plus 3, Merchants: Business got biker boost - Daytona Beach News-Journal

Merchants: Business got biker boost - Daytona Beach News-Journal
Trailers offer eye-catching rides - Daytona Beach News-Journal
Strang Wins Maxxis General GNCC - Cycle News
Leather Jackets Manufacturers in United States Of America - PRLog (free press release)

Merchants: Business got biker boost - Daytona Beach News-Journal

Posted: 07 Mar 2010 08:58 PM PST

DAYTONA BEACH -- Cindy Colangelo thinks this year's Bike Week was one of the best she's ever seen.

The manager of the Topaz Motel & Hotel in Flagler Beach said dozens of guests shook off the recession and frigid temperatures to make the annual trek to town.

Thanks to repeat visitors, the Topaz was booked solid for two days of the 10-day event, Colangelo said.

"(Bike Week) was really great," she said. "We could not complain."

Colangelo is among a chorus of retailers, locals and visitors who say this year's event -- which draws thousands to the area for bike riding and watching -- was remarkable.

On Sunday, heavy crowds packed Beach and Main streets in Daytona Beach and at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach where shoppers snapped up discounted riding gear, T-shirts and other goodies before leaving for home. Siri Chikwenhere of St. Augustine spent the day with her brother Robert Seals and nephews Christian, 5, and Dallas, 3, taking in the sights on Main Street.

"I just like to see all the bikes and all the entertainment," she said. "It's nice to see a lot of different people."

Justin "The Bald Guy" Asher, owner of Red Ember Cycles, said this year's Bike Week was "fantastic" for his 3-year-old Beach Street business, which pulled in customers from all over the country and overseas. "For the times we're in, it was phenomenal," he said. "People were in a good mood. It's all about smiling."

Both sales and traffic were brisk at Bruce Rossmeyer's Harley Davidson Daytona Beach and Destination Daytona dealerships, which are on track to surpass last year's event, said manager Shelly Rossmeyer Pepe.

It's welcomed news in what's been a "tough year," she said. "It's a good vibe," Pepe said. "We're fortunate this event is on the map."

The unusually chilly weather was a downer for some, but translated into brisk sales of face masks, gloves and other cold-weather gear for vendors like Nora Myers of Phoenix, Ariz.-based Schampa Racing.

"We did good because it was cold," said Myers, who's come to Bike Week since 2004.

The weather suited Bike Week veteran Sue Conlon of St. Cloud just fine, too.

"You don't get to wear your leather" in warmer weather, she said.

Across the lot from Myers at Destination Daytona, Tony Watson of Paris, Tenn., said he estimates business at his Pitbull Motorcycle Lifts is up 10 percent from last year.

Amid the steady ringing of cash registers, both Watson and Myers say they noticed the crowds at Bike Week venues weren't as large as in year's past.

Longtime Bike Week visitor and vendor Crystal Kistner, of Worchester, Mass., concurred.

"Everywhere you go, it's not wall-to-wall," said Kistner. "You don't have to wait for a drink, you don't have to wait for food."

Tim Stockman, vice president of Ocean Waters Management, said business was "decent" for the area's largest hotel chain.

The company's marquee properties like The Plaza Spa and Resort and Plaza Ocean Club were full, but some guests opted to leave early rather than stay the full length of the event, he said.

Still, "we did well," Stockman said.

More Bike Week coverage

kenya.woodard @news-jrnl.com

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Trailers offer eye-catching rides - Daytona Beach News-Journal

Posted: 07 Mar 2010 08:58 PM PST

HOLLY HILL -- One day about five years ago, the future became clear for Robin Hanger.

"I was talking to some people about a motorcycle show for Serenity House (of Volusia Inc.)," Hanger said. "They wanted to display a custom motorcycle, but they wanted to keep it out of the elements. So, I thought that making a clear trailer could do that."

The experience led Hanger to start building motorcycle trailers with clear sides and selling them at his business -- Car Shop Trailer Sales, 950 Ridgewood Ave. He traveled to bike rallies and car shows to market his idea.

"I was at one car show, and this guy came up to me and said he would like to show his car, but he didn't want people touching it and getting fingerprints all over it," Hanger said. The man owned a vintage vehicle worth more than $100,000, he said.

From that beginning, Hanger drew interest from several industries, including a California company that sells racing-theme office furniture and a company that markets mobile gyms.

The trailers allow companies and individuals to display their vehicles or products without fear of damage from the elements or road debris while keeping them secure from vandalism and theft.

Hanger outfitted his trailers with lighting, air conditioning, security alarms and custom flooring, paint schemes and retractable blinds.

He estimated he sold 70 to 80 in the past five years in various sizes. Lohman Funeral Home in Ormond Beach bought one to house the company's motorcycle hearse.

To meet demand, Hanger approached Pace American, which now manufactures the Lexan-and-steel trailers at its Fitzgerald, Ga., plant.

Lexan is polycarbonate resin thermoplastic. The quarter-inch-thick panels have a 20-year life expectancy, Hanger said.

Pace also is marketing the product as Vue trailers through its nationwide dealership network.

"This Lexan is not the stuff you find at Home Depot," said John "JT" Trzaskus, general manager of Pace American. "This was designed for the locomotive market. It is the highest level. We hit it with a sledge hammer and couldn't break it."

The trailers range in price from a $5,000 5-foot-by-8-foot model to $19,000 for a 19-footer that can haul a car or four motorcycles. Larger sizes are special orders.

David Schumaker, vice president of business development at Luma Brite Technologies LLC in Ormond Beach, is working with Pace and Hanger on custom graphics for the trailers.

"This is a great product to showcase Luma Brite," Schumaker said. "It takes a mobile billboard to a new level. Instead of dragging around signs, you can show the product.

"If you have a great product, I can't think of a better way to display it, because it's not static."

One satisfied customer is Dave Apgar, marketing specialist for RacingFurniture.com. His clear trailer serves as a rolling office and display center, with a desk, chairs and other race-theme amenities. The company also uses clear trailers for deliveries.

"When we deliver products to the public, we pull up with the blinds down," Apgar said. "When we raise the blinds, it has that 'Wow' factor. It just grabs people."

jim.witters @news-jrnl.com

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Strang Wins Maxxis General GNCC - Cycle News

Posted: 07 Mar 2010 07:18 PM PST

For the second race in a row, Josh Strang put his FMF Makita Suzuki on the top step of the podium, declaring himself the man to beat in this year's Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series. The 21-year-old Australian's latest win came at the Maxxis General GNCC, round two of the 13-round series in Washington, Georgia, and gives him a 14-point lead in the series standings.

"I've worked hard for this and it feels good," said Strang. "And to get two wins is great. I got a good start, perhaps the best start I've ever got on the 450, and I rode well. I think I was better prepared for this race than I was in last week's race in the sand and my bike worked awesome, so it was a good day for us."

Early on in the three-hour race, Strang trailed Am-Pro Yamaha's Thad DuVall, who threatened to run away and hide during the first two laps. However, DuVall's day came to an end when he crashed heavily at about the midway point of the race.

"I rode kind of steady on the first lap and then Thad passed me and he simply checked out," said Strang. "But then I came around and DuVall was on the side of the track - I guess he crashed - and I stopped to see if he was okay. He got going again and he passed me and then he crashed again - he just freakin' ate it."

After DuVall dropped out, Strang cruised to an easy victory, crossing the finish line with two minutes to spare over Am-Pro Yamaha's Paul Whibley, who was happy to be on the podium after running out of gas at the opening round in Florida.

"I was actually racing with Josh [Strang] during the middle part of the race, but I tangled with a lapper and stalled my bike and lost maybe half a minute," said Whibley. "After that, Josh got away and I could never catch him. That's pretty much my race."

Chris Bach rebounded from a poor start to finish third, his second-straight podium finish.

"The first lap was chaos," said Bach. "I just stayed safe for a while and then started moving up. I caught up to Whibley and I thought if I latched onto to him we would ended up in the top five, which is where I wanted to be."

Indeed, Bach followed Whibley into the top five, and then when DuVall crashed out and FMF KTM's Nate Kanney got stuck in a rut, Bach inherited third.

"This is great, having back to back rides like this," said Bach. "I want to keep it going all year."

Fourth went to AM-Pro Yamaha's Charlie Mullins, who came from last place, after getting caught up in a first turn crash. Meanwhile, fifth went to FMF KTM's Nate Kanney. Kanney ran as high as second place on the opening lap, but was taken out two different times by lappers, moving him back down the order. During the final hour, Kanney made his way back towards the front but got stuck in one of the many mud holes and dropped back to fifth.

Cory Buttrick finished sixth, ahead of three-time AMA National Enduro Champion Russell Bobbitt, who also claimed the holeshot at the start of the race, collecting the $250 Motorcycle-USA.com Holeshot Award. Bobbitt managed the holeshot on perhaps the only 250 two-stroke in the XC1 class.

Mexican national enduro champ Homero Diaz was eighth on a KTM, while Kawasaki riders Ken Gaffney and Eric Bailey rounded out the top 10.

FMF KTM's Kailub Russell got back to his winning ways, taking a hard-earned win in the XC2 class. The defending XC2 champ battled for most of the race with Monster Energy/FAR Racing/ Andrews Cycles-backed Jason Thomas and Ride PG's KTM-mounted Jesse Robinson, before making his move on the final lap to take the win.

"I felt like I rode horrible today, but I was able to get it done," said Russell. "The first few laps I had arm pump like crazy and I couldn't do anything. But I finally got in a groove and things started clicking."

Thomas earned the $100 Motocycle-USA.com Holeshot Award to kick off the race, and then fell in behind Robinson to check out the lines.

"Jesse had awesome lines so I followed him for a while," said Thomas, who is recovering from a dislocated wrist. "He had smoother lines and I was able to pick up on them. Then I managed to pass him on the last lap to take second."

Robinson was pleased with second, and even more pleased to have led part of the race.

"This is probably the best ride I've ever had here," said Robinson. "I passed Kailub and pulled a little bit of a lead, but then I had to pit for gas and they caught up."

KTM riders Steward Baylor and Dustin Gibson rounded out the top five.

For the second race in a row, Open A rider Jordan Ashburn claimed the Top Amateur Award.

The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series resumes on March 20-21 with the FMF Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, North Carolina.

XC1 Results:

1. Josh Strang (Suz)

2. Paul Whibley (Yam)

3. Chris Bach (KTM)

4. Charlie Mullins (Yam)

5. Nate Kanney (KTM)

6. Cory Buttrick (KTM)

7. Russell Bobbitt (KTM)

8. Homero Diaz (KTM)

9. Ken Gaffney (Kaw)

10. Eric Bailey (Kaw)

XC1 Standings:

1. Josh Strang (60/2 wins)

2. Chris Bach (46)

3. Charlie Mullins (39)

4. Paul Whibley (36)

5. Cory Buttrick (28)

6. Homero Diaz (25)

7. Glenn Kearney (24)

8. Kenneth Gilbert (22)

9. Eric Bailey (20)

10. Nate Kanney (18)

XC2 Results:

1. Kailub Russell (KTM)

2. Jason Thomas (Yam)

3. Jesse Robinson (KTM)

4. Steward Baylor (KTM)

5. Dustin Gibson (KTM)

6. Scott Watkins (Kaw)

7. Jake Korn (KTM)

8. Brad Bakken (KTM)

9. Josh Weisenfels (Kaw)

10. Robby Norwood (Kaw)

XC2 Standings:

1. Jason Thomas (55/1 win)

2. Kailub Russell (51/1 win)

3. Jesse Robsinson (46)

4. Steward Baylor (32)

5. Dustin Gibson (31)

6. Jake Korn (30)

7. Josh Weisenfels (30)

8. Scott Watkins (28)

9 Robby Norwood (21)

10. David Snyder (17)

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Leather Jackets Manufacturers in United States Of America - PRLog (free press release)

Posted: 07 Mar 2010 08:37 PM PST

PR Log (Press Release) – Mar 07, 2010 – Viking Worldwise Inc. announces the launch of their Business Website.

Viking Worldwise Inc.,Pennsylvania, United States Of America is delighted to announce the launch of its website http://www.yourjacket.com/ that will be of tremendous value to our customers. The company, is one of the most reputed manufacturers and suppliers of Manufacturer and wholesale supplier, has stepped forward to unveil its ultimate goal to make business as simple as a click through its comprehensive website. The new site offers detail product information, contact information, user-friendly product navigation with comprehensive information regarding the company's profile.

Founded under the able guidance of Mr. George Kurien, our company have acquired immense industry experience by actively providing its qualitative products a large number of clients. Our company proudly boast an excellent reputation as international market leader. The company operates a program used to design and develop wide range of Manufacturer and wholesale supplier, which includes: leather jackets, leather bags, leather sports jackets, motorcycle leather jacket, leather biker jackets, bike racing jackets, leather motorbike jackets and leather twill jackets.

The website is designed and developed with IndiaMART.com, India's largest B2B marketplace which helped us in fulfilling our requirements, to meet customer's needs worldwide for immediate information.

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