I've been quiet on the blog the past few days. Cut me some slack though. I spent the weekend outside in the sweltering heat instructing at one of the finest racetracks in the world. A little over an hour's drive from here is Virginia International Raceway located just over the state line near Milton, North Carolina.

Perhaps still effected by the scent of fossil fuels, hot rubber and brake pad compounds, I wanted to share this gorgeous video of a restored  1956 Jaguar D-Type "Long nose" 393RW and gallery of many of the 2012 bikes from Harley-Davidson.
 

Maintaining The Brand – JAGtechnic from Harvington Motor Co on Vimeo.

Trophies and cash will be on the line Sunday when the state's top
motorcycle riders converge at Devils Ridge Motocross in Sanford for the
19th annual North Carolina State Championship Race.

Pros and amateurs will compete in more than 30 classes, and a $5,000
purse awaits the pros.

The youngest competitors, ages 4-6, on tiny
motorbikes are lots of fun to watch challenge the course.

Bikers who want to ride with the wind in their hair made progress in the General Assembly today when a House committee approved a bill to peel back North Carolina’s motorcycle safety helmet requirement for some riders.

Motorcyclists would be free to go bare-headed if they’re 21 or older and riding where the speed limit is 45 mph or slower, under a bill that passed on a 9-7 vote in the House Transportation Committee. ... [MORE]

Riders from across the U.S. come to Raleigh for Queens Together rally in downtown Raleigh.

AAA Carolinas blames North Carolina's increased highway death toll last year on increases in fatal crashes involving alcohol or motorcycles.

While traffic deaths declined in most states, North Carolina had the biggest increase in 2007 with 1,675 deaths, up 121 from the year before.  AAA says these statistics include:

* A 37 percent increase in motorcycle deaths, up from 138 in 2006 to 189 in 2007.  Motorcycle deaths have been rising steadily nationwide, while other types of traffic deaths decline.

* A 25 percent increase in deaths involving alchol, up from 390 in 2006 to 489 in 2007.

AAA also says the number of drivers charged with speeding increased by 21 percent from 2003 to 2007, but convictions increased by only 6 percent.

“Our criminal justice system has to begin taking traffic offenses seriously,” said David E. Parsons, CEO and president of AAA Carolinas. “Nearly half of all those charged are not convicted, many having their cases dismissed by pleading to a lesser offense to avoid insurance or license points.”

The numbers of Hispanic drivers involved in fatal crashes (306) and in all crashes (25,337) in 2007 were higher than in 2006 — but the 2007 statistics were lower than the same figures for previous years, AAA said. 

In 2004, Hispanic drivers were involved in 27,727 crashes, including 373 fatal crashes, in North Carolina.  Hispanics make up the fastest-growing segment of North Carolina's population, with numbers that increased by 33 percent between 2003 and 2007.