Special Bike’s Fuel Tank Was Signed By Victory Bike Assembly Team in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

MEDINA, MN (March 31, 2011) – As part of its ongoing recognition and support of United States military personnel, Victory is sponsoring the MilitaryTimes.com “Warrior Made” series that recognizes the 12 greatest innovations in military history, and is giving away a special 2011 Vegas 8-Ball.

The fuel tank of the “Warrior Made” Vegas 8-Ball was signed by the entire production team that built the bike at Victory’s Spirit Lake, Iowa, final assembly plant. Several of those team members are military veterans themselves.

“Knowing the bike they were building would be awarded to the winner of the ‘Warrior Made’ give-away, the Victory team built the bike with a special sense of gratitude for our nation’s military personnel,” said Victory General Manager Steve Menneto. “We have the greatest respect for our military’s service and sacrifice, and are honored to support them through this and other Victory promotions.”

Registration for the “Warrior Made” bike give-away is available at MilitaryTimes.com, which also has complete contest details. The entry deadline is June 4, 2011. The website currently features the Victory-sponsored “Warrior Made” series, which recognizes “12 icons of American fighting forces that have come to symbolize true-grit ingenuity and the can-do spirit.” These innovations include the Jeep, the continuous track, camouflage, Kevlar, the Global Positioning System (GPS) and more.

Victory Military Support

Sponsorship of the “Warrior Made” series and the special Vegas 8-Ball give-away are the latest examples of Victory’s continuing support for active U.S. enlisted personnel. Victory has also teamed with Operation Gratitude to collect personal items for troops deployed worldwide, made a special contribution to Fort Hood in Texas in the aftermath of the 2009 incident, and featured military personnel and their motorcycles in Victory Rider magazine and on the Victory website.

Victory is currently offering the “Victory Full Throttle Salute,” which provides enlisted personnel with $1,000 cash back on the purchase of any new Victory motorcycle. This offer has been extended through June 30, 2011. Details and a downloadable coupon are available at www.victorymotorcycles.com.

The Vegas 8-Ball

The “Warrior Made” Vegas 8-Ball is a custom cruiser that’s long on style, value and performance. The Vegas 8-Ball is sleek and stylish, with a raised spine on the bodywork running the length of the bike, a split-tail fuel tank, and a tall front wheel. It is powered by the Victory Freedom 106/6 engine with a displacement of 106 cubic inches and a 6-speed transmission. The black bodywork and numerous blacked-out components give the Vegas 8-Ball a distinctive look, and make it an ideal candidate for customizing.

Like every Victory motorcycle built since the first bike rolled off the assembly line on July 4, 1998, final assembly of the “Warrior Made” Vegas 8-Ball took place at the Victory plant in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

About Polaris

With annual 2010 sales of $1.99 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), the Polaris RANGER® Side x Sides, snowmobiles and Victory motorcycles for recreational and utility use and has recently introduced a new on-road electric powered neighborhood vehicle.

Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of ORVs in the world. Victory motorcycles established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.

Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the S&P MidCap 400 stock price index.

Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.

Article by : Press Release Victory.com
Viewed Article on www.roadracingworld.com

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For 2011, the Harley Owners Group Fly & Ride motorcycle rental program grows nearly 10 times bigger as rental locations for Fly & Ride increase from 37 to more than 300 locations around the world.

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Stand Up and Stand Proud was the idea of Tom & Valerie Steinhagen.
When we became aware that there was a need to assist Stand Down Arizona it was imperative that we find a way to do so.

If this much can be done on such a short time… imagine the possibilities.

For More infomation on this ride, you can click on the picture above

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Victory Motorcycles Donates a 2011 Vegas 8-Ball

To the classic roar of freedom at a “Support the Troops Rally” style event, a record-breaking two thousand cheering Operation Gratitude volunteers witnessed the arrival of a very special gift to be sent in the organization’s 600,000th Care Package: A 2011 Victory Vegas 8-Ball.

SSG Elizabeth Cowie, co-founder of the organization, rode the bike onto the drill floor and added the bike’s key, along with several other unique gifts, to the Milestone package, proudly assembled and held by Ann Kurachi, a cheerleader from Trabuco Hills High School.  Kurachi was flanked by Santa Claus and dozens of Military dignitaries, elected officials and Operation Gratitude “Hard Corps” Volunteers.

Carolyn Blashek, who started the organization in 2003, thanked Victory Motorcycles, a division of Polaris Industries, for their generous donation of the motorcycle, and recognized the tens of thousands of volunteers, donors and supporters who have contributed throughout the years to the assembly and shipment of 600,000 care packages.
“Operation Gratitude Care Packages are an expression of enormous respect and appreciation for those who voluntarily put themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom,” exclaimed Blashek.  “This exciting 600,000th package event represents a celebration of all the brave Americans who wear the uniform of our great nation.  We are honored to send this package to a young Service Member currently deployed in harm’s way, who represents all our courageous heroes– past, present and future–from all branches of the Military.”

In addition to the all-black, Victory Vegas 8-Ball cruiser, the 600,000th package will include a year’s supply of both Emergen-C and 5 Hour Energy, a lovingly hand-made scarf, a Flip camera from Café Press, a DVD player, a MEElectronics M-9 Earphone Set, t-shirts and hats from Victory Motorcycles, Operation Gratitude and UCLA, a signed picture from the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders, and assorted items and personal letters provided by more than 250 Corporate Sponsors and Friends, and by tens of thousands of individual donors across the country.
A secret but very special delivery of the 600,000^th Care Package is underway. 

The winners of the “Guess the Halloween Candy Weight,” contest were announced, having guessed within a few pounds the total weight of candy donated to Operation Gratitude through December 3:  178,056 pounds, 14 ounces (89 Tons)  .

Blashek and Cowie informed the energetic crowd that the 600,000th package represented:
~ 4.8 Million pounds, equal to 2 ½ million TONS of product
~ $6 Million of postage
~ 30 Million individual items
~ $60 Million worth of product
sent to the troops through Operation Gratitude since its inception in 2003.

Operation Gratitude Volunteers were honored to work side by side with Brigadier General Mary Kight, the Adjutant General of California, Major General John Harrel, the Commander of Army forces in California, Command Sergeant Majors William Clark and Bob Brickley, the senior enlisted Soldiers in California and South Carolina, respectively, plus representatives from several Corporate Sponsors, Women in Film, members of the Motorcycle community, and dozens of school, church, scout and civic organizations.
Significant check presentations were made by Cinnabon, Inc ($50,000), Merrell Down and Dirty Mud Run ($33,800), Lake Havasu Patriot Days ($34,000 plus 1000 Stuffed Animals, 200 hand-made Scarves and 5000 letters), and National Charity League, San Fernando Valley Chapter
& Coast to Coast Computer Products ($20,000).

During the lunch hour, Volunteers were treated to a delicious meal generously provided by the Rotary Club of Lancaster.  Corporate Sponsor Alacer distributed samples of its Emergen-C products, two million packets of which have been included in Operation Gratitude packages since 2004.

The 2011 Victory Vegas 8-Ball has a new 106 cubic inch Freedom V-Twin engine, a 6 speed overdrive transmission, and 113 ft-pounds of torque.  The bike will be customized with the “Victory Military Salute Badge,” the symbol of Victory’s gratitude to the men and women who sacrifice for our freedom.

With the shipment of its 600,000th package, Operation Gratitude wrapped up its 2010 Holiday Drive, having assembled more than 100,000 care packages for U.S. Service Members this year.

About Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in harm’s way. The organization’s mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member’s face and express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$125 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. For safety and security, assembling of packages occurs at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 600,000 packages to American Military deployed overseas.

Learn more about Operation Gratitude by visiting:

Web:          http://www.OperationGratitude.com
Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/OpGratitude
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/OperationGratitude
Blog:          http://OpGrat.wordpress.com

Photo and article courtsey of Lisa Ballard (Cycle Source Magazine)

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Join us for an unforgettable Christmas adventure
Saturday December 18, 2010 at la Madeleine
 23322 Mercantile Pkwy, Katy TX 77449
(Grand Parkway just North of I-10)

Adopt a Hero for Christmas is a charity comprised of people who honor and support America’s Wounded Soldiers and their Families who have sacrificed so much to protect our nation and ensure our freedom. 

Our mission is to bring the Joy of Christmas to our Heroes and their Families. We collect Christmas gifts and needed items for
 our Wounded Soldiers and their Families at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

 We deliver these gifts to our Heroes during Christmas and we visit with them.

For more information on the ride, please click on the photo . 

Content and photos Courtsey of Adopt a Hero for Christmas.

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When Thursday rolls around, Clint Graeff of Newport will give thanks that he’s alive.

After two tours as a Marine in Iraq, that gratitude is something he feels every day.

The Newport High School graduate joined the Marines in February 2004 and was deployed the following year and again in 2006.

On Oct. 23, 2006, the infantryman was wounded by an IED in Habbaniyah. Shrapnel broke the two main bones in his leg and left him with nerve damage. After surgery, he was flown to Germany and then to Bethesda, where he was hospitalized before returning home.

Since leaving the Marines in 2008, he’s been working as a police officer at the Defense Distribution Center in Fairview Township, hunting, fishing and settling into life with his girlfriend, Alissa Robinson.

Just over a week ago, on Veterans Day, Robinson told him his family would be gathering for a belated birthday dinner for his dad. It was a white lie intended to bring them all together for the delivery of a special present.

Graeff had no idea that an entourage rolling toward his home was about to make him the owner of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. His gift came courtesy of Harleys for Heros, the brainchild of two Vietnam vets who present the bikes as thank-you gifts to men who have been disabled while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

These aren’t off-the-showroom-floor Harleys. The vets build them from donated parts. Plenty of wheeling, dealing and bartering also is involved because the men shun monetary donations.

Graeff seemed confused and speechless when he was led outside to see his Harley. “Is this for real?” he asked repeatedly.

Indeed, it was.

The darkness of the autumn evening was broken repeatedly by the flashing of cameras as a few grizzled Vietnam vets, the young Marine, his family, friends and other well-wishers stood in the street in Newport exchanging handshakes and hugs and sharing a few tears.

Graeff, whose motorcycle experience is limited to a decade ago on a 250cc, climbed on the 1,000cc Harley like he’d been sitting there all his life.

The vet who built the bike, who prefers to remain nameless, explained that he’d left a few finishing touches for the new owner. It helps a guy feel invested in his new bike, he explained.

A week later when I touched base with Graeff, the reality of the gift had settled in and plans were taking shape. Before the spring riding season he wants to add a few personal touches. He’s thinking that the gas tank needs a paint job. It’s not that the “U.S. Army” painted on the tank isn’t spiffy; he just doesn’t find it fitting for a Marine.

He’s envisioning a corporal’s chevron on one side and a Purple Heart on the other.

He’s also shopping for helmets and talking up the Harleys for Heros organization to co-workers and other bikers he encounters, hoping he’ll stumble across people with parts to donate.

He views that as payback.

“If someone does something for me, I like to do something for them,” he said.

Sounds like the philosophy of Harleys for Heros, as well as fitting words for this upcoming holiday season.

Written by Nabcy Eshelman
For the Patriot-News
E-mail Nancy at columnist1@verizon.net

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Click here  to check out the spec, tv schedule and more information on the Barrett-Jackson auction.

For More information on the Fisher House Foundation, Click here

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A spike in motorcycle deaths among service members is prompting a call to arms from the military.

US Nationwide – In 2008, more service members died in motorcycle crashes than ever before — 126 from all four services. The Army saw a 24 percent increase in fatalities, and both the Marines and the Navy report significant increases as well. Top safety chiefs across the military have identified motorcycles as the No. 1 safety concern off the battlefield.
(more…)

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