American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 223 February 2018 | Page 10

Kenan Ikels, Sales & Marketing VP at
Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice: “There
has been some ‘noise’ in the
industry, and I want to ensure you
are getting the facts”
Tucker Rocky and Biker’s Choice VP Kenan
Ikels addresses industry ‘Noise’ with
reorganization process dealer update
<<< Continued from cover
[as at January 10] we are already
seeing an increase in registrations over
last year. We are working closely with
our expo vendors to finalize special
programs designed to help our dealers
prepare for the upcoming season.
“We have and will continue to take
aggressive actions to make sure we
have the inventory ready to fill their
orders. There will also be education
seminars designed to help them
expand and grow your business.”
While profitability issues remain for
MAG brand businesses (some worse
than others), as of the latest public
record figures available (for December
such judgements can themselves be
judged.
“Post restructuring we’ll have gone
from $400m of debt in total, $350m
of which was term debt, to less than
$100m. That is certainly a very
manageable debt structure for us and
it removes the burden that restrained
us.
“In the meantime, we have access to
$125m of court approved financing to
fund ongoing operations.”
2017) the Tucker Rocky / Biker’s Choice
distribution business unit is trading
profitably.
MAG CEO Andy Graves told AMD in
December that profitability was at the
heart of the group’s ability to file a
reorganization plan, saying “If we
were not profitable in trading terms
then we would not have been able to
put together this kind of capital
restructuring plan at all.
“When LDI bought MAG and merged
it with Tucker Rocky and Biker’s Choice
in 2014 the widespread assumption
was that the modest growth seen in
the prior few years would sustain. It is
only with the benefit of hindsight that
Vance & Hines returns
to Top Fuel Drag
Racing for 2018
The Tucker Rocky and Biker's Choice Dealer and Brand Expo takes place
February 8-9 in Texas. The company says that as of January 10 they had been
“seeing an increase in registrations over last year,” according to Ikels
Santa Fe Springs, California
based Vance & Hines has
announced that it is to return to
Top Fuel Drag Racing with rider
Doug Vancil and tuner Mike
Romine to compete in in the
Mickey Thompson Tires Top Fuel
Harley category of the 2018
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing
Series.
The championship will expand
to ten events for the 2018
season with the nitro-burning
Harleys kicking off the season at
the Winternationals in Pomona,
February 8-11.
The new championship class will
also mean that the Top Fuel
Harleys will run alongside the
Pro Stock Bike category at both
the Gatornationals and the
Harley’s season finale at the US
Nationals on Labor Day
weekend.
The 2018 team will see Vance &
Hines reunite with long-time
rider Doug Vancil, with whom
the team amassed a dominating
six Top Fuel Harley
championships. “I can’t wait
until we start running! We have
a fast bike and with Mike
Romine tuning, I think we are
really going to be a top runner
in the class,” stated Doug.
Mike Romine brings four
decades of experience building,
racing and winning on nitro
Harleys. “I’m very excited to see
the Vance & Hines name on the
bike,” remarked Mike, “and
really looking forward to
working with Terry Vance and
Doug in the upcoming season.”
“The NHRA has done a great job
of developing the Harley class to
create a new two-wheeled
championship category in the
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series,”
said Vance & Hines founder Terry
Vance. “And bringing together
two of the biggest names in Top
Fuel in Doug and Mike, I couldn’t
be more enthused about getting
the season started.”
www.vanceandhines.com
2018 TOP FUEL HARLEY SCHEDULE
Winternationals
Arizona Nationals
Gatornationals
Four-Wide Nationals
Spring Nationals
Southern Nationals
Thunder Valley Nationals
New England Nationals
Northwest Nationals
US Nationals
10
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - FEBRUARY 2018
Feb 8-11, Pomona, CA
Feb 23-25, Phoenix, AZ
Mar 15-18, Gainesville, FL
Apr 6-8, Las Vegas, NV
Apr 20-22, Baytown, TX
May 18-20, Topeka, KS
Jun 15-17, Bristol, TN
July 6-8, Epping, NH
Aug 3-5, Kent, WA
Aug 29 – Sep 3, Indianapolis, IN
www.AMDchampionship.com