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By Michael Dapper
VRA Page Webmaster
If your travels take you near Spirit Lake, Iowa, home of the Victory Final Assembly plant, this spring, note that April 23 will be the final day that factory tours will be offered until late July (around July 24).
Why? Because the plant will be making any necessary adjustments to the line so they can produce the 2009 models. And once production of the ‘90s begins, the door is closed to the public until the new lineup is introduced at the annual national sales meeting. The new models will be introduced to Victory dealers first – on or about July 24 (we’ll confirm this date for you) – and they are introduced on the Victory website at virtually the same time.
Be patient. The plant will re-open for tours in time for the American Victory Rally, August 15-16. Plus, the 2009 models will be available in Victory Demo Rides at Sturgis and at the American Victory Rally.
Se remember, April 23 is the final day for Spirit Lake plant tours until late July.
Gadget Guru Loves His Victory Vision
Andy Pargh was a longtime newspaper columnist, and he has long been fascinated with new technology. He has parlayed this combination of skills and interests into an online column called the GadgetGuru.com. He has appeared on numerous high-profile television shows to present and review gadgets and inventions, and he hosts an annual syndicated program, “Hi-Tech Toys for the Holidays.”
One product he has been fascinated with – and delighted by – lately is his new Victory Vision!
You can read his observations about his Victory Vision riding experience and his views on the revolutionary new luxury touring bike at the Gadget Guru Victory Vision Blog.
As Andy commented in a note to the Victory Blog: “My input is honest with no ulterior motive. I've always found it therapeutic to place thoughts into words. After 12 bikes, the Victory Vision has proven to me that it's in a class all its own. I have a feeling that the Victory Vision will do the same for Victory that the iPod did for Apple. It will put your company on the map as a major player in the industry and a force to be dealt with…”
Thanks for the kind words, Guru. We’ll follow your riding adventures online.
New Victory Junction Gang Camp?
We thank Victory Riders John and Dee Rollins in Colorado for this news tip: Word on the internet is that Kyle and Pattie Petty are going to build a second Victory Junction Gang Camp for children with chronic illnesses. Word is that the new camp will be built in Wyandotte County, Kansas, and that Kansas native and Kyle’s fellow NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer will be heavily involved.
We’re still looking for confirmation of this news, but it makes perfect sense:
• The original Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C., has proven to be a tremendous success, and has attracted a wealth of support from the NASCAR community, from the corporate world and from individuals such as Victory Riders coast to coast. Plus, at the corporate level, Victory has been a long-time supporter of the camp and Kyle’s charity ride that raises funds for the camp.
• The relatively new Kansas Speedway has been a big success and has ignited deep NASCAR interest in the plains.
• Clint Bowyer is a young, rising NASCAR star, and virtually all of today’s drivers have charities, foundations and special interests they support with their time and resources.
The original web report said: “The Pettys envision that this Victory Junction Gang Camp will not only continue the NASCAR-theme but will also include sports themes that are prevalent in the Midwest.”
So don’t be surprised to see buildings or activity stations at the new camp with Kansas City Royals or Kansas City Chiefs themes and logos – and constructed through the financial support of such a team.
We’ll provide updates as they become available.
The Pin
For several years now, Victory has provided Victory Riders with limited-edition lapel pins at Daytona Bike Week, Sturgis and sometimes Biketoberfest. For several years, the pins were uniform. They consisted of the Victory tank badge oval logo and a bar beneath the logo naming the rally.
After receiving three or four or five such pins in a row, Victory Riders were reacting with a shrug and a “thanks, but meh” (“meh” being the sound you make when you’re conveying the thought, “nah, not so much”).
Things have changed over the past couple years as the major rally pins have been custom-designed and they get more and more interesting. The 2007 Biketoberfest pin was a beauty as it combines spooky Halloween-style type with a graphic of the distinctive Victory Vision front end.
The 2008 Daytona Bike Week pin raises the bar again with its star-spangled treatment on a Victory Vision silhouette and the VRA oval logo. Very cool. These limited-edition pins will be given to Victory Riders at the Daytona Bike Week VRA Party March 6. So if you’re heading to Daytona, register online today for the party.
Top Ten Reasons Not To Wave
A tip of the helmet to Jim “Morty” Moriarity for passing this one along. Consider it like four nights of a David Letterman Top Ten List during Daytona Bike Week.
Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back
10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.
Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don't Wave Back
10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature, and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.
Top Ten Reasons Why Sportbike Riders Don't Wave Back
10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-Kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on.
Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don't Wave Back
10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to iPod, XM and talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!
4. Wires from Gerbings is too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.
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