Fast Motorcycle Industry News

2012 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge! A 3rd edition is set to start from Las Vegas August 5th and end 7 days later in Irving, New York, a less than 6000 mile ride. Rules are not set in stone and a press release from Hoka Hey is mentioning that the organization is still encouraging new ideas and suggestions and is looking for registrations. Contrary to last year and to what was formally announced,  for this new edition, participants may ride any American brands: Harley-Davidson, Victory and Indian motorcycles. Restriction to only Harley riders has been removed because Harley-Davidson factory declined to be a sponsor.

This year the ride is much shorter, and the rules to be eligible for prizes are again very fuzzy. For example, the organization states that you must arrive at the finish line within the allotted time (which one?) not too soon (not before when?) and be able to certify you did not receive a moving violation along the way (no more GPS tracking and lie detector tests after arrival.) Jim & Beth Durham promise that the winner’s purse will be split equally among the contenders (how many?) who arrive during the window of time (which one?). The new twist is that the purse will be based on the entry fees received (how contenders know for sure about this?) without mentioning how much of the entry fees will go to awards. I remind you that no money (or even the prize motorcycle offered by Harley-Davidson) was awarded in 2011. Well, as the organizers Jim and Beth Durham proudly declare “In 2012 we are offering you a Challenge and we intend to deliver…” And for 2012, Hoka Hey has a quite funny new slogan “Anything else is just a race” (meaning their 2010 and 2011 editions?)

Valerie Thompson Gains Entry Into The ‘Mojave Magnum 200 MPH Club’. She rode her production BMW S1000R at Speed of 209.5 MPH over the new 1.5-mile course on in Mojave California. Her Teammate Bob Sellers recorded a top speed of 219.5 mph on his Suzuki Hayabusa. Thompson is owner/driver of the Valerie Thompson Land Speed Racing Motorcycle Team. She currently holds 2 land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. In addition to land speed racing, Thompson has competed in the All Harley Drag Racing Association & National Hot Rod Association series. Thompson was recently selected to test pilot the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger designed to eclipse the 512 mph land speed record set by Kitty O’Neil in 1976. If successful, Thompson will become the “World’s Fastest Female.”

Motorcycle Industry Develops E-Cycle Range Protocol. The Motorcycle Industry Council (NIC) continues to extend its support to the growing electric vehicle market by adding “Highway” range test procedures to the previously adopted MIC recommended practice for determining the “City” riding range for electric highway motorcycles. Additionally, the MIC received agreement from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Motorcycle Technical Steering Committee to consider an SAE standard protocol for electric motorcycle range, based on MIC’s recommended practice. The new MIC recommended practice adds a “Highway Commuting” range test procedure and two constant speed tests that could be used to supplement the previously developed MIC “City” Riding Range Test Procedure for stop-and-go operation, published in March 2011. The “Highway Commuting Range” for electric motorcycles with a top speed of at least 55 mph is based on “50% stop-and-go” (city riding) and “50% constant speed” operation. For vehicles capable of maintaining a constant speed of 55 mph for 10 minutes, both a City Range value and Highway Commuting Range value will be reported. Reporting of range values for the constant speed tests is optional.

City Of Sturgis Leasing For the 1st Time Rally Vendor Space At Soccer Fields. The Sturgis soccer fields that local residents consider the only safe place left for kids during the rally is for the 1st time offered for rent to vendors. Sturgis city manager Daniel Ainslie justifies this decision by the fact that the the city needs more income or will have to make severe cuts in its 2013 budget. Most residents are concerned by such a decision and the installation of an additional stop sign at Lion’s Club Park. The sign is needed to allow easier access to the city’s soccer fields.

Sturgis Chamber Of Commerce Honors Hot Leathers. The Chamber awarded Hot Leathers with its Community Pride Award, which is bestowed upon a business that works to present Sturgis as an attractive, well-rounded community through the physical appearance of its property, landscaping and restoration efforts. Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Weyer said, “Hot Leathers operates a year-round retail location in downtown Sturgis that is a cornerstone of our community’s revitalization efforts. It gives visitors with their first impression of the community and downtown area. Hot Leathers continually strives to be a model business. They most definitely lead by example, with renovation projects, store decorations and ongoing support of Sturgis.”

20 Responses to “Fast Motorcycle Industry News”


  1. 1 chopmonster66 Jun 21st, 2012 at 8:58 am

    sounds like another fiasco in the making !! sounds like they make the rules to suit them …..WHAT A JOKE !!!!!

  2. 2 Breeze Jun 21st, 2012 at 9:15 am

    Why aren’t these people LOCKED UP.
    Every year it’s a new scam.

  3. 3 Bruce Jun 21st, 2012 at 9:23 am

    Hoka Hey. Riders know all the rules after they register, and now after they arrive? What a joke.

  4. 4 Darin Maltsberger-Instructor @ MTI Jun 21st, 2012 at 9:33 am

    Congrats Valerie! The students and I look forward to seeing you again at Bonneville.

    -Darin

  5. 5 burnout Jun 21st, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Awesome Ms Valeria! Hoka Hey will continue as long as people keep signin up for the stupid thing!! If Sturgis is not “making money” opening up the soccer fields to vendors is NOT going to make a difference!! peace

  6. 6 Matt Jun 21st, 2012 at 10:04 am

    Even without Harley-Davidson making the rules this year this looks to be another Durham disaster in the making for the next Hoka Hey. Personally I won’t get the slightest bit mad this time though since the race will no longer be used as a shameless PR campaign for a single motorcycle manufacturer and most of the competitors registering know what they are getting themselves into now. If it turns into another giant cluster f**k I’ll just have a good laugh, tip my hat/raise my glass to the Durhams, and say “You’ve done it again!” =).

  7. 7 Rodent Jun 21st, 2012 at 11:13 am

    Hoka Hey should marry the City of Sturgis and it would be a perfect marriage of stupidity. It could be South Dakotas first sme sex union.

  8. 8 Shifter Jun 21st, 2012 at 11:39 am

    I am pretty sure that if the IQ of those still participating in the Hoka Hey and throwing their money at Jim Durham was measured, it would be at sea level. Durham not very bright but smarter than all these participants. By the way, Durham never gave $1.00 to any charity, nor did he brought water to the poor Lakotas of South Dakota. Jim Durham Indian name should be “Broken Promises”

  9. 9 Kirkland Jun 21st, 2012 at 11:44 am

    ~ NOTICE to ALL POLITICIANS 2012 ~

    It is now federal mandate.

    Individuals that attempt to “hitch-hike” on the motorcyclist stalwart hallmark companion known as “KICK-START” or “Kick-Starting” any “thing” or “effort”, will be dis-qualified from entering any POLITICAL CONTEST in 2012 – and concurrently labeled as a A MISFIT POSER, who is non-supported by two wheelers of any ilk.

    None of you support the EPA’s “1-kit-bild-per-lifetime”, nor have you ever owned any motorcycle that required “kick-starting”, so stop hanging on our leg…… you’re pulling us under! 🙁

  10. 10 Ax Jun 21st, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    Geez, will there really be anyone dumb enough to enter the hoka hey this year?

  11. 11 burnout Jun 21st, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    Ax….. yes. peace

  12. 12 BadMonkeyMW Jun 21st, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    Shit ledge.

  13. 13 Fredp Jun 21st, 2012 at 11:20 pm

    why give any press to this run. It has been wrought with suspicion and not worth
    blog time.

  14. 14 Fredp Jun 21st, 2012 at 11:25 pm

    I see Viper Motorcycle Company was at the Mecum Auction with Valerie T introducing a “Black Diamond Edition” race bike? Heard it sold for 55k!!!!
    Ilmor engines built them something like a 160 ft/lb 190 HP motor for this animal? Anybody got pictures???
    Hey, burnout, that company is in your state now, isn’t it?

  15. 15 Mike Greenwald Jun 22nd, 2012 at 6:35 am

    Kirkland,

    Agreed.

    Watch out for Sen. Jim Sensenbrenner law to ban motorcycle only stops. Seems he is good at misleading people. He was responsible for the ‘Patriot Act’. The correlation here is if you thought the title was misleading the last time, expect more of the same.

  16. 16 Mike Tomas Kiwi Indian MC Co Jun 22nd, 2012 at 9:20 am

    I can’t believe HD was not smart enough to stay away from such a questionable event last year in the 1st place. Then they were their usual stupid self and excluded other makes.
    Real smart indeed.

  17. 17 Kirkland Jun 24th, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    ~ Crossover Time ~ Reaching out to the Automotive Enthusiast

    The Search for 1954-1959 (one-piece) Buckhorn Handlebars

    The V-Twin 1954-57 (Q.C. controlled) rigid frames will arrive in NY before the end of the year.
    There are plenty of 1954-1959 Speedster Bars in stock at V-Twin.

    Everybody wants Buckhorn handlebars because they reach back and allow seating like a cut-down Twin-Cam –

    We’re enlisting the help of “car people”, who have vaster tubing, bending, heat-treating, drilling, tap & dieing resources than motorcycle mfgrs.
    The motorcycle mfgrs. cannot pick out where the money trees are within a forest. They’re “too close” to it, to understand the market for tomorrow that’s waiting.
    Please help the motorcycle industry do what it cannot – provide off-the-shelf availability of a product builder’s need for their righteous creeds.

  18. 18 Kirkland Jun 24th, 2012 at 9:29 pm

    I’ll post pics of the handlebars when they get back from Victor’s, in positions corresponding to the V-Twin catalog illustration “How Bars Are Measured” and answer any questions about slot width and diameter and thread-pitch.
    Essentially the 1954-59 bars are 5-piece.

  19. 19 Matt Jun 25th, 2012 at 9:54 am

    Mike: I believe Harley saw an opportunity to use the race as a marketing tool. There was talks of filming a possible reality show and/or documentary around the event funded and/or produced by Harley. Not to mention the commercial potential of having your product sweep the winners circle of a well known endurance race.

  20. 20 Kirkland Jun 26th, 2012 at 9:46 am

    Dude………….. wha’ hoppen FHP TechTalk?

    No esta?

    Por Que?

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Cyril Huze