AMA Pro Flat Track: IMDA & RIDE Academy Team to Bring 'Legends Race' to Springfield Mile I Round 4 on May 26 to Help Promote Newly-Announced Pro-Level Basic Twins Class

Round 6 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile I saw a handful of the top riders in the series, past, present and future ready to roll out for one of the practice sessions on May 29 for the first of two mile events to be held on the schedule for the new season.

Bryan Smith on the #42 Fasthog.com-sponsored XR750, Matt Weidman on the #20 White's H-D-backed XR, Chris Carr on the #4 American Motorcyclist Association-backed XR and Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Lake Racing-sponsored XR get ready to put their talents, wrists and machinery to work in the early part of the day's program at the Illinois State Fairgrounds-hosted event.

Carr, who was in his final season of 'full-time' racing, is one of several former greats in The Rolling Thunder Show that will be returning to Springfield on May 26 to entertain the fans and help promote newly-announced Basic Twins Class for  the up-and-coming Pro-level riders.  2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp and 3-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen will join the 7-Time Champ along with a handful of other veterans and greats of the sport in putting on a special exhibition race to be held as part of the day's program during the Memorial Day Weekend thriller.

The IMDA and RIDE Academy (owned and operated by former and current AMA Grand National greats Mike Hacker, Johnny Lewis and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr.) are banding together to put on this very special event in the hopes of showcasing the past greats of the sport, while the Expert-ranked contenders and the Pro-level riders do their job to showcase the present and future stars of the greatest racing show on two wheels in the world while competing in the day's regular portion of the program.

This is one event of any on the schedule, but especially one that is held at Springfield, that you won't want to miss.  Everyone knows you must have a ticket to see this great race, but with the day's action planned at Springfield on May 26, the seat you buy it for probably won't get much use throughout the day's events.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for the press release below which will help fill you in on more of the details, and another round of thanks goes out to the IMDA, who twice a season tirelessly put on a super event at Springfield, and also to the great group of guys at RIDE Academy for going to such great lengths in order to further promote and better the great sport that is the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship.  You guys rock!

IMDA and Ride Academy to Host Race of Legends when AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Returns to Springfield Mile on Memorial Day Weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 12, 2013) - AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles will be bringing the series to Springfield, Ill. on May 26, 2013 for its first go-around of the Springfield Mile this year.  Along with the usual intense racing action, Ride Academy is set to host a "Race of Legends" during the event.

 

"The Springfield Mile is really shaping up to be another spectacular event and this is just one of the many projects that the IMDA has in the works," said Dan Johnsen, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track.  "The history of this sport is what makes it so great, and we know that our fans will appreciate this opportunity to see their favorite legends back on the track."

 

The race will include a select group of past Grand National Championship event winners who will be on hand to show their support for the Basic Twins class scheduled to return to the series.  Jay Springsteen, Joe Kopp, Rich King, Ronnie Jones, Steve Beattie, Steve Morehead, Mike Hacker and Chris Carr will all be in attendance and participating in the race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main event in the AMA Pro Singles Championship roars off the line during round 16 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile II on September 4.  The great group of people that run the IMDA, the promoters of the Springfield Mile events, will be teaming up with RIDE Academy for the upcoming round 4 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season on May 26 to bring a host of former racing legends together in a special exhibition 'legends race' to help promote AMA Pro Flat Track's new plans for a Basic Twins Class in order to get the Pro-level riders more experience on a Twins Series-based bike.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

Mounted on Honda dirt bikes courtesy of Ride Academy, the former stars of the sport will race on a short track specifically designed for this event, giving the fans a "bird's eye view" of all the action.  The race will be located on the front-stretch of the Springfield Mile and will measure at about a quarter-mile in length.  Each participant will be provided number plates and jerseys so that the fans will be able to identify very easily who's who on the track.  The race format will include two six--lap heat races and one 12-lap Main Event.

 

Ride Academy is a school that former flat track rider Mike Hacker created when he retired from racing.  The veteran uses his knowledge obtained from racing to help out current riders of today's era. In addition to the "Race of Legends" and AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Springfield Mile event, Ride Academy will also be holding motorcycle instructional classes before all the action even kicks off on Wednesday and Thursday, May 22-23, 2013.

 

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles will head to the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. for the Springfield Mile on May 26, 2013.  For tickets to the event and additional information on the Race of Legends, please visit the IMDA's website at http://www.illinoismda.com/.

 

About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles:

 

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world.  The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country's finest flat track courses.  For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/. 

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.     For additional information contact:   AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

GoldenTyre Announced as Sponsor & Spec Tire for 2013 Steve Nace Racing AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series

Indianapolis' Mid-America Speedway hosted their 'Night Before the Indy Mile' event on August 17, 2012 and one of the racers that took advantage of Mid-America's great short track venue was 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr.  The Prince of Peoria and the #2 man on the winningest-rider list in AMA Grand National Championship racing history was on-hand to further develop the GoldenTyre flat track rubber that he had been tasked with testing in the States for the European entity.

Carr made the rounds this last season while testing for the Italian company, hitting up several racing venues across the map in order to help test and evaluate what could possibly become at the time a new option for flat track racing rubber. 

Today that option became a reality as Chris and GoldenTyreUSA have announced their partership with Steve Nace Racing, one of the best of the best of the AMA Pro Flat Track Blue Crew folks and who also runs the AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series.  GoldenTyreUSA will now be the official spec tire and added sponsor for what is considered the second-tier series on the U.S. flat track scene behind the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.

In a move that will see rumoured prices $35-50 less per set for 'DT-II'-equivalent race rubber (Goodyear DT-II rubber currently runs around $190/tire), GoldenTyreUSA and Carr will collaborate to supply tires to the Steve Nace Racing series and also help to establish continency funds for amateur racers, while helping to increase the points fund for the pros in the process.

Carr is shown in the above shot tightening things up after mounting up a new 'DT-II'-spec flat track rear tire at the Mid-America event on his #4 DFW Honda/GoldenTyre-sponsored Honda CRF450R.

You can read the full press release below and we'll be looking forward to seeing GoldenTyre at the All-Star races next season.  Once the schedule is released for the 2013 Steve Nace Racing AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series by GoldenTyre you can find that at Steve's official site as listed below.


Press release courtesy of Chris Carr Racing/CC4, LLC & GoldenTyre USA

AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series by GoldenTyre

November 29, 2012 

The 2013 AMA All Star National Flat Track Series gains support from European tire manufacturer GoldenTyre through US importer, CC4 LLC.  This agreement will insure competitors with great tires at more reasonable prices, with contingency money opportunities for amateur competitors, and an increase in the points fund for professional racers at all 2013 AMA All Star National Flat Track Series rounds.  GoldenTyre will also assist the Series with unique and engaging marketing strategies while introducing their brand to the American market.

GoldenTyre is officially the Spec Tire for the 2013 AMA All Star National Flat Track Series in the amateur and professional classes utilizing 19" wheels.  The new CC5 and CC4 tires were inspired through rigorous testing by Chris Carr, 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion.  Competitors wishing to pre-order their tires can contact Chris Carr, owner of CC4,LLC, at (610) 888-3518 or via e-mail at:  ccarr41197@aol.com.

Chris Carr, CC4 LLC:  "I can think of no better place than the AMA All Star National Flat Track Series to introduce the GoldenTyre Brand of flat track tires to the amateur and pro flat track market.  Steve Nace and his crew have done more to promote amateur flat track racing than any single organization in recent memory.  I look forward to providing additions to the pro points fund as well as contingency programs for the amateurs in what has become a great series of races".

Marco Cavallini, Goldentyre President:  " We are extremely excited to start this collaboration with Steve Nace and Chris Carr.  We believe that Flat Track is the root of American Motorcycle Racing and we are happy to be able to work with the All Star Flat Track Series and Chris Carr to bring innovation and a fresh push to this discipline."

Steve Nace, All Star Series President:  "We believe this collaboration will be positive for the sport of flat track.   We are excited to bring a new, affordable product to the racers.  GoldenTyre & CC4 LLC have put forth great effort in the design & development of their competition tires.   We are thankful for the opportunity to introduce both the professional and amateur competitors of American flat track racing to this new competitive tire through the AMA All Star National Flat Track Series by GoldenTyre.   Not only will this initially double the professional points fund, it will also give the amateur racers a chance to earn tires through a contingency program."

 

For more info on GoldenTyre and the All-Star Flat Track Series check out www.goldentyreusa.com and www.stevenaceracing.com

GoldenTyre USA Office

 

toll free: 855.USA.TYRE (855.872.8973)

info@goldentyreusa.com
www.goldentyreusa.com

7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr Talks to Dean Adams at SuperbikePlanet.com

Chris Carr gets ready to roll out for the first 450cc Pro practice session of the day at Mid-America Speedway in Indianapolis on August 17, 2012 during the track's hosting of their 'Night Before the Indy Mile' short track spectacular.  With the first flat track session of the day taking place in the background, Carr takes a last look at his #4 DFW Honda/GoldenTyre-sponsored CRF450R before heading out to test some of the new flat track tires he has been working on for the European-based company.

The just-retired former 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion 'officially' hung up his steel shoe at the end of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season, but was seen at several venues throughout the 2012 season either testing tires or fulfilling his announcing obligations for the MavTV television crew that was tasked with filming the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track season's events.

In his quest to help bring another tire provider to the ranks of flat track, Carr worked with the GoldenTyre folks during the 2012 year to help further develop their line of 'DT-II'-style flat track tires to possibly be made available to the masses in the States and make another, or even less expensive option available to the racers.  The week before appearing at the Mid-America event in Indy, the Pennsylvania resident was on-hand at the Kansas fair race circuit not only testing tires but racing in one of the vintage classes.

Carr got a chance to sit down and talk with long-time journalist and SuperbikePlanet.com website operator Dean Adams in the last few weeks, and among the many conversational pieces that were brought out in the 40 minute interview were his testing duties for GoldenTyre, hanging with 9-Time World Champion Valentino Rossi at the 2012 Lucas Oil Indy Mile (held the night after the above shot was taken), and what it was like to set the land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2009.

Round 16 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw the last time that Chris Carr would compete at the Springfield Mile.  Carr would go on to finish in the 2nd-place spot on his #4 American Motorcyclist Assoc/Classic H-D/DFW Honda/Arai-backed XR750, just .012 seconds behind winner Willie McCoy.  Not bad for a soon-to-be retiree.

Carr is shown in the shot above heading out for the first practice session of the day at the Springfield Mile II on September 4, 2011.  He would go on to end the season ranked as the 5th-place rider in the overall standings of the 2011 AMA Grand National Championship.

Part of the conversation that Carr had with SuperbikePlanet.com hinged on his long-time involvement with the Harley-Davidson XR750, and it is very candid.  At one point, the former champ even goes as far to say that they were a 'pain in the a..' and one of the 'most expensive race motors' to campaign in any form of racing, usually lasting only 100 miles before needing to be torn down and rebuilt properly, especially 'if you are contending for a championship.'

He may have been on-hand for Mid-America's 'Night Before the Indy Mile' to do tire testing, but make no mistake about it, Chris Carr is still and always will be a competitor to the end.  Here he leads Henry Wiles on the #17 Don's Kawasaki KX450F and Rob Pearson on the #27 Matt Reecy Racing Yamaha YZ450F after getting the holeshot and heading into turn two on the first lap of the 450cc Pro heat race.  Notice the Golden Tyre decal on Carr's #4 DFW Honda swingarm.


A big thanks to Dean Adams from SuperbikePlanet.com for this great interview with 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr.

Now sit back for about 40 minutes and enjoy what the The Prince of Peoria has to say about the long-in-the-tooth XR750, GoldenTyre, Valentino Rossi and going (real) fast:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Nov/121125-154.htm

AMA Flat Track: Scenes & Seen at the 2012 Lucas Oil Indy Mile

Round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw a diverse turnout among the dignitaries and fans on-hand at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile.  With the 5th Annual Red Bull MotoGP Weekend taking place down at the big speedway less then a half-dozen miles away, racers, former racers and big names alike headed to the Indiana State Fairgrounds to take in The Rolling Thunder Show to see the night's action in what everyone knows is the best racing series on wheels in the world.

One of the busiest pit areas at Indy was the Bryan Smith #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports powered by Eaken Racing Kawasaki/Midwest Performance-sponsored Kawasaki 650R work area.  For the five mile events that team owner/master builder Ricky Howerton is contesting in the 2012 season, the pit area has been abuzz at each of those events for the fans and folks on-hand wanting a glimpse of the machine and workings of one of the most innovative designs and winners in the sport of AMA Pro Flat Track in some time.

And Indy was no different, except for the names of two of those attendees who happened by on the hot August night of Saturday the 18th.  Along with regular mates Jeff Gordon (Speedway Engine Development) and team owner Howerton (and his boys and one of their friends enjoying the limelight) was Indianapolis Motor Speedway Senior VP of Operations, Mel Harder.  Having been in the racing business for some time now, Howerton has amassed a group of friends, competitors and long-time confidants that would set the Broadway lights of racing aglow.

Also along for the night of bench racing and checking out the lastest hot rod on the AMA Grand National Championship Series horizon was former multi-time runner-up in the 500cc Grand Prix World Championship, Randy Mamola.  The former World Grand Prix rider and current MotoGP Ducati Two-Seater pilot seemed to enjoy his time hanging with the hottest team on the circuit and enjoyed checking out the piece of art that Howerton has put to the track this season.

2-Time World Superbike Champion Colin Edwards was the Grand Marshall for the 2012 running of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile.  To the delight of the crowd's roars he talks with AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone while his kids enjoy seeing Daddy having a good time at a race, unlike his season as a CRT rider on a struggling team in the MotoGP series.  Edwards was quite the accomplished flat tracker and motocross rider before going WERA and eventually AMA, World Superbike and MotoGP racing and teaches a school at home in Texas on his 'days off' from competing in the top level road racing series in the world.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track, see what the Texas Tornado had to say about his marshalling duties at Indy and how great of a time he was having at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqzD4IMjkdg

Everyone knew that after his appearance at the 2009 Lucas Oil Indy Mile to help support his long-time friend, Kenny Roberts, while he rode some demo laps on the infamous Indy-winning TZ750 flat tracker, that 9-Time World Champion Valentino Rossi would be in the house for the 2012 version.  Rossi didn't dissapoint, bringing along some of his Ducati support crew and hanging with 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr on stage in the special seating area set-up by the AMA Pro Flat Track team.  Carr reportedly helped to broker a deal that saw Rossi return home with his own Harley-Davidson XR750 that he would have to ride on his practice track back in Italy.  Tommy Hayden was hanging with the group and is mostly obscured in the shot above to Vale's right, wearing a red t-shirt.

AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone was tasked with the pleasure of interviewing the living motorcycle racing legend on the podium during a break in the action on the track at Indy.

Cristy Lee with AMA Pro Racing was on-hand to interview some of the big names at Indy.  Here she talks with The Doctor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmGfpJc8v8k

Jared Mees' #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D/Saddlemen/National Cycle-sponsored XR750 sits on display in his pit area during round 10 at Indy and was put on a special display stand for fans to come by and get pictures taken on the 2-Time AMA Grand National Twins Series Champion's bike.  Mees pit area offered a very nice, coordinated fan area with hot dogs and munchies being served to the fans who happened by during the walk through.  Mees' 3rd-place later in the eveing helped him pad his tally as he leads the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship overall point standings.

Brownsburg, Indiana-located Vance & Hines' Terry Vance was in the house talking about the XR1200 Series round at IMS and enjoying the superb evening of The Rolling Thunder Show review.

13-Time AMA Grand National Championship-winning tuner and master wrench Bill Werner talks in the pits before the on-track activity gets going at round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18. Current rider and career-best 2nd-place finisher later in the day, Brandon Robinson takes in the conversation in the Werner-Springsteen Kawasaki Racing/Cometic Gaskets/Wossner/SuperTrapp-sponsored pit area.

Three of the team's machines were displayed early in the day at Indy (Stevie Bonsey's #80 sits in the middle with Robinson's #44 in the rear of the shot.)  But one of the bikes caught my eye for two obvious reasons.  One, the bike in the forefront of the shot, has not only Robinson's #44 on the side plates, but Sammy Halbert's #7 on the front plate.  Two, the bike in the front is the Indy and Springfield Mile-winning machine that Bryan Smith took to the top of the podium during the 2010 season.

Sammy practiced the 'extra' Kawi of the legendary Werner's stable 'just to get a feel for it' during a practice session according to the former Harley-Davidson Racing department employee and a 'we'll see' approach to what could or would happen throughout the evening.  As we know now, Sammy went back to his tried and true South East H-D-sponsored XR750 and beat the #44 by inches to win his first-ever mile event and take the grand slam of flat track along the way.

AMA Superbike Championship rookie Josh Herrin from the Graves Motorsports Monster Energy Yamaha team was in town checking out the great action and talks with AMA Pro Racing's Cristy Lee here on the podium for the 2012 Lucas Oil Indy Mile event on August 18.

2008 AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year Matt Weidman was in the seat of the Scott Powersports Kawasaki at Indy, after former rider Johnny Lewis #10 and the team split some time before the Peoria TT, held just six days earlier.  The announcement was made just prior to the Peoria round, where Mighty Matt and his super Mom Rachel were both very excited for the New York State resident's chance to pilot one of the top rockets in the series in front of what was a packed house and European contingent of MotoGP racers, fans and sponsors.

Matt took the #20 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen/Fiorio Investments/SNIP-backed mount home to a top-10 run of 8th-place in the 25-lap National main, for what well could have been one of his best finishes on a mile since his 5th-place finish at the Canterbury Park Minnesota Mile in September '10.  Having struggled with his mile program and this season missing a couple of rounds after his final qualifying get-off that saw him suffer a broken collarbone, it was great to see Mighty Matt running up front where he belongs on a big track.  He will get to run it again for sure at the Springfield Mile II round now rescheduled for Sunday, September 16.