Morning Reads: Sunday, 2 March 2008

[Mika]

Today’s Birthdays / Calendar ( http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/calendar.php?do=getday&day=2008-03-2&sb=1)


http://thesquirrelloversclub.com/hugbirthday.jpg


http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/260679695_iCsZe-XL.jpg


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Flat Foot Stooges – Part 1
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Flat Foot Stooges – Part 2
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Three Stooges teach the alphabet
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The Sitter Downers
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http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/241325873_vPRDT-XL.jpg


cycilhuzeblog.com (http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/03/01/to-benefit-mda-500-women-ride-to-daytona-bike-week/)
To benefit MDA 500 women ride to Daytona Bike Week


Aprilia RSV 4 ‘Race machine’
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QSh_tOSdPtc&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QSh_tOSdPtc&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"width="425" height="355"></embed></object>


inter-bike.co.uk (http://www.inter-bike.co.uk/tblnewspop.asp?news=2270)
Hareley-Davidson invests in industry training programme [sic]


indianexpress.com (http://www.indianexpress.com/story/278815.html)
Cars, bikes to get cheaper [In India anyway]


londonbikers.com (http://londonbikers.com/news/9fe40dde-24f7-4709-bb0f-5df0e187640a)
The Aprilia ETV 1000 Caponord


ducati.com ( http://www.ducati.com/od/ducatinorthamerica/en/news/detail.jhtml?newsId=21141)
2008 S4R S Tricolore


harley-davidson.com ( http://www.harley-davidson.com/CO/NEW/en/PressRelease_date.asp?locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US&id_in=1382&dspmm=2&dspyy=2008&FROM=NEWS)
HO.G. set June 30 as Million Mile Monday


harley-davidson.com ( http://www.harley-davidson.com/CO/NEW/en/PressRelease_date.asp?locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US&id_in=1383&dspmm=2&dspyy=2008&FROM=NEWS)
Harley-Davidson Foundation awards latest round of funding grants


polaris ( http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=108235&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1113855&highlight=)
Polaris announces increased in Fist Quarter sales


dallasnews.com ( http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-nobikes_01met.ART0.West.Edition1.466a7b0.html)
Lewisville’s police motorcycle unit escorts Lozada procession, then disbands


motorcyclenews.com ( http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/march/1-9/mar108buellulyseesxb12xtlaunch/?&R=EPI-98943)
First ride: Buell Ulysses XB12XT


womenridersnow.com ( http://www.womenridersnow.com/PublicFiles/Departmentviewer.asp?ArticleID=845)
Around The World Bike on display: Dr. Greg Frazier’s BMW at Maryland dealership


http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/239852492_vsPvZ-XL.jpg


worldsbk.com (http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/news_arch.php) – News and Results from Phillips Island



ktmpress.com ( http://www.ktmpress.com/news.6607.0.html?nodeID=102626&cHash=b13c147aa2)
KTM recuits bright spark FMX talent Petr Pilat as factory rider


mgagusta.com ( http://www.mvagusta.com/_vti_g2_nwArt.aspx?idnews=687&rpstry=26_)
New F4RR 1078 Website ( http://www.mvagusta.com/tools/minif4_312/main_eng.html) is now online.


triumph.co.uk ( http://www.triumph.co.uk/uk/News_Articles_9201.aspx)
Scuderia Triumph-SC secure top ten in Phillip Island


roadracingworld.com ( http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?lnk=rss&article=31584)
Wisconsin Sportbikes announces 2008 Trackday Schedule


http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/237905512-XL.jpg
BMW Sauber F1 (http://www.bmw-sauber-f1.com/en/index.html)
BMW Motorsport (http://bmw-motorsport.com/ms/en/index.html)



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planet-f1 ( http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_3219572,00.html)
BMW plays a role in this article about Lewis Hamilton and where he could have ended up.


windingroad.com (http://news.windingroad.com/motorsports/bourdais-calls-open-wheel-merger-%e2%80%98the-death-of-champ-car%e2%80%99/)
Bourdais calls open-wheeled merger ‘the death of Champ Car’


http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/241324068_k26Ew-XL.jpg

bimmerfile.com (http://www.bimmerfile.com/2008/02/29/bmw-european-delivery-part-2/)
BMW European Delivery: Part 2


autoexpres.co.uk (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/217923/bmw_7series.html)
Magnificent 7 shapes up.


English.people.com (http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90778/90858/90865/6363361.html)
Going green could boost BMW


classicrallies.com (http://www.classicrallies.com/blog/index.php?/archives/1117-Forerunners-of-Canadian-automotive-industry-to-be-showcased-at-Toronto-classic-car-event.html)
Forerunners of Canadian automotive industry to be showcased at Toronto classic car event


autoexpress.co.uk (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/217857/jaguar_xfr.html)
Storming Jaguar XFR blasts off
Fastest XF bares its claws as it gets ready to take on BMW M5


teslamotors.com (http://www.teslamotors.com/blog3/?p=73)
Mythbusters Part 1: Airbags? We got ‘em’!


Jeremy Clarkson said absolutely NO to hosting it. The rumors begin.
jalopnik.com (http://jalopnik.com/362653/adam-carolla-to-host-top-gear-usa)
Adam Carolla to host Top Gear USA?


money.cnn.com (http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/28/news/companies/taylor_toyota.fortune/index.htm?section=money_latest)
Toyota’s unknown business partners


http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/238372870_wZqx3-XL.jpg



BMW Website Review:


BMW Yachtsport (http://bmw-yachtsport.com/ys/en/index.html)


BMW Golfsport (http://bmw-golfsport.com/gs/en/index.html)


BMW Oracle Racing (http://bmworacleracing.com/en/index.html?track.refer=)


BMW Sport website ( http://bmw-sports.com/en/index.html)


BMW PressClub: Page 2




http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/237925770-XL.jpg


BlogRoll: ( http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=295268&posted=1#post295268
) some of the blogs I have collected while purposefully wondering around the internet.


Stuff: A place for everything and everything in its place, including stuff.


wired.com ( http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Infuse_Vodka)
Wired How-to: Infuse Vodka


englispeople.com.cn (http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/6364130.html)
China building tracing system to boost food safety


M.R. Traveler


Places 2 Ride Blog (http://feeds.feedburner.com/places2ride)


www.biker-events.com (http://www.biker-events.com/feed/)
Finding the Good Times on 2 Wheels


Horizonsunlimited.com – Newsletter (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/newsletter/index.xml)



http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally/rally08/assets/newlogo.png

2008 International Rally (http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally/rally08/)
Gillette, Wyoming, July 17-20 2008


Mining The Website


A message from home, the Home Page (http://www.bmwmoa.org/) that is.

NEW FEATURE: Picture This!
As inspired by the Forum, each month we'll provide a topic for photo contributions. Members are invited to submit one photo that best depicts the topic. Photos will be judged by MOA staff. Those selected will be featured in the BMW Owners News. Each photo must include a 50 word (or less) description, your name, member number, city, state. Topic: Where I keep my Owners News. Send your photo to picturethis@bmwmoa.org. The winners will appear in the APRIL issue of the BMW Owners News.



Threads worth following:

Photo Assignment:
Here is a link to the PHOTO ASSIGNMENT INDEX (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=277618#post277618), with links to the various excellent Photo Assignment threads

Latest project: “Old Cro” the R-evolution (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22383)

Diary of a Barn Queen (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22579)

It’s time to switch the ratchet over to tighten. (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23840)






Today’sRoadFood.com (http://www.roadfood.com/)


Woot

Todays Woot ( http://www.woot.com/Default.aspx)
The Blog ( http://www.woot.com/Blog/Default.aspx)


http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/182526939-M.gif
Packer News: Packers.com (http://www.packers.com/), jsonline.com - Packers Plus Online (http://www.jsonline.com/index/index.aspx?id=44)


Humor

Over Heard in New York | Voice of the City (http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/)
Sluggy Freelance (http://www.sluggy.com/)
The Onion (http://feeds.theonion.com/theonion/daily)
xkcd (http://www.xkcd.com/)


Bike Candy:


http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/149851670_pQXPe-L.jpg
With permission from Kbasa


THE END (http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/jkn0164l.jpg)

[Mika]

PressClub US

BMW MOTORRAD USA ANNOUNCES BIKE WEEK DAYTONA EVENTS
03/01/2008

Racing, Demo Rides, BMW XPLOR Riders Party, Flat Track Display And More!
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - February 29, 2008... Following a long tradition of BMW owner appreciation events at Daytona, BMW Motorrad USA has a host of events slated for Bike Week Daytona 2008.

RACING - Daytona International Speedway

BMW's successful racing program is expanding for 2008, and this year it will include several racing events at Daytona International Speedway.

March 1-2, 2008

Famed BMW XPLOR racer Nate Kern will kick off a week of festivities and competition by racing in both the ASRA/CCS and MOTO-ST races on the weekend of March 1st and 2nd. Nate will race this opening weekend on his podium-winning BMW R 1200 S. The British racer Richard Cooper will join him for the MOTO-ST Daytona 300 event on March 2.

March 8, 2008

Following the successful début of the new groundbreaking HP2 Sport at the 2007 World Endurance Championship series in Europe, BMW Motorrad Motorsport will make history on March 8, 2008, by participating for the first time in the 67th running of the Daytona 200.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport will bring four American and European racers to Daytona. American racers Nate Kern and Brian Parriott, who have earned numerous podium finishes for BMW in the US, will team up with European racers Rico Penzkofer and Thomas Hintereiter for Saturday's premier racing event.
The new BMW HP2 Sport is the lightest and most powerful motorcycle to be powered by the legendary Boxer engine. It is the first truly purpose-built road racing motorcycle from BMW.

BMW Motorrad USA, BMW XPLOR and hundreds of BMW fans from all over the US will attend the Formula Xtreme event at the Daytona 200, on March 8, to cheer the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team of Kern, Parriott, Penzkofer and Hintereiter.

BMW owners and their guests can meet the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team members and have an opportunity to win tickets to the historic AMA Formula Xtreme race at a BMW XPLOR Riders Party on Friday, March 6 (see below). Visit www.amasuperbike.com for more on the races.

DEMO RIDES

March 1-7, 2008 -- Starting at 9:00 a.m.

BMW's Demo Ride Team will offer Bike Week participants a full week of rides on the latest and hottest BMW bikes. Demo rides will begin at 9:00 a.m. daily, from Saturday, March 1st through Friday March 7th, and riders are encouraged to arrive early.

BMW XPLOR RIDERS PARTY - Residence Inn Marriott

March 7, 2008 - 5:30pm

BMW owners and their guests are invited to a BMW XPLOR Riders Party at the Residence Inn Marriott, on 1725 Richard Petty Blvd (one block from Daytona International Speedway). The free pool-side event includes food and refreshments, a stunt show by national stunt champion Chris "Teach" McNeal on his new and customized F 800 S, an autograph session with BMW Formula Xtreme race team members, and a traditional BMW goodie bag. There will also be raffle for a large number of free tickets to the Formula Xtreme race on Saturday, March 8. All BMW owners are invited and they may bring a non-BMW owner guest.

BMW F 800-BASED FLAT TRACKER ON DISPLAY BY THE AMA

March 5-6, 2008 - Daytona Municipal Stadium

Another first for BMW at Daytona: The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) will showcase two new, customized BMW F 800 Flat Track bikes built by Dale Lineaweaver, during the Flat Track singles races at Daytona Municipal Stadium, starting at 6:00 p.m. on March 5 and 6. Visitors will have the opportunity not only to see the exclusive display of one-off Flat Track bikes in person, but also to meet Dale Lineaweaver, the well-known engineer and motorcycle builder from Northern California. Visit www.amaflattrack.com for more information.


GOOD NEWS FOR THE VERTICALLY CHALLENGED!
02/29/2008

Low Suspension Option Available On 2008 BMW R 1200 GS, R 1200 R and R 1200 RT Models
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - February 29, 2008... Motorcyclists asking for lower seat heights... your prayers have been answered. BMW Motorrad is pleased to announce that a Low Suspension option will be available, beginning in March, on 2008 BMW R 1200 GS, R 1200 R, and R 1200 RT models.

The Low Suspension option, which includes the Low Seat option on these models, lowers the seat height to 31.1 inches on the R 1200 GS and to 29.5 inches on the R 1200 R and the R 1200 RT. The Low Suspension option is available at BMW Motorrad retailers for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $175.




PressClub Japan

2008 BMW Motorrad Rider held training schedule announced
2008.02.29

2008 BMW Motorrad Rider held training schedule announced
BMW, Ltd. (Headquarters: 1-9-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo: CEO: Jesús Cordoba), the rider's riding skills and safety awareness aimed BMW Motorrad rider training, BMW with METZELER Motorrad rider training program and an overview of the schedule announced, on February 28, 2008 (Thursday) from application to start the course. 2008 BMW Motorrad training in all of the test car made by METZELER tires are installed aptitude.
* Basic and advanced training courses set for the test car loans available at the moment.

BMW Motorrad Rider of training with METZELER
BMW Motorrad rider safety awareness and training of the rider riding purpose of the advancement of technology from the mid-1970s, Germany and Europe, which has been held in traffic safety training. Motorcycle characteristic of this training is to understand and prepare for travel, reduce the risk of travelling happening place emphasis on how. RAIDINGUPOJISHON, brake, corner of the ring, RAIDINGUSUTAIRU the throttle work, including through wide-ranging curriculum, from motorcycle safety to enjoy a better foundation for the knowledge and riding skills with the purpose to receive them. Rider training in 2008 following four training courses are available.

Training Courses
The participation fee of course
1 Basic Training Courses ¥ 21000 - (pretax)
2 advanced training courses ¥ 31500 - (pretax)
3 ENDYURO ¥ 31,500 training courses - (pretax)
4 Training Courses touring ¥ 21000 - (pretax)
Rider training ¥ 5 test drive & 3150 - (pretax)

* ENDYURO, touring course if you would like to test drive the car rider training course costs and expenses separately from the test-drive vehicle is required.


Basic Training Courses
Basic training course is safer and more comfortable for highway driving conduct associated with the basic knowledge and techniques to wear our basic course. Motorcycle characteristics understand and be prepared when traveling as much as possible to reduce the risks and how to focus. And from the brake RAIDINGUPOJISHON (braking), bending, the RAIDINGUSUTAIRU the throttle wide-ranging work of the curriculum, participants remember with the idea.

Advanced Training Courses
Advance・basic training course is by participating in training courses conducted in the course.・I learned in basic training course based on the experience (travel) for better part of the contents.・Basic training course and to fully understand出来なかった,突き詰めたいmore than the recommended course.・Than basic training courses, and for a small, practical experience (actual driving) have increased opportunities to receive, the more it is望めるskills course.

Training CoursesENDYURO
ENDYURO training course is a necessary foundation for off-road driving can learn from the course. Experience in this program, regardless of driving experience and physique, it is able to offload enjoy. GS (S. G) BMW-constructed Therefore, the GS come back in all fields had shown by the rider to enjoy ready to ask for private curriculum.

touring Training Courses
Rider training course is touring training curriculum actual experience in highway driving courses. And the winding highway that runs along the common training curriculum with each practice. WAINDINGUKOSU line at the corner of the ring, eyes, and basic RAIDINGUFOMU from work and steering in the rear corner of the ring with a combination of braking and throttle operation of the Motorcycle Safety to run for a stable and important elements of the actual Content can be in the driving experience.

Rider Training & test drive
Test-drive the new 2008-rider training, the BMW Motorrad each product category suitable for off-road, ONRODO course of a test drive in a safe comfortable run Motorcycle technical knowledge and be able to learn within PHP. Also, BMW Motorrad product characteristics can also understand the characteristics of this program.


PressClub Latin America

BMW Motorrad Australia is one of the most recognised brands in the Moto Gold 2008.
02/29/2008

Sao Paulo, Feb. 29 - During a ceremony of delivery of the Moto Gold Awards 2008, held yesterday by the Motorcycle magazine, a publication of the publisher Motorpress of Brazil, the BMW Motorrad was one of the most winning brands, being elected on 5 categories related and the product image in the country.
This year, in addition to the awards given to pilots of the Brazilian motorcycling, there was a change in the number of categories of awards for motorcycles marketed in Brazil: currently the country joined the most important specialized magazines of the Group Motorpress in 12 countries - Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Switzerland, Portugal, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania - to elect through direct vote of readers the best bike in categories City, Trail / Fun, Custom, Touring, Sport, Naked, Scooter / Cub and Maxitrail.

In addition, readers responded to a questionnaire that joined a worldwide search on the image of the marks in 15 questions. So yesterday were also the best known brands in Brazil in the opinion of the reader in categories Cost / benefit, Design, Reliability, Competition, Safety, Technology, Service, Publicity, Make More Honey and Quality.

With great satisfaction, the BMW Motorrad Australia rose to the stage to receive the following prizes:

-- 1200 R in the category Naked
-- 1200 GT in the category Touring
-- Best image in Technology
-- Best image on Security
-- Better image quality in

With this award, once again, the BMW Motorrad Brazil is recognized for its excellent products and work in the country.


PressClub UK

BMW UK corporate communications team announces industry’s first dedicated new media PR role
02/27/2008

The BMW corporate communications team is set to expand on March 31 with the appointment of Duncan Forrester as the UK automotive industry’s first dedicated new media PR professional.

Soon after (April 21), Natalie Wakefield will be returning to her group communications position following maternity leave. Martin Harrison therefore returns to his press fleet co-ordination role in April, with Sarah Lovegrove returning to BMW Financial Services.

Forrester’s appointment follows a thorough search for an experienced PR professional able to combine both BMW and MINI’s corporate cultures into the fast-paced and ever-changing world of new media. The search took advice from external digital and online experts, online media, and BMW and MINI managers within the BMW UK business. Forrester’s five years as BMW Media Relations Manager, combined with previous experience within the dealer network and of setting up an internal communications network for BMW UK and its dealers, made him an ideal candidate for the role.

He will report to Mark Harrison, BMW UK’s Corporate Communications Manager who said: “Based on research that showed our customers are now influenced as much by online as traditional print media, we felt that it was vital to dedicate resource to the online media environment. Conversations with various website editors and bloggers also confirmed that there is an ever-growing demand for online material and support from BMW and MINI. It is a great opportunity for us to take this initiative and support the online community, media, our customers and prospects.”

The role will work closely with various divisions within BMW and MINI UK’s marketing departments as well as support the company’s traditional PR operation. It will also interact with other BMW and MINI markets due to the global nature of online communications.

Further changes within the BMW UK corporate communications team see Natalie Wakefield return from maternity leave as Group Communications Executive, reporting to Group Communications Manager, Angela Stangroom.

The Group Communications roles promote BMW Group’s global corporate activities and the business and influence of the BMW Group in the UK through its 150 dealerships, manufacturing plants in Hams Hall, Oxford and Swindon, BMW Group Academy UK training facility near Reading, and the BMW (UK) Ltd headquarters in Bracknell.

Martin Harrison, who is currently seconded to the Group Communications Executive role, will return ‘home’ to become Press Fleet Co-ordinator on 21 April. Accordingly, Sarah Lovegrove will return to BMW Financial Services. Martin Harrison will again report into Mark Harrison who said: “We are sorry to lose Sarah after she has supported us so well. She enjoyed her time with us, and with the UK motoring media, and did some fine work behind-the-scenes that will enable Martin to step back into a new, improved press fleet set-up. We wish her all the best in her future career.”

[PAULBACH]

From today's Morning Reads
GOOD NEWS FOR THE VERTICALLY CHALLENGED!
02/29/2008

Low Suspension Option Available On 2008 BMW R 1200 GS, R 1200 R and R 1200 RT Models
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - February 29, 2008... Motorcyclists asking for lower seat heights... your prayers have been answered. BMW Motorrad is pleased to announce that a Low Suspension option will be available, beginning in March, on 2008 BMW R 1200 GS, R 1200 R, and R 1200 RT models.

The Low Suspension option, which includes the Low Seat option on these models, lowers the seat height to 31.1 inches on the R 1200 GS and to 29.5 inches on the R 1200 R and the R 1200 RT. The Low Suspension option is available at BMW Motorrad retailers for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $175.