes. It features crankshafts, cams,...

Komodo ceno Racing leathers.(AFTERMARKET)
August 15, 2005... Specifications -- This one-piece suit is made of 1.4 mm to 1.7 mm cowhide leather and features external carbon protection at elbows and forearms, a race inspired hump for better aerodynamics and impact absoption; Kracht CE armor at shoulders,...

Bell Sprint.(AFTERMARKET)(Buyers Guide)
August 15, 2005... Specifications -- New for 2005, the 1600-gram Sprint features an aerodynamically designed composite fiberglass shell, five-year warranty, and comes in a variety of colors in sizes XS-XXL. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Benefits -- A no-hassle...

Kendon chopper lift.(AFTERMARKET)(Buyers Guide)
August 15, 2005... Specifications -- Compact when folded and stores in vertical position (76" standing height with a 24" X 24" footprint) for convenience. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Benefits -- Lightweight, extra-length bike lift out performs most of the...

G-Line Saratoga jacket.(AFTERMARKET)
August 15, 2005... Specifications -- The Saratoga is one of eight jackets in Hein Gericke's new G-Line, product the company says was designed by women for women. Available in black only; even sizes 4-18. Benefits -- Made of bovine leather with lamb leather...

Job descriptions keep employees focused.(Sales Management)
August 15, 2005... Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of articles that address implementing job descriptions for your sales department. A sales manager keeps the dealership and the salespeople on track much the same way most people drive to a given...