‘Victory Ride’ Program Expands;New Ride Organizers Needed for 2003

VICTORY Magazine

Official Magazine of the Victory Riders Association

www.victory-usa.com • Volume 3 / Issue 1 • Winter ’02/03

PAGE 3: IRON BUTTS

PAGE 7: STURGIS 2002

The response from VRAmembers to the 2002

Victory Ride program camethrough loud and clear: “Thatwas great. Let’s do it again.”

So the Victory Ride programhas been expanded for 2003,making the popular group ridesaccessible to VRA members in 26major U.S. metro markets.

Background:Victory Rides

For new VRAmembers, here’s somebackground on VictoryRides, which werelaunched in 2002: Inmore than a dozenmetro areas, Victoryowners volunteeredand were selected asVRA Ride Organizerswho planned localVictory Rides.

The program was asuccess. In 2002,Victory Rides were heldfrom Maryland’s waterfrontto Michigan’s farmlands toWashington’s scenic coast.

Schedules for the rides,and post-ride reports,appeared on the Victorywebsite and, schedulepermitting, here in theVictory Magazine.

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania• Indianapolis, Indiana• Colorado Springs, Colorado• Albuquerque, New Mexico

“The list of cities withnumerous loyal Victory ownersgoes well beyond these marketsand we look forward to furtherexpanding the ride program asVictory continues to grow,”said Victory Marketing ManagerDerek Scott.

New Ride Cities Named for 2003

With the number of Victoryowners growing rapidly acrossNorth America, the followingmetro markets have been addedto the Victory Ride list for the2003 riding season:• Gainesville, Florida• Ft. Pierce, Florida• Jackson, Mississippi• Knoxville, Tennessee• Louisville, Kentucky

We Need You! Apply Now toBecome a RideOrganizer for 2003

Attention Victory owners inthe new Victory Ride marketslisted elsewhere on this page:We Need You!

Apply now to become a VRARide Organizer for 2003. You willbe required to plan at least threeVictory Rides in 2003 (up fromtwo in 2002) and you’ll provideVictory owners with some greatexperiences.

To apply, acquire anapplication at the Victory Website (www.victory-usa.com).All applications are due byDec. 31, 2002.

We’ll quickly review newapplications, check thereferences provided, and thencontact all new VRA RideOrganizers. We’ll get startedASAP working with new and

returning Ride Organizersto plan and review theirrides for 2003.

Get involved bybecoming a VRA RideOrganizer. Have some funand plan some greatrides.

Remember, applicationsare due by Dec. 31, 2002,so submit yours today!

Make plansto join

fellow VRAmemberslike thosein Chicago

(above) andPhoenix

(right) for 2003

VictoryRides.

2 VICTORY Magazine • Volume 3 • Issue 1 • Winter 2002-2003 • www.victory-usa.com

Contents copyright © 2002 by Victory Motorcycles. Allrights reserved. No part of this publication may bereprinted without the written consent of VictoryMotorcycles • Address all correspondence to: VictoryMailbag, 2100 Hwy. 55, Medina, MN 55340 orvictorymailbag@polarisind.com • Victory is notresponsible for the return of lost or unsolicited

manuscripts, photographs, or other materials not submittedwith an addressed envelope with adequate postage. •Submission of unsolicited letters, photographs, and othermaterials indicates tacit permission for Victory Magazine topublish such materials if desired, unless otherwise noted inwriting by the sender.PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

VICTORY MAGAZINEPUBLISHED BY Victory Motorcycles, a Division of Polaris Industries Inc.GENERAL MANAGER: Mark BlackwellMARKETING PRODUCT MANAGER: Gary LaskinMARKETING MANAGER: Derek ScottSales Development Manager: Bob DurandEDITOR: Michael DapperART DIRECTOR: Max Allers; MAXmarketingcommunications

The inaugural Victory CustomOrder Program-the innovativeprogram that let buyers havetheir new 2003 Victorys custom-built to their specifications-hasended. The program, which ranfrom August 1 throughSeptember 27, 2002, generated

Thanks to All Phone & Internet Survey RespondentsTo all of you who have provided uswith valuable insights during ourtelephone surveys, we say “ThankYou!” Victory is conducting surveysof our owners to learn about whoyou are, how you select yourmotorcycles, how and where youride and what you would like to seein future Victory motorcycles.We will continue to call Victoryowners to conduct surveys, and weappreciate your time, cooperationand insights. To thank all the VRAmembers who took part, surveyparticipants were eligible to win agift certificate worth $250 in Victoryaccessories. The first lucky winnerwas Thomas Yarger (shown with sonTommy) of Massillon, Ohio. He’s anavid Victory rider who owns a 2001V92C and is also a factory trainedVictory service technician at BairsInc., a dealership in North Canton, OH.

It’s a Victory that hasbeen in some unusualplaces, including: On theMajor League Baseballdiamonds at Jacobs Field inCleveland and PacBell Parkin San Francisco; on thetrack at the KansasSpeedway prior to aNASCAR Winston Cup race;and even on the tradingfloor of NASDAQ, the stockexchange in New York City.

Victory Corporate RideCoordinators knew what theywere doing when they scheduledseveral of their Victory Rides inthe midst of fall. They held rideswhen they could count oncomfortable temperatures, somegreat fall colors and eager Victoryriders looking for at least onemore group ride before theriding season winds down innorthern regions.

David Ericson, the CRC inHouston, TX, scheduled an earlySeptember ride into the ruralareas west of Houston. Ridersenjoyed miles of country ridingon the ride backed by Gene’sPolaris.

In New York, CRC Tim “Roadkill”Werder organized a mid-September Victory Ride thatcoincided with the third annualSparrowbush Engine CompanyPoker Run and Chicken B-B-Q.Proceeds from riders’ Poker Run

entry fees benefited theSparrowbush Volunteer FireDepartment. GatewayMotorsports of Pine Bush, NY,and Cycle Connection, Lodi, NJ,were participating Victorydealers.

Dallas CRC Robert Barronscheduled an early OctoberVictory Ride that took riders fromCycle Town South, the Victorydealer in Lancaster, TX, alongwinding country roads, throughscenic hills and across Joe PoolLake. Their lunch stop was atStrokers Icehouse, followed by arun to Easyriders of Dallas,another Victory dealership.

Southern California VictoryRiders Association (VRA)members and their ridingbuddies took a Victory Ride onSaturday, October 19, 2002, thatcould only be done in scenicCalifornia. The riders met atSunwest Sports, the Victory

dealership in Corona, CA, beforecruising into the San BernardinoMountains and along “The Rim ofthe World.” They stopped forlunch at the “Stockade GrubRestaurant” in Crestline. The ridewas organized by CRCs MarkYochim and Alex Kersthold.

Cleveland CRC Mitch Daffronplanned a great October 19 ridethat led VRA members intoAshtabula County in thenortheast corner of Ohio on theshores of Lake Erie. The ruralroads of Ashtabula County aredotted with several beautiful oldcovered bridges. Some ridersmet at South East Polaris inBedford, OH, while othersgathered at All American Wheelsin Southington, OH, where thetwo groups merged for the rideto the bridges. The group ate ata restaurant with a name thatwas just right for the day’s ride:Covered Bridge Pizza Parlor.

Victory Custom Order Programto Be Offered Again Next Year

outstanding interest in the 2003Victory models and will beoffered again next year.

Thousands of motorcycleenthusiasts visited the Victorywebsite to custom build newVictorys on their computerscreens. Cyber shoppers

This well-traveled (but low actual-mileage) 1999 V92C is painted like KylePetty’s No. 45 race car and has beenautographed by a who’s who of sportschampions. It was on the NASDAQ floor inearly October to promote the bike’s beingauctioned on eBay. It was sold in October toa high bidder from Texas for $20,500, withall proceeds from the auction benefiting theVictory Junction Gang Camp for kids withserious or life-threatening illnesses.

Among those who autographed the bike(besides Kyle, of course) were: F1 World

interested in buying new Victorystook their custom creations toVictory dealers to order thebikes, which they will receive intime for the spring 2003 ridingseason.

The software on the Victorywebsite that allowed riders to

configure their custom bikesonline during the Victory CustomOrder Program was so popularthat it will be left active on thesite. Visitors can continue tocreate custom versions of the2003 Classic Cruiser and TouringCruiser for fun. (However, visitorswill no longer be able to registerand save their bikes online asthey could during the orderingperiod.)

Fall: Prime Time for Victory Rides

Champion and Indy 500 winner MarioAndretti and NASCAR Winston Cupchampions Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, DaleJarrett, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte,Richard Petty and Rusty Wallace (who isalso a Polaris Watercraft spokesperson).

Other signers were baseball stars BarryBonds, George Brett, Curt Schilling and JimThome; football stars Joe Montana, KurtWarner, Marshall Faulk, Trent Green andPriest Holmes, as well as NASCAR driversJeff Green, Matt Kenseth, Steve Park andKen Schrader.

Kyle’s Bike Auction Raises Camp Funds

Kyle Petty, baseballlegend Keith Hernandez(sitting) and Bob Hebelervice president tickets andsports for eBay.

VICTORY Magazine 3

In the motorcycle world, beingcalled “Iron Butt” is acompliment. It means you haveridden at least 1,000 miles in lessthan 24 hours to earnrecognition from the Iron ButtAssociation (IBA).

A handful of Victory ridershave earned Iron Butt honors inthe past couple of years,including Jamup Gooden, who,at age 64, is one of the oldestriders to achieve IBA honors.Gooden and fellow Chattanooga,TN, resident Allen Parker rodetheir Victorys 1,733 miles in 32hours on September 6-8, 2002.

Gooden and Parker qualifiedfor two IBA awards: the“SaddleSore 1000,” awarded forcovering 1,000 miles in less than24 hours, and the “BunBurner1500” for riding 1,500 miles inunder 36 hours.

Gooden sold his Victory andPolaris dealership earlier thisyear. He is semi-retired, workingpart-time at the dealership andriding his Victory as much aspossible.

Another recent Iron Butthonoree is Jerry “Duke” Rogers,42, a certified welding inspectorfrom Chester, VA. In early July,Rogers rode 1,510 miles in 22hours, 35 minutes on his 2001V92C Deluxe. (“It’s a P.H.A.T. Blackone, and they’re the fastest,” henoted.)

Rogers rode alone, leavingRichmond, VA, around 5 p.m. toget his night riding in while hewas fresh. He rode throughColumbia, SC, Atlanta andBirmingham, AL, before reachingNew Orleans at daybreak.

“New Orleans was 1,050 miles,so I had done 1,000 in 24 hours,which was my original goal,”Rogers said. “But the sun wascoming up, I was feeling goodand the weather was great, so Idecided to head on toJacksonville, FL, which was myeventual destination.”

Riding in daytimetemperatures above 100degrees, he thought aboutstopping, but persevered andpassed the 1,500-mile mark toearn a “BunBurner 1500 Gold”

certificate (1,500 milesin under 24 hours).

The greatest mileageby a Victory rider on theIron Butt list is byGregor Moe of Buffalo,MN, who won “Great

Iron Butt BackgroundThe Chicago-based Iron Butt Association (IBA) recognizes long-

distance motorcycle riders for concentrated mileages of 500,1,000, 1,500 miles and more. One of the group’s most covetedaccomplishments is its Four Corners honor, which is reserved forriders who make a cannonball ride that takes them to all fourcorners of the lower 48 United States.

To qualify for IBA honors, a rider must have a witness at theride’s start, collect and track receipts, have a witness verify theride’s end, and submit documentation of the ride to the IBA.

Check out details about Iron Butt activities atwww.ironbutt.com, and watch for the upcoming posting ofJamup Gooden and Allen Parker’s accomplishment.

Lakes Gold” honors forcircling the Great Lakes(2,435 miles) in lessthan 50 hours in May2002. He also got a“Saddlesore 2000”award for riding 2,000miles in less than 48hours.

Certification of IronButt awards can takeseveral months, butaccording to the latestIBA website data,there are other Victoryriders who have earned“Saddlesore 1000” honors:• Mike T. Fitzgerald, Bonners

Ferry, ID, 1,170 miles inJune 2002.

• Thomas K. Moore, Jr.,Columbus, GA, 1,073 miles inJanuary 2002.

• Charles Szely, Breckenridge,CO, 1,011 miles inSeptember 2001.

• Edward Majewicz and hispassenger, Maria Majewicz,both of Mendota Heights, MN,1,094 miles in May 2001.

Iron Butt awardwinner Jerry“Duke” Rogerswith his long-riding V92CDeluxe.

Jamup Gooden (center) and fellowVictory rider Allen Parker (right)are joined by Harry Stone of theCleveland, TN, Gate Keepersmotorcycle group, which hostedthe distance challenge.

Fresh andready to roll:JamupGooden (leftbike) andAllen Parker(right) rollpast theregistrationtent to begintheir epicjourney. Theycovered morethan 1,700miles in 32 hours ontheir Victorys.

Showing Off Their ‘Iron Butts’Riders Cover 1,000 Miles or More in Under 24 Hours

• Steven Strickstein, Troy, MI,1,091 miles in April 2001.

• Russ Downing, West Linn, OR,1,035 miles in March 2001.

[Editor’s Note: For additional details on Victory Iron Butt award winners, log onto the Victory website.]

4 VICTORY Magazine

For More InfoPlant City Motorsports1722 S. Collins St.Plant City, FL 33566Phone: 813/752-1033E-mail: info@plantcitymotors.com

Plant City Chamber of CommercePhone: 813/754-3707E-mail: info@plantcity.orgWeb: www.plantcity.org

DESTINATION

If you want to list all theattractions that make the

Plant City, Florida, area a greatplace to visit, write in very smallletters. There’s almost too muchto choose from when you visitthis city 20 miles east of Tampathat is home to Plant CityMotorsports, a busy Victory andPolaris dealership.

Ride west from Plant CityMotorsports, and you’ll head toTampa, St. Petersburg, BuschGardens, and the scenic GulfCoast, with its small towns,great seafood, beaches, islands,boardwalks and superhospitality.

Head east from thedealership, and it’s 30 minutesto Orlando and its manyattractions (Disney World,Epcot, Universal Studios, SeaWorld). Cruise another 90minutes from Orlando andyou’re at Daytona Beach, homeof Bikeweek and Biketoberfest.

Scenic & Fragrant Rides

Plant City is a great home

Destination:

base for a Victory rider whowants to explore the best ofcentral Florida, a state whereyou can ride year-round (raingear recommended for thecommon-but-brief showers).Plant City’s averagehightemperaturein thewinter is aperfect 72degrees.

Make sureyour visitincludes a scenicride with fellow VRA memberson one of Plant CityMotorsports’ numerous grouprides. You must also visit PlantCity’s historic district for themonthly Bikefest, a monthlyride-in that recently attractedmore than 2,500 motorcyclesand 5,000 people. Held the firstSaturday of each month, from5-9 p.m., Bikefest is a truefamily event with food, music,fun, lots of custom bikes and agreat ambience.

Plant City was established by

a railroad baron as an earlytransportation center with oneof Florida’s first depots. It’s the“Winter Strawberry Capital ofthe World” with a hugestrawberry festival that

attracted 900,000 peopleover 10 days last

winter. (The 2003festival runs Feb.27-March 3.)

Plant City sitsamidst rich, rolling

farmland that isperfect for growing

strawberries, oranges andgrapefruit. This means countryrides around Plant City are bothscenic and fragrant.

In historic Ybor City indowntown Tampa, the scentmight be cigar smoke ascraftsmen still roll fine smokesin the old cigar manufacturingdistrict.

Ybor City is home to theannual “Takin’ It To The Streets”festival, which drew 22,000motorcycles last year. Leesburg,a city northwest of Plant City,hosts “Little Sturgis” every

Victory has a significant presence at Bikefest,the monthly ride-in event in downtown PlantCity. Bikefest organizers expected a modest

Avid riders anddevoted Victory

specialists, here’sthe Victory team

from Plant CityMotorsports. They are (l-r):

Service ManagerDavid Greene,

General ManagerJim Petrina, Service Tech

Brett McCutcheon, Parts ManagerRick Pion and

Ken Greene, Service Tech.

Area Victory ridersenjoy attendingBikefest.

August. Last year this “little”event drew 80,000 motorcycles.

Busy Dealership of Avid Riders

Plant City Motorsports isowned by John Gillette and hasbeen a Victory dealer sinceMarch 2001. The dealershipoffers new and used bikes,apparel, accessories, full service,and plenty of suggested rideroutes from a staff of avidriders.

“Victory is our first line ofmotorcycles and it has beenexcellent,” said General ManagerJim Petrina. “We have soldVictorys to quite a wide varietyof people, and they love them.”

The dealership is a sponsor of,and participant in, “Born to RideTV,” an immensely popularmotorcycle program that isbroadcast throughout Florida.Plant City Motorsports also hasquite a presence at eachmonth’s local Bikefest, as staff members cruise into town on their Victorys.

crowd for their first event, but it sounded soappealing that more than 2,500 motorcycles and5,000 people—riders, non-riders, families, you

name it!—turned out for the fun. Bikefest is held the first Saturday of every month,from 5-9 p.m.

Plant City, Florida