Powersports Business articles from November 2004

Powersports Business archives from November 2004

Motorcycle Halls of Fame plan merger.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, located near Columbus, Ohio, and the National Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, in Anamosa, Iowa, have completed plans to consolidate their respective halls-of-fame, inductees and procedures under the banner...

Honda has record earnings.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Honda Motor Co. reported that its consolidated net profit for the six months ended Sept. 30, 2004, inched up 0.9% from the same period last year to a record high of $2.174 billion, aided by strong sales of motorcycles and automobiles. Sales of...

What's in a name? Volvo/Ford/Yamaha?(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Yamaha Motor Co., Japan's second-largest motorcycle producer, soon could begin supplying its newly developed sport utility vehicle engines to Volvo, according to published reports in Japan. The move, which could come as early as this year,...

SuperTrapp to give away a Yaffe custom bike.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... SuperTrapp Industries, Cleveland, Ohio, plans to give away a custom made Paul Yaffe original "super bike" in its 2005 promotion: SuperTrapp, Super Bike, Super Prize. The promotion is open to all U.S. dealers of SuperTrapp V-Twin systems. For...

Advanstar financial performance improves.(HOT NEWS)
November 15, 2004... Advanstar Communications Inc., parent company of DealerNews magazine and the industry's largest annual trade show, the Dealer Expo, has reported improved financial performance for the third quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2004. However,...

Motovan to carry diamond products.(HOT NEWS)(Diamond Powersports Inc., Motovan Corporation)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Diamond Powersports, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., said its products will be carried by Motovan Corporation, one of Canada's largest distributors of aftermarket parts and accessories for the powersports industry. Motovan has been named one of the...

Harley introduces two fleet models.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Harley-Davidson has added two Softail models to its special fleet offerings: The FLST C/I Heritage Softail Classic and the FLSTF/I Fat Boy model. Both models are now available in Peace Officer and Firefighter Special Editions and in Shrine...

Yamaha to fund Laguna Seca updates.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Yamaha Motor Corporation is stepping up to fund the track safety improvements required by the Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme (FIM) to homologate Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the 2005 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, round nine of 17 in...

Polaris taps McKinney.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Polaris Industries Inc., Medina. Minn., has named McKinney as its agency of record Oct. 28. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Durham, N.C., McKinney is an independent operating unit of Havas, a NAS-DAQ-listed firm that is one of the...

UK cycle sales down 13%.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Britain's Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) says 11,387 two-wheelers, including 2,477 scooters, were sold in the UK in September, up 7% from the 10,686 units sold during September 2003. Still, total registrations of motorcycles and...

Cooper has sales record.(HOT NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Findlay, Ohio, reported a 6% increase in net sales for the third quarter, ended Sept. 30, 2004. Total net sales for the company's continuing operations increased to $551 million compared to $519 million in the same...

Storms can't stop Biketoberfest.(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Even many of those who don't care much for motorcycle riders were happy to see bikers roll into Daytona, Fla., for the annual Biketoberfest party Oct. 21-24. The area's tourism business, battered by several hurricanes this year, needed a cash...

Chinese price hikes could push inflation here.(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... With global oil and commodity prices soaring, Chinese manufacturers are being squeezed like never before, reports the Wall Street Journal, a move that could mean increased prices for powersports machines, as well as parts and accessories. And...

INTERMOT--U.S. distributors vary business in Europe.
November 15, 2004... MUNICH -- Among those in attendance at INTERMOT were representatives of U.S. based distributors Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties, Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice, Motorcycle Stuff/Custom Chrome, National Cycle and Western Power Sports. While...

INTERMOT--U.S. manufacturers expand presence.
November 15, 2004... MUNICH -- Analysts say slow growth and cutthroat competition are squeezing profits for many foreign companies operating in Europe, causing some firms to cut back in the region and others to concentrate on seizing market share. While those...

Poor weather, gas prices and hurricanes hamper PWC sales: sales end season at 80,000 units again.(Trendline)(Pressurized water reactors)
November 15, 2004... EDITOR'S NOTE: During October, Power Products Marketing conducted a season-ending survey on behalf of Powersports Business on the U.S. PWC market. The following analysis is compiled from detailed discussions with dealers and OEMs. ...

Research highlights dealer operations.(From The Editor)(Editorial)
November 15, 2004... In a few weeks, you'll be receiving the 2004 edition of the Powersports Business Market Data Book. It's the third edition of what has quickly become one of the most important annual reference tools describing trends in the United States...

Imagine if we all worked together.(My Turn)
November 15, 2004... The headline caught my eye in an alert from one of the anti-OHV groups that I monitor: "Snowmobilers and ATV riders face off over trails in Maine." The story from the Dec. 6, issue of the Portland Press Herald newspaper went on to report,...

Harley 3Q earnings increase.(DIGEST)
November 15, 2004... Harley-Davidson, Inc., Milwaukee, reported net earnings of $228.9 million, or 77 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter ended Sept. 26, 2004. That compares with earnings in the same quarter last year of $190.1 million, or 62 cents per...

GE Consumer Finance forms specialty retail group.(DIGEST)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... GE Consumer Finance-Americas says it established the Specialty Retail Group to support the needs of growing, mid-size retailers. The new business unit is part of GE Consumer Finance's Retail Consumer Finance division, which provides retail...

New facility for BMW financial.(DIGEST)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... BMW Financial Services NA, LLC is building a multi-million dollar international customer service center in Hilliard, Ohio. A ground-breaking ceremony took place Oct. 14. With more than $15 billion in managed assets and nearly 500,000...

Bonev joins Board of Spectre Gaming.(DIGEST)(Robert Bonev)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Robert Bonev, Vice President Sales/Marketing with Minnesota-based Arctic Cat Inc., has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Spectre Gaming, Inc., a California-based provider of proprietary interactive electronic games to the Native...

Orbital changes name, reviews financials.(DIGEST)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Shareholders of Orbital Engine Corp. Limited, known as Orbital Corp. Ltd. as of Oct. 27, have been told their company may slip back into the red this half because of a weak market for motor scooters and the timing of new engine development...

Sparta names trotter coo.(DIGEST)( Richard P. Trotter)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Sparta Commercial Services, the New York-based financial services company specializing in the powersports industry, has named Richard P. Trotter to the position of chief operating officer. Trotter has more than 30 years of experience in the...

Boatventures changes name.(DIGEST)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Channel Blade Technologies, formerly BoatVentures, has announced the adoption of its new name to better describe the scope of the company's business after a management buy-out from The Reynolds and Reynolds Company, which operated it since...

Scoots, big and small, gain industry acceptance.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... While the largest scooter markets in the United States continue to be located in urban environments and within the Sunbelt states, industry sources tell Powersports Business that new product offerings may have finally cemented the acceptability...

Piaggio retails 500cc car.(Focus: Scooter Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Scooter engines are powering more than just two-wheelers. Two companies, Piaggio and Etud Integral, each showed four-wheelers powered by scooter engines at INTERMOT, the international motorcycle show held in Munich in September. ...

Honda begins R & D in China.(Focus: Scooter Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... In October, Sundiro Honda Motorcycle Co., Ltd., Hondas joint venture in China, began sales of a 125cc scooter, the e-cai. The e-cai became the first model in which Honda's wholly owned motorcycle R & D facility in China. Honda Motorcycle R & D...

Italjet goes to India.(Focus: Scooter Digest)
November 15, 2004... In January, Leopoldo Tartarini, founder of Italjet, announced Indias Kinetic Motor Company had purchased the manufacturing and distribution rights to seven of Italjet's scooters. Italjet filed for bankruptcy in 2003, partly as a result of a...

Velosolex returns to U.S.(Focus: Scooter Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... The French moped Velosolex--the original "CycloMoteur"--returned to the U.S. this year. Powered by either pedals or its auxiliary 49cc engine with an electronic ignition system, frontwheel drive, automatic centrifugal clutch and front and rear...

Piaggio strikes deal in China.(Focus: Scooter Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Piaggio & Co. SpA and the Chongqing Zongshen Motorcycle Group, China's largest non-governmental maker of motorcycles and components, has signed an agreement to collaborate on the production and sale of scooters, engines and related products--a...

Taiwan president praises SYM on anniversary.(Focus: Scooter Digest)(Sanyang Industrial Co.)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian praised Sanyang Industrial Co., Taiwan's oldest motorcycle manufacturer, at the company's 50-year anniversary celebration Oct. 15. The president hailed Sanyang, manufacturer of the SYM brand, for setting...

Bajaj plans three-wheeler for U.S.(Focus: Scooter Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Bajaj USA LLC, the U.S. importer and distributor for Bajaj Auto Ltd. of India, says it plans to introduce three road-going three-wheelers to the Norther American market. Bajaj has manufactured road-going three-wheeled vehicles for more...

Dana exhibits fuel-cell scooter.(Focus: Scooter Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Dana Corporation exhibited a fuel-cell-powered scooter at Convergence 2004, the automotive electronics show held in October at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Mich. The technologically advanced scooter was placed alongside Dana's electronic...

Going cross country on TGB.(Focus: Scooter Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... To prove that their scooters are reliable and can be used for everyday transportation, Bill Peirce and a couple of folks from Cobra Scooters LLC, Sugarland, Texas, planned to ride three scooters from New York to Los Angeles. The trip began Nov....

Scooter market up, suppliers wary of low-cost models.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... A study recently commissioned in the U.S. by Piaggio USA, Inc. showed 50% of those surveyed said the word "Thrifty" best described the profile of a scooter owner. While the study--conducted by Consensus Research--showed only 20% of the...

Big-bore scoots prove prominent in U.S.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... Large displacement scooters appear to be the most prominent trend in the modern scooter market. Often referred to as "big-bore" or "maxi" models, these 250cc to 650cc two-wheelers have increased in availability in the United States during the...

Three of Japan's Big Four seek expanded opportunities with scooters.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... The U.S. scooter market is in its infancy compared to many other parts of the world, where the step-through is often the vehicle of choice for personal transportation. However, despite the scooter's long tradition in such places as Asia...

KYMCO scooters find success in United States.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN -- Approximately 22.75 million people live in Taiwan. Last year, a Taiwanese government agency reported that one out of every two of the island nation's citizens owned a motorized two-wheeler. Kwang Yang Motor Co. Ltd.,...

Genuine scores with Stella.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... Philip McCaleb owns Genuine Scooter Company, the Chicago-based supplier of the Stella brand of scooter. Using a classic design from Italy but assembled in India, the 150cc Stella (MSRP $2,899) debuted in the United States in March 2003....

Piaggio expands leadership in the U.S.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... Piaggio USA sales through June 2004 accounted for 11.4 million Euro of Piaggio's 596.6 million Euro in global sales during the period. Those first-half sales were up from 7.5 million Euro for the same period 2003. The company sold 6,600 units...

Martin reformats with Malaguti.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... Four years ago, the Malaguti brand returned to the United States after a 20-year absence from the market. The last family-owned scooter manufacturers in Italy, Malaguti entered the United States as Malaguti USA through Joel Martin, the...

Aprilia USA continues on course.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... Servicing approximately 110 motorcycle and scooter dealers and roughly 15 scooter-only dealers, Aprilia USA is a company with a proven product but a future still in question. Earlier in the year, Aprilia SpA, unable to escape from mounting...

CMSI offers TN'G, prepares 250cc Lambretta model.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... The distributor of TNG brand scooters, CMSI, Inc., Preston, Wash., was founded approximately 12 years ago as Classic Motorcycle and Sidecar Incorporated to import the Ural brand of motorcycle. CMSI today offers a line of scooters under its...

Segway introduces four-wheeler.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... It has been three years since Segway LLC, Bedford, N.H., introduced Dean Kamen's Human Transporter (HT). While the two-wheel, zero-emission vehicle hasn't changed the way humans choose to move from point to point, the company's designers and...

GoPed goes after imported stand-ups.(FOCUS: SCOOTERS)
November 15, 2004... In March, Patmont Motor Werks, Inc., the Nevada-based manufacturer of Go-Ped brand scooters, filed a federal suit charging the Chinese Government and an association of Chinese companies with unfair trade practices and conspiracy to restrain...

Arctic Cat reports record 2Q sales.(ATV Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Arctic Cat Inc., Thief River Falls, Minn., reported record net sales of $240.7 million for the second quarter ended Sept. 30, 2004, up from $237.7 million in the same quarter last year. Earnings declined, however, to $19.7 million, or 94 cents...

BRP reports second quarter earnings increase.(ATV Digest)
November 15, 2004... Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), Valcourt, Quebec, reported net income for the second quarter ended July 31, 2004, of $18.7 million, up from $2.8 million in the same quarter last year. Revenues increased by 15.6% to $572.6 million...

Honda reports record earnings.(ATV Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Honda Motor Co. reported that its consolidated net profit for the six months ended Sept. 30, 2004, inched up 0.9% from the same period last year to a record high of $2.174 billion, aided by strong sales of motorcycles and automobiles. Sales of...

Kawasaki cuts contingency.(ATV Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Kawasaki cut its ATV race contingency program in the Grand National Cross Country series. The program paid racers in certain classes for winning aboard a Green machine. Kawasaki claims the cut will allow it to serve a broader area of motorcycle...

ATVA announces 2005 ATVA/ITP GNC Motocross schedule.(ATV Digest)(All Terrain Vehicle Association )(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 15, 2004... The ATVA/ITP Grand National Championship Motocross series is schedule is done and two new tracks are included in the circuit. Since the series remains 12 races long, two long-time tracks have been omitted. The two new tracks are Lake Whitney,...

GNCC race schedule revised.(ATV Digest)(Grand National Cross Country)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... The 13-round Grand National Cross Country Series 2005 schedule has been revised. Due to weather concerns, the previously announced November 5-6 date has been replaced by a September 10-11. "After dealing with mud and a lack of daylight at...

ATV sales up in Germany.(ATV Digest)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Germany's IVM says ATV sales in the first half of 2004 reached 14,800 units compared to the 16,135 units registered during full-year 2003. The group says sales for market leader Standard Motor Co. eclipse those of Taiwan's Kymco and Japan's...

Her Chee expands in Taiwan.(ATV Digest)(Her Chee Industrial Co.)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Her Chee Industrial Co., Ltd., maker of Adlybrand powered two-wheelers ATVs and a supplier to Bombardier and Arctic Cat, plans to set up a new ATV production and R & D center in Taiwan. Her Chee chairman C. C. Chen said that the new ATV...

2005 models feature few new machines, many upgrades.(ATV)
November 15, 2004... Redesigns are the ticket this year in the ATV business. However, that doesn't mean the manufacturers are taking the easy way to the showroom floor. Many of the 2005 updates are intense, thorough and impressive. As the ATV industry expanded...

Riverside marine & cycle.(Power Profile)(Company Profile)
November 15, 2004... CONTACT 2323 South Haynes Avenue Miles City, MT 59301 406/232-3300 OWNERS Roger Lothspeich and Tom Pezzarossi BUSINESS PROFILE Founded in 1969; Lothspeich and Pezzarossi bought the dealership in 2001. Moved to...

SuperTrapp inks deal with Bill Werner.(Cycle Update)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... SuperTrapp Industries announced that Bill Werner, the most successful tuner in AMA Grand National racing history, will work with the performance exhaust manufacturer to design and develop race and performance street exhaust systems for...

Chevrolet ends motorcycle racing sponsorships.(Cycle Update)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... AMA Pro Racing has announced that Chevrolet will not return as title sponsor of the AMA Motocross Championship or the AMA Superbike Championship in 2005. Chevrolet has been title sponsor of both championship series since 2000. The strategy...

Richard Sainct dies.(Cycle Update)(Obituary)
November 15, 2004... French rider Richard Sainct died Sept. 29, 2004 following a serious crash during a timed section of the Pharaoh's Rally in Egypt. He was 34 years old. Sainct was one of the most experienced riders in this discipline. The Ehlert staff present...

MSF attends INTERMOT, sponsors international road safety seminar.(MOTORCYCLE)
November 15, 2004... The 5th annual International Conference on Transport and Road Safety took place on Sept. 13 and 14, prior to INTERMOT's official opening. A trade-only event organized by the Institut fur Zweiradsicherheit e.V. (Institute for Motorcycle Safety),...

MIC, American V-twin firms meet.(MOTORCYCLE)
November 15, 2004... More than two dozen American V-twin companies--including OE manufacturers, distributors, aftermarket parts and component parts manufacturers, and other entities serving the American V-twin market--met with members of the Motorcycle Industry...

Salt Lake Motorsports.(Power Profile)(Company Profile)
November 15, 2004... CONTACT 1077 South Main Salt Lake City, UT 84115 801/478-4000 www.saltlakemotorsports.com OWNER Adam Childers BUSINESS PROFILE The dealership was founded in 1994, but has been in its new building since...

Side-Bike.(Zeus)(motorcycle)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Powered by a 1997cc 16-valve engine producing 131hp, the patented Side-Bike by French company Zeus attracted crowds at INTERMOT. It features a five-speed sequential transmission with reverse controlled via a handlebar switch; three 15-inch...

Motorcycle sales drop in September.(Retail Sales Report)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Motorcycle and scooter sales dropped in September, compared to the same month last year, according to figures compiled by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC). Total unit sales declined from 67,230 in September 2003 to 61,937 in September...

Capistrano Harley-Davidson.(Power Profile)
November 15, 2004... CONTACT 32421 Calle Perfecto San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 949/388-3000 OWNERS Bill Taylor and Ray Malzo BUSINESS PROFILE The 20,000-sq.-ft. store began as a satellite retail location (SRL) to Orange County...

GG Quad by Gruter + Gut Motor-radtechnik GmbH.(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Street-legal quads are responsible for skyrocketing ATV sales in Europe. From Switzerland comes this BMW-flavored machine, the GG Quad by Gruter + Gut Motor-radtechnik GmbH Designed with a 1130cc twin-cylinder Boxer motor delivering 95bhp at...

Recreational boating continues to rise.(Making Waves)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... According to recently released figures from the National Marine Manufacturers Association, recreational boating appears to be continuing its rise. Retail unit sales overall for the second quarter of 2004 were up 7% compared to the same period...

APBA hosts forum.(Making Waves)(American Powerboat Association)
November 15, 2004... The American Powerboat Association is in the final stages of accepting applications for PWC racers, promoters, and aftermarket reps to participate in a private forum to discuss rule changes for the 2005 season. The invitation-only forum is...

World Finals on TV.(Making Waves)
November 15, 2004... The International Jet Sport Boating Association recently announced the airtmes for Dos Equis Desert XX. Viewers can catch the complete show on November 17th at 4 p.m. Coverage airs on FOX Sports Net.

Racing close-up: troubled waters?(PWC)
November 15, 2004... Editor's Note: This is the first in a two-part series on the current state of personal watercraft racing in the United States. This issue, we focus on several of the challenges facing the sport. Next issue, we'll look at some of the solutions...

PJS Products wins suit.(Snowmobile Report)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... PJS Products of Green Bay, Wis., won its law suit against Sknowbest Inc., regarding plastic slides for snowmobile trailers. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach awarded the company, which also does business under the name Sledder's Choice,...

Arctic Cat, Polaris certified.(Snowmobile Report)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Four-stroke snowmobiles for 2005 manufactured by Arctic Cat, Thief River Falls, Minn., and Polaris Industries, Medina, Minn., have been certified by the by the U.S. Department of the Interior as meeting Best Available Technology (BAT) standards...

Tahoe area remains open.(Snowmobile Report)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... U.S. District Judge David Levi in Sacramento, Calif., overturned a ban on snowmobiles in Hope Valley, Calif., area, stating the U.S. Forest Service did not cite problems serious enough to warrant the closure. The area, located near Lake...

Bonev joins Spectre Gaming board.(Snowmobile Report)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Robert Bonev, vice president of sales and marketing at Arctic Cat has been named to the board of directors of Spectre Gaming Inc., El Cajon, Calif. The appointment was effective as of Oct. 8. Spectre designs and develops networks, software and...

Snowmobile groups respond positively to election results.(SNOWMOBILE)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... With the 2004 presidential election a wrap, politically-minded people in the snowmobile industry are breathing a sigh of relief. George W. Bush and his administration have been friendly to snowmobiling for the past four years, and,...

Changes in Polaris, Arctic Cat snow divisions.(SNOWMOBILE)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Major managerment shifts within Polaris Industries Inc., Medina, Minn., could spell changes for the way the company operates its snowmobile division. Effective Nov. 2, Eric Lindquist, Polaris' director of consumer sales, will take over as...

Two indicted for Nelson's Speed Shop fire.(SNOWMOBILE)
November 15, 2004... Three years and six days after Nelson's Speed Shop Inc., Greenville, Mich., burned to the ground, owner Jack Nelson can have closure as two men were indicted for arson of the dealership on September 23. "Although everything is not...

G & G cycle.(Power Profile)(Company Profile)
November 15, 2004... CONTACT 142 Lafayette Road Salisbury, MA 01952 978/462-7900 www.gandgcycle.com OWNERS Gary and Karen Montminy BUSINESS PROFILE G & G was founded in 1974; Gary Montminy began working there in 1976, then...

Motonation picks up Spidi.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)
November 15, 2004... Spidi Sport, a supplier of street and road-race motorcycle apparel, announced the selection of Motonation as its new exclusive importer for the U.S. market effective immediately. Motonation, El Cajon, Calif., is the importer and distributor of...

Big Gun splits from White Bros.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Big Gun Exhaust Systems has terminated its relationship with White Brothers, Inc., effective Oct. 22. "Big Gun exhaust has been a part of the White Brothers family from the beginning, and always has had good relationships throughout the...

Fairchild introduces regional sales managers.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Fairchild Sports, the California-based distributor of products from Oxtar, Vemar, Hein Gericke, Schuberth and Held, has a new team of regional sales managers to assist Fairchild sales reps working throughout the United States. Gene Hill...

Kerry Bryant launches Team Bryant.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Kerry Bryant, long-time powersports veteran, has resigned his position as vice president of Jardine Performance Products/Doug Thorley Headers, effective Oct. 29, 2004, to launch his own company, Team Bryant, that will produce exhaust systems...

Ness Motorcycles to use electronic IDs.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Arlen Ness Motorcycles, Dublin, Calif., soon will be adding an identification number to each of its bikes that will be carried in tiny computer "dots." The DataDots will be produced by MicroID Technologies. About the size of a grain of sand,...

S & S revamps Web site, adds options.(DISTRIBUTOR REPORT)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... S & S Cycle Inc. has a new Web site. While it has been up and running in various components for the past month, it is now fully operational. S & S Webmaster Kevin Sather and company Audio/Visual Specialist Chad Baker have been working on...