Son Of Evel

Robbie Knievel has announced his plans to attempt a jump of 180 feet over three 18 wheelers in front of the state capitol building in Austin, Texas on June 12th. The jump will be made during the Republic of Texas rally for motorcyclists. The rally will be the start of Knievel's farewell tour. Robbie's famous father passed away in 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evel_Knievel

Triumph Demo Tour

The Triumph Demo Tour is coming to a town near you. This your chance to ride a bike you've always wanted to ride. Whether it be a cruiser, the classic Bonneville or a sportbike like the Daytona 675. You don't have to buy. You just have to ride. Click on the link to find out when the demo tour is coming to your town.

http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/11197.aspx

World Superbike - U.S. Superpole Results

American Ben Spies took his seventh consecutive Superpole in the World Superbike Championship round at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah yesterday. Spies has been the fastest qualifier at every event in this his rookie year, and with his latest pole he has surpassed the record for consecutive poles that was set by American Doug Polen in 1991.

Spies always finds a way to come out on top, and this time he beat the Honda of Spaniard Carlos Checa by .564 of a second in the third and final session of Superpole. American Jamie Hacking has performed well here in a wild card ride, making it to the third round of Superpole and finishing eighth overall. Jake Zemke, the other American wild card, hasn’t fared so well. He’ll be starting twenty-third in the two races on Sunday.

Championship leader Noriyuki Haga had a less than stellar day on his Ducati, crashing in an early qualifying session and finishing Superpole in ninth position. The crashed left him with severe bruising, but he’ll be on starting grid when the field takes the green.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2009/wsbk/miller/haga/

Haga comes into this race leading the championship with an 85 point lead over his Xerox Ducati teammate Italian Michel Fabrizio. Fabrizio qualified fourth, and holds a meager three point lead over Spies in the season standings. Spies will be looking to move back into second place, and gained ground on the injured Haga.

More pictures from this year's WSBK round at Miller Motorsports Park from the boys over at www.superbikeplanet.com:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2009/wsbk/miller/brianfriday/

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2009/wsbk/miller/4/

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2009/wsbk/miller/2/

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2009/wsbk/miller/1/

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2009/wsbk/miller/aprilia/

Triumph Thruxton

I recently saw a video review of the Triumph Thruxton over on Rumblestrip.Net:

http://www.rumblestrip.net/main/2009/5/19/two-wheel-tuesday-the-triumph-thruxton.html

It looks like a fun bike to ride, and one that Triumph refers to as one of its modern classics along with the Scrambler and their three Bonneville models. Here's the official brochure:

http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/2009%20Triumph_Thruxton_9831.aspx

Here's what it sounds like. Warning: If you listen to this you'll probably want one.

http://www.triumph.co.uk/sharedContent/sound/popupSound.asp?file=http://www.triumph.co.uk/media/en-US/Triumph_Thruxton_A9600075_race_-_gear_change.mp3&title

New Book: Shop Class As Soulcraft

There's a new book out on the market about the benefits of working with your hands as opposed to sitting in a cubicle all day punching the keys on your keyboard.

Here's the link for the article in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24labor-t.html?_r=2&sq=crawford&st=cse&scp=1&pagewanted=all

Here's the link for the book Shop Class As Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford who has a PhD. in political philosophy, and runs a motorcycle repair shop in Richmond, Virginia:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1594202230/boingboing