MOTORCYCLE NEWS

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WADE THIELMARCH 26, 2020

Spurred By The Deaths Of Paulo Goncalves And Edwin Straver

ASO organizers and the FIM will be changing the format of the Dakar Rally to help ensure the safety of the riders. This has garnered ire from some riders, but it is well-intentioned. A meeting was held to identify several factors that often lead to rider accidents. They included fatigue, dehydration, speeding, hyperthermic, navigational error, distraction, obstacle visibility, and roadbook accuracy, according to ADV Pulse.

The new safety measures will include things that address all of these points. As for the course, all future events will be designed with a former motorcycle rider’s guidance. In terms of the road book, a course inspector team will be appointed to develop a book for all rounds and ensure all teams have the same info. Different terrain will be included to bring speeds down. Air intake restrictors will be installed to keep the power down. Airbag gear adoption will become a priority and likely mandatory. An updated navigation system is being developed.

FIM President Jorge Viegas said the following about these measures: “Reducing the number of accidents in Rally is a priority for the FIM, especially in the Dakar Rally. We will test solutions from the start of this season and we will make a plan at the end of the season to adjust as necessary.”

It will be interesting to see how these new safety measures work out. I think they could be good for the riders, but too many restrictions could be bad for the competition.53SHARESShareTweetPinterestRedditDakar Rally

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wade Thiel

Wade Thiel divides his time between motorcycles, cars, and the outdoors. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, and tries not to let the cold winter months get him down too much.

August event at New England Dragway in Epping, NH postponed to 2021

In consideration of the COVID-19 global pandemic, NHRA officials have announced revisions to the 2020 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. The series is tentatively planned to resume June 5-7 with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The season will conclude with the crowning of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series champions November 13-15 at the Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

The revised schedule will consist of 19 total events, with 17 of those events being contested when the series resumes in June. Six of these events will be condensed to two-day competition schedules for the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series classes due to economic and logistical factors. As a result of the compressed schedule, points will not be reset after the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway. NHRA has held two make-up dates on the calendar in case there are further delays.  

UPDATED: Frequently Asked Questions about the current suspension of NHRA racing

Tentative schedule announcements for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Series, Mickey Thompson Tires NHRA Top Fuel Harley Series and Samtech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Series will be announced soon. All NHRA-sanctioned drag racing series competition is still suspended until further notice.

REVISED 2020 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES SCHEDULE
June 5-7	Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals (PSC/PSM)	Gainesville, Fla.
June 12-14	Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals* (PSC/PSM)	Houston
June 19-21	NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals* (PSC/PSM)	Bristol, Tenn.
June 26-28	Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals* (PSC/PSM)	Norwalk, Ohio
July 9-12	Route 66 NHRA Nationals	Chicago
July 17-19	Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals (PSM)	Denver
July 24-26	NHRA Sonoma Nationals (PSC/PSM)	Sonoma, Calif.
July 31-Aug. 2	NHRA Northwest Nationals* (PSC/PSM)	Seattle
Aug. 13-16	Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals	Brainerd, Minn.
Aug. 21-23	Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals* (PSC)	Topeka, Kan.
Sept. 3-7	NHRA U.S. Nationals (PSC/PSM)	Indianapolis
Sept. 11-13	Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals* (PSC/PSM)	Reading, Pa.
Sept. 18-20	NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals (PSC/PSM)	Charlotte
Sept. 25-27	Make Up Date If Needed	Gainesville, Fla.
Oct. 2-4	AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals (PSC/PSM)	St. Louis
Oct. 9-11	Make Up Date If Needed	Houston
Oct. 15-18	AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals (PSC/PSM)	Dallas
Oct. 29-Nov. 1	Dodge NHRA Nationals (PSC/PSM)	Las Vegas
Nov. 12-15	Auto Club NHRA Finals (PSC/PSM)	Pomona, Calif.

*Mello Yello Drag Racing Series on Saturday and Sunday only
PSC = Pro Stock will be contested at this event
PSM = Pro Stock Motorcycle will be contested at this event

NHRA National at New England Dragway postponed to 2021 due to the Pandemic

Courtesy of Racin Today

John Sturbin | Senior Writer, RacinToday.comThursday, March 26 2020

The Indianapolis 500 has been rescheduled.

The 104th edition of the Indianapolis 500 has been rescheduled for Sunday, Aug. 23, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials from INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) announced Thursday. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will air live on NBC, with the official green flag time to be announced at a later date.Additionally, the GMR Grand Prix will transition to Saturday, July 4, on the IMS road-course as part of a historic doubleheader featuring the NTT IndyCar Series and NASCAR. This first-of-its-kind racing event also will be televised by NBC on Independence Day.The Indianapolis 500 originally was scheduled for Sunday, May 24, in its traditional spot on the calendar during Memorial Day weekend. The GMR Grand Prix was scheduled to be run on Saturday, May 9.“The Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is my favorite time of year, and like our fans, I am disappointed that we have had to reschedule the Indianapolis 500,” IMS owner Roger Penske said in a statement. “However, the health and safety of our event participants and spectators is our top priority, and we believe that postponing the event is the responsible decision with the conditions and restrictions we are facing.“We will continue to focus on ways we can enhance the customer experience in the months ahead, and I’m confident we will welcome fans with a transformed facility and a global spectacle when we run the world’s greatest race.”On-track action in August will begin at IMS with practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 12-13, followed by Fast Friday on Aug. 14 and Indianapolis 500 Qualifications on Saturday and Sunday Aug. 15-16. Each day of qualifications will be televised on NBC, providing more network coverage of qualifications for fans than in 2019. A full broadcast schedule will be released soon.The following week’s schedule will begin with hot pit-stop practice sessions on Thursday, Aug. 20, and include Indy Lights practice and qualifying. The Indy Lights Freedom 100 race, a significantly expanded Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge and final Indianapolis 500 practice will take place on Friday, Aug. 21, as part of Miller Lite Carb Day, followed by the public drivers’ meeting and full-field autograph session on Saturday, Aug. 22, as part of Legends Day presented by Firestone.“Memorial Day weekend has always provided Indianapolis 500 fans an opportunity to honor the men and women who have fought and sacrificed for our nation’s freedom,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President/CEO Mark Miles said. “This August, we’ll also have a unique and powerful opportunity to honor the contributions and heroism of the doctors, nurses, first responders and National Guard members serving on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.“We’re grateful for the patience of our fans as we’ve navigated this situation, and we extend our thanks to NBC for its terrific partnership and diligent work to maximize broadcast coverage with this new schedule.”As a result of the schedule changes at IMS, the INDYCAR races scheduled for Aug. 16 and Aug. 22 have been rescheduled. The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course now is scheduled for Aug. 9, and the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Ill., now is scheduled for Aug. 30.  The GMR Grand Prix will take the green flag Saturday, July 4, before the first NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the IMS road-course _ the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard. The unique holiday racing lineup will mark the first time that the NTT IndyCar Series will compete at the same track on the same weekend as both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.Immediately following the live telecast of the GMR Grand Prix on July 4, NBC will air the first NASCAR race on the IMS road-course featuring the Xfinity Series in the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard.“For very good reason, this historic pairing will be circled on the calendar of every motorsports fan,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “We appreciate our friends at NASCAR for their flexibility and support in this matter and will work with them on a memorable, exciting weekend of racing action.”Tickets already purchased for the Indianapolis 500, GMR Grand Prix and associated on-track days such as Miller Lite Carb Day and Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend will be valid on the rescheduled dates. Individuals already in possession of those tickets should use them for entry. To learn more about the adjusted on-track schedule, review customer FAQ’s and submit questions, fans can visit www.ims.com/COVID19. All concerts scheduled for the original Race Weekend in May have been canceled. This includes REO Speedwagon and Styx on Friday, May 22, Luke Bryan on Saturday, May 23, and Martin Garrix on Sunday, May 24. This decision was made to provide the maximum flexibility possible to complete the Indianapolis 500 by Sunday, Aug. 23, and provide room for any contingency plans necessary. IMS appreciates the understanding of fans and regrets that the COVID-19 situation has caused the cancellation of these events.Fans who made concert-specific purchases will be able to access a credit for any IMS event, including the Indy 500, or choose to receive a refund. IMS concert customers will receive further communication on how to exercise their ticketing options. IMS and INDYCAR officials will continue to work closely with local, state and federal health representatives to ensure a safe and healthy experience for spectators. Enhanced measures that will be in place once activity resumes at IMS include:_Increasing housekeeping staff at the track to elevate frequency of cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces._ Using cleaning products that meet current EPA and CDC guidelines for registered disinfectants to be used against COVID-19._ Educating all employees on CDC prevention guidance, including proper hand-washing technique and requesting that all vendors communicate strict hygiene protocol to staff._ Increasing public hand-sanitizing stations in high-traffic areas, containing sanitizer that meets or exceeds the CDC standard for alcohol content._ Reducing required hand-to-hand interactions between customers and staff at concession areas and other key IMS locations. UPDATED 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE Saturday, May 30 Streets of Detroit Race 1, Belle Isle Sunday, May 31 Streets of Detroit Race 2, Belle Isle Saturday, June 6 Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth Sunday, June 21 Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. Saturday, June 27 Richmond Raceway Saturday, July 4 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Sunday, July 12 Streets of Toronto Saturday, July 18 Iowa Speedway, Newton  Sunday, Aug. 9 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio Sunday, Aug. 23 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race  Sunday, Aug. 30 World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Madison, Ill. Sunday, Sept. 13 Portland International Raceway Sunday, Sept. 20 WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. TBD Expected Finale Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

John Sturbin | Senior Writer, RacinToday.com Thursday, March 26 2020

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ACT and PASS have determined that, should the Northeast Classic ultimately be forced to postpone its original April 17/18 date, the make-up will be held May 8/9. (Alan Ward photo)

Waterbury, VT and Naples, ME – American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Pro All Star Series (PASS) officials announced today that Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 have been set as “if needed” make-up dates for the inaugural Northeast Classic at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS). While the event has not officially been postponed at this time, recent developments have led to setting the alternative dates so teams and fans can prepare for the possibility.

The decision to reserve the make-up dates came in the wake of a stay-at-home order issued by the state of New Hampshire due to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. This order is currently in effect from midnight on March 27 until May 4, which would span the current April 17 and 18 dates for the Northeast Classic. The U.S.-Canada border is also temporarily closed to nonessential travel as a result of the outbreak, which would affect Quebec teams planning to attend the event.

However, with the situation constantly evolving, officials deemed it best to hold off an official postponement for the time being. Both ACT and PASS continue to monitor the situation and will make further announcements. Should a postponement ultimately be necessary, the series will work with weekly tracks that have events currently slated on May 8 and 9 to minimize scheduling conflicts.

“These are unprecedented times for everyone involved, which makes it a complicated situation to navigate,” ACT managing partner Cris Michaud said. “As we stated previously, we are committed to doing what’s best of our teams and fans, and we are following all state and federal orders. That being said, we’re also optimistic folks, and with three weeks left before the original date, a lot can still happen in either direction. We’ll be sure to update everyone as soon as there’s more information.”

“We know a lot of people in the region are looking forward to this event,” PASS owner Tom Mayberry said. “We want to do everything we can to get the Northeast Classic in, which means keeping our options open. Hopefully we don’t end up needing the make-up dates, but it’s good to know they’re available in case. We look forward to seeing everyone the moment it’s healthy and safe to do so.”

Teams can still enter the Northeast Classic by visiting www.acttour.com or www.proallstarseries.com. The event, which is currently set for April 17 and 18 at Loudon’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway, will feature the ACT Late Model Tour and PASS North Series along with open events for tour-type Modifieds, 8-cylinder Street Stocks, and 4-cylinder Mini Stocks. Open practice is scheduled for April 17 with qualifying and features on April 18.

For more information, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.

For technical information concerning all PASS divisions, and for media or marketing questions, please contact passracing@roadrunner.com or visit www.proallstarsseries.com. Don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow on Twitter @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.

ACT/PASS PR

Note: if your track,tour or event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com

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TRI TRACK OPEN MODIFIED SERIES STATEMENT: 

The Tri Track Open Modified Series hopes each of you are healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, the state of New Hampshire issued a stay-at-home order for their residents through May 4, which directly impacts our season-opener, originally scheduled for May 2 at Monadnock Speedway. We will abide by the rulings of state government officials during this difficult time in the effort to keep everyone safe.  

Therefore, we have postponed the opener at Monadnock Speedway until Saturday, May 9. This new date is tentative, as the COVID-19 situation is fluid and changing daily. Please stick with our social media channels for the latest information if there is to be any further updates. 

Source:
Kyle Souza | Motorsports Journalist Director of Public Relations — Tri Track Open Modified Series Public Relations & Social Media — Seekonk SpeedwayDirector of Marketing & Public Relations — Thompson Speedway Motorsports ParkContributor, MyRaceNews.com

Note: if your track is not posted on this blog send your press releases to: lmodestino@hotmail.com

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;Visit Us Online for Brand-New Education Materials, Historic Content Revisions to Museum’s 2020 Indy 500 Events Schedule Underway INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, March 27, 2020 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum officials have shifted the term of closure to “until further notice” given the ongoing National Emergency and humanitarian crisis due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In previous communication (March 13), museum officials targeted a reopening date of March 30,before Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb issued an executive order requiring all non-essential businesses to close until April 7. IMS Museum managers are monitoring the reports and recommendations of public health officials, and maintaining communications with Indianapolis Motor Speedway management, and will endeavor to reopen the Museum as soon as appropriately possible. The museum staff graciously thanks the many donors and new members who have provided financial support to the non-profit IMS Foundation (which operates the Museum) during this unprecedented time. In the wake of the March 26 IMS and NTT IndyCar Series joint announcement of the shift in 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge activities to August and GMR Grand Prix to July 4, the Museum staff is reviewing all options to shift traditional “Month of May” events, including the annual Hall of Fame Day Legends Autograph Session and IMS Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Special Recognition Dinner presented by Firestone. The Museum will announce rescheduled or cancelled events as soon as possible, and likewise will communicate directly with our key event constituencies in timely fashion. Museum Educational and Entertainment Resources: For parents of school-age children, the Museum recently expanded its educational offerings at indyracingmuseum.org. For families and race fans sheltering at home, the Museum’s communications, curatorial, education and membership staffs have teamed up to produce online content for all ages, and fans are encouraged to visit our website and social media channels for entertaining and educational content. You’ll find the IMS Museum on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter at the address @imsmuseum, and our YouTube channel is Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. We wish everyone safety and ask that you simply follow the guidance of our public health and safety officials in order to protect all ages. About the IMS Museum: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is home to one of the world’s premier motorsports and automobile collections, with interpretive emphasis on the Indianapolis 500 and its role as an American icon of sporting tradition and innovation. Located inside the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, the Museum is open 363 days a year under normal operating conditions (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which relies on support from admissions, tours, sponsorships, annual memberships and planned-giving for its operations, educational programming, restoration and preservation efforts, and special exhibits and events. For more information on the IMS Museum, please visit www.indyracingmuseum.org, contact the Museum at 317-492-6784, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. Source: Eric Powell, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Mus

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SAVE THE PURSE & THOMPSON SPEEDWAY ANNOUNCE LATE MODEL MID-SUMMER CHALLENGE FOR 2020 

THREE RACES TO PAYING $2,000 TO THE WINNER SET FOR DIVISION II CLASS

THOMPSON, Conn. — Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park and Save The Purse jointly announced on Thursday that competitors in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model division will have three, 50-lap feature races in 2020 as part of a new Late Model Mid-Summer Challenge.

A group of competitors joined together over the offseason to form Save The Purse, a group that has come up with additional purse money through sponsors and have put it towards these special events. The group is run by recognized racing crew member Brad Martel. 

Each of the three events will pay $2,000 to the winner, $1,000 for second and $750 for third. A full purse will be distributed to the top 25 competitors. The races will take place as part of the three standalone NASCAR Weekly Racing Series events scheduled for June 3, July 8 and August 5. 

Thompson Speedway is committed to the future of oval track racing and in 2020 has planned a six-race NASCAR schedule. With the addition of a night of double features for all five NASCAR divisions, competitors will have the chance to run seven feature races. 

These Late Model special events are going to be a must-watch for all race fans. 

“Watching a group of racers come together and come up with funds to increase the purse is something special, and we are happy to work with them,” Terry Eames, the General Manager of Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, said. “We’re looking forward to watching competitors race for this extra purse money while running some extra laps. Fans won’t want to miss these special events.”  

“We were determined to come up with the best possible solution to increase the purse value at Thompson in 2020,” Brad Martel, the Director of Save The Purse, said. “We’re looking forward to watching a competitive division competed in double their normal distance for some extra cash.” 

Sponsors included in the Mid-Summer Classic will be announced later. As part of these special night events, the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Sunoco Modifieds, SK Light Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks will join the action. 

Thompson Speedway also runs in the Late Model program under American Canadian Tour rules, and in 2020, will also be part of the New England Late Model Challenge Cup. Thompson is one of five tracks in the program – one that will have all scheduled weekly Late Model events eligible to receive points towards winning the Cup. ACT will take the 10 best finishes for each registered driver across all five tracks and count it towards the drivers totals, with a special points system in place based on a driver’s feature finishes and event car counts, with bonus points for wins and cars passed. With the three events paying additional purse, these could be races that drivers across New England elect to attend to earn crucial points.  

With COVID-19 sweeping through the United States, Thompson officials have been forced to update the 2020 schedule. Currently, the 46^th annual Icebreaker presented by Liquid Death is tentatively scheduled for May 15-16. A full schedule of postponed events will be released later.

Source: Kyle Souza

Director of Public Relations & Marketing

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

205 East Thompson Road | Thompson, CT 06277

Note: If your track, tour or event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com

The Future of Land Speed

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2020 RACE DATES!

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Maine Event – Wednesday Jul 15 – Sunday July 19

Harvest Event – Thursday Sept 3 – Sunday Sept 6
Sundays will be used as a rain out date or if there are at least 20 racers able to run.

Please plan accordingly and if you are a weekend warrior, your weekend of racing should probably start Friday.

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THE 2019 SEASON IS IN THE BOOKS
 

We want to thank all of our volunteers for a flawless season of racing in 2019. From the line, to the traps, to long shutdown, our racers all say that you guys are the best crew in all of motor sports!  

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The first decade of racing with the LTA has been a great experience for all of our racers, fans and volunteers. we look forward to 2020 when we start the next decade of ALL OUT SPEED!

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) today announced schedule updates for three 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge events.

• The Acura Sports Car Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio has been moved to the weekend of Sept. 25-27, 2020. It was originally scheduled for the weekend of May 1-3.
• The IMSA Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has been moved up one weekend to run on Sept. 4-6. It was originally scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 11-13. This date adjustment was made to accommodate IMSA competitors planning to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which now will run on Sept. 19-20.
• The 23^rdannual Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta has been moved back one week and now will run Oct. 14-17 to provide teams a more balanced schedule as the season comes to its conclusion. The original dates of the event were Oct. 7-10.

These three event date changes are in addition to the previously announced reschedule of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts, which now is set for Nov. 11-14. Previously purchased tickets for all four events will be valid on the new dates.

IMSA will provide additional series updates, broadcast information and event schedules as they become available.