Where's Punky & Lew now?
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Date: 2-17-2003
Subject: Punky, Lew & Achi 2 at Campo Grande, Brazil Moto Road Rally
Hi Dr. Greg and everyone: Greg, if you have it, please give me E-mail addy of Bob Moffit, VP of Marketing and Sales, at Kawi headquarters in SoCal. I am frustrated with the Critter apparently needing more major engine repair and would like to beg Moffit for assistance. When I started the tour Moffit refused to sponsor me. Brazil is a BIG market for motos and Kawasaki isnīt even competing. Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki have everything to themselves. Campo Grande is a big city and there is no Kawi dealer here. I see 4 cylinder Kawi sportbikes, but not smaller singles. On our arrival at the rally, we were beseiged by news people of all types. We are on the Internet, TV, in mags and newspapers. The Brazilian zest for motos is evident everywhere, but none moreso than at the Moto Road Rally at Campo Grande, Brazil. Motorcyclists at the rally are free to do almost anything they wish. In the name of all-out fun all the stoppers are pulled out. There seems to be a competition to see who can make the most incredible noise, racing engines, spinning donuts, burning rubber off tires, vertical spins on the back wheel and racing up and down the narrow streets of the fairgrounds where the event is held. There are so many of these expert riders capable of making their bikes do everything, but talk. Six to ten riders at a time perform all kinds of ear-splitting noisy tricks in an incredibly small area surrounded by spectators cheering them on. An endless line of riders waited their turn to perform and add to the acrid odor of burning tires. A fresh pile of tires lays nearby. It is amazing that none of these daredevils lost control of their bikes and hurt spectators standing within a few feet. I have never seen anything like this in America. There are a million rules to abide by. There were 50,000 people in attendance at Campo Grande. Not all were motorcyclists. After 10 hours of waiting, thousands of spectators were finally rewarded to hear an American band playing classic American Rock and Roll. It blared from the stage and speakers everywhere, while bright colored lights danced, as well as the spectators. A naked girl sped on a sportbike through streets crowded with people. A human wave of excited drunken men on foot followed quickly behind. Trikes with VW engines are popular and cheap here. They sell new for US$4,000. Harleys are few, but highly prized. Japanese Harley look-alike cruisers abound with Harley copycat riders. Sportbikes are very popular. Small 125cc to 250cc bikes are everywhere in Brazil. I only saw one KLR650 at the rally. At the rally, we enjoyed the company again of Antoni, our Greek Cypriot BMW 1150 GS riding friend, whom we met in Argentina. We are a very popular attraction and Punky made a multitude of new friends for us. Peter Fonda was here 2 years ago. Brazil is fantastic! Tomorrow, heading for Sao Paulo, a 3 day ride to an interview with the editor of Duas Rodas magazine. Itīs big in Brazil. I think we are in the general area, where Mariolaīs Roma got sick, quit running and was shipped back to Chicago for repair. Iīd like to know who was Mariolaīs shipper from Sao Paulo. I understand she shipped Roma to Chicago for only about US$500. We are now in Tres Lagoas, Matto Grosso, Brazil, on our way to Sao Paulo. It was another wet ride. Rains a lot here, but not too hot. Hotmail seems to have lost my address list.
Later, amigos & amigas.
Punky, Lew & Achi 2
Americas Motopaseo
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