Tag: motorcycles

ON THE FLATS: Valerie Thompson Pilots BMW S 1000 RR to New Land Speed Record

September 15, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – September 15, 2014…Motorcycle racer and team owner, Valerie Thompson, set her 7th land speed record on her CTEK sponsored BMW S 1000 RR during the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association’s 28th Annual World of Speed event September 6-9 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover Utah.

Thompson spent a month in Utah to compete in the three most prestigious land speed racing events held at the famed Salt Flats, including Speed Week, the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials and World of Speed. Speed Week was canceled due to heavy rains. Weather and track conditions during the Motorcycle Speed Trials prevented Thompson from setting a new record despite making a strong 203.77 mph pass.

Thompson’s patience paid off during the World of Speed event where her BMW S 1000 RR was fast right out of the trailer. Six out of eight of Thompson’s passes were over 200 mph. On her last run of the event, Thompson enjoyed her best speed on the salt with a first pass at 209.85 mph and a return run of 207.71 mph, setting a new MPS-G 1000 record at 208.81 mph. The new record earned Thompson lifetime membership in the prestigious Red Hat Club, recognizing her 200+ mph performance.

“I’ve wanted the 200 MPH Club Red Hat since I started racing on the salt, so it’s an awesome achievement for me. I can’t thank my team enough for their outstanding fight to the end. Ray Garcia did an incredible job of making all the right calls on the bike’s set up. Now I can focus on setting more records and going faster with the Red Hat,” added an ecstatic Thompson.

According to USFRA secretary, Ellen Wilkinson, more than 150 teams pre-registered for the event, which was cancelled last year due to rain. “This was my first time racing at an USFRA sanctioned event and I was very impressed. Everything went smooth and we got a lot of runs in. I can’t wait to come back next year,” said Thompson.

Valerie Thompson Background

Valerie is a seven-time land speed record holder and owner/driver of the Valerie Thompson Land Speed Racing Motorcycle Team. She set a personal best top speed of 212 mph on her CTEK sponsored BMW S 1000 RR during the March 2013 Texas Mile competition. Thompson is an official member of the BUB Speed Trials 201 MPH Club, Mojave Magnum 200 MPH Club, Texas Mile 200 MPH Club, ECTA 200 MPH Club and a lifetime member of the prestigious Bonneville 200 MPH Club.

IN THE NEWS: LEGO for a Ride. Johansen and Fiskar Collaboration Produces Viking Concept

April 18, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

April 17, 2014 – Lauge Jensen motorcycles is today unveiling the Viking Concept at the Top Marques luxury brands show in Monaco.

This premium motorcycle is a design study that blends the talents of two of Denmark’s most creative talents: Anders Kirk Johansen, an industrialist whose family invented LEGO™, and renowned vehicle designer Henrik Fisker.

The Viking Concept points to a possible volume-production direction for Johansen’s Lauge Jensen brand, following his acquisition of the company in 2012.

Johansen commissioned world-renowned automotive designer Henrik Fisker, previously a design chief at both BMW and Aston Martin and the designer of the Fisker Karma, to design the Viking Concept.

The result is a bike that retains a classic cruiser look sculptured into a dynamic, flowing design. In particular the tank, seat and rear fender blend together to create a seamless effect. Fisker believes this to be unique in custom motorcycles.

The Viking Concept is powered by a 45-degree V-twin producing 100hp, making the bike capable of more than 130mph. Yet it’s the first motorcycle of its type to comply with new, much more stringent Euro IV emissions regulations that come into effect in 2016.

The engine, built in Wisconsin, USA, has been carefully developed and tuned to achieve this without losing its trademark V-twin sound or soul.

Johansen and Lauge Jensen are proud to have achieved the new emissions targets without compromising the engine’s performance, safeguarding the production and character of future products.

Lauge Jensen currently produces the limited edition Great Dane custom cruiser, which starts from €42,800 euros. The company intends to build a bike based on the Viking Concept at higher volumes and with a lower price tag than the Great Dane.

Commenting on the design collaboration, Anders Kirk Johansen says: ‘We have been developing the Viking Concept for some time, so I am delighted to reveal it today here in Monaco. Potentially, it’s the next step for our company beyond our limited production Great Dane custom bike.

‘It’s great to have Henrik, one of the world’s leading vehicle designers and a fellow Dane working in partnership with us to help create a really special, emotional design. Revealing a concept bike is all about gauging demand but, if it’s there, I look forward to producing the Viking Concept for the mainstream market.’

Henrik Fisker added: ‘It’s been a dream of mine to design and create a motorcycle for many years and this is the first time I have the freedom to go and do it.

‘I hope people like what we have created and that we can make more of them – for sure there’s plenty more to come from this collaboration between myself and Anders.’

TWO [WHEELS] TO SHOW: Legendary Motorcycles at Salon Privé

March 13, 2013 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Syon Park, London, 13 March 2013 – Salon Privé is delighted to welcome back renowned two-wheel authorities Malcolm Wheeler and Steve Parrish to judge the motorbike classes in this year’s Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance.

Following last year’s outstanding success of the motorcycle classes at Salon Privé, the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance is delighted to welcome back the two-wheel category in 2013. A broad category of ‘Sporting Motorcycles’ together with ‘Oddballs and One-Offs’ will make up this year’s two motorcycle classes.

Among the highlight entrants already signed up for the ‘Sporting’ class is 1960s racer, Reg Everett, who achieved many successes on Greeves and Yamaha bikes, notching up 25 wins out of fifty rostrum places. Reg is entering an extremely rare 1964 250cc Yamaha TD1A racer – the first racing Yamaha in the country, and one that gave him a famous victory over Brands Hatch champion, Derek Minter, on his home turf.

Among the Oddball class early entries is a unique 1953 Norton Tom Tom, entered by renowned Norton single-cylinder specialist and author of ‘Flat Tank Norton’, Dr George Cohen. In addition, Belgian motorcycle author Yves Campion has entered a seldom seen 1932 Moto Gillet, presented in a condition that has to be seen to be believed.

Custom motorbike builder Allen Millyard is entering the ‘Flying Millyard’ 5-litre Vee-Twin Engine, following his success with a class-winning 100cc Honda in 2012. The cylinders for this year’s creation are from a 1930s Pratt and Whitney radial aircraft engine, with everything else hand made. Allen is currently building a 1930s style board racer around the engine.

With the above and many more continuing to be entered to the ever-growing Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance motorcycle classes at Salon Privé, 2013 is already shaping up to be another exceptional year for both bikes and cars on the lawns of Syon Park in September.

Entries may still be accepted for the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance, for more information on entering a car or motorbike please visit http://www.salonprivelondon.com/concours/register.asp

Tickets for Salon Privé can be purchased at www.salonprivelondon.com or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0808 100 2205. Entry is fully inclusive of Pommery champagne, lobster luncheon, English afternoon tea and full access to all areas.

Tag: motorcycles

ON THE FLATS: Valerie Thompson Pilots BMW S 1000 RR to New Land Speed Record

IN THE NEWS: LEGO for a Ride. Johansen and Fiskar Collaboration Produces Viking Concept

TWO [WHEELS] TO SHOW: Legendary Motorcycles at Salon Privé

Market Finds

Subscribe to Blog via Email