Harley Davidson Penster Tilting Reverse Trike

BY PAUL CROWE

Remember the drawings for the Harley Davidson Leaning Trike Patent we showed you way back in 2007? Well, the Harley Davidson Museum takes the wraps off of the real trikes (code name "Penster") behind those drawings.

Harley Davidson Penster reverse tilting trike

John Buttera, the legendary custom and race car builder, originally hailed from Wisconsin, and I guess he got to know some of the guys at Harley Davidson because they hired him to do some design and prototype work for the company. In 1998, he built the original version of this tilting reverse trike, which is shown below, and over the ensuing years, the Motor Company refined the design until it was pretty much ready for production. The final orange 2006 version you see here looks exactly like the patent drawings. This might have been in the Harley showrooms, but instead, we got the Tri-Glide.

There was a lot of speculation when these drawings came out about when or if this would ever see the light of day. Well, it's out there now, at the museum, but it is no longer destined for the showroom. Too bad. They might have had a jump on the trike market and beat the Can-Am Spyder to the punch.

All photos credit: Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson Penster prototype by John Buttera

Harley Davidson Penster prototype by John Buttera

from http://thekneeslider.com

Goodwood Announces 2014 Schedule

The dates for the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival have been announced, subject to change, pending ratification by the FIA of the 2014 Formula 1 calendar in December. All of the Goodwood events promise an array of cars and motorcycles, plus star drivers and riders, and plenty of other attractions for spectators of all ages.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed will take place from Thursday 26 June to Sunday 29 June. The 2014 Festival promises to be packed with action and excitement, as the most glamorous racing machinery and famous drivers gather together in the surroundings of Goodwood Park. The theme for the 2014 Festival will be announced shortly.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed will open with the Moving Motor Show on Thursday 26 June 2014, to give new car buyers and enthusiasts the opportunity to see the latest models up close, and in many cases drive them on a vehicle evaluation route within the grounds of the Goodwood Estate, including the Festival hillclimb.

The 2014 Goodwood Revival is set for the weekend of 12-14 September 2014. The sell-out Revival is a step back in time, celebrating the halcyon days of motor racing as it used to be, with all of the accompanying spectacle of the era. Competitors and spectators alike dress in period fashions, with the finest sights and entertainment of the pre-1966 era for all to enjoy.

In addition to the Festival of Speed and Revival, Lord March also confirmed the dates for the new 72ndGoodwood Members’ Meeting, to be held on 29-30 March 2014 exclusively for GRRC (Goodwood Road Racing Club) members at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.

As in previous years, admission to Goodwood motorsport events will be strictly by advance ticket only, with 2014 ticket sales commencing at 9am on Thursday 31 October 2013. All young persons aged between 13 and 21 can purchase Festival of Speed and/or Revival tickets for half the full adult price. Children aged 12 and under remain free of charge for 2014, as does car parking. The price of adult entry tickets starts from just £27.

For 2013 both the Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival sold out long in advance of the events taking place, and this is expected to be repeated for 2014, so the early purchase of tickets for next year is recommended to avoid disappointment.

For more information and to purchase tickets, goodwood.com/motorsport.

[Source: Goodwood; photo: Tim Scott]

podium !

WSBK : doublé de Laverty, Sykes titré

Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) a remporté les deux dernières manches du Championnat du monde Superbike 2013 à Jerez (Espagne). Une troisième place lors de la première course a suffi à Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) pour coiffer sa première couronne mondiale. En Supersport, Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) a honoré son nouveau statut de champion du monde par une victoire.

Auteur de la pole position, Eugène Laverty a soufflé la victoire à Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrrad GoldBet) dans le dernier tour en lui faisant l’extérieur dans le dernier virage. Les deux pilotes se sont échappés dès le début de la course. Melandri a patienté jusqu’à l’avant-dernier tour pour poser son attaque mais c’était sans compter sur le superbe dépassement de Laverty au tour suivant. En signant sa huitième victoire de la saison, Laverty offre le titre constructeur à Aprilia.

Tom Sykes a assuré la troisième place synonyme de titre mondial pour sa cinquième saison en Championnat du monde Superbike. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) a rallié l’arrivée seul à la quatrième place. Le Français n’a jamais été en mesure d’inquiéter le Britannique pour défendre ses propres intérêts au classement général. Toni Elías (Red Devils Aprilia) et Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) ont respectivement terminé cinquième et sixième. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Xavi Fores (Team Ducati Alstare) et Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) ont complété le Top 10.

Installé confortablement dans la roue du leader Sykes, Laverty a attendu le 13^ème tour pour passer à l’offensive et s’emparer définitivement du commandement. L’Irlandais conclut la saison 2013 par un second doublé. Sylvain Guintoli a pris la troisième place, loin devant Toni Elías, Chaz Davies et Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki). Lorenzo Lanzi (Mesaroli A.S. Ducati) s’est classé septième devant Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Mark Aitchison et Davide Giugliano. Deuxième de la première manche, Marco Melandri, souffrant à la cheville, n’a pas pris le départ de la seconde course.

Sykes a remporté le championnat 2013 avec 447 points devant Laverty (424 points) et Guintoli (402 points).

En Supersport, Sam Lowes s'est offert une dernière victoire deux semaines après avoir décroche le titre. L’Anglais sera engagé en Superbike la saison prochaine. Il a devancé Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) et Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse).