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FEATURES Motorcycles
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cover photo
2013 Canadian Superbike Championship p36
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12 ITALY PREVIEW QUOTES-RED BULL, LOTUS, SAUBER... Round 12 of the 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship sees the paddock journey to one of the most historic circuits on the calendar - the high-speed heaven that is Monza.
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18 NASCAR Driver Profile: Jeff Gordon 20 90TH ANNIVERSARY 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2013 The world’s most famous 24-hour endurance race. Audi’s #2 Tom Kristensen in his 9th overall race win. 24 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND IN SEBRING, FL Henzler, Tandy, Sellers Third in GT at 12 Hours of Sebring in Falken Porsche
page 27
26 50 YEARS OF THE PORSCHE 911 A sports car celebrates a special anniversary 27 MAGNUS RACING EARNS BRICKYARD GRAND PRIX PODIUM, HOLDS GT POINTS LEAD 34 MOTOGP: Eighth and Ninth for Hayden, Dovisioso at Laguna Seca SUPPLEMENT
eBikes in America 12 full pages.
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FAVORITES
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16 MY TOP 5 ANNUAL MOTORSPORT EVENTS NASCAR Superfan 48 THE LAST OPEN ROAD BY BURT LEVY A review by Ed Bergman
26 50 YRS OF THE 911 A sports car celebrates a special anniversary
CONCEPTS +
49 THE NEW SOLOWHEEL
38 OISIN HUGHES
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
17 DANICA PATRICK & FAN Photo by parker anderson
50 SNOLO SLED’S NEW STEALTH-X
Page 52 Nissan zero emission on demand
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On the cover: Mitch Card coming out of Turn 3 (Quebec Corner) during the Magneti Marelli AM SBK Round 5 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport) ow.ly/oB0ID Photo by Antony Lawrence By July, Mitch had claimed his first career national race wins as he swept both the Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike and the Bazzaz / Inside Motorcycles Amateur Sport Bike races. He closed to within three points of the lead of the Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike class with his second win of the season. Page 36
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Formula One
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ALL EYES ON CHECO Mexican racing driving Sergio Perez has replaced Lewis Hamilton at Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes for the 2013 Formula 1 World Championship. Here ‘Checo’ is testing in the MP4-28 on day four of the first Official Formula 1 Test at the Circuito de Jerez in southern Spain. Photo by Michael Elleray Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 § 11
Italy preview quotes Red Bull, Lotus, Sauber & more Round 12 of the 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship sees the paddock journey to one of the most historic circuits on the calendar - the high-speed heaven that is Monza. Those involved in the Formula 1 Gran Premio d’Italia 2013 discuss their prospects for the coming weekend… Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull 2012 Qualifying - 6th, 2012 Race - 22nd “Monza is the fastest circuit of the year. The track itself is in principle only made up of straights and chicanes. Because of this we reach the fastest top speed of the year at Monza, getting up to 330 km/h. The acceleration through the Parabolica is a balancing act - if you make the smallest error then you will slide straight into the gravel before you know it. “This track brings back great memories for me, mainly from my first win there in 2008 with Toro Rosso. I can’t describe the feeling of standing on the top of the podium for the first time, and Monza was one of the best places to experience it because of the thousands of passionate fans that stand beneath, it gives you goose bumps. Mark Webber, Red Bull 2012 Qualifying - 11th, 2012 Race - 20th “I like Monza a lot because it’s very Formula One in terms of its history and its atmosphere. All of the greats have raced there and I have an affinity with Italians from my Minardi days. The track
is one of a kind, it’s an incredibly fast circuit with high top speeds, so there’s a lot of heavy braking. Monza has never been that kind to me; I’ve had a few retirements and have never finished on the podium, so I want to get a good result there this year!
there - once or twice I have been close to the win - but something has always gone wrong. Hopefully we will have a real chance to fight for that victory this time.
“The Tifosi really make the atmosphere of the weekend, they go ballistic and they’re very passionate about a certain red team. They will climb anything to get a good view: they sit in trees, on billboards and after the second Lesmo they sit on the old banking with their feet hanging over the barrier. Overall, Monza is one of the races that I recommend people go to.”
“Monza’s a historical place with a unique design where we achieve very high speeds. It’s a real challenge for everyone to be running so fast and a really good feeling in the car. It’s the home of the Tifosi and there will be a lot of Finnish fans there too. The atmosphere is just out of reach for every other Grand Prix. It’s great to go there with everything working well in your car and see how quickly you can go. It’s the place where we go really, really fast.
Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus 2012 Qualifying - 8th, 2012 Race - 5th “It’s true that I have never won in Italy. For one reason or another things just haven’t worked out for me, but it doesn’t mean I can’t drive the track. Just because I have not won at a circuit in the past it doesn’t mean that I won’t win or get a good result there in the future. It is true that I have previously had some very competitive weekends
“Monza always gives a great challenge. It’s so different compared with the more modern circuits as the layout means the car needs to be set up differently. To go fast at Monza you need a car that is good aerodynamically, stable over the kerbs, and has a strong engine as we are using full throttle for most of the lap. I think we should be pretty good in those areas, but we won’t know exactly how good until we get out on track.
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“It’s a unique circuit with the high speeds achieved there and everyone will be running the lowest level of downforce we see all year. Low downforce has not always been the best for our car, but the factory has been working hard to get more speed and stability for us with some changes to the car. Let’s wait and see how the car goes on Friday morning and then we’ll have a better idea of what can be achieved.” Romain Grosjean, Lotus 2012 Qualifying - n/a, 2012 Race - n/a “It’s a race I wasn’t allowed to contest last season and as a racing driver all you want to do is race, so I can’t wait to take to the track for the first time in practice on Friday morning. It’s a very historic venue; a beautiful circuit in a fantastic location and racing there is always great. It’s a special feeling when you are blasting through the park along the Monza straights, and there are so many really enthusiastic fans there. I have to admit, though, it’s not only the racing I’m looking forward to as Italian cuisine is superb. I’ll be visiting a couple of restaurants during my stay… “For the designers, you need to have a car that’s very slippery through the air. Then for the engineers, you have to make the correct decision on gearing to make the most of the slippery car and engine power along the straights. For the driver in the car, there are
a couple of heavy braking areas where you are slowing from the highest speeds of the year, so you have to be careful to get your braking right otherwise you can overshoot the corner. You see that quite a few times over the weekend. “It can be quite hot there sometimes and it can be hard on the tyres. Considering that this is where we seem to have an advantage with our car, let’s hope for both! You use the kerbs quite a bit, which looks good on the slow motion cameras but you certainly know about it in the car! Basically, it’s a pretty great track.” Eric Boullier, Lotus team principal “Monza’s a very different circuit from Spa and we have an equally different aerodynamic package for the car. The weather is usually better in Italy than we saw in Belgium this year so that could help us. We certainly expect better performance and results than we saw last time out.” Alan Permane, Lotus trackside operations director “There’s certainly nothing (about Monza) which jumps up and causes us any great concerns. You need an aerodynamically efficient car - which we have - and a powerful engine which Renault supplies us with. You also need a car that has good change of direction for the interruptions to the straights. Some of the challenges of
Monza have diminished over time; an example being the kerbs which are not as aggressive as they once were. You still need to have the suspension sufficiently compliant to enable kerb usage, but it’s not as much of a consideration as before. (A longer chassis) is certainly something we have looked at with the lessons learnt this season and we could see a longer wheelbase configuration make an appearance in Monza.” Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber 2012 Qualifying -24th, 2012 Race - 21st “Monza is a track with a lot of history and the only true highspeed circuit of the season. I still remember sealing my GP2 title there in 2009. After the race on Sunday morning I was the champion. Monza requires a low-downforce configuration, which can make the car quite tricky to drive when braking from 340 km/h down to speeds of about 60 km/h in the chicanes. It’s a very nice race with a good atmosphere in the Parco di Monza where a lot of passionate Italian fans cheer on the Scuderia Ferrari. I enjoy driving there, as it’s a simple layout but it’s not as easy as it looks. There are some technical bits and chicanes and you really have to master the kerbs.” Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber 2012 Qualifying - n/a, 2012 Race - n/a “Monza is a great track, and very different to Spa. It’s
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important to consider that. Coming from a track like Spa, we need to adapt to Monza in terms of driving style, strategy and set-up. It will be a crucial weekend, because stability in slow corners is important and, unfortunately, this is where we’ve been struggling. We have to focus on that and try to improve. My favourite part of the track is the Variante Ascari, a left-right-left combination. It’s very quick, you have to get the right line, react quickly to the kerbs and the bumps, and it’s fun. Our pace is good, but now we need to complement that with the right decisions. I have great memories of Monza, as I won the Formula BMW and GP3 titles there. I remember very well my pole position lap there in GP3, this point made the difference and I went on to win the championship, so it was very special.” Tom McCullough, Sauber head of track engineering “Monza is a unique challenge for the drivers and engineers as the circuit efficiency requires our lowest drag configuration of the season. The track is well known for its long straights. The majority of the grip-limited time comes from medium-speed cornering and two lowerspeed chicanes. The track is pretty bumpy in some areas and you need to be able to use the kerbs, so the ride quality is also an important factor. The track tends to favour strategies with less stops because of the low fuel effect and the time you
lose in the pit lane. We have some further developments to be tested. Again, Pirelli has selected the medium and hard tyre compounds. Coming from Spa we are confident we can fight for points in this final European race.” Jenson Button, McLaren 2012 Qualifying - 2nd, 2012 Race - DNF “I’ve always loved Monza. I really enjoy circuits that have a bit of history to them, and Monza has that in abundance - it’s one of the greatest tracks on the calendar. The place is unique: ever since we lost the ‘old’ Hockenheim, this has been the only place on the calendar where you run a really super-low downforce configuration. And you can feel it - the car accelerates up to speed incredibly quickly, feels skittish and loose when you’re running flat-out, and can be tricky and unpredictable under braking. But that’s what makes the place a special kind of challenge, and I really enjoy that. When you have the car hooked up beneath you, you get into a special kind of rhythm around Monza: you’re going so fast that the whole lap just flows together. There’s nowhere quite like it. So it’s really appropriate that McLaren will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in the paddock over the Monza weekend. Both names are synonymous with motorsport history - you couldn’t imagine Formula One without them so I’ll be hoping for a strong result to show the strength
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and depth that we have as a team.” Sergio Perez, McLaren 2012 Qualifying - 13th, 2012 Race - 2nd “Monza is probably the most beautiful circuit in Formula One - it’s just so historic; from the moment you arrive, you can feel it’s just different from any other place we visit. In fact, I had one of my best races in Formula One at Monza last year - everything came right on Sunday afternoon, I looked after the tyres beautifully and overtook Fernando Alonso on my way to finishing second, which equals my best-ever result in the sport. That was a fantastic day. “After the disappointment of Spa, where we had the pace to score points, I’m keen to get another shot. As in Hungary and Belgium, we don’t expect to have a car that’ll be capable of fighting right at the front, but I hope we’ll be scrapping for points positions. That’s always fun, because then it’s really down to the team and the driver to maximise every opportunity on the day. When you’re racing hard like that, a good lap in quali or a clever strategy in the race can make all the difference to your result - and that’s great to experience. So, as always, I’ll be looking to push on every lap.” Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal “This year’s Italian Grand Prix will be a very special
weekend for the whole Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, as it’ll be the race where we celebrate our 50th anniversary - a landmark for any sporting organisation, let alone a Grand Prix team. Since the formation of Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd in September 1963, and our Formula One debut at the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix, no F1 team has won more races (182) than McLaren - an incredible record. “It’s appropriate that we’ll be marking the passage of time at a circuit that is both venerable and yet eternally evergreen: in terms of history, nothing really comes close to Monza in terms of capturing the spirits past of motor racing. Yet, it’s also the fastest racetrack in Formula One, a temple to raw speed, and a circuit that will always deserve its place on the calendar. It’s richly evocative, and a place that I love. We have some special events and surprises planned to mark our anniversary, but it’ll be Monza itself that will make the weekend unique.” Charles Pic, Caterham 2012 Qualifying - 21st, 2012 Race - 16th “Monza’s a great place to race F1 cars. It’s so quick, the atmosphere is amazing (even though it’s almost only Ferrari supporters out there!) and it’s a track that has a lot of history, some of which you can see in the old banking on the way out of the track to remind you what it used to be like. It’s our last race in Europe this
year and it would be good to finish the European season on a positive. We’d put in strong performances in the three practice sessions in Spa but we were unlucky, both with the call to the weighbridge in Q1 and the oil leak in the race so Monza gives us a chance to move straight on and put that bad luck behind us. “I’m in the simulator at Leafield before we arrive in Monza, so we’ll have a chance to try a few setup options before we get to the track. We’ll be running the low-downforce package for this race and the main focus will be on finding a setup that gives us maximum straightline speed and a car that we can really attack the kerbs with. That’s important for lap time, particularly in T3 and T7, as you need to be able to minimise the time in the corners by pushing the car over the kerbs, so having the right mechanical setup is crucial. We’ll also be working a lot on braking stability brake wear and cooling are both pretty manageable at Monza, but it’s important to have a car that’s behaving consistently in the braking zones as that’s where you can make up, and lose, time.” Giedo van der Garde, Caterham 2012 Qualifying - n/a, 2012 Race - n/a “Our last European race of the season is Monza, another classic Grand Prix venue and a track where I’ve won in both Formula Renault 3.5 and in
GP2. After the last couple of races I’ll go to Monza feeling positive about the next race and the rest of the season. The whole team had a lot of praise for what we did in Spa, particularly taking advantage of the conditions on Saturday, and it’s good to see people understanding that what we’re doing now is exactly what we said we would do this year learn, improve and deliver the results we want. Fourteenth in Hungary and both qualifying and the race in Spa show how the package is coming on and it’s a good feeling for me and the whole team. “Moving on to Monza - it’s a track that could suit us in the fight with our nearest competitors. It’s often hot and it’s the quickest track of the year, one where we run very low-downforce settings and that should suit our car. Last year the team was pretty competitive and we’ll aim to make sure we are again. If it’s not hot and we have anything like the conditions we did in Spa then we’ve shown we can take advantage of unpredictable weather, and even though another P3 in Q1 might be unlikely, we still know we can be bold and aggressive when there’s a chance to surprise a few people. Maybe our next chance will be Monza - if not I’m sure there will be other races this year when we can show what we can do.”
Formula1.com
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Jeff Burton pits, 2013 STP Gas Booster 500 2013 STP Gas Booster 500 at Martinsville Speedway, April 7, 2013
MY TOP 5 ANNUAL MOTORSPORT EVENTS
NASCAR superfan “Big” Bill Thomas from High Point, North Carolina Email us your 5 favorite motorsport annual events and one sentence about each for a chance to be profiled here or on our web site. carl@velorush.com
Daytona 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. “We have attended every race for the past 16 years, my wife and I, even when Missy was really pregnant.”
Coke Zero 400, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series also at the Daytona International Speedway. “We love the beer and the close finishes, when they were little, the kids loved the fireworks.”
Party in the Poconos 400, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania “160 laps of pure power. This is a great place to get away and it’s all about racing.”
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Bank of America 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Spend extra for a weekend pass and get into some serious racing under the lights.”
Summer Shootout Series, also at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. June-July “We always go to a couple of events with friends and have a great time every year, it’s less than an hour from the house. We especially like the classic car night.”
Photo by Parker Anderson
Photo of the month.
Danica Patrick & Fan Motorsports is gaining more female followers than any other Sport.
Thanks Danica! Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 ยง 1 7
NASCAR Driver Profile: Jeff Gordon Born August 4, 1971 (age 42) Vallejo, California, United States Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) Weight 150 lb (68 kg) ACHIEVEMENTS • 1995 Winston Cup Series Champion • 1997 Winston Cup Series Champion • 1998 Winston Cup Series Champion • 2001 Winston Cup Series Champion • 1991 USAC Silver Crown Series Champion • 1990 USAC National Midget Series Champion • 1997, 1999, 2005 Daytona 500 Winner • 1994, 1998, 2001, 2004 Brickyard 400 Winner • 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2007 Jeff and ex-wife Brooke Southern 500 Winner • 1994, 1997, 1998 Coca-Cola 600 Winner • 1995, 1997, 2001 Sprint All-Star Race Winner • 1994, 1997 Busch Clash Winner • Tied for Sprint Cup Series Modern Era record for most wins in a season (13 wins in 1998) • Tied for Sprint Cup Series record for most consecutive seasons with a pole (20) AWARDS • 1993 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year • 1991 Busch Series Rookie of the Year • 2009 National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductee • 2009 Silver Buffalo Award recipient • 2012 Heisman Humanitarian Award recipient • Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998) NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES CAREER 714 race(s) run over 22 year(s) Car no., team No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports) 1 8 § Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
2012 position 10th Best finish 1st (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001) First race 1992 Hooters 500 (Atlanta) Last race 2013 AdvoCare 500 (Atlanta) First win 1994 Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte) Last win 2012 Ford EcoBoost 400 (Homestead) WINS TOP TENS POLES 87 424 72 NASCAR Nationwide Series career 73 race(s) run over 5 year(s) Best finish 4th (1992) First race 1990 AC-Delco 200 (Rockingham) Last race 2000 Miami 300 (Homestead) First win 1992 Atlanta 300 (Atlanta) Last win 2000 Miami 300 (Homestead) WINS TOP TENS POLES 5 32 12 Statistics current as of September 1, 2013.
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90TH ANNIVERSARY 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2013 The world’s most famous 24-hour endurance race. Audi’s #2 Tom Kristensen in his 9th overall race win. A tragic race it was marred early on with the death of Allan Simonsen. Photo by Paul Williams 2 0 § Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
le mans
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JDX Racing GTC Class Porsche in the Garage before the start of the 2013 Sebring 12 Hours. Founded in 2008 and based outside of Denver, CO, JDX Racing is part of the American Le Mans Series. JDX Racing will compete in 10 events throughout North America in 2013. For 2013 they are a one-car team featuring drivers, crew members with backgrounds from Champ Car, IndyCar, NASCAR, Trans-Am and the Champ Car Atlantic series. Photo by Mark Kortum taken on March 16, 2013 2 2 ยง Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
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AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES, ROUND IN SEBRING, FLORIDA USA Henzler, Tandy, Sellers Third in GT at 12 Hours of Sebring in Falken Porsche
At the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the Falken Tire squad, Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) and his teammate Bryan Sellers (USA) and works driver Nick Tandy (GB) finished the opening round of the American Le Mans Series season on the GT podium in third place. With this result, they were the best of the Porsche pilots on the bumpy 17-turn Sebring circuit which hosts America’s oldest endurance race. The team qualified in 12th place in class, but Henzler timed his acceleration at the green flag perfectly, scooting to sixth place in the 500 meters between the start line and turn one. Then, with perfect pit stops and some great driving in traffic from all three racers, the customer Porsche entry outran and outlasted factory teams from Corvette, BMW, SRT Viper and Aston Martin. “When the week began, I wouldn’t have thought we had a chance to make it on the podium 2 4 § Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
as we didn’t have the speed of the others. Our Porsche was consistent, with the engine, brakes and handling all perfect, and we made up positions one at a time until we moved into the top three. We are very satisfied with third place. We tested several times here, and that certainly helped, but we have more work to do for the season. One of the secrets to our success today was the fast and consistent driving of my colleagues Bryan and Nick,” said Henzler, the 2008 ALMS co-champion. The other Porsche customer team in the GT class was the Paul Miller Racing orsche 911 GT3 RSR, with factory drivers Richard Lietz (AUS) and Marco Holzer (GER) joining Bryce Miller (USA), finished in sixth place. Holzer, who will drive this car all season with Miller, was pleased with the performance of his Porsche for the last half of the race “This was not an easy race for us as our setup
in the beginning needed modification, but we picked up our pace and made up four positions in the second half to give Paul Miller Racing its best Sebring finish ever. Bryce and Richard drove great, and a sixth position gives us valuable points for the season,� said Holzer. In the GTC class for matched Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars, no less than seven cars led the class during the 12-hour race, with the #66 TRG Porsche with Damien Faulkner (IRL) in the lead late in the race when an air gun failure during a tire change allowed the #22 Alex Job Racing Porsche being driven by Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL) to take the lead with 90 minutes remaining. Bleekemolen, former Porsche Mobil1 Supercup champion, who shared the driving duties with Cooper MacNeil and Dion von Moltke (both USA), then took the car to the checkered flag to win the class.
THE AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The field
is divided into five classes that start together but are classified separately: GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers traditionally receives the most support: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR). GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series like the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms. LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and a 900 kg minimum weight. LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.
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50 YEARS OF THE PORSCHE 911
A sports car celebrates For five decades, the 911 has been the heart of the Porsche brand. Few other automobiles in the world can look back on such a long tradition and such continuity as the Porsche 911. It has been inspiring car enthusiasts the world over since its debut as the model 901 at the IAA International Automotive Show in September 1963. Today it is considered the quintessential sports car, the benchmark for all others. The 911 is also the central point of reference for all other Porsche series. From the Cayenne to the Panamera, every Porsche is the most sporting automobile in its category, and each one carries a piece of the 911 philosophy. Over 820,000 Porsche 911s have been built, making it the most successful sports car in the world. For each of its seven generations the engineers in Zuffenhausen and Weissach have reinvented it, time and time again demonstrating to the world the innovative power of the Porsche brand. Like no other vehicle, the 911 reconciles apparent contradictions such as sportiness and everyday practicality, tradition and innovation, exclusivity and social acceptance, design and functionality. It is no wonder that each generation has written its own personal success story. Ferry Porsche best described its unique qualities: “The 911 is the only car you could drive on an African safari or at Le Mans, to the theatre or through New York City traffic.” In addition to its classic yet unique lines, the Porsche 911 has always been distinguished by its advanced technology. Many of the ideas and technologies that made their debut in the Porsche 911 were conceived on the race track. The 911 was committed to the performance principle from the start, and motor racing is its most important test 2 6 § Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
a special anniversary lab. From the very beginning it has been at home on circuits all over the world, earning a reputation as a versatile and dependable winner. Indeed, a good two thirds of Porsche’s 30,000 race victories to date were notched up by the 911. HOW PORSCHE CELEBRATES THE ANNIVERSARY For Porsche, the 50th anniversary of this iconic sports car is the central theme of 2013. There will be a wide variety of anniversary events, starting with the “Retro Classics” automobile show in Stuttgart. From 7 to 10 March the Porsche Museum will ring in the anniversary year with four special exhibits, an early-model 911 Turbo Coupé, a 911 Cabriolet study from 1981, a 1997 street version 911 GT1 and the pre-series Type 754 T7. This chassis by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was a milestone on the way to the 911 design. The company is also sending an authentic 1967 model 911 on a world tour. Over the course of the year, this vintage nine-eleven will travel to five continents where it will be shown in places like Pebble Beach CA, Shanghai, Goodwood UK, Paris and Australia. As an ambassador for the Porsche brand, this vintage 911 will be in attendance at many international fairs, historical rallies and motor sport events. Fans and interested individuals can follow the car’s progress at porsche.com/ follow-911. The Porsche Museum is celebrating “50 years of the Porsche 911” from 4 June through 29 September 2013, with a special exhibition featuring the history and development of the nine-eleven. In the spring the museum’s own publishing house, Edition Porsche-Museum, will publish an anniversary edition entitled “911x911”. Motor Show Geneva 2013
Defending Brickyard Grand Prix GT race winners, Magnus Racing
MAGNUS RACING EARNS BRICKYARD GRAND PRIX PODIUM, HOLDS GT POINTS LEAD Indianapolis. Porsche customer teams captured three of the top 10 positions in today’s Brickyard Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). The three-hour GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series’ endurance race held on the road course of the world famous racing facility provided a showcase for multiple teams campaigning the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. In the race’s second running, it was GT points-leading Magnus Racing who took the greatest advantage of the track which combines both parts of The Brickyard’s famous oval and infield road course to finish third. Two other Porsche customer teams, Snow Racing with Wright Motorsports and Park Place Motorsports, also took top 10 finishes. Although Magnus Racing’s No. 44 Porsche was not able to repeat its race-winning performance of 2012, the team of Andy Lally (Atlanta) and John Potter (Salt Lake City,
Utah) did earn another podium performance in the 16-car GT class field. In the process, Lally led 24 of the 103 laps covered in three hours of racing on the 2.534-mile, 13turn circuit. By virtue of the run, the team increased the Rolex GT class championship lead that they have held for much of the season. Magnus has a four point lead over the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, 229 points to 225. “As always, if we can’t win the race we can at least be satisfied with top Porsche,” said Potter from his second-consecutive Indianapolis podium. “The team did an excellent job, and Andy fought all day. We had a ton of guests with us through FlexBox and The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank, so I’m glad we were able to deliver a podium.” Teammate Lally said: “Third is about the best we could hope for today, so it was a good Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 § 2 7
result. We played a great strategy, and it worked as well as we could have hoped. The team was perfect as always, and I’m really happy to still hold the point lead.” Snow Racing with Wright Motorsports had their most impressive performance to date leading 14 laps late in the race with drivers Andrew Davis (Athens, Ga.) and Madison Snow (Lehi, Utah). What the team believes was a broken transmission mount in the closing stages of the race would drop them from the lead to seventh. Despite this, it remains the team’s strongest Rolex Series performance to date in a limited schedule. “Really proud of the effort put forth by Snow Racing with Wright Motorsports,” said Davis. “For a 17 year-old, Madison had a stellar drive out there today. He held his own against some of the best sports car drivers in the world, got all the way up to second and put pressure on [Andy] Lally in the championship leading Porsche. We ran a different strategy so we knew we’d be able to stay out when everyone else pitted. We got into the lead with everyone pitting and then I just tried to build a gap. Unfortunately, about 30-minutes from the end we had a transmission issue. We would have had to pit for fuel anyway but we’d have been able to get back out and fight for a podium finish.” Also making their best showing of the year despite another limited schedule was the No. 71 Park Place Motorsports Porsche of Jason Hart (Flower Mound, Texas) and John McCutchen (Dallas). After falling back early, the pair overcame to take 10th in class. The Park Place sister car, the No. 73 shared by Patrick Lindsey (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Porsche factory driver Patrick Long (Playa del Rey, Calif.) ran in the top five for much of the day leading a total of four laps. They would finish 11th after a broken shift linkage ended their day with only minutes to go. “I can’t be prouder of the Park Place guys 2 8 § Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
and the way they executed today,” reviewed Lindsey. “Everything clicked and went our way until 20 minutes to go. Pat [Long] experienced a shift linkage failure and we had to give up the race and park it. I’m definitely disappointed, but deeply grateful of the effort and sacrifice of this crew and extremely blessed to be in this position.” The No. 18 Muehlner Motorsports America Porsche 911 GT3 Cup entry of five-time Indy 500 veteran Eliseo Salazar (Chile), Eduardo Costabal (Chile) and Damien Faulkner (Ireland) finished 15th. The GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series will now travel to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc. for a professional sports car doubleheader. The August 10th -11th weekend will see the Rolex Series compete in a two-hour, 45-minute race on Saturday while the American Le Mans Series will have a race of the same length on Sunday. It marks the first, and only, time the two series will race at the same track on the same weekend. The two will merge in 2014 to create United SportsCar Racing (USCR).
TEAM POINT STANDINGS – GT CLASS
1. No. 44 Magnus Racing – 229 points 2. No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports – 225 3. No. 63 Scuderia Corsa – 219 4. No. 69 AIM Autosport – 215 5. No. 94 Turner Motorsports – 204 6. No. 61 R.Ferri/Aim Motorsports – 198 7. No. 73 Park Place Motorsports – 195 8. No. 31 Marsh Racing – 181 9. No. 93 Turner Motorsports – 162 10. No. 18 Muehlner Motorsports America – 158
RACE RESULTS – GT CLASS 1. No. 61 Max Papis/Mooresville, N.C.; Jeff Segal/Miami, R.Ferri/Aim Motorsport Ferrari 458 – 103 laps 2. No. 57 John Edwards/Cincinnati, Ohio; Robin Liddell/England, Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro – 103 laps 3. No. 44 Andy Lally/Newport, NY; John Potter/Salt Lake City, Utah, Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – 103 laps 4. No. 69 Emil Assentato/Locust Valley, NY; Anthony Lazzaro/Acworth, Ga., AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 – 103 laps 5. No. 63 Alessandro Balzan/Italy; Leh Keen/Charleston, S.C., Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 – 103 laps 6. No. 64 Rod Randall/Odessa, Fla.; Ken Wilden/Canada, Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 – 103 laps 7. No. 62 Andrew Davis/Athens, Ga.; Madison Snow/Lehi, Utah, Snow Racing with Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – 102 laps 8. No. 31 Eric Curran/Holyoke, Mass.; Boris Said/Escondido, Calif., Marsh Racing Chevrolet Corvette – 102 laps 9. No. 46 Al Carter/Greenville, Del.; Brett Sandberg/Allendale, N.J.; Charles Espenlaub/Lutz, Fla., Fall-Line Audi R8 – 102 laps 10. No. 73 Patrick Lindsey/Santa Barbara, Calif.; Patrick Long/Playa del Rey, Calif., Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – 102 laps 11. No. 71 John McCutchen/Dallas; Jason Hart/Flower Mound, Texas, Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – 101 laps 15. No. 18 Eduardo Costabal/Chile; Eliseo Salazar/Chile; Damien Faulkner/Ireland, Muehlner Motorsports America Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – 23 laps
MAPIT IS … GOOGLE MAPS ON STEROIDS At MapIt our philosophy is simple … to provide a better, more logical search tool for company directories/listings, events, attractions and local deals. Many businesses provide company directories or listings, but these are rarely laid out in a helpful manner. MapIt’s solution offers a more visual and logical way to search using Google Maps as the foundation for this process. Plus MapIt’s technology provides businesses with a brand new revenue generating source. By incorporating MapIt! into your web site there are numerous benefits you will gain and certainly the top 2 include a better search tool for your visitors and revenue MapIt! will generate for your business. Here are just a few more benefits: • Provides a more “visual” search platform for web site directory visitors • Easier, better and faster access for all of your web site visitors • Adds a new revenue stream to your business model • Any number of listings on a single map, from hundreds to thousands • More logical directory search tool eliminates multiple drill-downs • Proprietary program runs all necessary information including web links, images, coupons/deals and even video footage • Multiple levels of listing enhancements, encourage your directory clients to select that which is best for them. And, YES, your clients can change their mind and later modify their selected enhancement and even customize within the enhancement. MapIt allows businesses to present any number of listings, whether 10, 100, 10,000 or 100,000 listings, using a map. Our proprietary program runs all necessary information which includes, web links, images, flash files and even video footage. Mapitusa.com Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 § 2 9
MOTORSPORT
(mo·tor·sport) Pronunciation: /ˈmōtərˌspôrt/
noun a sport involving the racing of motor vehicles, especially cars and motorcycles
The New Oxford American Dictionary
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Photo from
circuitoftheamericas.com
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Malaysian motogp testing 2013 Photo by Mat Rusdi Yusof Feb. 27, 2013, Selangor, MY
What is VeloPOINT Magazine? Driven by passion and built on factual motorsports information, VeloPOINT Quarterly magazine provides education and entertainment to the worldwide motorsporting community. The VeloRUSH magazine, venue ezines, and future web site content reach active, educated, and distinctive motorsports fans of all ages. TheVeloRUSH multimedia platform offers sponsors a targeted approach for delivering their brand message. Throughout the year, future VeloRUSH events will have a positive impact on the community while promoting sponsors’ brand names. VeloRUSH members and venue operators will be opinion leaders in the motorsports community. Through the publication, our experts offer knowledge, insightful content and engaging stories. The online magazine presents all of this in a stunning graphics
package that sets the standard for media excellence. Our mission is to provide readers with clean designs, stunning photography, engaging video clips and authoritative inside information. Our staff is committed to the people, places, and events that make motorsports one of the most well liked and widely followed industries in the world. • Compelling content • Reaching the entire spectrum of motorsports fans, from the casual to the fanatic • Accurate historical information and archived content • In-depth knowledge base plus Q&A from experienced professionals and industry experts • Full media library of historical footage and present day motorsports video For more information visit VeloRUSH.com Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 § 3 3
EIGHTH AND NINTH FOR HAYDEN, DOVIZIOSO AT LAGUNA SECA 21 July 2013
the duo retained their positions to the finish.
Ducati Team riders Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso spent almost the entire United States Grand Prix in a battle with one another, ultimately finishing the race in eighth and ninth places, respectively.
As a sign of respect for Andrea Antonelli, the young Italian rider who tragically lost his life today in the World Supersport race at Moscow Raceway, Hayden’s and Dovizioso’s Ducati Desmosedici GP13 machines wore a black stripe on their front fairings.
Starting from the third and fourth rows of the grid, the two teammates sat in eighth and ninth places at the completion of lap one. Hayden followed the Italian until the halfway point, when he began to close in. A pass was made as they started lap 24 of 32, but the two touched on the front straightaway, causing the American to run wide in turn two. Hayden was able to reel Dovizioso in again and pass him through the Corkscrew with just two and a half laps remaining, and 3 4 § Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
With the 2013 MotoGP season having reached its midway point, it now enters a three-week summer break, although this Thursday will find Dovizioso taking part in a test at Misano. Nicky Hayden - Ducati Team, 8th “It hasn’t been an easy weekend for us. Of course we hoped for more, but we know our potential is limited at the moment. I’m not
happy with my start, and then I lost the rear brakes after about the fourth lap, maybe because they were overheating. I had no brakes for about two laps, but then I was able to pump them back up and close back on Dovi. I raced with him until I passed him on the front straightaway. When we touched, I never saw him; I just felt something hook my handlebar. It was an extremely close moment, and when I went into turn two, my folding clutch lever had pivoted up and my handlebar was tweaked. I couldn’t use the lever to back-shift and went through the turn in fourth gear, and then it took me a little bit to get used to the new position. Thankfully, I was able to pull him back and pass him. We’re not going to celebrate eighth place, but our competitors are stronger than us at the moment, especially on a bumpy track like this. Hopefully we can do something better after the summer break. I’d also like to add that it was sad to wake up to the news of Andrea Antonelli. Even though I didn’t know him, the loss of a fellow rider is a terrible tragedy.” ANDREA DOVIZIOSO - DUCATI TEAM, 9TH “As we expected, it was a tough race, as it was difficult to control the bike and to be precise. We had hoped to do the whole race under a 1:23 pace, but it wasn’t possible. Unfortunately, I lost my position to Nicky near the end, but I did my best. I tried to set the rhythm ahead of Nicky to wear him down, but in the end it was him who wore me down! The contact on the front straight absolutely wasn’t intentional. Our bike tends to wheelie on the straightaway, and as a result, it’s not easy to control, which is why we came together. It was a somewhat dangerous situation, but these things can happen, though obviously unintentionally. Unfortunately, this morning we all got the tragic news of Andrea Antonelli’s incident in the Moscow Supersport race, and I’m thinking of his family and team. I didn’t know him well, but we’re the same age and we did some motocross races together for charity. It’s truly tragic, and I’m very sorry.”
PAOLO CIABATTI – DUCATI MOTOGP PROJECT DIRECTOR “Unfortunately, the day started with the tragic news of Andrea Antonelli’s incident in the Supersport race in Moscow, and that brought a veil of sadness over the entire paddock. I knew Andrea, and in the name of the entire Ducati Team, I would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to his family, his team, and all his relatives and friends. The race wasn’t particularly satisfying for us. Nicky and Andrea had a lonely race for eighth and ninth places and were involved in a nice battle with one another that included some very close contact, but we obviously can’t be satisfied with the result. Unfortunately, we’re still far from the leaders, and we must continue to work hard to try and reduce our gap.” Ducatiusa.com
VeloRUSH and VeloPOINT are PROUD SUPPORTERS of McPherson College The Lost Boys of the Sudan EVIT East Valley Institute of Technology (Mesa, Arizona)
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Mitchel Card
Antony Lawrence Photography This issue’s cover photo is of Mitchel Card from Ripley, Ontario coming out of Turn 3 during the Magneti Marelli AM SBK Round 5 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport). By July, Mitch had claimed his first career national race wins as he swept both the Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike and the Bazzaz / Inside Motorcycles Amateur Sport Bike races. He closed to within three points of the lead of the Magneti Marelli Amateur Superbike class with his second win of the season. Riding the ProStar Motorsports / Blue Streak Racing Honda CBR1000RR, Mitch finished 1.919 secs. clear of the Endras BMW / Inside Motorcycles BMW S1000RR ridden by Orangeville, Ont.’s Steve
Hoffarth, with Stephan Houle of Gatineau, Que. third aboard the 613 Motorsports / Wheelsport Kawasaki ZX-10R. *The photo was provided by Antony Lawrence ow.ly/oB0ID Canadian Superbike Championship is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in Canada, operating a full schedule of events. The Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK) is the leading road racing superbike championship in Canada. The series operates during the summer between June and early September. It includes the Pro Superbike class, Pro Sport Bike, HarleyDavidson XR1200 Cup, Amateur Superbike, Amateur Sport Bike
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and Honda CBR250R National Challenge series. Chrysler Canada’s Mopar brand became title sponsor of the series in 2012. Current bike manufacturers being raced in the series include Honda, BMW, Suzuki, Aprilia, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Triumph. The facility features a 2.459mile (3.957 km), (length reduced through wider track resurfacing done in 2003) 10-turn road course; a half-mile paved oval; a 2.4 km advance driver and race driver training facility with a quarter-mile skid pad (Mosport Driver Development Centre) and a 1.4 km kart track (Mosport International Karting).
Pos No.
Name
1
31
2
Hometown
Laps
Best Tm In Best Lap Speed
Diff
Avg. Speed
Make
Model Engine
Total Tm
Stephan Houle Gatineau, QC
8
1:43.853 2
137.167
136.785 Kawasaki ZX-10R
13:53.141
747
Steve Hoffarth
Orangeville, ON
8
1:44.563 3
136.236 1.583
136.526 BMW
S1000RR
13:54.724
3
12
Mitchel Card
Ripley, ON
8
1:45.110 4
135.527 6.420
135.739 Honda
CBR1000RR
13:59.561
4
40
Marco Sousa
Schomberg, ON
8
1:44.904 2
135.793 38.498
130.744 Suzuki
GSX-R600
14:31.639
5
512
Mickael Roy
St-Constant, QC
8
1:51.570 2
127.679 56.077
128.159 Suzuki
GSX-R600
14:49.218
Mitch Card of Ripley, Ontario Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Magneti Marelli AM Superbike :: Round #5 Race Final Rider Lap Times 12 - Mitchel Card 11:47:47.4 2 11:49:34.2 3 11:51:19.3 4 11:53:04.9 5 11:54:50.6 6 11:56:37.2 7 11:58:24.5 8
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1:45.138 1:46.795 1:45.110 1:45.527 1:45.771 1:46.586 1:47.246
135.490 133.388 135.527 134.991 134.680 133.650 132.827
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“I think all told it rounded up to 120,000km or 3 times around the earth”
VELORUSH PROFILE
Oisin Hughes
ROAD TRIPS
Nova Scotia - Alaska-Ushuaia-Buenos Aires - 34,000 Miles Calgary - Rio Gallegos - 18,000 miles Dublin to New York - 20,000 miles
AGE
42 years “...was 39 when I traveled - always wanted to complete the Ruta 40 in Argentina before I got to 40 yrs old”
FUNDING
“I’d worked for 15 years with Intel - took redundancy and then left...so things worked out well.”
BIKES
2003 1150 GSA (Retired after trip) 2005 1150 GSA 2006 1200 GSA (Retired after trip) Keep both the retired bikes in my conservatory!
FUN FACT Oison only started riding a bike in 2006 “Once the 2 year wait was over to get my license I was literally off round the world immediately”
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Being a Green Motorsports Business COM M IT M E N T TO T HE E N V IRON M ENT
As a leader in the Service, Repair and Tuning of BMWs, Pacific Motorsports has a deep commitment to protect the environment in which the company operates. Here’s what the company says about being GREEN. “Our 8,000 square foot main shop is heated by waste oil from the oil, transmission and differential fluid we have collected at Pacific Motorsports. We utilize a modern, cleanburning furnace for this purpose and accept waste oil from our clients and neighbors as a convenience too. Our environmental commitment spans not only the “green” aspects (recycling, conservation, reuse, etc.) of our business, but the community as well. We try and do business with the people who follow Environmental Best Practices. This is part of our commitment to source parts and services from as many local vendors as possible. For example, one of our clients has a metal recycling business. All appropriate metallic parts removed during the course of repairing vehicles are given to him.
Two other recycling companies visit us every week for the balance of material recycled. We have access to many used parts, especially for older cars (e.g., 2002s and e30s), and offer them as an alternative to our clients.”
Der Grune Punkt In the spirit of the German “Grüne Punkt” that requires manufacturers to recover their own “packaging”. We revel, recover and recycle in this German model as well. After all, we’re all about the “Best” German car ever made.
Renewable Power Our electricity is from 100% renewable power. We were the first small business in Portland to accomplish this.
Think Local We are members of the Sustainable Business Network and try to make positive differences in as many areas as possible.
Pacific Motorsports 936 SE Powell Blvd. Portland, OR 97202 503.232.5545 pacificmotorsports.com
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Air Racing circa 1927 Dole Aire Derby - Oakland, California
Pictured here is the Pabco Flyer, a Breese-Wilde Monoplane, NX646, flown alone by Livingston Gilson Irving. The plane crashed on take off just past the runway. 4 0 ยง Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
air racing YESTERDAY & TODAY
AIR RACING 2008 Red Bull Air Races San Diego Bay, September 2008 Photo by Dale Frost Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 ยง 4 1
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AIR RACES SEPTEMBER 11-15 2013 RENO, NEVADA
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The National Championship Air Races is the last pylon racing event in the world. With seven classes of aircraft racing around the unique course, anywhere from 50 to 500 feet above the ground flying wing-tip to wing-tip at speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour, it is truly an event not to be missed. Biplane Class The Biplane Class, represented by small, aerobatic aircraft like the Pitts Special, the Mong and the Smith Miniplane, gives pilots a chance to apply their skills to racing on a 3.18-mile course at speeds exceeding 200 mph. Formula One Class Formula One aircraft are all powered by a Continental O-200 engine (the same 100 hp engine used in a Cessna 150). The fastest Formula One aircraft reach almost 250 mph on the 3.12-mile race course in Reno. Many Formula One aircraft are built by the pilots that race them and are a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy the excitement and satisfaction of air racing. Sport Class The Sport Class highlights the new and innovative work being done in the development of high-performance kit-built aircraft. Competition in the Sport Class is fierce, with the rapid introduction of race-driven engine and airframe technology. Sport Class aircraft race on a 6.37-mile course at speeds reaching nearly 350 mph. T-6 Class The T-6 Class features match racing between stock aircraft, including the original T-6 "Texan," the Canadian-built "Harvard," and the US Navy "SNJ" version aircraft. The fastest T-6 aircraft generally post race speeds into the 220-230 mph range on the 5.06-mile course at Reno. Because the aircraft are all of the same type, the T-6 Class provides some of the most exciting racing at Reno, with an emphasis on strategy and pilot skill rather than raw horsepower. Jet Class The Jet Class was inaugurated in 2002 as an invitation-only class, featuring match racing with Czech-built Aerovodochody L-39 "Albatros" jets. Today the class has opened the field by adding other aircraft such as Provost, Iskra, L-29 and DeHavilland Vampires. This class truly stands for the "Fastest Motor Sport" with speeds exceeding 500 miles per our. Unlimited Class With the exception of very few "scratch-built" aircraft, the Unlimited Class has generally been populated by stock or modified WWII fighters with the P-51 Mustangs, F-8F Bearcats and Hawker Sea Fury being flown most often. The Unlimited Class flies in speeds exceeding 500 mph.
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offshore racing
Key West World Champion Offshore Powerboat Races Photo by Dave Malkoff
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Advertise with VeloRUSH and VeloPOINT Magazine Consumer demand has never been greater for online content, delivered in exciting new ways. There were 25 million digital magazine issues delivered in the last year. Whether through print, the web, tablets, smartphones or social media, magazines engage consumers. • 92% of Americans have read a magazine in the last 6 months (paper or electronic versions) • 95% of those under 35 • 96% of those under 25 Ads in magazines rank higher in trust than ads on TV, radio or online. Magazine readers spend an average 41 minutes reading an issue. Among digital readers, 73% read or tap on advertisements appearing in electronic magazines. 61% of magazine readers took action or plan to take as a result of exposure to specific magazine ads. Studies show that 43% of magazine readers make online purchases vs. 21% of nonreaders. Readers have a positive attitude toward advertising in magazines and believe the ads provide useful information. This holds true among digital readers and they further like to explore interactive ad tools and features. • • • •
70% want the ability to purchase products and services directly from electronic magazines. 86% access the same electronic magazine issue two or more times. 69% of readers have posted a magazine article on Facebook. Among adults 18–34 who read magazines and use social media:
• 37% read or looked into a digital magazine in the past 60 days. Nearly half say that the experience of interacting with other media is generally enhanced when shared with others. • 35% love to share articles or products that they see in magazines immediately with others. Nearly half have visited a magazine’s Facebook page. Nearly 3/4 “liked” a magazine on Facebook. • 69% posted a magazine article to Facebook. More than 6 in10 have chatted with friends on Facebook while reading a magazine and shared what they were reading. More than half posted photos to a magazine’s Facebook page. More than half uploaded content (such as recipes) to a magazine’s Facebook page. More than 2/3 have followed a magazine editor or columnist on Twitter. Nearly 3/4 have followed a magazine on Twitter. • 3 in 4 have followed a magazine on Pinterest, or have re-pinned content from a magazine. Contact Please contact Carl with questions regarding deadlines, extensions, ad specs, etc. Carl Mullan carl@velorush.com Skype VelorushMedia
2013 - 2014 Advertising Close Dates
ISSUE Vol. 1 Issue 1 Premiere Issue Vol. 1 Issue 2 Vol. 2 Issue 1 Vol. 2 Issue 2 Vol. 2 Issue 3 Annual Outside Buyers Guide Vol. 2 Issue 4
AD CLOSE & MATERIALS DUE 08/05/2013 11/05/2013 02/05/2014 05/05/2014 08/05/2014 08/25/2014 11/05/2014
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PUBLICATION DATE 09/03/2013 12/03/2013 03/19/2014 06/11/2014 09/03/2014 10/01/2014 12/03/2014
LaserTouchOne ‘pain relief in the palm of your hand’ Treat the Source of the Pain, Not the Symptoms.
LASER THERAPY FOR PAIN
The LaserTouchOne™ is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for overthe-counter sale – and the only product on the market today that combines two proven therapies: low-level laser and micro-current electrical stimulation. Research has shown that, in combination, these two therapies – each evidence-based and scientifically proven – treat the source of pain (not the symptoms) and promote the body’s natural healing process at the cellular level. The device is a safe alternative to medication or surgery and can eliminate the need for costly prescriptions. It’s painless, easy to use and portable, so that pain relief is always in the palm of your hand. This is a breakthrough pain relief device.
IMPORTANT FACTS
• Proven to be 93% effective in significantly relieving pain • Combines 2 proven modalities to stimulate cells and enable repair and healing
– Micro-current electrical stimulation – Low level laser therapy (LLLT or “cold laser”)
• FDA approved for over-the-counter (OTC) use • A safe alternative to surgery and medication • A revolutionary product based on over 40 years of proven science • Handheld, lightweight, and portable • The LaserTouchOne™ supports and facilitates the natural repair and healing of the body at the cellular level • Does not mask or block pain signals • Affordable and backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee
Find this product on the VeloRUSH member web site. www.veloRUSH.com
Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 § 4 7
The Last Open Road
My heart was in my throat and my breath was short. I spent that weekend in a fog of enthusiasm. Those three days would remain, to this day, the time that forever changed my life perspective.
Ed’s Subtitle A time with Martin Swig, “Black Jack” Brabham and Sir Stirling Moss
I felt convinced I had nothing to contribute, so, uncharacteristically, I somehow managed to keep my mouth shut, watch and periodically help as I was asked.
by Burt Levy
A REVIEW© by Ed Bergman VeloRUSH CEO It is a sad, and at the same time, a very interesting day for me as I have just finished reading The Last Open Road. My thinking, upon initial purchase, was that it would provide a nice, (hopefully transporting), diversion from my very enjoyable, yet very intense, daily work world as VeloRUSH CEO. Surprise !! I became so engrossed that somehow three days managed to pass and then… it was over - without other work being done. So I had to perform some magical catch up. I'm 66 now and a Jersey guy ( West Caldwell). So, when I read Art Eastman's [Editor, Vintage Motorsport Magazine] very enthusiastic review, I decided to take the plunge. I wasn't at the Glen when Buddy [the author’s main character] was, but my first race ever as a spectator was the '64 GP there. I had driven all night to Elmira. I had to see, first hand, what so many of my buds had been raving about and what I had absorbed through my monthly “looking glass” as presented by
Road & Track etc. With little sleep, early on Friday’s practice session, I found myself standing at the chain link fence separating the lookers from the doers, watching the distant activity. I wasn’t there long before a nice older man came up to me from the other side and asked if I was having a good time. He seemed much older to me at the time… he probably was in his 20s. Absolutely, I exclaimed. He then asked a seemingly inconsequential question that would eventually prove to have changed the course of my life: “would you like a closer look”? Calmly, he walked me over to the guard, showed his Pass, and I, just like that, was ushered into the inner sanctum. I could hardly breathe. In no time, I found myself inside the big barn where all of the cars, drivers and mechanics were. As if I had been expected there, I found myself sitting on a bench listening to a gaggle of my heroes talking about the race, the track, the weather, the tires and the women. Oh, the women of F1 !! Nothing has been clearer since. I was exactly right where I belonged.
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Of the men I met that day, the gentleman that significantly changed my life was none other than Martin Swig, (of California Mille Miglia and much motorsporting mania fame). Over those invaluable 3 days, I had the amazing good fortune to both meet, and spend time with, Martin, Jack Brabham, Jo Bonier, Jackie Stewart, Ronnie Peterson, Graham Hill, Jo Siffert, Rolf Stommelen, Colin Chapman and the individual that would come to inspire me the most over the years, Sir Stirling Moss. None of this, however, would have happened if it weren’t for Martin. What a time it was. My reading of The Last Open Road took me back there more vividly than my own memory could provide. Incredible. What a JOY. What a ride!! Last year my heart sank dramatically at the news of Martin’s passing. I do what I do with VeloRUSH in an effort to repay the generosity
of the so many that have illuminated the path I have chosen to follow. I can only hope to eventually contribute a fraction of the gift I have been given.
Concept +
The Solowheel uses gyro sensors, a 1000 Watt motor and a rechargeable battery to get you on your way! The Solowheel is environmentally-friendly, lightweight and can be used on different terrains. Use it to replace a car for short distances. The Solowheel is portable so that you can bring it into buildings, offices, malls, college campuses, parks, stadiums, skate parks and anywhere else personal electric vehicles are allowed. Users can ride for approximately 10 miles, at 10 miles per hour, and the lithiumion battery can be fully recharged in only one and a half hours. Find this product on the VeloRUSH member web site. www.veloRUSH.com
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In 2012, after six years of market research, prototype creating and testing, Snolo Sleds have released their first high performance alpine sled, the Stealth-X. Unlike many of it’s contemporaries, the carbon fibre flag ship model can be used on both hard compact snow and soft powdered snow, and is a far cry from the wooden sleds of old that were designed to run down a gentle slope laden with small children. This sled is certainly no small childs’ toy. It’s built for serious adult fun. In designing this sled Snolo has taken the 5 0 § Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
old fashioned factor away from a child’s play thing, and made sledding into a serious adult past time that wants to rub along side our traditional sports of skiing and snowboarding. The Stealth-X has a seating position that makes you feel like you are sitting in a race car, it has steering ability, and it has speed. Early test runs on an average gradient slope showed it was capable of in excess of 65 km/hr (approximately 40 miles an hour), but
uniquely for a sled it can also maneuver and stop in much the same manner as a snowboard using your feet and your body positioning. The Stealth-X is predominantly built of carbon fibre and comprises three main parts. The mono shell, the front ski and the front arm. MONO SHELL: The mono shell is made of carbon fibre. It is contour molded to comfortably fit your lower body and has a foam padded seat in the base with a flip up padded back rest. The laid back seating position allows both stability and comfort in steering and leaning. When not in use the back rest folds down, and shoulder straps which are attached to the rear of the sled move from their job as a lap belt to that of a backpack harness. To enhance your safety, a lanyard attaches from the sled to the rider whenever the sled is in use. FRONT SKI AND ARM: The single front ski is made of carbon fibre. The foot pegs are attached to the top of the ski with a runner which can be adjusted forwards and backwards to suit the height of the rider. A great feature of the Stealth-X is the ability for the front ski to be removed and slotted in to the mono shell, so the entire sled can be worn as a backpack, making it ideal for back country exploring. As well as its performance on the snow, the Stealth-X is aesthetically pleasing and it’s sleek carbon fibre shell and fold down capability makes this sled stand out. In October 2012, the Stealth-X took out the silver medal for the Concept/ Experimental section in the Best Awards, New Zealand’s version of the Oscars for New Zealand industrial design. The award gives further reinforcement to the fact that Snolo know this sled is truly one of a kind. Feel the ride in a Snolo Sled. Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 § 5 1
(Zero th The 5 2 ยง Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1
Nissan’s new ZEOD RC o Emission On Demand Racing Car) he world’s fastest electric racing car. e ZEOD RC will make its race debut at the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hour. Ve l o P O I N T Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 § 5 3
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VeloPOINT
eBikes In
America
WHAT IS THE LIGHT ELECTRIC VEHICLE ASSOCIATION? The Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA) represents the strategic interests of light electric vehicle retailers, dealers, distributors, manufacturers and suppliers to promote the development, sale, and use of LEVs worldwide. Members receive support and educational resources to expand their businesses while initiating efforts to influence and adopt legislation, regulation, performance standards, promotion and general best practices in the light electric vehicle industry. LEVA MISSION STATEMENT The Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA) represents the strategic interests of light electric vehicle retailers, dealers, distributors, manufacturers and suppliers to promote the development, sale, and use of LEVs worldwide. Members receive support and educational resources to expand their businesses while initiating efforts to influence and adopt legislation, regulation, performance standards, promotion and general best practices in the light electric vehicle industry. We also partner with the European TwoWheeler Retailers’ Association for EU regulations and lobbying (www.etra-eu.com). HISTORY The LEVA existed informally from June 2008 until May 2009. Industry expert, Ed Benjamin, saw a need for people in the LEV industry to work together to promote their industry. He decided to create a viable and important organization that would respond to the needs of its members and become the voice of the global LEV industry. Over the past two years, the LEVA has grown to over 200 members from 28 countries. Benjamin hired Sid Kuropchak in November 2008 as the executive director and financed the start up of LEVA. Levassociation.com Light Electric Vehicle Association 61 Harbor View Drive Stockton Springs, ME 04981 Heather Marshman - heather@levassociation.com
Light Electric Vehicle Association (Europe) Saturnusstraat 5 6543 XD Nijmegen The Netherlands Peter Hildering - info@phconsultants.nl
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8 BIG REASONS TO LOVE E-BIKES
1. 40% of all car trips in the US are made within 2 miles of home 2. 60% of the pollution created by cars happens in the first few minutes of operation, before pollution control devices work effectively 3. The US could save 462 million gallons of gas a year by boosting bicycle trips just half a percentage point: from 1% to 1.5% of all trips 4. Electric bikes are not meant to replace traditional bikes. They will replace short car trips and get more people moving. 5. For a 100 mile trip the operating cost for an electric bike will be around 27 cents. 6. For a 100 mile trip by car at 20 MPG it will cost $15 just for the gas. That’s 55 times as much! 7. A car getting 20 MPG adds 22 pounds of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere! That’s over 1 pound per mile—more than 13,000 pounds a year for every 12,000 miles. 8. Electric bikes bring a total change of perspective. They can be seen in one of two general ways: mild exercise and/or transportation. *Beckysbikes.com is the Midwest’s #1 Electric Bike Dealer
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USA
E-bike Market Waking Up by Heather Marshman and Ed Benjamin ORONO, USA - When e-bikes first really emerged in the US market in the 1990’s, there were a handful of generic models available for sale. Merida, Currie, Yamaha, and Honda were all players, but no one model stood out from the others in terms of appearance, performance, and capability. People came into retail locations to buy an e-bike, not a Yamaha. Things have changed since those early says, but there’s still a long way to go. Now there are over 40 companies situated and selling (or getting ready to) e-bikes in the US: Advanced Sports Breezer, Aerobic Cruiser, BionX-Magna, Busettii, Cannondale, Conscious Commuter, Currie (Accell Group owns), Ecobike, EB Bike, EG Bikes, Electraped LLC, Electric Wheels, eMoto, E-Road, e-Tour Ebikes, EZ Pedeler, eZee, Focus Bicycles USA, Green Choice Moto, Hanebrink, Hebb Ebikes, HeroEco (Ultra Motor), Hummingbird, 4 § Ve l o p o i n t Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 e B i k e S u p p l e m e n t
Hybelec, Hybrid Energy Pro, Kalkhoff, Motorino Scooters & Bikes, MyBike (formerly Pietzo), New World Wheels, OHM Cycles, Optibike, Pedego, Polaris, Prodeco, SBS ( Torker & Batavus), Schwinn, Stromer (BMC owns), Trek, Thrust Ebikes, Urban Mover, Urbana Bikes, and West Coast Electric Bikes. SPECIALIZING THEIR PRODUCTS The competition is growing and with it, differentiation. Appearance, performance and capability matter now. US consumers are becoming more discerning regarding e-bikes and manufacturers are stepping up to set them apart. Targeting commuters, baby boomers, extreme riders, green enthusiasts, and more, e-bike companies have started specializing their products to appeal to specific groups, and people are noticing. In an age where you can easily change the color of your cell phone, laptop, tablet, etc. the US electric bike market has woken up to the fact that consumers are demanding customization and personalization. Instead of shopping for an electric bike, today’s consumers are shopping for color, style, graphics, and fun accessories in order to project their own uniqueness out into a world that has become very busy. Gone are the days of all e-bike manufacturers using generic bicycle frames, you know the one: not quite a mountain bike, not quite a cruiser, not quite a road bike. E-bikes are finally showing some personality, like the people who own them. E-BIKE PURCHASERS Pedego is one of the larger e-bike brands in the US, Pedego has made a name for themselves with the unique style, color, and look of their product. And even though they have a niche product with their beach cruiser style, they’ve managed to snag a large portion of the market. Why? They appeal to the largest group of e-bike purchasers – baby boomers. These are middle-aged folks with expendable income. And people with expendable income
want a product that makes a statement about who they are and what they’ve accomplished. And with a price tag for their cruiser that starts at US$1,895 and goes up to US$2,395, you can bet they are showing these bikes off. Pedego isn’t the only one either…BionX, Stromer, Optibike, Kalkhoff, EZ Pedaler, and eMoto are all successfully selling electric bikes that appeal to this age demographic for the very same reason. Each of these companies has created a unique brand that appeals to discerning, more affluent customers. BionX has brought back the high-end retro feel of the 1930s with its Styriette model which sells for around US$4,500. The original Styriette was a gas-powered bicycle way ahead of its time, created by an Austrian company. Stromer (who was acquired late last year by BMC and is now called International Sport Holding (ISH)) channels its Swiss roots marketing a top end, powerful bike that appeals to many Americans. The clean powerful look of both their standard and step-thru models are backed up by great performance. They retail for US$2,850 and up. Optibike has most obviously cornered the luxury market as the self-proclaimed “Ferrari of electric bikes”. And with a retail price anywhere from US$5,995 to US$9,995, you can bet their reputation lives up to their claim. Kalkhoff brings its clean German styling to the mix, providing a sense of reliability and value. Kalkhoff has long been known for its highquality products and their numerous models of e-bikes do not disappoint retailing from US$2,000 USD - US$5,299 USD. EZ Pedaler bikes have that comfortable, stable feel about them, which appeals to an older demographic. They offer a reasonably priced standard and step-thru cruiser which retail for US$1,895 and a foldable version that goes for US$1,795.
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And finally eMoto, provides a variety of European inspired looks to suit anyone’s needs. And with prices from US$899 to US$1,799, these electric bikes can appeal to any demographic. Although the baby boomer group appears to currently have the most buying power when it comes to e-bikes, there are several other niche categories that are beginning to emerge. Why? Because these market groups have the potential to grow exponentially over the next 10 years. Some are already vastly successful elsewhere in the world and some are still surfacing, but all have the promise to be extremely successful. Prodeco Technologies is a newer company to this industry and one of the first to produce high-quality products at extremely reasonable prices. There really aren’t many competitors for Prodeco at their MSRP price point of $999 - US$1,099. And they still manage to pull a decent margin for their dealers, which is a good spot for them to be in at this time. The Hanebrink Electric All-Terrain bike is geared toward off-road, rugged riding. This product could be considered a replacement for an ATV or UTV, which is a huge potential market. (And we’ve already seen Polaris enter the market, so they must see the potential. The Aerobic Cruiser Hybrid Cycle targets people who want to live healthy lives by focusing on endurance and exercise in riding. This electric bike touts the ability for a user to customize their workout by controlling the human/electric power ratio. Conscious Commuter intends to produce an electric bike solely focused on the needs of the urban commuter. As gas prices continue to rise, the commuter market for e-bikes will only grow. And, then there are the Thrust Eco-Delivery electric bikes which are engineered specifically for food delivery fleets. Any
company that offers delivery services is a prospect for electric bikes. This is not only a growing market in the US, but worldwide and has huge potential for the entire LEV industry. Niche markets within the electric bike segment have developed and grown over the years due to consumer demand as well as companies realizing they have to differentiate themselves to get noticed in a sea of Asian imports. BAD REPUTATION That being said, it’s not all about looks or finding a niche in this business. Performance will always be a key factor for US consumers when considering the purchase of an ebike. Unfortunately, e-bikes in the USA have had a notoriously bad reputation for poor function. Good ones are available now, but they are mixed in with products that are still under performing and unreliable. The problem has been that the US consumer’s (and bike brand buyer’s) demand for a low, low price continues to pull junk into the e-bike market. And there’s not much to be done about that. There will always be a market for a cheap, poorly made products (as it is with virtually every other product on the market). The good news is however, there are plenty of well-made, good-performing e-bikes to choose from and plenty of ways for consumers to find them. The “peer review” has grown into a huge phenomenon in the US. Product reviews are accessible to anyone for anything now. No one purchases a product without researching what everyone else thinks of it first. The same is true for e-bikes. There are several places a discerning consumer can read reviews for different e-bike brands sold in the US and can very easily determine the good quality products from the sub-par ones. Peer reviews, though helpful aren’t the only way to compare electric bike brands. There are also a handful of non-biased e-bike enthusiasts out there who provide information
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to consumers through their websites. Pete Prebus of http://www.electricbikereport. com has a website dedicated to spreading the concept of the electric bike as well as helpful service and maintenance tips, industry news and product reviews. Pete uses videos, podcasts, and the written word to share his findings. And since users can comment right on his website, visitors are not only getting his feedback, but that of other owners of e-bikes as well. Rob Means of www.electric-bikes.com is another enthusiast (and seller) of electric bikes who has dedicated himself to providing detailed information on products in the Light Electric Vehicle (LEV ) industry. His website contains information on every electric bike sold in the US (past or present) and can be extremely helpful when comparing products. RULES & REGULATIONS The laws governing the power and speed of e-bikes in the US (HR 727) have not wavered since being adopted in 2002. Motor power in the USA can be as high as 750 Watts and most brands have found that this is more than is needed. So e-bike motors range from 250 Watts to 750, with the bulk being 500 Watts or less. And the majority of e-bikes have a top speed of 20 mph (32 kmh), since the law prohibits anything faster. Some ebike functionality has definitely seen improvements over the years. For instance, the computer display has evolved into a smart display. They can calculate not only speed and distance, but heart rate, calories burned, and carbon emissions saved, etc. With some, you can download your trip information to your computer and have a record of all of your rides.
increase their range. There are usually two types of riders of e-bikes – those who pedal and those who do not. This feature satisfies both needs. US distribution of e-bikes has stayed fairly constant over the years, with the majority of product being sold through IBDs and online. There is also a good amount sold through LEV specialty retailers and big box stores. But be prepared for other channels to open up in the next few years, as e-bikes find space in ATV/UTV stores, auto dealerships and other transportation outlets. All in all, e-bikes have come a long way since their introduction into the US marketplace. But they still have a long way to go.
This article was reprinted with permission. It originally appeared on September 21, 2012 in Bike Europe magazine. http://ow.ly/nTUg1
Several brands in the US are also now offering two different methods of power: pedal assist as well as throttle on demand power. These options give consumers more flexibility in the way they ride as well as the possibility to Ve l o p o i n t Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 e B i k e S u p p l e m e n t § 7
The Solowheel uses gyro sensors, a 1000 Watt motor and a rechargeable battery to get you on your way! The Solowheel is environmentally-friendly, lightweight and can be used on different terrains. Use it to replace a car for short distances. The Solowheel is portable so that you can bring it into buildings, offices, malls, college campuses, parks, stadiums, skate parks and anywhere else personal electric vehicles are allowed. Users can ride for approximately 10 miles, at 10 miles per hour, and the lithium-ion battery can be fully recharged in only one and a half hours. 8 ยง Ve l o p o i n t Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 e B i k e S u p p l e m e n t
IN MEMORIAM Sid Kuropchak, president of Light Electric Vehicle Association, succumbs to cancer Our friend and colleague, Sidney Kuropchak, 61, president and co-founder of the Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA) passed away on Aug. 23, 2013, after nearly a year long battle with cancer. She was the light and life of the association and will always be in our hearts and minds. With a constant smile on her face, Sid built this association with intelligence, determination and genuine kindness. Everyone who knew her shared our regard for her. A better friend and colleague we’ll likely never know. Official Obituary Sid is survived by spouse John Kuropchak and other family members. Professionally, Sid was a co-founder of LEVA and had served as executive director, board member and president. Her leadership and pleasant management style was responsible for the rapid growth and extensive membership of the LEVA. LEVA promotes and supports the industry of electric powered two wheelers such as electric bicycles, electric motor scooters, etc. Today LEVA has more than 250 members in 29 countries. Sid also acted as the coordinator for eCycleElectric Consulting, a working relationship that lasted more than 15 years. During this time she held key posts at WaveCrest Labs, Ultra Motor USA and Stone Industrial. Those who know and worked with Sid held her in high regard. “I depended on Sid to be the wise voice of reason and to remember everything that needed to be done — while charming everyone she came in contact with, for half of my professional life,” said Edward Benjamin, chairman of LEVA. “To say she is missed terribly by her friends and co-workers is an understatement. And I know her family must be devastated.” Sid held a MA in Sociology from Kent State. She was married to John Kuropchak for 37 years.
PEDEGO TRAIL TRACKER ELECTRIC BIKE Motor: 600 Watt Geared Hub Motor Battery: 48 V 10Ah Lithium in a Removable Pack Speed: 20 MPH using motor power only Retails: $2,975 Available colors: Neon Red, Matte black, Camo Black w/lime green rims
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10 QUESTIONS WITH ED BENJAMIN O F L E VA (Light Electric Vehicle Association)
• W HAT WAS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH AN EBIKE? I used to own several bicycle shops in Florida. We would occasionally have a request for an electric motor kit that was installed on adult trikes, often for older people to enjoy around the neighborhood. The first time I saw one was probably 1983. It was crude, but fun. In 1994, I was introduced to the Sinclair electric bike that Ted Kutrumbos was showing bike dealers. In 1994 I test rode an EV Warrior at a bicycle dealer camp in Colorado. In 1994-95 I bought a Zap electric bike kit. By 1996 I was sure these sorts of bikes would be very important and that was about the time that Chinese cities started announcing future bans of gasoline motor scooters and motorcycles.
• I S THE EBIKE A NATURAL EVOLUTION, OR A RADICAL SHIFT, IN PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION? Evolution. A good comparison is to a typewriter. We used to regard a manual type writer as the standard, and obvious tool. Then electric made it so much easier that manual typewriters all but disappeared from most uses. And then word processors came along - an evolution that those of us who had trained on manual typewriters would never have predicted, but welcomed. I think electric propulsion will soon be a “normal” part of most bicycle drive trains. And I suspect that we do not yet know what the “electric bicycle” of 2025 will be like. But I think we will be delighted.
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• W HY IS THERE SUCH A DISPARITY IN EBIKE PRICING BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES? Disparity? A mainstream eBike in China retails for about 2500-3000 RMB. That is about 350 to 500 US dollars. There are some models of eBikes in the USA that sell for 400 - 500 dollars, as well as in parts of Europe and elsewhere. Considering that nearly all eBikes and eBike parts are made in China - a bike sold in any other country has the same cost of materials, plus costs of shipping, customs, and distribution / marketing costs that are “above and beyond” what Chinese pay. So of course the bikes are more expensive. But another factor is that the western customers generally demand more robust bikes, larger
sizes, with more features and longer warranties. And in some places, the distribution channel adds considerably to the price. So in the USA, where the distribution channel is short and efficient in most cases, and freight costs , duties, etc. are low for products from China - the price differential is modest. In some other places, high expectations / demands from the consumer and dealer add to a longer distribution channel, (more players) as well as higher regulatory, import, freight, and other costs. • OTHER THAN PRICE, WHAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN FOR THE US TO EMBRACE EBIKES? I think the USA is in the process of embracing eBikes. Keep in mind that most things we compare the eBike market to are much more mature products. Bicycles have been around for more than 120 years, cars for about 100 years. Skateboards and mini push scooters are older than eBikes. What I hear is that the sales of eBikes as a percentage are increasing quite quickly. But the starting numbers were....0. Only a few years ago. So I am quite satisfied with the pace of adoption in the USA. However, many people have been vocal about being disappointed that eBikes are not an “iPod” like sales event. (And I note that the ancestors of the iPod were
also around before eBikes started.) • W HICH WORLD CULTURES ARE MOST LIKELY TO ADOPT BREAKTHROUGHS IN TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY? More than 150 million people rode an eBike to work today. Most of them were in Asia, with many in Europe. The fact that the USA does not have such participation is actually not very important to the world, or to the eBike industry. So we need to consider that the world is vigorously adopting eBikes. The USA is simply a laggard. Although one that is catching on fast. The best places for eBikes are cultures / regions that have transportation challenges. More than half of the human race lives in high density cities now. In such places cars are not very useful - traffic jams plus scarce parking both at home and at the destination make cars difficult to use. Buses, metros, trains, feet and two wheelers work better. Bicycles, eBikes, motor scooters, light motorcycles, and probably vehicles we do not yet know about are all part of the solution in such places. I note that an eBike rider in Beijing, being more adapted to the reality of the Beijing traffic jams, can often get to their destination more quickly than in a car. And that scarce parking for cars
is not a problem for eBikes. And Beijing is perhaps the Chinese city that is most friendly to, and adapted to ... cars. In Shanghai, Bangkok, and many other Asian cities, there is no parking to speak of, and limited roadways with far too many cars. Such superiority of two wheelers is evident in most Asian cities, and in many European and even American cities. A bicyclist is more mobile in Manhattan than a motorist, and eBike even more so. Additionally, cultures that already have a history and acceptance of cycling / motorcycling adopt eBikes more readily. An important note for Americans - many more people around the world move on two wheels than in cars. This is not intuitive to Americans, who use the same car for all transportation tasks and suffer huge expense and loss of time due to traffic jams, vehicle and parking costs, etc. • W HAT OTHER SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGY TRENDS ARE LEADING TO ADOPTION OF NEW TRANSPORTATION METHODS? Humans are moving to the city. Nearly everywhere. Once there, they need personal transportation. Add to this the high cost of
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petroleum fuels, regulations that are designed to reduce air pollution, noise pollution, and the fact that electric two wheelers are simpler, cheaper to operate, and over the long term, less expensive to maintain. • W HAT LEADING INDICATORS WILL TELL US THE EBIKE ADOPTION HAS PASSED THE TIPPING POINT? World vehicle sales, by type of vehicle are roughly: Bicycles 130 plus million per year. Cars and light trucks 65 million per year. Motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters about 60 million per year. eBikes about 30 million per year. I think that is enough to prove the point. • W HAT IS THE MOST EXCITING TREND IN PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION TODAY? eBikes that can be carried in one hand onto metro or trains - a first and last kilometer, personal, transportation solution that makes getting to and from the station quick and easy.
history, are now aging to the point where they are no longer buying expensive bicycles in quantity, and are riding far less. The next two generations are not as enthused about bicycles and this has placed great stress on the bicycle industry. Lance Armstrong’s betrayal of Bicycle Racing as a sport has not helped, as well. At the same time, the economy has pushed many people, mostly younger, using bicycles as a cost saving measure. And the ever higher density of USA cities is encouraging short distance use of bicycles. The end result is that business is OK, but changing. • W HAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE YOU SOUGHT HERE IN THE U.S. AND OVERSEAS? The LEVA is allied with ETRA (European Two Wheel Retailers Association) in Europe, and cooperates with China Bicycle Association, League of American Bicyclists, EDTA, and others.
• H OW HAS THE US EBIKE MARKET CHANGED IN THE PAST 5 YEARS? This is a complex question. The baby boomers, who have bought more dollar value in bicycles than any other group in human 1 2 § Ve l o p o i n t Q u a r t e r l y Vo l . 1 I s s u e 1 e B i k e S u p p l e m e n t
MAPIT IS … GOOGLE MAPS ON STEROIDS
At MapIt our philosophy is simple … to provide a better, more logical search tool for company directories/listings, events, attractions and local deals. Many businesses provide company directories or listings, but these are rarely laid out in a helpful manner. MapIt’s solution offers a more visual and logical way to search using Google Maps as the foundation for this process. By incorporating MapIt! into your web site there are numerous benefits you will gain and certainly the top 2 include a better search tool for your visitors and revenue MapIt! will generate for your business. Here are just a few more benefits: • Provides a more “visual” search platform for web site directory visitors • Adds a new revenue stream to your business model • Any number of listings on a single map, from hundreds to thousands • Proprietary program runs all necessary information including web links, images, coupons/deals and even video footage Mapitusa.com