The California Motorcycle Dealers Association (CMDA) announced that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed AB 829 into law, a bill that was sponsored by CMDA members who were threatened with citations by the Enforcement Division of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for selling and installing legal aftermarket and performance parts when a new motorcycle was sold and delivered to a customer. “Millions of dollars in fines have been levied against dealers, distributors and manufacturers,” said spokesperson John Paliwoda, who added, “A CARB Enforcement Division Advisory, issued in January 2006, reminded all dealers, distributors and manufacturers that aftermarket and performance parts that had not received a CARB Executive Order, exempting them from the emission system anti-tampering law, were illegal to advertise for sale, offer for sale, sell, or install on motor vehicles in California.” AB 829 allows dealers to include the cost and financing of approved aftermarket and performance parts in sales contracts and install them upon delivery of new motorcycles without fear of a steep CARB enforcement fine starting Jan. 1, 2008, explained Paliwoda. “These parts are not just limited to original equipment manufacturers’ parts – any aftermarket manufacturer’s legal parts can also be sold and installed,” he concluded.

MMG Management President Matt Gross stated Primedia has failed to answer his company’s complaint filed in federal court for breach of contract over its 2003 copyright violation, which has resulted in Gross’ filing of entry of default against Primedia. “They were served properly and they had 30 days to answer, but yet they did not even have the decency to do so,” Gross said, adding, “The amount of damage that they have created in my life and my business is immeasurable. I will of course continue to have hope that Primedia will eventually do the right thing, but for now it still seems to remain your classic battle between David and Goliath.” 

The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a suit against the California Department of Parks and Recreation after it had issued a multi-year approval of an offroad vehicle race through the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, informed spokesperson Andrew Orahoske. “The suit charges that State Parks failed to conduct any meaningful analysis of the race’s effects on California’s delicate coastal ecosystem,” he explained, adding, the lawsuit seeks a court order that invalidates the Parks Department multi-year approval, requires the agency to conduct proper environmental review prior to allowing future motorized events at Oceano Dunes and prevents improperly permitted races from occurring without environmental review. “The mission of the Parks Department is to protect California’s rich natural heritage while providing recreational opportunities that are consistent with that protection … the Parks Department cannot allow dirt bike races through important habitat without even considering the impacts on the environment,” Orahoske concluded.

“Bell Powersports has hired leading motorsports marketing firm Hardcard Holdings to assist in the launch of its innovative new street motorcycle helmet,” stated Hardcard co-founder Andy Leisner. The helmet will reportedly make its debut during the International Dealer Expo trade show in February 2008. Leisner explained, the company will also assist Bell in a number of media relations and dealer initiatives between now and the trade show. He added, “Bell is so uniquely positioned in the market with its amazing design resources and in-house testing lab, plus has such an incredible story to share about this new product, we are thrilled to be part of the launch.”

“Bud Ekins, a pioneering champion offroad motorcyclist and a veteran stuntman who doubled for Steve McQueen on the famous motorcycle jump in The Great Escape has died,” stated the Los Angeles Times. Ekins, 77, died of natural causes at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, explained the paper. Inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, Ekins was one of the first Americans to compete in the World Championship Motocross Grand Prix circuit in Europe in the 1950s and he reportedly won four gold medals and a silver medal at the International Six Day Trials during the 1960s. His stunt credits include the TV series CHiPS, as well as films such as Diamonds Are Forever, Earthquake, The Towering Inferno, Animal House, and The Blues Brothers, the Times added.

American Honda road racing legend Merlyn Plumlee, 55, died at his home after a two-year battle with cancer, stated a spokesperson for American Honda. “Merlyn is widely regarded as one of the greatest tuners in the history of American road racing,” the spokesperson said, adding, “Always first to shake a competitor’s hand in victory or defeat, Merlyn was a gentleman in an often violent sport. Plumlee reportedly began working in the American Honda race shop in 1982 and, in the same year, he attended his first national road race – the Daytona 200 – as part of the Honda factory team. “American Honda mourns the loss of Merlyn Plumlee. He was a genuinely good person who was a pleasure to be around every day, the nicest guy anyone could hope to run into in the AMA paddock and a man we could always count on for more than two decades,” they told us.

“South Florida’s leading community and philanthropic ambassador, Thomas P. Ruzzano, 62, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, lost his 11 year battle with cancer on Oct. 30, 2007 in Ft. Lauderdale,” informed spokesperson Valerie Zucker. Ruzzano worked as the promotion and special events manager at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Ft. Lauderdale Harley-Davidson since 2001 and was the company’s charity ambassador, she told us, adding, “Known for his generous heart and giving nature, Ruzzano was an active philanthropist for over 10 years in South Florida. He was an avid supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County and participated in several events to benefit the charity, including Biker’s Bash, Biker’s Ball and camp Boggy Creek.” Ruzzano also reportedly spent a lot of his time devoted to the Toy’s in The Sun Run, which benefits the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.