Etc.

etc.

STAFF RUMBLINGS

Lots happenin’ on board the good ship CW these days, with masthead changes, new hires, marriages and a milestone birthday to celebrate. Charting personnel shifts, Mark Hoyer has been promoted to Feature Editor, and Sportbike contributing editor and amateur roadracer Mark Cernicky has signed on as Assistant Editor. This past May, Off-Road Editor Jimmy Lewis exchanged vows with long-time girlfriend Heather McNabb. In typical Lewis style, the newlyweds honeymooned on dirtbikes, highlight being a trailride on Utah’s infamous “Five Miles of Hell.” Finally, Editorial Director Paul Dean turned 60 in June. Congratulations on all fronts.

MZ’s 1000S, which debuted under the lights at last fall’s Munich Show, turned up this past July at the German

TEUTRONIC TWIN ON TRACK

Grand Prix. Former 250cc GP standout Ralf Waldmann lapped the 2.3-mile Sachsenring aboard the fuel-injected parallel-Twin, reportedly reaching triple-digit speeds. Launching pad for a family of Open-classers, the bike is slated to go into production in 2002.

VINTAGE VACATION

Weary of the Alps? Had your fill of the Pyrenees? Maybe Monterey is more your style. Time Machine Vintage Motorcycle Tours’ Highway One to Monterey Tour will take you back to yesteryear on some of California's most beautiful roads-complete with vintage BMW sidehacks! Priced at $3445 per couple, the six-day adventures begin in Santa Barbara. For more information, call 805/6921542 or log on to www.timemachinevintage.com.

LAPS OF LUXURY

Got big bucks? You’ll need ’em if you plan to attend the inaugural Sportbike Fantasy Camp at Laguna Seca Raceway. Slated for November 8-10 and limited to just 55 participants, the $7499 extravaganza combines one of America’s most picturesque circuits with track-prepped Honda CBR600s, top-shelf dining and hotels, nightly entertainment and instruction from former 500cc World Champions Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey, as well as current AMA Superbike stars Nicky Hayden and Kurtis Roberts. Canadian Superbike Champion Steve Crevier will also be on hand. For details, call 253/446-1530 or log on to www.sportbikefantasycamp.com.

PIAGGIO STEPS UP

After months of talks, Piaggio has purchased a 20 percent stake in MV Agusta, the Italian bike-maker formerly known as Cagiva S.p.A. Claudio Castiglioni will stay on as president of the company, which also owns Husqvarna and Moto Morini. Last year, Morgan Grenfell-controlled Piaggio sold more than 480,000 twowheelers, most of which were Vespa scooters. “The European manufacturers have at their disposal an unequalled patrimony of innovative know-how, technology and style,” said Piaggio’s Dante Razzano. “MV Agusta is the flagship of the industry and the Italian motorcycle world.”

INDY TO STAGE USGP?

Will motorcycles soon join F-1, IRL and NASCAR at the Brickyard? Maybe. “If the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is to have another event, track chairman Tony George insists it will be different,” reported The Indianapolis Star. “World-class motorcycles interest him the most.”

Added George, "We want uniqueness between our events. Anything we might do has to improve or enlarge our fan base.”