Ups & Downs
Ups & Downs
DOWN: To cancer, for taking the life of Ray Ryan, founder and publishing editor of Australia’s VMX magazine. One of the leading lights in the worldwide vintage motocross movement, Ryan helped launch Australasian Dirt Bike magazine in 1975 and started VMX in 1998. Though the 56year old kept his illness secret from readers, his final column was fittingly titled "All Dirt Roads Lead to Heaven.”
UP: To MidAmerica Bank, for a positive portrayal of motorcycling. A print ad campaign touting “Ultimate Checking” depicts a smiling bride in a wedding dress on a sportbike with copy that reads: “Account Executive. Recently Married. Races Motorcycles. Gives the Ultimate. Deserves the Ultimate.”
DOWN: To BMW, for canceling its popular BoxerCup, the action-packed roadrace series for identically prepped R110OSs that ran at select rounds of the MotoGP World Championship.
The good news is it will be replaced by the new PowerCup for K1200Rs, and word is there may be a round at Laguna Seca!
UP: To Miami-Dade-County-based Emergency Med Techs, for recognizing the value of motorcycles as first-response units in heavily gridlocked traffic. BMW gets a nod as well for donating 10 R110ORT-Ps, the refurbished ex-California Highway Patrol bikes to be outfitted with basic medical gear, including oxygen tanks and defibrillators.
