Website Powered by a V-Twin

Welcome to the web site for Florida Bikers! Stay tuned as we add content and features about motorcyclists and motorcycling in Florida.

While we are building this site you can check out our other motorcyclist site at MotoRider

A bill to be entitled
An act relating to speed-measuring devices; creating s. 316.1907, F.S.; prohibiting the use of devices that detect or interfere with speed-measuring devices used by law enforcement agencies; providing that enforcement must be secondary; providing penalties; providing an effective date. Click HERE to view text of bill. Click HERE to read an article about the proposed law.

The CanAm Grand National Cross Country Racing Series makes it's debut in Vero Beach March 3rd through the 6th with the Triton GNCC. For the past two years the GNCC events were held in De Leon Springs. The move to Vero Beach is to an all-new GNCC track just over an hour south of the madness of Daytona Bike Week, the Triton GNCC is hosted in the expansive Corrigan Ranch. This track should provide a return to more traditional GNCC conditions than the previous Florida race, which was wide-open and whooped out. This track will feature sand and whoops, too, but it also has some trees and roots which will help slow things down. As with all of the other GNCCs held in Florida, though, sand is the main ingredient here, and that means it will get rough and whooped out. Find a way to get your hands ready for this one, or you'll be full of blisters before the next race in Georgia.

Long considered one of the greatest racers in AMA dirt track history, three-time AMA Grand National Champion Bart Markel died at his home in Flint, Michigan, Saturday February 3, 2007 at the age of 71. Markel's final national win came in Columbus, Ohio, on June 27, 1971 - his 28th career AMA national victory. At the time, that win broke the record for most wins, previously held by Joe Leonard at 27. Markel's record of 28 Grand National wins stood until 1982 when Jay Springsteen earned his 29th victory at the Houston Astrodome. Markel competed in more than 140 AMA Grand National Series races before his retirement in 1971 and he was inducted into the AMA's Hall of Fame in 1998. Markel was born in Flint, Michigan, on August 19, 1935.

Bartlett David Markel

MARKEL, Bartlett David "Bad Bart" - Of Flint, age 71, died Saturday, February 3, 2007 at his residence. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Those desiring may make contributions to "The Aid for Injured Riders". Bartlett was born in Flint, Michigan on August 19, 1935. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He married JoAnn Overton on February 21, 1959. Mr. Markel was a 2 Time Golden Glove Boxing Champion, 3 Time AMA Flat Track Motorcycle Champion. He was a member and had been inducted into several Hall of Fames, including Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Mr. Markel retired from AC Spark Plug Division. Surviving are daughter, Stacey and husband Bob Kelly of Flint; son, Bart, Jr. and wife Susanne of Enterprise, Alabama; grandchildren, Bobby, Steven and Kara Kelly, Jason Farr, Bart, III, Malyssa and Joseph Markel; sister, Melody and husband Al Dyer of Edgewater, Florida; brothers, John Markel of Flint, Don Long of California and Delbert Ritter of Ohio; several nieces, nephews and a host of special friends. He was preceded in death by his love of his life, wife, JoAnn; parents, David and Everyl; brother, Ron Long; granddaughter, Michelle Markel; sister, Sharon Luna and special niece, Robin Prevo. A special thanks to all of his special friends for their help thru the years.

Dave Genchi a local photographer and videographer was injured in a snowboarding accident in Colorado on December 21st. Dave is well known in the area for his photo's and video's documenting surfing and soccer events and activities. Most recently he has been using his talents to capture snow skiing and snowboarding activities in Colorado for Steamboat Powdercats. Dave was snowboarding on his job as photographer with Steamboat Powdercats, in Steamboat Springs CO, on December 21 with the Powdercat guides when he tried to make a surf turn on what turned out to be a thin layer of snow on a large rock. The thin layer of snow did not allow the

snowboard to grip in the turn and Dave became airborne landing on his head and shoulder. Thankfully his helmet, which was cracked in the fall, appears to have prevented head injuries. He does appear to have spinal cord injuries, but it is too soon to tell if there will be lasting effects, or what they will be. Dave was fortunate to be with his friends from Steamboat Powdercats who are all well

trained to deal with ski and snowboard injuries, and they got him off the mountain quickly. Dave had surgery at the Level 1 trauma unit of St Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, CO to repair damage to cervical vertebrae and is currently in rehab at Craig Hospital in Englewood, CO.

A fundraiser for Dave's recovery fund is being held on February 17th at Ryckman Park in Melbourne Beach. Head down to the park with the entire family for an afternoon of fun, food, music and movies to support our local friend, Dave Genchi on his road to recovery. Three local bands, "New School Dropouts", "The Groves", and "New Gravity" will be performing. After dark movies from Dave's collection will be shown including surfing movies and Dave's award winning snowboarding video "Boat Trippin'". The event is from 3-10PM. View Dave's website and some of his work HERE. View an article about Dave's recovery in the Steamboat Springs, CO newspaper HERE. For information on the fundraiser go to Dave Genchi Fundraiser

Benefit for the Central Brevard Humane Society will be held on Sunday, February 18, 2007

The 4th Annual "Molly Mutt Road Rally and Poker Run" benefiting the Central Brevard Humane Society will be held on Sunday, February 18, 2007. All motorcycles and vehicles are welcome to participate in this fun-filled event. First bike/vehicle out at 10 AM from the Central Brevard Humane Society Shelter on Cox Road in Cocoa with last bike out at 11:30 AM. Poker hand entries are $5.00 in advance, $7 or two for $10 day of event. Puppy and Kitty supply/donations are greatly appreciated. Last bike/vehicle in at Capt J's 211 E. Cocoa Beach Cswy (at the end of SR520 on the Beach), Cocoa Beach (321) 783-1717 at 4 PM. Prizes will be awarded for best hand/worst hand and mystery hand, 50/50, door prize drawings, Big Daddy band, silent auction, and food available at the end of the run. Run supported by ABATE of Florida, Brevard County Chapter and sponsored by BellSouth, the Real Yellow pages. The Central Brevard Humane Society has been caring for homeless and lost pets in our community since 1952. Come out and support the homeless animals. For more information, contact Theresa Clifton at (321) 302-4828, or go to Brevard Abate Florida.

The federal government has pledged up to $2.8 million to fund a comprehensive study of motorcycle crashes, something that hasn't been done in 25 years. But the funding calls for a 50 percent match from us. That means we need to raise $2.8 million of our own to take full advantage of the federal funding. The AMA believes so strongly in this effort that they’ve committed $100,000 immediately to the project. They’re asking companies in the industry to pledge money as well, and it looks like they're coming through. If you would like to help Fuel the Fund click HERE.

No one in the history of the sport of AMA Supercross and Motocross has accomplished as much. And it's entirely possible that no one will again. So it was only fitting that none other than Suzuki factory pilot Ricky Carmichael took the top honor in Las Vegas Sunday at the AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet, taking home the coveted AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year Award in a hall packed with his peers, fellow champions and industry luminaries. Topping a list of nominees that included flat-tracker and world's fastest motorcyclist Chris Carr, AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Josh Hayes, AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies and Motocross Lites Champion Ryan Villopoto, Carmichael is the GOAT--the greatest of all time in AMA Toyota Motocross. The award caps an all-conquering career by Carmichael, who retires from racing for the championship this year but will continue to run a limited schedule for 2007. Read about the award HERE.

Bike Week Daytona Beach, Florida

Daytona Beach, FL March 2-11, 2007 From racing to swap meets to cole slaw wrestling, there is something for everyone at Daytona Bike Week. So make your plans and come on down. A tradition since January 24, 1937, marked by the inaugural running of the Daytona 200, Bike Week has become a 10-day festival that takes place throughout Daytona Beach and Volusia County and surrounding communities. Hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts now enjoy hundreds of events annually.

Bike Week has always had a flavor of its own, but sometime after World War II, the event took on a rugged edge and it gained an unsavory reputation. While the motorcycle race was organized, many of the events were not. Locals were not enthusiastic about the yearly "invasion" of the cyclists. In the late 1980s, a task force was formed to improve relations between law enforcement officals and bikers. It was then that changes in the scope and magnitude of the event transformed it into the "racey" but manageable event enjoyed by so many today.

In its 66th year, Bike Week will feature the prestigious Daytona 200 by Arai motorcycle race at Daytona International Speedway, expos, concerts, street festivals and scenic rides.

Five who excelled in 2006 nominated for AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year

Five have been nominated. All are worthy. Only one will be named the 2006 AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year. The Athlete of the Year will be named at the 32nd annual AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet on November 19 at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Here are the nominees: Ricky Carmichael, Chris Carr, Josh Hayes, Ben Spies and Ryan Villopoto. Read about the nominees HERE.

The AMA Board of Directors has selected Robert M. Dingman to be the Association's next president. Dingman succeeds Robert Rasor, who is retiring as AMA President and will serve as AMA Director of International Affairs. Dingman previously served the AMA for nearly five years as its Washington, D.C. representative. More recently, he served as Assistant Commissioner for Transportation Safety for New York State's Department of Motor Vehicles, where he headed the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. For more on the new AMA president click HERE.

Rasor retires as president of the Association, assumes role of director of international affairs.

Robert Rasor will retire as the American Motorcyclists Association's president to assume the role of Director of International Affairs, coordinating the AMA's relationship with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the international governing body for motorcycle sport and touring, as well as other international organizations. Rasor, who had been AMA President since 2000, has long represented the AMA and the American motorcycling community on the international stage, and in October of 2005 he was elected as an FIM Vice President. Rasor has served the FIM as the first president of its Commission on Mobility, Transport, Road Safety and Public Policy, increasing the organization’s involvement in motorcyclists’ rights. He's been president of the North American Motorcycle Union, one of six such regional groups within the FIM, and is a member of its management council. For more on Rob's retirement as AMA president click HERE.