..:: ATV Nationals ::..

Yamaha Launches www.TruthAboutRhino.com
New Site is Resource for Accurate Information; Encourages Enthusiast and Industry Support

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has launched www.TruthAboutRhino.com. The new Web site has been created to provide accurate information about Yamaha and its Rhino Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles, to combat a recent flurry of inaccurate information and negative advertisements targeting the vehicle, and to encourage Rhino customers and the off-road industry to show their support for the SxS segment.

From the original 2004 Rhino 660 introduction to present day, TruthAboutRhino.com documents key points in the history of the vehicle. Some sections of the site offer Yamaha’s safety recommendations and product specifications, while others highlight the many awards and accolades that the Rhino has received. Visitors to the site can find Yamaha history and general corporate background, and Rhino customers and enthusiasts can “Rally Around the Rhino” by filling out an online form or emailing messages or questions to: info@truthaboutrhino.com.

"With TruthAboutRhino.com, Yamaha has created a home for accurate information about our company and the Rhino product line, and we’re encouraging our customers and the industry to show their support,” said Steve Nessl, Marketing Manager for Yamaha’s ATV & SxS Group. “We’ve seen a disproportionate amount of negative and inaccurate information distributed recently, so we wanted to create a place where our customers, the general public and the news media can get the real facts.”

The new Web site includes background information on Yamaha and the Rhino, details on the March 31, 2009, Consumer Product Safety Commission repair program announcement (which has been inaccurately described as a recall), and provides a platform for Rhino fans and off-road enthusiasts in general to show their support.

“What has been lost in the firestorm of negative, inaccurate information about the Rhino is that the vast majority of our customers and SxS enthusiasts absolutely love their vehicles and its role in pioneering the SxS segment in the industry,” Nessl said. “In reality, statistics show that more than 99 percent of Rhino customers have never reported any claim or incident, a fact never mentioned in the plaintiff attorney ads or Web sites where they troll for new clients. We decided it was time to create a home online for ourselves where accurate information about our vehicle can be found.”

Yamaha’s Rhino safety recommendations and guidelines, which are posted on TruthAboutRhino.com, include:
· Drivers must be 16 years or older and have a valid motor vehicle license. Children under 16 should never drive a Rhino.
· To ride in a Rhino, a passenger must be tall enough to place both feet flat on the floorboard with his or her back against the seat back and be able to reach the passenger hand holds.
· Driver and passenger should always wear seatbelts and protective gear/clothing including: Helmet, Eye protection, Gloves, Over-the-ankle boots, Long sleeves and Long pants.
· Drivers and passengers should stay completely inside the vehicle at all times.
· Rhinos are designed for off-road use only. They should never be operated on public roads or paved surfaces.
· As with any motor vehicle, safety features are no substitute for driving responsibly. Avoid aggressive or reckless use of the Rhino.
· For more safety recommendations, please check out the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association web site at: www.ROHVA.org.

Some customer and fan feedback is also already posted on the site, including a video compilation from the most recent Rhino Rally in Glamis. Yamaha plans to update the site on a regular basis with more news, fun events, photos, videos and comments from the public.

“Rhino customers are our biggest supporters and the most enthusiastic about SxS vehicles and Yamaha,” Nessl said. “We look forward to their feedback on the TruthAboutRhino.”

About Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), a leader in the motorsports market, offers the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company’s ever-expanding line of products also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, race kart engines, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of more than 4,000 dealers in the United States.

Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1977, Yamaha also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com

3rd Annual 88 Live To Ride Benefit Dinner Scheduled For June 27th @ Muddy Creek Raceway

ITP, Big Daddy Motorsports, and the Media Allstars will be hosting their Third Annual "88 Live To Ride Benefit Dinner" Saturday night, June 27th at Muddy Creek Raceway. The event is a fund raiser for the 88 Live to Ride Fund, and is guaranteed to be a good time. While this year's menu hasn't been set, one item that has been confirmed is Grandma Digby's World famous caramel cake. "It's always a good thing when you get to break bread with fellow racers, and teams, especially while raising money for a good cause." stated event organizer Stan Digby. Anyone interested in sponsoring this year's event should contact either Stan Digby (email: bigdaddymotorsportsms@yahoo.com phone: 662-891-7684), or Debi Bartosek (email: 88-4ever@roadrunner.com). This event, or the fund for that matter aren't possible without your support, so please help those that are looking out for your safety.

About the 88 Live To Ride Fund:
After the devastating loss of Pro racer Matt Bartosek, his family, friends and the racing community decided to form a corporation, 88 Live to Ride, Inc., to further expand on needs, seen as necessary, in the sport of ATV racing. The mission of 88 Live to Ride, Inc. is to advocate and support the protection, education and safety of riders involved in ATV racing events. Thru fundraising events held in 2005 the corporation was able to purchase a 20’ Vintage trailer to use as its medical unit along with a Yamaha generator to supply power to the medical unit. Doc Ragon uses the medical trailer to provide “walking wounded” care, free of charge, to the racers; their families and the spectators of the sport we all love. Yamaha Motor Corporation stepped up to the plate and provided 88 Live to Ride with a Limited Edition Rhino to be used as their official pit vehicle at race events.

The Board of 88 Live to Ride, Inc. consists of Debi Bartosek, Jorge Cuartas, Cindi Hart and Beth Laurine. The IRS officially granted the corporation its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and it is now recognized as a Public Charity.

April 14, 2009

R.I.P. Bruce Ogilvie

Blatantly Stolen from Racer X (www.racerxonline.com)

Bruce Ogilvie passed away on April 13, 2009 after a two-year battle with cancer. Ogilvie fought cancer the same way he raced motorcycles all his life: with everything he had.

Most enthusiasts know Bruce Ogilvie as a master Baja racer—a champion whose personal victories in the San Felipe 250, Baja 500 and Baja 1000 spread out over four decades. The first was a Baja 500 win in 1975, with another victory in the 1000 later that year. Bruce was the only man in history to win the Baja 1000 overall in four different decades, and he posted his last overall win in 2003 at the age of 51. Bruce Ogilvie was as tough as they come.

Bruce O’s talents and accomplishments behind a handlebar are indisputable and well known. But there was another side to Ogilvie that was equally impressive. For more than 20 years, Bruce was in charge of coordinating Honda’s racing efforts in Baja. He led an army of racers and support team members for years while he applied his own personal philosophy to the challenge.

In 1984, Bruce was hired full-time at American Honda. He served in many capacities over the years. In addition to being in charge of everything off-road at Honda—including motorcycle and ATV racing—Bruce was most recently the Senior Test Evaluator for Honda’s Product Evaluation department. In this role, Bruce’s contributions to the direction and development of all Honda’s off-road and motocross products was unparalleled. If you can’t imagine racing or riding anything but your Honda off-road motorcycle or ATV, it is because Bruce Ogilvie helped make it that way.

A Web site in honor of Bruce's life is in the works so people can contribute thoughts, stories and pictures. This tribute will allow all of us the opportunity to share our feelings and life memories we have had with him, and this site can be here forever so we never forget all this great man has done for us.

Godspeed Bruce. You will always be remembered as our leader with that calm, assuring voice in our head guiding us through obstacles you conquered long ago.

Bruce Ogilvie was born on April 4, 1952. He died on April 13, 2009. He is survived by his wife Marcia, his 14-year-old son Nick and nine-year-old daughter Isabella. Bruce's family will have a private service, and because blood transfusions were so important to Bruce’s battle with cancer for the past two years the family has asked for people to donate blood in Bruce’s honor. More information will be available about blood donations soon. Cards can be sent to American Honda, 1919 Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501, attention Bruce Ogilvie.

April 6, 2009

Byrd Perfect at Ballance Moto X

Results
Pro
1. Joe Byrd (Hon)
2. Chad Wienen (Kaw)
3. Dustin Wimmer (Suz)
4. Josh Creamer (Kaw)
5. Cody Miller (Can)
6. Thomas Brown (Yam)
7. Clay Holmes (Hon)
8. Josh Upperman (Hon)
9. Brandon Smith (Can)
10. Douglas Gust (Suz)

Cody Grant Takes The Win At Home Track

Pro Am Production
1. Cody Grant (Suz)
2. Cody Gibson (Kaw)
3. Chase Snapp (Suz)
4. Casey Martin (Hon)
5. Travis Moore (Hon)
6. Joseph Bruening (KTM)
7. Devin Heimes (Suz)
8. Brandon Stout (Yam)
9. Aaron Meyer (Pls)
10. Matt Shapaka (Hon)

March 23, 2009

Wimmer Smokes 'em Again"

Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Dustin Wimmer absolutely dominated the ATV MX National at Pell City last weekend, going 1-1 for a nearly flawless performance. The only hiccups in Wimmer's weekend were the lack of holeshots as Honda mounted rookie Nick Denoble, and Baldwin/ PEP/ Honda's Josh Upperman laid claim to both starts.

A huge first turn pile up put one of Wimmer's main threats out of contention early as Monster Energy Kawasaki's Josh Creamer was on the ground just seconds into the first moto (along with Cale Downen, & Can Am's Cody Miller). The other heavy hitters were fighting both mechanical gremlins, and Murphy's laws all weekend with Can Am's John Natalie, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Chad Wienen, Yamaha's Pat Brown, and more sidelined at one point or another.

Yamaha's rookie sensation Thomas Brown rode like a seasoned Veteran all weekend, and charged like a madman all weekend. Brown has a rare mix of talent, will, talent, and determination which should strike fear in the rest of the Pro class. Interestingly, the rookies pretty much owned the Top Ten.

RESULTS
1. Dustin Wimmer
2. Joe Byrd
3. Josh Upperman
4. Thomas Brown
5. Jeremy Lawson
6. Doug Gust
7. John Natalie
8. Greg Gee
9. Nick DeNoble
10. Jeremie Warnia
11. Brandon Smith
12. Richard Pelchat
13. Harold Goodman
14. Josh Creamer
15. Clay Holmes
16. Pat Brown
17. Cody Miller
18. Cale Downen
19. Russell Shumaker
20. Chad Wienen

Pro Am Production

Suzuki City/ Media Allstars' Cody Grant was consistently fastest all weekend, qualifying at the top of both Pro Am classes, unfortunately for the #18, fast qualifiers didn't translate to race wins as mechanical issues at the start of Moto Two took him out of the race, and the picture for that matter. With that said, Walsh Kawasaki's Cody Gibson just wouldn't be denied and took both Moto Wins, the overall, and the big check. Gibson was on fire all weekend, and the new machine is suiting him well. Florida's Josh Williams was another rider who looked unstoppable, yet the results won't reflect it. Much like the Pros, the Gremlins attacked, and took out many of the real contenders. Marc "Wingnut" Winchester probably got the worst of it as he suffered a broken femur, but earned a scenic helicopter ride. Get well soon Wingnut.

RESULTS

1. CODY GIBSON
2. BOBBY ROSS
3. CHASE SNAPP
4. RANDY LEHR
5. ANDY TRAVIS
6. DEVIN HEIMES
7. WILLIAM COTTAGE
8. CRAIG PORTER
9. JOSEPH BRUENING
10. TRAVIS MOORE
11. AARON MEYER
12. RICKY DEERING
13. BRANDON STOUT
14. EARL BISHOP
15. ADAM CLARK
16. JOSH WILLIAMS
17. CODY GRANT
18. LANDEN HURST
19. MARC WINCHESTER
20. CASEY MARTIN

In other Horrible News

Blatantly Stolen From RacerXOnline (The Best site on the web)
Feldkamp Tragedy

Racer X has been saddened by the news of a tragic plane crash that occurred yesterday near Butte, Montana. Bud Feldkamp, owner of Glen Helen Raceway in California, owned the plane, and while Bud himself was not on the plane, several members of his family were onboard. All 14 people on the plane perished, including Bud’s daughters and grandchildren. The Racer X family extends our prayers to Bud and the Feldkamp family, and we are keeping them in our thoughts.

March 21, 2009

GNCC Round Three Results
XC1 Class
1. Bryan Cook (Hon)
2. Adam McGill (KTM)
3. Bill Ballance (Yam)
4. Taylor Kiser (Yam)
5. Chris Borich (Suz)
6. Chris Bithell (Can)
7. Duane Johnson (Hon)
8. Brandon Sommers (Yam)
9. Johnny Gallagher (Yam)
10. Brent Sturdivant (Can)

XC2
1. Josh Kirkland (KTM)
2. Brian Wolf (Yam)
3. Eric Hoyland (Hon)
4. Dustin Canipe (Kaw)
5. Gabe Phillips (Hon)
6. Parker Johnson (Hon)
7. Rob Hertz (Hon)
8. Scottie Rich (Kaw)
9. Josh Beavers (KTM)
10. Jeremy Rice (Pol)

March 21, 2009

776 Amateur Entries, 23 Pros @ Pell City
Pro Am Unlimited Top 10
1. Josh Williams (Suzuki)
2. Randy Lehr (Honda)
3. Marc "Wingnut" Winchester (Honda)
4. Casey Martin (Honda)
5. Cody Grant (Suzuki)
6. Bobby Ross (Kawasaki)
7. Chase Snapp (Suzuki)
8. Eddie Edmondson (Honda)
9. Andy Travis (KTM)
10. Adam Clark (KTM)

Heather Byrd Won Women's Pro Am

Suzuki's Wimmer Fastest in timed practice for Pro Class.

Cody Grant fastest in Pro Am Production timed practice.

Sunday March 8th, 2009

Come to think of it, Suzuki had a damn good weekend with wins at the Daytona Supercross with Chad Reed, ATV MX with Dustin Wimmer, and GNCC ATV with Chris Borich. Congrats to the boys in Yellow.

Glen Helen ATV MX Nationals Pro Round One

Overall Results

1. Dustin Wimmer - Rockstar Makita Suzuki
2. Josh Creamer - Monster Energy Kawasaki
3. Joe Byrd - Factory Honda
4. Thomas Brown - Yamaha
5. Clay Holmes - Honda
6. John Natalie - Can-Am
7. Jeremy Lawson - Can-Am
8. Doug Gust - Rockstar Makita Suzuki
9. Josh Upperman - Honda
10. Greg Gee - Honda
11. Keith Little - Kawasaki
12. Chad Wienen - Monster Energy Kawasaki
13. Pat Brown - Yamaha
14. Brandon Smith - Can Am
15. Harold Goodman - Honda
16. Russell Schumaker - Kawasaki
17. Nick De Noble - Honda
18. Richard Pelchat - Can Am
19. Cody Miller - Can Am
20. Mitch Reynolds - Polaris

Maxxis General GNCC Round Two Results

XC1 Class
1. Chris Borich (Suz)
2. Taylor Kiser (Yam)
3. Adam McGill (KTM)
4. Brandon Sommers (Yam)
5. Jarrod McClure (Yam)
6.. Donald Ockerman (Yam)
7. Duane Johnson (Hon)
8. Johnny Gallagher (Yam)
9. Ryan Lane (Hon)
10. Jeff Pickens (Yam)

XC2
1. Brian Wolf (Yam)
2. Josh Kirkland (KTM)
3. Eric Hoyland (Hon)
4. David Crane (KTM)
5. Scottie Rich (Kaw)
6. Dustin Canipe (Kaw)
7. Parker Jones (Hon)
8. Rob Hertz (Hon)
9. Gabe Phillips (Hon)
10. Nathan Thomas (Hon)

URGENT: Call to Action from MX Sports

Dear Industry Leaders, Racers, Fans and Enthusiasts,

Yesterday (February 10th), a law went into effect prohibiting the sale of minicycles to children under the age of 13 as a result of the lead content in the machines (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, Title I, Section 101). This law, which arguably applies to both motorcycles and ATVs, treats any children's product that contains more lead than the limit established by law as a banned hazardous substance.

We have already begun to experience the devastating consequences of this new legislation upon our sport, as OEMs have already pulled these machines from their showroom floors. Youth racing is the foundation of our sport. That is when most of you fell in love with motorcycles in the first place, only to grow up to bring your own kids back to the racetracks. Only now, they can't ride.

On behalf of MX Sports (Loretta Lynn's), Racer Productions (GNCC), and ATVPG (ATV Amateur Nationals), we are extremely concerned with the short- and long-range effects of this new legislation, as the first rounds in all of our various series are less than two weeks away, and all include classes for youth racers under the age of 13. But it's not just our events - WORCS, NMA, Mini Os, SETRA, etc., are all adversely impacted.

It is our opinion that the new law is inapplicable to off-highway motorsports, as neither motorcycles nor ATVs have the potential for ingestion, and lead from motorcycles is not likely to be absorbed into the bloodstream or present a health hazard. Let's face it - when was the last time someone swallowed a motorcycle? Any other interpretation would be silly. Be that as it may, the law will continue to adversely affect our industry unless and until an exemption is granted.

Presently, there is a petition for an immediate temporary exemption pending before the Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") filed by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) on behalf of the OEMs, distributors, and industry associations. This petition, if granted, would enable our industry to move forward this racing season while the applicability of the law to the off-highway industry is determined.

What can you do?

A form letter for submission to the CPSC in support of the petition for exemption is attached as prepared by the MIC. The letter will also be available this weekend at the Indy tradeshow. Simply print out one copy for each person in your family and submit it ASAP. In the meantime, AMA is preparing a letter for submission by its membership to the CPSC. Be on the lookout for that one as well.

Also, an electronic form letter has been prepared by State Representative Tom Self of Missouri. Please go his website at www.tomself.com. Just fill in your name and address and hit "Submit" to register your support. Please submit this letter on behalf of every member of your family - regardless of age.

What else can you do?

Contact your congressmen and senators; let them know that this legislation will have the unintended consequences of crippling an entire industry. Surely, it could not have been the spirit or intent of the new law to apply to motorcycles or bicycles (which apparently have lead in the brake cables).

Time is of the essence. The very future of our sport and of our industry depends on this. We must support the pending petition before the commencement of the national racing season.

Please give this matter your immediate attention, and forward this letter to EVERY PERSON available ASAP.

Thank you,

Carrie Coombs Russell

Sorry about the lack of updates, the truth is each series, and print mag is doing such a good job of keeping their sites updated, that we're just about obsolete. Click on the series links for the latest and greatest in ATV Racing. I strongly suggest www.atvscene.com for everything else. www.atvrideronline.com is doing great work as well. We will however be doing an Indy Dealer Show update, as well as regular stuff once the race seasons start.