American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 175 February 2014 | Page 22

THE BRADLEY REPORT

Midwest Motorcycle Supply
PEVELEY, Missouri based
Midwest Motorcycle Supply say
their 2014 catalog “provides
what matters most in this
economy, all the essentials at a
frugal price, plus our own
proprietary Ultima Products,
including our Ultima engine
family.”
The company says that its Ultima
engines show up in world class
custom bike competions, are

rigorously campaigned in
6,000lb sled-pulls by Iron Horse
Racing and drag races by
Chariots of Fire Racing.
Available in a “multitude of
displacements” from 100 to
140 cubic inches, and finishes
such as Diamond Cut, Black
Gem, polished and black powder
coated, Midwest say they are
“truly beauty meets the beast.”
The Ultima program also includes

carburetors and
complete carburetor kits, and
drive train products such as

Ultima 3.35 inch and 2 inch belt
drives and transmissions.
MidWest say that these are
“rugged long lasting units
available for Evo Softail, Twin
Cam and Evo Dynas and that
complete drive train packages
are available including the Ultima
6 RSD or LSD transmissions,
powerful ThunderFire starter
motors and ThunderVolt AGM
batteries.
www.midwestmc.net

100 years of industry representation
THE Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) is celebrating its
100th anniversary this year. First incorporated as the
Motorcycle Manufacturer’s Association in 1914, the
name changed to include allied trades and then again
to include scooters before becoming the MIC in 1969
when it merged with the California based Motorcycle
Safety Council.
The organization initially offered and then dissolved an
Associate Member Class for dealers, bringing it back a
year ago under the presidency of Tim Buche, who took
over from Alan Isley in 1996.
Although such a role is never going to be
straightforward, ex-Suzuki man Buche is widely
respected for his executive management of the MIC, not
least through the recent downturn, ATV lead content
issues and the dramatic growth and decline seen in
powersport vehicle sales since the early to mid 1990’s.
The MIC board consists of 12 members, six of whom
are elected, with six appointed by the motorcycle
manufacturers and distributors who pay membership
dues based on powersport vehicle sales market share.
Last year saw Polaris/Victory motorcycle man (and
former racer and trainer) Mark Blackwell take over from

Larry Little as MIC
Board Chairman.
Commenting on the anniversary, Blackwell said that
“this is not only a proud moment for everybody who
has been a part of the MIC, it’s also significant for the
motorcycle community as a whole.
“As we celebrate this milestone, it’s important to
remember that from the very beginning, the MIC’s
mission has been to preserve, protect and promote
motorcycling – and we look forward to continuing with
that mission into our next century.”
In addition to Tim Buche, today’s MIC executive staff
includes General Counsel Paul Vitrano, Senior Vice
President of Government Relations Kathy Van Kleeck,
Senior Vice President of Member Relations Scot
Begovich, Vice President Pamela Arnette and Vice
President of Research Pat Murphy, along with a staff of
20.
“The MIC’s hundredth anniversary actually coincides
with another landmark event,” said Buche. “The 1914
transcontinental ride of motorcyclist Erwin ‘Canon Ball’
Baker”.
Now, one hundred years later, the MIC will officially

Living in a material world
STRICTLY speaking,
manufacturing
motorcycle gaskets
isn’t rocket science,
but science it certainly
is – and even as a
non-engineer I’ve
learnt from many of
my betters in this
industry that
Ralph Cholez: "We invest heavily in developing
materials science is
proprietary materials and processes - our FoaMet
the alpha and the
gasket material has advanced properties to
omega of durability
increase durability and sealing integrity under all
and performance.
conditions"
The reputation that
James Gaskets has for product quali H