Weekly Motorcycle Radio Show
This week’s special guest is not only quicker than either Bill or Todd, but she’s also faster… And she can prove it! Two-time World Land Speed Record holder and professional NHRA Pro-Stock Motorcycle Drag Racer Valerie Thompson takes time out of her busy schedule to visit with the Blockhead Boys this week and chat about how she got started racing and what it’s like to pull over 3 g’s from a standing start.
The talented racer also chats with the studio jockeys about the feel of a motorcycle on the Bonneville Salt Flats as she heads for the horizon at over 160 miles per hour, and how securing sponsorship is so important to her plans to move up to a full program next year.
Valerie invited us to cheer her on at this season’s last two NHRA Pro-Stock Bike National events, so come say hello at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals on October 29-November 1 in the City that Never Sleeps, and at the 2009 season finale – the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, California on November 12-15. Settle back on your seat and listen to the podcast of our interview with Valerie Thompson here.
Also on this week’s show, Todd rails that one of his New York "neighbors" is the congressional sponsor of H.R. 1925 (the bill inaccurately called "America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009".) This legislation is designed to take 9.4 million acres of Federal Land in Utah away from bicycles, off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s) by closing the Moab, San Rafael Swell and Chimney Rock riding areas through an artificial designation of "Wilderness". US Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) is the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public lands and has scheduled a hearing for this Thursday, October 1 on a bill sponsored by Todd’s own congressman. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO KEEP FROM LOSING ACCESS TO THIS LAND FOREVER. The American Motorcyclist Association has a site dedicated to watching out for our rights and that’s only one of the gazillion reasons why you, like Bill and Todd, MUST BE AN AMA MEMBER.
Todd also wants to know why is it that US Representative Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) would sponsor legislation about federal lands in an area two thousand miles from his own District? Could it be to create a smokescreen that (Hinchey hopes) will take peoples’ minds off the fact that quality jobs and employers continue to leave his district at a record pace? Maybe to deflect his constituents’ anger over his support for a wildly unpopular Health Care bill? Or possibly to try to appease the largely-democratic area in Ithaca, NY that Hinchey specifically had drawn into his current district during re-districting a few years ago. No, Maurice would NEVER do that. If that was the case, ANYONE would be able see that Ithaca was specifically drawn into his district – unlike any other district in upstate NY. That would make Hinchey just another gerrymandering politician working the system.
Since Todd was in a nasty mood already this week, we asked for his commentary regarding Honda’s press release telling of their intention to drop out of AMA Superbike Racing (here). Short and to the point this week, are we Mr. Wilson?
Bill also enjoyed Todd’s bold prediction for the new 2010 Ducati Hypermotard 796… and provided rare agreement noting that this new Duc has already gained the rating of "Most likely to be tested by Ultimate Motorcycling’s online director." We’ll catch up with you next week with our special guest Joe Bromley, the AMA’s Director of Racing.