Wheels of Thunder September 2012 Issue

SEPT/OCT 2012
Vol. 3 Issue 9
Page 55-62
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Cover Photo by TODDWILLIAMSUSA.COM
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Find us on Facebook Wheels of Thunder
September 2012
OWNER
PRESIDENT Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719
OFFICE STAFF
AR/AP Stacy Robinson 763-421-4400 OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR/AR Vince Griffith vince@wheelsofthunder.net 651-280-8658 JUNIOR BOSS Zack Robinson 763-421-4400
EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Betty Schurmann editor@wheelsofthunder.net 763-421-4400
Special Features
Photographers/Writers
BILLY BOYLE CEAJA PHILP JOHN JEPPESON JOSH MOEN STEVE JOHNSON MIKE BENOY ERIK TORMOEN JENNA OSTERLUND MYLIE LAVOLD DAN JACOBSON
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IWA - Nick Gustafson ..................................12 Haydays - Matt Thies ...................................14 Welcome to the Big Show - Ricekiller ............18 Wounded Warrior Chopper.........................30 Tri State Raceway .......................................52 Terracross...................................................54 The Other Place ..........................................68
ADVERTISING STAFF
SALES Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719 Ceaja (CJ) Philp ceaja@wheelsofthunder.net 763-458-5019 WISCONSIN - Brad Coplan bradc@wheelsofthunder.net 715-497-8090 IOWA - John Lentzkow John.lentzkow@mchsi.com 319-239-1375
Tech Reviews
Country Auto..............................................34 Ask Mike ....................................................37 Pro Power Sports ........................................40
Rallys & Shows

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LCO Casino Motorcycle & Music Festival ......16 Iowa Grand Rally Follow-Up........................38 Drag Race Schedule ...................................48
Departments
SUBSCRIPTIONS
All content published herein is owned exclusively by Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine. Reproduction or further dissemination of the content herein is strictly prohibited without the express written authorization of Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine.
$34.99 - PHONE: 763-421-4400 www.wheelsofthunder.net
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Garage Built.................................................6 Boiling Point................................................10 Next Generation - Kailey Sherratt ................22 KimmyCat Corner .......................................26 Off The Beaten Path End of Summer..........46 ABATE of MN.............................................65 Dining & Entertainment................................67 Best in the Midwest .....................................82
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www.WheelsofThunder.net
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Owner/Enthusiast:
Bill Casey
TPC 450R
The start to a profitable obsession!
My name is Bill Casey and I started riding 3-wheelers in 1978. The first one I ever rode was my friend Chucks ATC 70. I actually hated it and couldnt wait to get back on my Z50 2-wheeler. A few days later we traded rides again. This time I figured out how to ride that little 3-wheeled monster and, consequentially, completely fell in love with 3-wheelers. Ever since that day Ive not only been in love, but absolutely obsessed with riding, racing, and building 3-wheelers. In 1982 I went to my local Honda dealer and bought a brand new ATC 110. In 1985 I bought a brand new ATC 350X followed by a brand new 1986 ATC 250R the following year. Through the years I had many more 350Xs, 250Rs, and other desirable go-fast trikes. Some of my love and passion for these machines took a slight hit, however, after my original 350X was stolen. It happened during one of those seemingly dark times of my life that Im sure weve all experienced at least once. So, I was down, but I definitely wasnt out, even though I may not have realized it at that moment.
Stock Original Stock Original

This is where it all started! This is where it all started!
Sound Familiar?
Do you have a story of your custom ride? E-mail editor@wheelsofthunder.net and you could be featured with your ride in the next issue!
Page 6 Find us on Facebook Wheels of Thunder September 2012
Time passed and it wasnt too much later when Honda released the TRX 450R quad. I knew this had been what I was waiting for, but not for reasons that most people would understand. After all, I am a 3-wheeler guy! Let me explain: since 1987 when all of the major manufacturers stopped making 3 wheelers I had always told myself that, as long as they made new MX bikes and race quads, the technology would be there to build a new trike, eventually. The time had come! With my beloved 350X gone, it just felt weird seeing my 250R without its brother so, I bit the bullet, sold my entire ATC collection, including a custom 450X I had been building, and started planning the future. The lone survivor of my past was my original 82 ATC110 (I still have it to this day and I dont know if Ill ever be able to sell that trike!) Anyway, on Jan 6th, 2006 I bought a brand new 06 TRX 450R and within minutes of it being home I had essentially cut it in half. I had never even ridden it, yet here I was, at the point of no return. And, curiously, I had absolutely no concerns about being able to accomplish my ultimate goal. In 2006, after an injury, the project was put
on hold for a couple of years. However, the dream never died and, in August of 2008, I invited a few close friends to my shop for the debut of my new creation. This was the very first totally brand new 3-wheeler since the last of the 1988 models were liquidated/destroyed due to the CPSC consent decree. Officially dubbed the TPC450R, (TPC coming from my eldest sons initials) this machine was built with absolutely no expense spared. Virtually everything was brand new and a majority of the parts were race-quality aftermarket pieces. Bob Weiss built the custom triple clamps and Jeff Rudler of Tioga Tool build the front hub and axle, all to exacting specs and tolerances. Forks from a 2006 CRF 450R and a TRX aftermarket front wheel completed the front end. Next was the frame and, using the front end as a reference point, the back half of the TRX frame was used as a core. Then a whole new front clip had to be fabricated to accept the CRF dirt bike parts. The remainder of the frame was designed so that everything else would be a simple bolt on. Basically, if its on the back it was born on a TRX 450R, and if its on the front it started life as a CRF 450. When it was all said and done there was around
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Team TPC Trikes -#32 (my personal number) for TT racing
Team TPC Trikes -#111 Jackie Meadows, Pine Lake National

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$20,000.00 invested in the project.As word (and pictures) got out other people became very interested in what we were doing here at TPC Trikes. Since I had always worked on vintage trikes on the side and was so passionate about this new creation, I decided to have a website built and see where this crazy endeavor could possibly take us. Well, since then, TPC Trikes has built a total of 20 frames, 8 complete (turnkey) TPC450Rs. and 12 full conversion kits. And there are currently 7 kits and/or complete builds on order. I cant express how surprised and grateful this has made me, Kimmie, and the rest of the TPC team its been fantastic! #333 Nick Lalanne 2nd place Pine Lake National I guess thats not too bad, especially when you consider that I never set out to do anything other than build a totally wicked brand-new 3-wheeler just for myself. Anyway, never wanting to rest on my laurels, we at Team TPC Trikes are now in the process of developing a 650cc 4-stroke and a 500cc 2stroke version of the TPC.
Eric Jensen doing a heelclicker. Additionally, I have also had the opportunity to travel across our great country several times with the TPC Trikes crew, racing MX in Ohio and NY, as well riding such famous dune spots as Imperial and Pismo Dunes in California, Utahs Little Sahara dunes, the dunes in Florence, Oregon, and the Little Sahara dunes in Oklahoma.
#44 2011 CRA MX champion Fred Morrell Not surprisingly, there have been, and there are still those who try to copy our products and, unfortunately, even assume our company name and identity. We view this as a compliment to our designs, people, and products, as well as the success of our company as a whole. After all, the sincerest form of flattery is imitation, right? Well, hopefully the competition is listeningand ready. So, if you are ready to throw a leg over the baddest 3-wheeler ever built then I encourage you to please visit www.tpctrikes.com to find out how you can own one of your very own! Jackie Meadows on his way to winning the EDT Pine Lake National I even had the opportunity to ride in Baja, Mexico with 5time Baja Champion Carmen Cafro, which evolved into our current plans to campaign a TPC in the 2013 Mexican 1000. After all, the TPC was, and always has been, conceived as a VERY serious competition machine. Further proof of that was on display as ATV, MX, and TT legend Jackie Meadows raced a TPC to the top of the podium at the 2012 AMA Extreme Dirt track nationals at Pine Lake Raceway in Ashtabula, Ohio. In fact, TPC Trikes had 4 bikes in the highly competitive open pro class at that event and took 1st (Jackie Meadows), 2nd with Nick Lalanne, and 4th with Fred Morrell. Fred Morrell also won the 2011 CRA MX 3 wheeler Open Class Championship. TPCs have actually won 55% of all of the races that theyve entered, a record that we are extremely proud of.
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Red, this one was built by a gentleman down in Austraila, he bought one of our kits and then built this awesome 85 ATC 250R retro looking TPC 450
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Written by Billy Boyle
FATAL DISTRACTIONS The Sequel

The summer is winding down, the bikes, trikes, and all terrain vehicles ht the roads and trails all over the Midwest. It has been quite a season for outdoor activities, but the statistics show that early and late riding season is a bit riskier for most riders. The risk are usually environmental factors that we deal with regularly weather conditions, sunsets, slick roadways, sand plastered roads that first and last ride of the season can be the rough and tough ride. I can vividly remember a tragic accident that involved friend of mines dad. Her dad had been a motorcycle enthusiast for decades and had always preached to his kids about safe motorcycle driving habits. It was April 2005, a beautiful spring Saturday the sound of the bikes hitting the road for the first ride of the season could be heard in the distance. The dad rolled the bike out and just wanted to a drive a few miles to the local Harley shop to pickup some fluids. As he made his way on a well traveled frontage road a small pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction without warning turned quickly in front of his bike. The pickups turn was so sudden there was no time for the bike to stop. He hit the pickup broadside and was launched 20 feet landing on the other side of the pickup striking his head on the curb. My friends dad had died on the scene. The root cause of this tragedy was found to be driver distraction; the teen driver of the pickup had been engaged in a cell phone conversation and lost focus while driving. Distraction while driving is now becoming one of the leading causes of roadway accidents, most of the minor nature, but some leading to life changing injuries or death. Now we have one of very own Wheels of Thunder staff members Ceaja Philp that ran into (excuse the pun) a similar situation. While riding on the back of a bike a driver pulled right into the path of the bike as they were leisurely traveling at a moderate speed. Even as safety minded and cautious as the operator of the bike was the
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driver never looked and was in the direct path of the two wheeled machine, launching Ceaja through the air high over the top of car and taking a direct hit on the head causing some major injuries that required several surgeries. Luckily for Ceaja she will recover after a long rehab process, however thats how quickly your life could change or end. Distracted driving is on the rise in the United States, the physical distractions are easy to identify, cell phone, Ipods, loud music, to name a few, but its the bucket of stuff we all have sitting in the brain, money issues, romance, health, and work stress. Let me ask you this have you ever left work, school, sporting event, and the next thing you know you are pulling into your driveway? Whether it is the physical distraction or the brain lapses throw an abruptly stopped vehicle, a deer, or another driver not focused, could you react to the incident quick enough to avoid a collision? These incidents happen everyday on our roadways, some only end up as a fender bender, but look at the two examples with bikes involved one ended fatally and Ceajas is life changing. The driver in the fatality was cited for texting while driving, and received a minor jail sentence and community service, but what good is that doing for the family of the deceased? Ceajas accident is too fresh to discuss in this article, but it doesnt take a CSI sleuth to put the pieces together on what was the root cause. Heres some stats and factors in vehicle verses bike collisions. Contributing factors for drivers striking motorcyclist In motorcycle crashes that do involve another vehicle, the report more often associate contributing factors with the other driver than with the motorcyclist. For the other drivers, failure to yield right of way (40%), and driver inattention or distraction (22%) are cited most frequently. This clearly indicates that motor vehicle drivers tend to ignore motorcyclists.
The Motorcyclist This factor clearly validates that when the bikes hit the road, the vehicle driver can and will hit the bike. So what do you do as a motorcyclist to prevent being calculated as a statistic? And when you are the vehicle driver what precautions will you now take. Absorb this if you will, professional athletes that are preparing for the season, attend pre-season training, why? To sharpen their skills, hand eye coordination, and get them physically fit to name a few. You as a motorcyclist need to do the same thing to prepare for the riding season, it only makes sense. Hitting the road without getting yourself mentally prepared could be the death of you for real. Years ago when I was getting my motorcycle endorsement at the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center as we were grouped up I noticed a couple that was obvious in the 60 plus age category. As I chatted away with the couple I asked why wait so late in life to get your motorcycle endorsement? The short answer was SAFETY. I found that have had their license to drive a motorcycle for over 40 years, returning to the safety course was a way to Sharpen their skills before hitting the road for the season. What about your physical condition? How about digesting this, (excuse the pun) from the lack of physical activities from the Midwest winter, your muscles are softer; you may have added a few pounds, and your flexibility in reduced greatly. Lets add youre a year older, reaction time is slower, eye site is diminished, and fatigue comes quicker. Here are some numbers from the Department of Transportation. A large number of middle-aged people are returning to motorcycling, and evidently, they are returning without proper operator training. In 2009, 57% of all motorcycle crashes were single vehicle crashes. A majority of these single vehicle crashes were collisions with fixed objects or simply the motorcycle overturning. In addition, 2009 data indicate that one out of every five moSeptember 2012
torcycle operators that were involved in a fatal crash did not have a valid endorsement to drive a motorcycle. These facts surely indicate that further training is needed for a large segment of the motorcycle driver population. Some tips from the experts at the Department of Transpiration Officials urge motorcyclists to ride carefully and not to let down their guard. Riders are advised to wear protective gear, travel at safe speeds Pay attention and ride sober. The state also advises that riders seek safety training, wear high-visibility riding gear Keep a sharp eye out for deer. We havent touched on this but several bikers were taking out by wildlife Here is a snap shot of motorcycle crashes in 2009 that resulted in death and injury, the numbers show that you are at a greatest risk when you are in lowly populated areas. That is when you the driver and the motor vehicle operator drop your guard the most. The results are favorable for either anyone involved.
The Vehicle driver Motorists are advised to watch carefully for motorcycles in traffic Always check twice before turning or changing lanes. Keep the tunes lower to hear that a motorcycle is in the vicinity Remove that long list of distractions that is mentioned in the beginning Take the battery out of the cell phone this will eliminate the temptation to call or text Stay focused on the roadway try the exercise commentary drive
If you look at what is happening in our world today, its matter of fact that most people are distracted in some way or fashion whether they are driving, working, or trying to focus on other important things that really needs their undivided attention. I can tell you this; people that have lost loved ones from an accident that was totally preventable would give you an earful. If the driver of the vehicle just kept their attention on the road and not somewhere else the lives of the families of the deceased and the offender would be different today. And the driver will live with it forever. Pay attention or pay the price.
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IWA Racer Profile Semi-Pro Open World Champion, Nick Gustafson

Written by Mike Benoy Main Photo provided by Kim Simonsen Trophy Photo provided by Sadie Simonsen
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n only his second year of competition at IWA events, Nick Gustafson has become a dominant force on the circuit, collecting 3 feature wins in 2012 including a World Championship title in the Semi-Pro Open class at Grantsburg in July. The humble and unassuming Gustafson has quickly gained the respect of his peers on the racetrack with his clean and consistent driving style.
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The affable young man from Roseau, MN has earned just as much admiration for his capabilities in building and tuning a snowmobile. An engineer for Polaris by trade, improving a snowmobile and how it works is just a part of Nicks everyday routine. The vast majority of IWA racers build their own machines to race, but when it comes to horsepower under the hood, most rely on proven engine and pipe builders to give them the edge out on the water. Gustafson is the exception to the rule, building his own engine and exhaust package as well as the rest of the innovative machine he races. He humbly claims that the mill is making around 170 horsepower where other similar builders are getting in the mid to upper 180s out of comparable packages, but has been continually out-performing many of them on the track all season long. This speaks even more to his ability to tune the sled to perfection and get every bit of that performance to the track!
Nick enjoys racing snowmobiles in the winter as well, competing in Hill Climb competitions from Michigan to Wyoming. He currently plans to continue racing at IWA events next summer where he will move into the top level of competition, the Pro Open class. I am looking forward to watching Nick compete at the top level of the sport. His quick rise to dominance in the Semi-Pro division leads me to believe that hell be an instant contender at the Pro level in 2013. There is still one chance to catch the #724 Polaris of Gustafson in action on the water on September 15th and 16th at Brainerd International Raceway, however catching him on the track has been a difficult task for the other racers this summer. For more information about the IWA season finale at B.I.R. visit the IWA website www.iwaracing.com. Come out to the beautiful facility in Brainerd and watch the IWA Season finale where all of the season champions for 2012 will be crowned!
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3rd in the Stock 600 Multi-Pipe class. His success with Hauck Power Sports and racing has put a target on his back. Pat and Jerry Hauck made huge waves and rivals with their championship winning Yamaha sleds over the years taking numerous wins, and with them backing Matt, he's on the same path.
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att Thies of Minnesota will have his hands full this year during the Sno Barons' Hay Days trying to defend his titles. He took home the Champi-
onship points win in the Stock 500 and 600 Single Pipe classes, and a
Photo provided by Wayne Davis www.waynedavisphotography.com
Written by Ceaja Philp
Matt has been a part of the Hauck Racing team as a crew member since 1994, and in 2000 jumped right into the Semi Pro classes as he took the controls on the start line with his SRX 700. He now runs the Pro classes atop a 2010 Yamaha Nytro, and will be gearing up for the Stock 500 and 600 single Pipe classes as well as the Stock 600 Multi-Pipe. By trade Matt is a roofer, but within his
NSRA race career he has already lined up 22 first place wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds, making his 'hobby' something to look forward to every season. He admits he is definitely hooked on the speed and adrenaline rush he gets from sled drags, whether on grass or ice. Matt shares is passion for being outdoors racing sleds with his other favorites, hunting and fishing. His children, 10 year old son Seth and 6 year old daughter Bri also enjoy the outdoors with Dad.
Matt would like to express his thanks to Pat and Jerry Hauck, Hauck Power Sports, Andy Brunner, Paul Hauck, and to his family and children for all of their support. He is ready to make them all proud again by bringing home the win!
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Photography and Article by John Krueger

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months ago). Adam's other friend happened to be putting this Corvette up for sale because he didn't really drive it. Talk about things working out in the end. The FRC already sported a few mods when Adam took possession of it, but he's been able to add his own touch since taking ownership. The most striking part of the car is without a doubt the exterior. The factory Torch Red paint still looks brand new, almost wet to the touch which is a big reason why I love shooting this car. Honestly, it's one of my best shoots to date. The car also has a killer stance. Adam's 'Vette is lowered all the way down on stock bolts up front and the rear bolts have been removed completely. It's definitely lower than most Corvette owners like and the tire-to-fender gap is a little too close for most, but I love A common saying is, less is more, and this saying rings true in the automotive world. As a journalist and avid enthusiast, I've seen the scene go through different phases over my time involved in the community, and it seems that it is currently in a less-is-more. However, that does not mean the cars are any less stunning than those that scream for attention. It is the subtlety that draws you in, and the hidden modifications that keep you looking for more. Adam Tiedens' 1999 Fixed Roof Coupe (FRC for those playing the homegame) Corvette is a car that certainly follows this style of modification. Nothing really jumps out at you except the factory red paint, but the modifications are simple, functional, and certainly stylish. Adam, also known by his screen-name 'Big Show,' is the VP of the Minnesota region of Ricekiller (which if you're not on the forums, shame on you!) and you can always find him helping out at various RKC events. Now, his position didn't land him this feature however neither is the fact that he's been a friend of mine for some years. I just happen to really feel that his Corvette stands out amongst a sea of others in a, dare I say it, bland community. From my observations, most Corvette owners are satisfied with what Chevrolet gave them from the factory and usually just add your basic bolt-on accessories. I like the presence of Adam's car; you know it's there but it's not screaming at you with a lairy paint job, or some big motor with a bajillion horsepower. It's how everything flows so well together, and how subtle it all is that
makes you stop, stare, and possibly become a little green with envy that this thing isn't parked in your garage. Now, Adam's been a GM guy since I've known him. He's a certified GM tech so he wrenches on them all day for a living. He started his modding career with a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP moving to a Camaro Z28 after. His Camaro received a healthy going over sporting a heads/cam package and built auto-trans in its final guise. However, fate decided that this car should meet a guardrail due to a tire blow-out on the highway. This is where things got a bit interesting. Adam's co-worker Ben wanted to buy the wrecked Z28 to use so he could swap everything over to his 2nd-Gen Camaro (Modern-Muscle feature a few
it. To fill those wheel arches, Adam's FRC wears a set of C5 Z06 wheels that have been powder-coated black with the red detailing painted on. Remember what I said about subtle details? The red for the Corvette logos is a little stroke of genius. On the motor side of things, the LS1 is
Just look at the photos if you need some proof. The car is devilishly good-looking and carries a presence all its own. Another saying comes to mind when thinking about this car's impact, minimum effort, maximum result. There sure isn't a whole lot going on here, but the results are far greater than what was put in. Just goes to show that less is indeed sometimes more.
given a little extra breathing due to a ported throttle-body and LS6 intake manifold. Exhaust gasses exit the V8 via LG Motorsports long-tube headers, 2.5 Xpipe, and a B&B Route 66 exhaust. Adam's Corvette also runs on e85 so 42lb injectors from Bosch take place of the factory units while an AEM wide-band keeps tabs on everything, and Carl from Lancer Automo-
tive provided the tune. Other modifications include a full LED interior light swap, smoked tail lights and corner lenses, and Radioflier modified ACA head-lights featuring Infinity FX45 projectors. The spec-list speaks for itself. It's short and sweet, but in no way does it mean that this Corvette is anything less than stunning.
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ailey Sherratt is a nine year old from Nowthen, Minnesota. When her parents would tell her that she can do whatever she put her mind to, they didnt think Kailey was going to say she wanted to race go karts. One night after her softball game, Kailey
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Kailey Sherratt
Anything is possible when you put your mind to it!
Karl, Tim, and the staff at the Raceway were nice enough to stay late and allow Kailey to take that kart out on the oval track after the races and give driving a try. It was the first time she had ever driven a go kart. She held it wide open, even around the corner, and drifted up and hit the wall on her first time out. But instead of getting out of the kart and giving up, she drove herself out of the wall and continued
to do laps around the track this time slowing down on the corners. That next week Kailey ran her first race. Heat race after heat race you could see she was getting more comfortable in the kart, and that night in the feature she came in second. Both her parents were stunned at her driving. She has played fastpitch softball for years, enjoys fishing, boating, and snowmobiling, but they didnt know she
and her family went to Ramsey Raceway to watch her cousin race. She watched for a while and then spotted a kart for sale. She talked her mom into writing down the phone number and it all unfolded from there.
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had racing motorsports in her. One night, Late Model Dirt Track Racer Tom Nesbitt was at Ramsey Raceway, and Kailey was able to talk to him and get a picture with him. Kailey has said she wants to drive a Mod 4 when she is a teenager. Kailey has shown continual improvement in her driving every week. Last week she actually won her first feature race. When
other. Kailey plans to keep racing and keep getting better. When I ask her what her goals are, she says I want to go to the University of MN and then race in Nascar someday. we ask her about her favorite part of racing, she says that they are all like family at the race track. All the kids play together between races and encourage each Well when Kailey actually gets old enough to drive, she should have turning left down to a science.
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HOW TO GET YOUR KID INTO KART RACING

hens the last time you had the chance to introduce your kid to a fun and family-friendly sport without spending a fortune? If you think your son or daughter has that competitive sparkle in their eye but youre not sure what type of racing to have them try, kart racing might be just the thing. Its easy to get started and kids of all ages love to get out and race in a sport where everyones a winner!
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Oval dirt tracks are, by far, the most popular go-kart venue in the Midwest. There are tracks spread all across the countryside and, while the rules and classes vary from track to track, generally anyone can race with a minimal investment. Were not talking about those go-karts at the amusement park, either. These are high performance karts with plenty of power to appeal to even the BIG kids in the family; mom and dad.
family down to a race one night and ask to enter the pit area to see how things work behind the scenes. Most of the time, youll find a great group of people, eager to answer any questions you might have. Once you decide to go for it, the first thing youll need is a kart to race with. There are several options for finding a good used kart thats still in decent shape. You may need to make a few adjustments, but there are race-ready karts out there starting as low as $1000. One option for the newcomer is to contact Scott Willis of Hoosier Tire North (scott@karts4kids.com), a kart broker who buys, sells & trades karts of all kinds. You will also need to buy some well fitting safety equipment, which will run another $200. A chest protector is a must-have for all junior racers, as well as a helmet, neck brace, elbow pad, gloves and racing jacket. Of course, there are lots of other goodies out there but the gear you need to test the dirt is pretty basic. You can pick up anything you might need at a kart accessories shop, such as Karl Janzens Power by Karl, located in Ramsey, Minnesota. The majority of the tracks do not require racers to join any associations, but World Karting Association (WKA) and International Kart Federation (IKF) memberships are required for certain national races. Talking with long time kart racer, Scott Willis, kart racing is today as stock car racing was back in the mid-70s; every track has different rules. He would like to see kart racing band together like car racing has. We need a series sponsor to help pro-
Written by Kim KimmyCat Niles Photography by Russell Cramblit
You can begin by searching the internet for kart racing tracks near you. Each track typically has a website with a list of rules, classes and upcoming racing events. Stop by the track, check out the setup, and talk to the guys in the local kart accessories shop. If it seems like a good fit, bring your
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mote karting locally and in the upper Midwest, said Willis. Uniting on one set of rules and one point system with a series sponsor will help to ensure a fair and consistent set of rules within the sport. For now, lets head down to our local Ramsey Raceway racetrack to try a few laps where its just $30 to race, plus $10 for each pit crew member. Ramsey Raceway is a 1/9th mile clay oval racetrack run in a cooperative effort between the City of Ramsey and TK Motorsports. Remember to bring your portable grill and a cooler of food, because half the fun in racing karts is the family atmosphere in the pit before, during and after the races. Believe it or not, the first time around the track for your youngster will likely be the practice laps just before the evening races.
are about 4-6 drivers in each heat. If anyone goes off the track or breaks down, the
phies are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, plus a photo in the winners circle. Of course, everyone is a winner at Ramsey Raceway, so all of the rookies receive a trophy just for participating. Keep in mind, when the race is over the best question you can ask is whether your child had fun. This places the importance on fun before winning, and if theyre having fun theres sure to be a first place trophy in their future. Happy Karting! Editors Note: Wheels of Thunder would like give a special thanks to Tim Marshefavre and Scott Willis for donating karts to our Wheels of Thunder kids so they could try out the Ramsey Raceway racetrack first-hand.
At Ramsey Raceway, there are races on most Wednesday and Friday evenings, starting at 7pm. The track gates open at 5pm with practice laps at 6:30pm. After the first round of practice laps, the racers and their crew attend a drivers meeting and draw numbers for the lineup. Classes are based on age and weight, with the youngest drivers starting as early as 4 or 5 years old and entering the adult classes when they reach 15 years or become skilled enough to compete at a younger age. Kids usually race first, with two heats for each class. Drivers take a few laps around the track to get everyone running and in order. For the rookies, the karts are lined up at the starting line until the green flag drops; and then theyre off! Usually, there
racers maintain their positions and the offending kart goes to the back of the line for the restart. This time however, the karts are put into a tight, rolling formation until the green flag drops again (just like the big boys do it) and racing continues until the checkered flag drops. After all of the classes and heats have been completed, the feature races begin. In the feature races, drivers line up according to how they performed in the two heat races. Tro-
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September 2012
BIKE SPECS:
Name of Bike: Warrior Chopper Builder: Wapello County Customs Owners Name: Roger Borror Bike Year: 2011 Bike Make: Full Custom Bike Model: Hard Tail Frame: Twisted Choppers Rake: 40 Length of Bike: 8.5 Motor: Ultima CC: 113 H.P.: 120 Exhaust: FSD Exhaust Flame thrower Transmission: 6 Speed Ultma Wheels: Ride Wright 23 Front 18/300 Rear Tires: Avon Tins/Body Work: Rear fender made by Wapello County Customs Gas Tank: P.B. Choppers Paint: Air brush by No limit Custom Design and Camouflage by Tarjac Seat: Ottumwa Seat and Top Seat Height: 26 Handlebars: Wapello County Customs Bullets: All spacers and bullets on body made by Roger at Wapello County Customs. Additional Custom Parts: Roger, Wapello County Customs and special thanks to Indian Hill Community College Classmates and Instructors
their patience with me. Tim Johnson, Ghost, Johnny, Shanahan and all my buddies that stayed up for 4 days to finish the project!
My Kids Hailey and Katelynn for
Special Thanks to Mom, Dad,
September 2012
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I drove to Waterloo, NY 2 times in 2 weeks to get the Warrior Chopper all dipped in camouflage. We originally wanted to ship it to NY to get it done, back to us and completed by 11-11-11. Realizing shipping would keep us from making that date, I asked my buddy, Ghost, who was helping me, and my dad, What do you think about a road trip? My dad said, Where to? I told him Waterloo, NY and without hesitation he said, Lets go. Two weeks later, the parts were done and mom wanted to go along. So dad, mom and I left town and drove all the way there
This project has been in the back of my mind for a long time, since about 2004. I guess it stems back to when I was 18. Inspired by my grandpa who fought in WW2, I wanted to get into the military. I tried to get in the service, but could not due to medical problems. In the beginning of the chopper project, I wanted to see if I could build a custom military chopper to be raffled off to raise money to help out the men and women that serve for us and a free country. The funds would go to The Wounded Warrior Project. Unfortunately, times were hard for me so the project was delayed, but I never forgot. In December of 2007, after a lot of talking and media coverage, I began raising money for the project. Donations were very slow for the first year, but by January 2008, word had gotten around and money, a motor and parts started to add up. I was in hopes of a build date of July 2008. However, the economy had tanked and there was no way to finish it. A preliminary unveiling fundraiser was done but barely brought in enough money to cover the expenses Id added up thus far. Unfortu-
nately, the project hit a standstill. In 2010, I enrolled in a welding school and Graduated in winter of 2011. Then I knew I wanted to stay in school so I entered a Machine Technology program and will in one day. The parts looked amazing when we picked them up the next morning from Tarjac. Left there, and with a stop at Niagara Falls for mom made it the first family vacation since I was a child. It was blast! We then drove till we couldnt go any longer. The next morning, we drove to St. Paul, MN and dropped off the parts to airbrush. Heres where the story gets crazy. With two weeks left until 11-11-11, I took the parts to the painter, he told me he could have it done within about a week. However, I called on the day I was to pick it up and he said hed lost track of time. Although portions of it werent done, I picked it up on the 7th because time was closing in on us. Just as weve all seen on television, we were
graduate this year. By doing so, I was able to make most of the parts for the Military bike and saw that this was a way to get the military chopper completed. It worked! We were back into building, touring with it to raise money and making this dream come true. Thats when I came up with a completion date of 11-11-11. Time closed in fast as the difficulties in the final weeks arose.
Since the unveiling, we have had the Warrior Chopper to as many events across the US as we can afford to travel. If you would like to be a sponsor or donate money go to my website and go to my pay pal account. My contact number is (641) 799-0444. We will be giving away this chopper by a drawing on 12-12-12. All proceeds will be given to the Wounded Warrior Project. To purchase a ticket for the bike go to our website: www.wapellocountycustoms.com and www.woundedwarriorchopper.com
back in the shop working 24 hours a day, still building parts, painting a few and powder coating others. We got it assembled as we were unloading it from the trailer at the unveiling ceremony. I had the VFW play taps and do the 21 gun salute. After that I asked all who had helped with the build to grab a corner of the cover and help me unveil as I counted down from ten. As I said one and the Warrior Chopper was uncovered, my dad spun me around and said, Im proud of you son and I love you. It was by far the best moment of my life. After the Warrior Chopper was unveiled. I had my buddy Jeff Leonard sing the National Anthem with a huge 14 ft flag that was going up behind him...what an awesome unveil!
September 2012
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COUNTRY AUTO INC. & HWY 151 CYCLE CENTER
1501 CHAMBER COURT ANAMOSA, IOWA 52205
319-462-5099
Written by John Lentzkow
Alan invited George to bring his 2001 Corvette with his custom paint job for a photo shoot for your viewing pleasure.
Alan Zumbach has been in the body shop business for over 40 years. I had the pleasure sitting down with Alan to learn more about his success, and what it takes to do the variety of work performed at his business. One thing I noticed immediately was his soft spoken, laid back attitude, and how he connected to his employees. Alan stressed keeping as much of the work in house plays a major factor. I have talented craftsman employed, and I listen to their suggestions. By doing this it allows me to control the quality of work being done, and quality work makes for happy customers.
Georges 2001 Corvette with his custom paint job. The hood on Georges Corvette took almost 160 hours. The detail in the rocks has over 400,000 sections air brushed which required a lot of energy drinks and late nights..simply amazing to see in person! Page 34 Find us on Facebook Wheels of Thunder September 2012
Alan started out at a very early age, working on a motorcycle. He didnt have the money to fix it, so a guy showed him how to use a spray gun. His finished product was noticed, and he
If you make a list of what we dont do, it would be a lot easier.

was my hired by a body shop in Dubuque, Iowa. The Body shop is where he honed his skills and learned the trade first hand. Alan took the big step and started his own business in 1989, and moved to his new location in 2007. I asked Alan to show me around and talk about some of the many projects going on in his shop. Believe me, this is not your typical body shop. We walked to one of the many stalls and at the far end of the building and I immediately got excited. Here was a 1971 Camaro Pro Street/Strip in process of a frame up restoration.
Alan Zumbach
with all the new products and performance parts is a must to do this kind of work. Networking with other people in the business is very important and sharing trade secrets, but we still rely on our own styles Alan said. The car is nearly ready for interior work and I can assure you this customer cant wait for completion. But something like this takes time and must be done right, and from what I witnessed, it is awesome. The other bays we visited had a variety of work being performed including everything from mounting tires, collision work, sandblasting, parts being prepped for painting, to custom stereo equipment being installed. One particular major project caught my eye, and I just had to ask Is that a semi-truck body? Yes, the guys replied who were hard at work flat sanding parts for this custom cab. From custom semi-trucks to hail damage on your daily driver, this shop really does it all.
The 383 stroked motor kicking out 540 ponies was surrounded by beautifully detailed body work and custom fabrication. Alan explained, the technology has changed so much from 20 years ago, and to do a car like this requires a lot of research and design capabilities. Attending trade shows like SEMA, and keeping up
Josh and Bo working on the custom semi-truck cab parts preparing for paint.
One thing I did notice was the work environment. I am not talking how clean and organized, but the attitude of the employees. Colby Van Antwerp who manages the shop and technicians Josh and Bo seemed to take great pride in what they were doing, and were eager to tell me about their projects. And in order to grow the business, Alan is hiring 2 more employees and plans on expanding his shop area. With custom work sitting in his shop and work already scheduled for next spring, Alan mentioned this is the only way he can keep up with the work load and more calls coming in. Alans business growth includes bringing in a new certified techSeptember 2012 Page 35
undiscovered, and worthy of some good press. This is what I like about my job, and sharing with our readers those who have the skills to offer services for which we may not be capable of. Add Mr. Zumbach to your list for custom painting; I did!
Allen, Tom, and Colby all play a vital role with the addition of the motorcycle business
nician, specializing in motorcycle repair. Alan hired Tom Gillespie to manage that side of his business. The timing was right, so preparation was made to remodel a room and add another talented individual to his staff. This direction of business includes motorcycle repair, service, and custom bike building with an opportunity to take on more custom painting and sales of performance parts.
Now I have saved the best for last. Alan Zumbach is not only a very successful business man and a very friendly boss to his employees, but he has a talent beyond knowing how to mix epoxy and do body work. Alan is a professional at air brush painting and graphic art design. I have included several photos which in no way do justice to the detail involved. I know there are many talented individuals out there
Amazing hood air brushed with 3D ripped sheet metal.
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September 2012
GRASS DRAGS?!? Q. A.
Hey Mike, I saw you talking about racing Watercross with snowmobiles in another issue, what about grass drags? How can they run so fast in 500 feet on grass? And isnt it hard on the machines? Bill from Minneapolis Bill, thanks for the question! Snowmobile grass drags have been going on for as long as snowmobiles have been around and just like every other form of snowmobile racing, it has evolved over the years and become faster and faster. Just as it is with every other discipline, going fast on the grass is all about setup and test time. The first thing you will notice on the sleds that are running fast at your local grass drag race is that they are sitting considerably lower than your average trail sled. This accomplishes two things: First of all, it keeps the machine out of the air and limits the amount of air that can get under the sled which greatly improves the aerodynamics. Second, it improves the angle that the track travels from the drive shaft to the front of the suspension rails (commonly referred to as the attack angle). By limiting this angle, the overall efficiency of the track movement is greatly improved compared to the stock configuration of most snowmobiles today. You will also see many sleds with air dams built in the front to help further reduce the amount of air going under the machine. You will also notice that the tracks most racers use for grass drags are quite different than what you will see on a typical trail sled. These specially designed tracks have a relatively low lug height by todays standard, which reduces the rolling resistance of the track and keeps the weight down. Many tracks designed for grass drags have straight grouser bars all the way across the profile of the track which is also a departure from the industry standard we see on modern snowmobiles. Almost all of the trail sleds produced today use a block pattern track that has a repeating pattern of open and closed sections of the track. This provides maximum control for the average trail rider, even without the use of any traction control products. However, when your goal is to have the track clearing away debris so that the studs in the track get maximum penetration, a full grouser bar or wiper is much more effective. Also, most purpose-built grass drag tracks do not have any windows in the track, and that will come into play with the next item. Of course, most of you know that the snowmobile track and suspension generally require some sort of lubrication to fight the friction between the two parts. In general use, its the snow you ride on that provides this lubrication. With grass drags, racers either use a slide lube system that distributes a lubricant to the slide rails, or they remove the slides entirely and use a series of wheels to facilitate track movement around the rear suspension. Tracks molded without the normal windows allow for a more seamless movement in this regard. And, if you are using a lubrication system, it keeps more of it in contact with the rails. To answer the second part of your question, Ill simply tell you this: With a little bit of preparation, racing grass drags is no harder on the machine than a Sunday afternoon trail ride. The biggest concern I always had was keeping the amount of dust down that the motor ingests. To combat this, we always used a good oiled air filter system. Another thing to consider is the way the cooling system operates on most modern snowmobiles. The vast majority of snowmobiles (especially those being raced in the summer) run a liquid cooled engine package. Unlike your car or truck, these systems use a series of heat exchangers that normally rely on snow, ice, or water to help dissipate the heat of the coolant as it travels through them instead of a radiator and fan. Because of this, most racers will have some sort of cooling apparatus built to assist them in cooling the motor. Most of these are pretty simple in nature, and function by taking the hot coolant out of the system and replacing it with cold (or at least cooler) coolant. I have seen many different and unique systems for this process over the years. The one that I used was very basic and consisted of a cooler, a small radiator, a fan, and a small submersible pump. I would use the pump to push new coolant into the system through a quick coupler installed in the cooling line coming off the engine. I would force the new coolant into the system going away from the engine first, thus pushing the hot coolant out of the engine into the radiator of the cooling cart. It would travel through the radiator and be dumped into the cooler and would circulate that way until the engine was cool. This system could bring the engine down to the ambient air temperature within about 3 minutes. On days when it was warmer, we would use frozen milk jugs full of water added into the cooler to help speed up the process. I hope this answers your questions today, and I hope to see you at a race sometime soon! If you have a question you would like answered, please send them in as I am always happy to do the best I can to give you an answer. Please email your questions to editor@wheelsofthunder.net, or mail them in to the following address: Wheels Of Thunder Magazine, ATTN: Ask Mike, 13915 Radium NW, Suite D, Ramsey, MN 55303.
September 2012
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IOWA GRAND MOTORCYCLE RALLY

Newton, Iowa hosted the first annual Iowa Grand Motorcycle Rally July 25 - 28. The official schedule contained national level acts, celebrities and events on par with major motorcycle rallies from around the country. Iowa has a large motorcycle riding population
and is a known thoroughfare for riders heading to rallies around the country. This summer bikers stopped in Newton at Exit 168 off Interstate 80 to attend the inaugural event. Rally highlights began on Wednesday July 25th, and kicked off with the Rusty Wallace Ride benefiting the NASCAR Foundation and Iowa Speedway Foundation. This charity ride headed to PB Choppers in Moravia, IA, for a BBQ and entertainment. Later on, a
ing as part of a cruise-in parade of bikes into Newton Town Square for a pig roast hosted by the town. Hairball the spectacular tribute to 80s rock delivered a pyrotechnics filled concert experience at the Speedway later that night. Friday, July 27th a military tribute took place at the traveling Wall that Heals with a presentation of the Rolling Thunder XXV Tribute Bikes built by world renowned bike builders. A ride commemorating this event led by legendary bike builder Dave Perewitz headed to the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa. The Iowa Grand Bike Show featured all makes, models and years with trophies sponsored by Jostens. Organized by Rick Dakota Kempf of
classic rock night at the rally with Head East and Black Oak Arkansas entertained campers. Thursday, July 26th the John Lehman Tribute Ride honoring the late famous trike builder, bikers enjoyed the Iowa countryside endMotorcycle Cowboys, the judging was difficult according to celebrity judges. Later on the alternative rock group Rev Theory and country legend Joe Diffie rocked the Iowa Grand crowd.
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www.iowaspeedway.com
September 2012
Spoke Saloon with locations at all the major rallies, the entertainment were non-stop. This included the Baker Smoke Down
NEWTON, IOWA
Saturday, July 28th was a celebrity filled day featuring meet and greets with Katey Sagal and Charlie Hunnam of FX Networks Sons of Anarchy and Danielle from American Pickers on History Channel. The official Iowa Grand Tattoo Competition was coShowdown where participants go head to head in stationary drag style competition, and S&S Cycles Loud Pipes contest. Daily events also include Roller Derby Girls, Motorcycle Cowboys Rodeo and Mini Bike Races, the stunt riders Squid Wheelies, Wall of Death thrill show, and Mark Reid, world famous body painter.
hosted by Danielle and administered by Ink Addiction of Des Moines, featuring star tattoo artists. The Iowa Grand Vintage Bike show sponsored by the National Motorcycle Museum and organized by Motorcycle Cowboys was an epic event attracting enthusiasts of vintage rides from around Iowa and surrounding states. Eddie Money and Blue Oyster Cult stormed the main stage for a night of unforgettable classic rock. Miss Iowa Grand competition, sponsored by PB Choppers featured beautiful girls from around the region on the stage that night. ive music Wednesday through Saturday featured superstars from the legendary Sturgis and Daytona motorcycle rallies Jasmine Cain, Ryan Rolando, and Farrell Webber. Hosted by the legendary Jay Allen, creator of the Worlds Biggest Biker Bar, The Broken
Wheels of Thunder Magazine is proud to be part of this Rally and commend organizers and staff for their effort to put on such an event. They have the perfect location and did everything possible to insure that bikers enjoyed themselves and remain safe. After all, this is a major NASCAR track, and they have the experience to handle large crowds. With positive feedback and expanded marketing, this event has potential to become one of the premier motorcycle rallies in the Midwest.
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t's no secret, when it comes to power sports dealers, you have a vast array of them to choose from, so what's makes Todd Amar's Pro Power Sports & Marine in Ramsey, Minnesota stand out?
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September 2012
Todd Amar is proud to say that his staff is trustworthy, hardworking, honest, and dedicated to their industry. The Pro Power Staff is comprised of long term employees who enjoy what they do, making your entire experience at Pro Power Sports a superior one. Pro Power Sports was the very first SeaDoo Dealer in the Country (Yes dealer #001), and continues to carry the full line of BRP products, including Sea-Doo PWCs and Sea-Doo Jet Boats, Ski-Doo sleds, CanAm ATVs and UTVs and the ever popular Spyder Roadsters. They also carry Polaris ATVs, Rangers, Razrs and Snowmobiles, Kawasaki motorcycles, Suzuki Motorcycles and ATVs and Triton Trailers. Stop in and talk with Randy Blomlie or one of the OEM certified sales staff; they are always happy to help you select the product which will best fit your Power Sports needs. As you enter the large showroom you will be able to find apparel and accessories for each of the power sports machines offered, and then some! You will be greeted by the
friendly, knowledgeable staff, and can easily find the department you are looking for. Don't forget to grab a cup of coffee at the Pit Stop Cafe, or watch the latest in innovation on one of their many big screens. When it comes to OEM parts, many people have an idea of what they are looking for....and Pro Power makes it even easier for you to find your machine parts and order correctly. Instead of the frustration that sometimes comes from trying to explain the part you need for your at home repair job, they offer an OEM parts finder right on their web site at: www.propoweronline.com. This allows you to chose your make and model, visually find the part numbers you are looking for and with a simple visit to the store, phone call or online order you are on your way! So for the best in the power sports business, stop by their Ramsey, Minnesota store or visit www.propoweronline.com or Facebook.com/propowersports and start the fun!
Written by Ceaja Philp

First thing that comes to mind is their firstrate service center. The team takes great pride in their fixed right, first time culture, with minimal to no returns on the work they do no matter the complexity. Pro Power knows that referral and repeat customers is first on their list and firmly believe in doing things right the first time around. The technicians are Platinum cer-
September 2012
tified in their product specialty areas, and then able to cross train into other areas of expertise
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BEST OF THE MIDWEST!

Opportunities for business who qualify for The Best of the Midwest are now available!
Call Scott Robinson 612-730-3719

Page 42 September 2012
Wheels of Thunder Bike - Far From Normal

Written By Ceaja Philp
When the time came for WOT to have a bike created, MCS Specialties of Forest City, Iowa was an easy choice to make that happen. Clint Wicke, the team's 'Mad Man Creator' didn't miss a thing when it came to the design layout. The team started with a 2002 Yamaha YZF 600R, and completely took the bike down to parts. As they put it back together it went a little like this.... The frame was painted with 100% custom mix right at the shop. The skins were removed and custom molded to make the three piece rear
become one, French taillights, not to mention the space left for the two flat screens in the fairings. They also did the first ever blinkers molded into the 6"extended swing arms. The overall height was dropped 4", and they were able to squeeze a 200 series tire on the rear. As far as the engine goes, they only had to do a little jetting with the carb and rerouting for the air intake. They made some custom exhaust changes and with an overall weight drop of 18lbs, were able to gain approximately 20mph to the top speed. For some of the 'finer things' they added a DVD player, SIM and
Flash readers, full GPS Navigation system, and full segmented LED strobe lighting. While some of the details were being finished on the MCS Specialties side, the skins had been sent over to LeRoy's Customs in Coon Rapids, Minnesota where the black base paint was put down, and final airbrushed white lightning bolts were added. Once the paint had dried the graphics were created and applied by LeDoux Signs out of Mason City, Iowa.
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Written by Brad Coplan

competing in the Farm Stock Class. A tractor pull has three classes of competition; farm, farms stock and open farm stock modified. He managed to pull 285 ft. a full pull is 300ft. The tractor he was using is his uncles; they have been using this tractor for 20 years of pulling and it is now being put to work on the farm. The second night at the Pierce County Fair was the demolition derby. They also have three classes of competition; compact, full size and full size modified. With used car prices at an all-time high, some people find it hard to smash up their used cars, but they managed to get 22 compacts, 20 full size and 6 modified. So, if youre looking for some different fun I recommend going to the tractor/truck pulls and demolition derbys in your area, just remember it does get loud so bring some ear protection. Another event that will soon be winding down is car racing. Raceway Park which is located in Savage, MN, is a great place to watch the races on a black top track. If you like Nascar Racing then Raceway Park is where you should go. My sister Dee and her husband Les are owners of Wholesale Salon Equipment in Minnetonka, MN and they sponsor a car driven by Jeremy Wolf. So if you dont know any other drivers then cheer for him. It seems to be a tradition in my family, my dad had sponsored stock car racing for many years and I started working in the pits at about the age of 13. At 17 I got my own race car and competed at ABC Raceway in Ashland WI. I really miss those days. Another event that just occurred was the 25th Annual Hammond Days Car Show. This was the 25th Anniversary Year of the car show and it was held on Saturday August 11th in the Village of Hammond, WI.
September 2012
As summer starts to wind down we start to think about those last minute trips we need to fit in before winter is upon us. I want to remind everybody that you dont have to go very far to have a great time! This is the time of year that the county and state fairs are in full swing. I live in Baldwin, WI so I am closest to the Minnesota State Fair. I like to try and make that fair my priority every fall. It is always a great time and if youre taking your motorcycle, remember they do have a parking area for us riders. This year the MN State Fair has some great entertainment like Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, and Journey among others and best of all, who can resist the great fair food? A few of my favorites are the French fries, cheese curds and yes, the bucket of cookies. The MN State Fair has changed over the many years it has been around. I remember as a kid going as a family and mom and grandmother would take us kids to the rides and games, while dad and grandpa
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would go to machinery hill. At that time it was a true machinery hill, full with tractors and the new farming equipment. One thing that I really remember was doing the spin art. I always thought mine was the best. In Wisconsin, we just had the St. Croix County and Pierce County Fairs. My neighbor Austin Vansomeren competed in the Pierce County Tractor Pull. He was using a 1958 Oliver 880 tractor and was
Off the Beaten Path

Filling the last days of summer weather with FUN!
The day was a beautiful sunny day and the car show opened up at 7am with classic cars waiting to be entered. This event is put on by the United Fire Department Hammond Fire Station. By the end of the day they registered 210 cars and trucks for the show. The firefighters of this department and of the United Fire Department work very hard to make this a success each year. The car show is organized by Hammond Fire Chief Andy Jensen and Asst. Fire Chief Todd Criego. The proceeds from the car show go for the purchase of new equipment for the Hammond Fire Station. Once the day is nearly done the awards are awarded. The awards are 4 Choice Awards, Top 50 car and Top 10 Truck Awards. Great food and music were also available as you looked over the beautiful classic cars. For those of you that are fans of Motocross I would recommend Summit Lake Hare Scramble in Stone Lake, WI or Hill City in
Grand Rapids, MN. This is real bike racing and its open to all ages male and female. They have several Motor classes and the youngest is about 5yrs old. Their race is usually about a mile long and these little kids can ride. They also have the Super Seniors which is 50 plus years old and a
class for the women riders. All in all there are about 26 classes and it makes for a long weekend of riding and watching. I have two neighbor boys that race these tracks Joe Medes runs the Pee Wee Class thats age 7-11 and his older brother Justin runs the 250 B Class, which is a bigger bike and more power. The boys and their dad work on the bikes all week to get them ready for the weekend of racing. Keep in mind this isnt racing in a circle, this is off road racing through fields, mud, jumps and in through the trees. So both the bikes and the riders take on a hell of a beating. Both Minnesota and Wisconsin have several Motocross events going on throughout the summer and fall, try and make one of these you will enjoy it. By now you should have enough things to do for the remainder of the summer. Whether youre out on the bike or just driving around with the family; this is the best time of the year, the weather is now a little cooler and Fall is approaching fast. Before you know it the kids are back in school and summer is will be a distant memory.
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Photos provided by David Smith
T
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op drivers from around the country will be at Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa, the weekend after Labor Day for one of the biggest Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events in the country. In the past, the event, contested the weekend after the most prestigious race in the world, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, has attracted national championship contenders from as far west as California and Nevada and as far east as Massachusetts.
Ray Drew
Find us on Facebook Wheels of Thunder September 2012
Marty Thacker Whiteley defeated Demke in the money round in 2009. Andy Bohl won Top Alcohol Funny Car over many-time Division 5 champion and home state driver Kirk Williams last year, and Williams downed Bohl in the final in 2010. Bohl appeared in the final four times in Earlville, finishing second in 2007 and 2008 and winning in 2009 and 2011. The greatest drag racer in Iowa history, 15-time Division 5 champion Vern Moats has never missed an event at the all-concrete strip with his Alcohol Funny Car, and he'll be back this year with veteran Mike Bell at the wheel. For many, the main attraction at Tri-State Raceway, which opened on Father's Day in 1998, is the track surface itself. It's concrete from the burnout box to the last turnoff in the shutdown area, 4000 feet in all. Even the grandstands are made out of concrete. "We've had some of the biggest names in the sport here over the years," Kuhlman said. "We've had Jay Payne, Duane Shields, John Lombardo Jr., Whiteley, Demke, Cowie, and of course, Vern. It's great to have them at our track, and it's the only purpose-built all-concrete track in the country that's this long. People have raced on old airport runways, but this is the only purpose-built track like this. We love having all the Funny Cars and dragsters at our track. Most of these people haven't seen nitro cars before, and they just love watching the alcohol cars. In our neck of the woods it's almost like a national event."
Written by the Pro Sportsman Association

"This is our biggest race of the year," said track owner Reid Kuhlman. "It's usually the biggest race in Division 5, and a few years ago it was the third-biggest race in the country in terms of car count. We had more than 600 cars there. I have the race scheduled for the weekend after the U.S. Nationals because a lot of the West Coast guys stop here on their way back home." Last year, perennial championship contender Jim Whiteley won the Top Alcohol Dragster title over the "Shredder" dragster of transplanted Englishman Michael Manners. Canadian Shawn Cowie edged Californian Chris Demke in the 2010 final and
September 2012
Mark Billington
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SAME ROAD DIFFERENT RULES

I got that feeling again. Happens every time I cross the border into South Dakota. Cant explain it exactly, but the feeling comes on strong when I see the 65 miles per hour sign on a two lane road. The road didnt change. Same two lanes, same paint striping, same gravel shoulder...but the speed limit is 10 miles per hour higher, and I get the feeling that South Dakota expects me to act like a responsible adult. Minnesota on the other hand, seems to think everybody is so immature that we need to be restricted in all we do. Dont get me wrong, I love Minnesota. But we have a culture of excessive state power that goes back many decades. And this type of controlling policy has a way of creeping into every aspect of your life. Speed limits, fireworks, gamblingyou name it and Minnesota is typically more restrictive than the majority of other states. Once ingrained into the system these types of laws are very hard to change. It was only a couple years ago that we were allowed to exceed the speed limit to pass a car on a two lane road. Ever try to pass a car that is going 50mph at 55mph? It takes a while. The old law was so safe, it was dangerous! Minnesota motorcyclists have done a good job at keeping wrongheaded policy out of our life. But in our society, no issue is ever settled. And those who wish to restrict your motorcycling freedom will keep at it until they are voted out of office or quit, and they continually try to persuade their colleagues to their way of thinking. Its almost like a religious passion for some people. It might have only been a dozen legislators who signed on to a helmet bill last session, but they will keep trying to exSeptember 2012 www.WheelsofThunder.net Page 65
pand their numbers. Remember, the state wide public smoking ban was viewed as a crackpot idea when it was first proposed... but, they kept chipping away at the opposition until there were enough votes to pass the bill. Dont think for a minute that this is a partisan issue. There are democrats and republicans among the ranks who wish to control your freedom (for various reasons), but for now they are outnumbered. A.B.A.T.E. of Minnesota has many, many great friends on both sides of the aisle who stand strong for us during the legislative session, but this is an election year and nothing is guaranteed despite any of the polls you see. Your job between now and November is to talk to the candidates running for office locally and ask them if they believe in motorcycling freedom. We need to vote for A.B.A.T.E. friendly legislators
and vote against those who oppose us. So when you receive campaign literature, call the number on the bottom and ask If elected would you support the current Minnesota motorcycle helmet law as is with no changes? It is a yes or no question that you have every right to ask. After all, they are asking you for the most precious thing in the world Your vote. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or ideas. Respectfully submitted, Mack Backlund State Coordinator ABATE of Minnesota
763-226-9195
statecoordinator@abatemn.org
reetings Race fans! GameON! We hope your summer has been fantastic and you are ready for the fall! Always great to be back with you as GameON! moves into the new season and that means as many runs outdoors before the snow flies and Vikings football. As always, GameON's relationship with Wheels of Thunder continues to grow and just like you, we also enjoy what Wheels of Thunder provides. THE most comprehensive race magazine and website to be found! Wheels of Thunder magazine gets you into the outdoors like no other magazine. All the races, gets you behind the scenes and gives you the newsmakers in one of the fastest growing sports in the country. And the pictures are second to none! GameON! Continues to have special moments and big league guests. GameON! is always broadcast in crystal clear full High Definition & GameON! and still serves as the lead-in to the award winning FOX NFL pre-game show on FOX's MY29 here in the Twin Cities. Every week, GameON! welcomes all your favorite pro athletes from all the teams including the Vikings! As the NFL season begins, it's make or break time for the Minnesota Vikings and GameON! will have exclusive interviews with purple newsmakers. We blanket the up and coming Minnesota Timberwolves and when the new season tips in this fall, we'll be all over winter sports. And make no mistake, as the seasons change, we're all over the racing seasons that bring you to Wheels of Thunder each and every month! We like to say that this is about getting your GameON! We share the passion that runs through the carburetors at Wheels of Thunder. It's what we love to do. To bring all the sports together. I can't tell you how exciting at these tapings to see the pro's interact. From Hall of Fame Heros like Randall McDaniel, Paul Molitor & Carl Eller to Wolves standouts JJ Barea, Derrick Williams and Kevin Love. There's Wild Coach Mike Yeo, Swarm stars from top Defenseman Joe Cinosky to big time scorers like Andrew Suitor & Corbyn Tao. We'll also get you one on one with the most dominant racers in Levi Lavallee.
GameON! delivers! This show is interactive, please visit our Facebook site (friend us @ GameONTVMN on facebook), we invite you all to visit our website www.gameontvmn.com and let's kick it on twitter #gameontvmn. And we're always planning bigger and better shows at our location in downtown Minneapolis, SEVEN Steakhouse / Sushi / Ultra Lounge / Skybar. We'd love for you to visit our live tapings and each week we list guests and updates on the GameON! website as well as our Facebook site. Get upclose and personal with us!! We also partner with the one of the largest Vikings fan sites in the world, www.PurplePride.org. I've said it before and I'm saying it again! Get off the couch and get your GameON! Please join us and be a part of the exciting new effort we're putting on! Have a great fall and keep your GameON!
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September 2012
AMERICAN SPORTS GRILL & PIZZERIA

Dont feel like cooking during the middle of the week? Crank up the Harley and make a road trip to Clear Lake, Iowa for Bike Night and a great place for food and fun. The Other Place is noted for their awesome pizzas and every Wednesday night throughout the summer is Bike Night. This social gathering draws a large crowd with both local and area residents who enjoy a mid-week break, featuring grilled brats, burgers, and chicken.
The Clear Lake location features a huge outdoor party deck and an exclusive backyard BBQ menu that has become a summertime favorite for locals
Established in 1970, The Other Place is a full-service restaurant and bar. The restaurant maintains locations throughout Iowa and Kansas. Its appetizer menu includes garlic and cheese bread, onion rings, chicken tenders, nachos and Buffalo wings. The restaurant serves salads with a variety of dressings. It offers pizzas with various toppings, such as beef, sausage, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, pepperoni, ham, black olives, anchovies, pineapple and mushrooms. The restaurant serves a variety of pasta dishes, subs, sandwiches and wraps, as well as ice tea, coffee, fruit juices, chocolate milk and aerated drinks. The restaurant has a special menu for a child that includes corn dogs, spaghetti, chicken fingers and small pizza. The Other Place maintains a presence in Clear Lake, Iowa.
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Inside seating is spacious offering a wide variety of menu choices.

September 2012
Typical Wednesday Night Bike Night at the OP .
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Chrome Horse Saloon
In late 2003, four local businessmen came together to form the ownership of Chrome Horse Saloon. Their vision was simple:
The Chrome Horse Saloon bar-restaurant opened for business on Friday, February 13, 2004, to a near-capacity crowd that had eagerly anticipated the opening. Customers witnessed a renovated century-old building - the former Z.C.B.J. Hall - with a totally unique atmosphere.
Create a bar with a motorcycle theme that would be enjoyed by people of all ages. An outdoor patio seats 80 people with low and high top tables. Two paved parking lots including the main one which includes ample angle parking for motorcycles. An interior designed around Harley-Davidsons which are hanging throughout the bar include: 2003 Anniversary Edition Softtail Deuce 2003 Anniversary Edition Fatboy 1978 AMF Dirt Bike 1969 M65 1951 Pan Head 1911 Excelsior Page 70 September 2012
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
In 2008, Cedar Rapids was devastated by a flood that crested at 31.12 feet on June 13th. The Chrome Horse took on 12 feet of water which took months of cleanup. Downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa was covered with some 9 square miles of flooding reaching into residential area in the worst 500 year flood reported.
You can see the water line just above the windows. Just image having to clean all fixtures and equipment from which filled the bottom story of the building.
This crew is responsible for much gratitude for their effort in the flood clean up.
There also was considerable redesigning, which resulted in an 84-foot horseshoe bar, more booth seating, relocation of the kitchen and restrooms, and more of a saloon-type look with considerable wood craftsmanship. Saint Paddys Day is one of the biggest events of the year in Cedar Rapids and The Chrome Horse saloon rocks the crowd with outside bands. The Horse is more than a biker bar drawing not only the Harley rider, but a mix of all age groups who enjoy great food and music with their friends. www.WheelsofThunder.net
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The Dam Bar & Grill
Owner, Joanne Hartnett and her friendly staff make you feel welcome, and are noted throughout the area for their big tenderloin. Its juicy and cooked to perfection with very little breading, and with a side of fries, you are going to be happy and full. In addition, their menu offers a wide variety to choose
Located by the banks of the Wapsipinicon River near the dam in Troy Mills, Iowa is The Dam Bar & Grill. And if you are hungry, they serve up some dam good food too, and plenty of it.
from including daily lunch specials which remind you of Moms home cooking. Throughout the year, every Wednesday night of the week all you can eat meatballs and wings is the special. The 2nd week of each month prime rib is available, and the last of week of each month is fish night with all the trimmings. Not only do the local residents pack this cozy little bar on these special nights, but people from around the area who know about it drive great distances also. I have learned if you have to wait because their busy, that is a good sign. With beer so cold it makes your teeth hurt, or favorite cocktail, waiting turns into social networking. Page 72 September 2012
Troy Mills, Iowa
ATTENTION RIDERS!
Do you have a hidden gem? That path you have found where you ride and get away from it all? We want to hear your story and see your photos! Share with us your favorite stops along the way and brag about that great little place with those good burgers! We are looking to share with our readers, new places to explore and what better way than by a referral from you! If you have an idea please submit your story and photos to editor@wheelsofthunder.net
So if you are looking for a new destination to log some miles on your Harley, or keep the piston rings from sticking on your classic or muscle car, 3 roads lead into troy Mills. This small town nestled in the heart of rural Iowa is a favorite stop for great food, great drinks, and friendly service.
A new ride will be published every month, so keep an eye out for next months issue!
September 2012 www.WheelsofThunder.net Page 73
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September 2012
YOUR AD COULD BE HERE!

Call Scott Robinson 612-730-3719
Become one of the Wheels of Thunder newest advertisers!
September 2012
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September 2012

Coralville Lake located near North Liberty, Iowa is a mega playground for boaters and campers in Northeast Iowa. Bobbers Grill pretty much has you covered for all your water activities including supplies for your camping and boating needs. The store has ice, snacks, a walk-in cooler with beverages and general camping supplies, including a full menu and bar. Also make sure you visit the Ship Store on the gas dock!
A large outside beer garden and patio is great for dancing and dinning after a day on the water.
Inside seating with big screen TVs to watch your favorite NASCAR Race with lunch and a cold one.
Owner Kris Kay knows how to throw a party and entertain her guests overlooking Beautiful Coralville Lake
Ms. Bobbers Contest (BYOD-Bring Your Own Bikini) rules are simple. Make your own out of anything you want with no visible fabric. How about Red Solo Cups or Chicken of the Sea and a hand full of Lettuce?
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It was a hot weekend with upper 90 degree weather, which made for fun in the sun days and country stars performing under the stars at night.
Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin hosted the annual Country on the River August 3-4 with full line up of country artists. This year a new site was built located south of the city to accommodate more fans and camping. With record ticket The beer tents were busy and the music was awesome. Eric Church was the main headliner for Friday night. Top recording artist Luke Bryan heated up the crowd on Saturday night .
sales, some unexpected issues had to be dealt with including traffic flow and parking. Concert officials did their best to handle these problems and insure next year to deal with those issues. Once the music started, most everyone forgot about those issues, and enjoyed a fun filled weekend with their friends. If you like to party, camp, and enjoy country music, Country on the River is one wild weekend. A free concert kicked off Thursday to get the party started.
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September 2012
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September 2012

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Wheels of Thunder September 2012 Issue

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SEPT/OCT 2012

Cover Photo by TODDWILLIAMSUSA.COM

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Country Auto..............................................34 Ask Mike ....................................................37 Pro Power Sports ........................................40

Rallys & Shows

$34.99 - PHONE: 763-421-4400 www.wheelsofthunder.net

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Stock Original Stock Original

Team TPC Trikes -#32 (my personal number) for TT racing

Team TPC Trikes -#111 Jackie Meadows, Pine Lake National

Written by Billy Boyle

FATAL DISTRACTIONS The Sequel

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IWA Racer Profile Semi-Pro Open World Champion, Nick Gustafson

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Photo provided by Wayne Davis www.waynedavisphotography.com

Written by Ceaja Philp

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Photography and Article by John Krueger

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HOW TO GET YOUR KID INTO KART RACING

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Written by Kim KimmyCat Niles Photography by Russell Cramblit

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My Kids Hailey and Katelynn for

Special Thanks to Mom, Dad,

COUNTRY AUTO INC. & HWY 151 CYCLE CENTER

1501 CHAMBER COURT ANAMOSA, IOWA 52205

If you make a list of what we dont do, it would be a lot easier.

Amazing hood air brushed with 3D ripped sheet metal.

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IOWA GRAND MOTORCYCLE RALLY

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Written by Ceaja Philp

BEST OF THE MIDWEST!

Call Scott Robinson 612-730-3719

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Wheels of Thunder Bike - Far From Normal

SUN SUN 1 2 MON TUE 1

Written by Brad Coplan

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Off the Beaten Path

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Photos provided by David Smith

Written by the Pro Sportsman Association

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SAME ROAD DIFFERENT RULES

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AMERICAN SPORTS GRILL & PIZZERIA

Inside seating is spacious offering a wide variety of menu choices.

Typical Wednesday Night Bike Night at the OP .

Chrome Horse Saloon

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The Dam Bar & Grill

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Troy Mills, Iowa

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