AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series to Debut at Road America with Harley-Davidson Contingency Program

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (June 1, 2010) – The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series is set to debut at this weekend’s Suzuki SuperBike Doubleheader, to be held June 4-6 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and Harley-Davidson will be posting a recently-announced contingency program for competitors that will add $5,000 a weekend to the existing race purse.

In addition to the announced $5,000 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series prize money, Harley-Davidson will also contribute $5,000 to the top ten finishers in each race: $1,250 for the win; $1,000 for second; $750 for third; $500 for fourth and $250 for fifth through tenth places.

The purse for each race of the five-race series now totals $10,000 and pays down to tenth position. $3,750 will go to the winner of each race, $2,000 to second place, $1,500 to third place, $1,000 to fourth, $500 to fifth and $250 to sixth through tenth places.

“We’re excited to support this grassroots racing class with a contingency program that rewards racers deep into the field,” Steve Piehl, Harley-Davidson’s Director of Customer Experience, stated in a press release. “Our contingency fund doubles the generous purse previously announced by Vance & Hines and AMA Pro Racing and should provide an extra incentive to racers considering competing in this series.”

The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series is a spec-bike five-race series featuring specially modified Harley-Davidson XR1200 motorcycles. Vance & Hines is the title sponsor and official kit supplier for the class. The special kits consist of a Vance & Hines XR1200 exhaust system, a Fuelpak fuel management system, race bodywork including number plate, single-seat tail section and belly pan, 17- inch front wheel with matching front fender, steering damper, oil cooler relocator and race decal package. The cost for the complete kit, which does not include the price of the motorcycle, is $3,500.00.

As in all AMA Pro Road Racing divisions, Dunlop will provide the spec tire for the class and Sunoco will fuel the racers with their Sunoco 260 GTX fuel.

In addition to the Vance & Hines supplied kit parts, teams will be able to upgrade their suspension, hand and foot controls, brake components and instrumentation.

This exciting new series will provide loyal Harley-Davidson owners, dealers and enthusiasts a chance to join the action at selected AMA Pro Road Racing weekends throughout the country. In addition to the inaugural race at Road America, which is just north of Harley-Davidson’s Milwaukee, Wisconsin headquarters, the series will visit Mid-Ohio (July 16-18), Virginia International Raceway (August 13-15), New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 3-5) and conclude at Barber Motorsports Park (September 24-26).

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

Harley-Davidson announces contingency for XR1200 Race Series

MILWAUKEE (May 14, 2010) – Harley-Davidson Motor Company is pleased to announce a $25,000 contingency fund in support of the AMA Pro Racing Vance & Hines XR1200 Series, beginning with the debut round of the series at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI, June 3-5.

The contingency program will pay out $5,000 to the top ten finishers in each of the series’ five rounds, with each race winner earning $1,250. Second place will receive $1,000, followed by $750 for third, and $500 for fourth. Fifth through tenth place finishers will each receive $250.

“We’re excited to support this grassroots racing class with a contingency program that rewards racers deep into the field,” said Steve Piehl, Harley-Davidson’s Director of Customer Experience. “Our contingency fund doubles the generous purse previously announced by Vance & Hines and the AMA and should provide an extra incentive to racers considering competing in the series.”

The Vance & Hines XR1200 Series features Harley-Davidson XR1200 motorcycles specially modified with racing kit parts supplied exclusively through Vance & Hines. For more information on the series, e-mail xr1200@vhmotorsports.com or visit www.amaproracing.com.

Company Background
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit harley-davidson.com.

Krawiec and Hines qualify for first NHRA Four-Wide drags

CONCORD, N.C. (March 29, 2010) – Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines riders Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines qualified Harley-Davidson® V-Rod® motorcycles for the Pro Stock Motorcycle elimination rounds at the Inaugural Four-Wide NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway. The event was the first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event to incorporate a four-lane format in both qualifying and eliminations, rather than the traditional two-lane format. This put four cars or motorcycles on the starting line for each round of eliminations, with the first two across the finish line advancing to the next round. Hines and Krawiec were both eliminated in the first round on Sunday. The event was then suspended until Monday due to heavy rains. Al-Anabi Racing Buell rider Matt Smith won the final round.

Smith was the top qualifier for the event with a run of 6.875 seconds at 193.18 mph, setting a new track elapsed time (ET) record for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. Krawiec qualified second at 6.882/195.42, setting a new track speed record for the class. Hines was the number-three qualifier, with a 6.883/195.11 pass.

In the first round of eliminations, Hines (0.050 reaction time/7.090 ET) finished third behind Suzuki riders Steve Johnson (0.036/7.041) and Michael Phillips (0.126/6.973).Coffman Tank Trucks Buell rider Angie Smith (0.112/7.955) was fourth.

“I had a good light but my bike bogged at the start, and I didn’t have the power to make it up,” said Hines. “Since the end of last season, we’ve been moving some weight around on the bike to try and improve our 60-foot time, and the changes we made may not be the way to go. We need to do some more testing before the next race so we can get a better baseline.”

The next foursome included Krawiec, Buell rider LE Tonglet, MB Machining Buell rider Mike Berry and Rum Bum Racing Buell rider Shawn Gann. Gann “timed out” during staging – he failed to take a position at the starting line on time – which automatically triggered the starting lights. The other three riders were unprepared to start, and Krawiec was the last off the line, with a 1.754 reaction time and an ET of 6.944. Tonglet (0.427/7.037) won the round, ahead of Berry (0.905/7.086).

“None of us had run up our engines yet, so we were not even ready to dump the clutch and go,” said Krawiec. “So the first one to get his bike revved up was going to win. It caught me off-guard, because in a two-lane race, when I see that the racer next to me has timed out, I have automatically won. So much of what we do in a drag race is almost instinctive, and it was very hard to make that mental adjustment for one event like this four-wide.”

The race at zMax Raceway is the only four-wide event on the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule, and both Hines and Krawiec are glad it is behind them.

“I think four-wide drag racing is not the way to go,” said Hines. “I think the NHRA has thought of about 95 percent of the scenarios that could happen, but not all of them. We had some feedback from fans that it was too hard to follow. I think drag racing should stay two-wide, winner take all.”

Krawiec, who won the opening round of the 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle season in Gainesville, Fla., on March 14, thinks four-wide racing will require racers to re-educate themselves.

“I guess it’s interesting to watch, but it’s really difficult for the racers,” said Krawiec. “It will be a learning curve for us if they continue. We had to do one event and see what the problems would be, and then get it right. But I’m not a fan of it.”

Following two rounds of the 17-race 2010 NHRA Pro Stock schedule, Buell rider Hector Arana leads in points with 175. Krawiec and Smith are tied for second place with 160 points. Gann is fourth with 129 points, and Johnson is fifth with 127 points. Hines is in 10th place with 94 points.

The next Pro Stock Motorcycle event on the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule is the 23rd Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals, April 9-11, at Houston Raceway Park in Houston, Texas.

Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin’ Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin’ Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information.

The Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team is sponsored by Matco Tools, Dunlop and S100.