Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
The raffle of a Suzuki TL1000R project bike by Lockhart-Phillips USA raised a total of $18,870 to benefit the Roadracingworld.com Action Fund.
The raffle was started by Lockhart-Phillips President Wendell Phillips in February and ended with the winning name being drawn by Roadracingworld.com Action Fund founder John Ulrich during the World Superbike/AMA races at Laguna Seca on Sunday, July 14.
The Lockhart-Phillips USA project bike and Wendell Phillips, with a ceremonial check for $18,870 for Air Fence.
The winner of the highly-modified Suzuki V-Twin was David Caldwell of Maryville, Tennessee, near Knoxville. Although Caldwell is not a motorcycle road racer, he says that he rides streetbikes and enjoys all aspects of the sport, including racing motocross.
“I was at the Indianapolis Trade Show in February and saw the bike on display and the signs about the raffle,” said Caldwell in a phone interview Wednesday, July 17. “The lady at the booth explained to me all of the numbers with riders getting injured and how well the Air Fence works. So I bought two tickets.
“They called me to inform me that I won Sunday, but I was racing motocross in West Virginia. Then I got straight on a plane and flew down here (St. Croix) for vacation. I guess they’ll just ship the bike out to me.
“I’m just excited to win the bike. The people at Lockhart-Phillips said someone crashed into some Air Fence at Laguna Seca that weekend and it probably saved the guy’s life. I’m just glad to contribute to that.”
Ironically, Caldwell makes a living building fences for a construction company.
Lockhart-Phillips USA President Wendell Phillips (left) and Roadracingworld.com Action Fund founder John Ulrich shake hands and display a ceremonial check for $18,870, representing the proceeds of the raffle.
Roadracingworld.com Action Fund founder John Ulrich speaks to the crowd before pulling the winning raffle ticket at Laguna Seca.
The donation of the raffle proceeds by Lockhart-Phillips, together with Wendell Phillips’ previous donation of $2500, brings the company’s total to $21,370, making it the largest single contributor to the Fund.
The project TL1000 features an Akrapovic Evolution Race Exhaust System, K&N Dynojet Power Commander II fuel injection control unit, an engine built by Keith Perry, PM Edge wheels and PM racing brakes, Dunlop D207 tires, Goodrich -2 brake lines, paint by Hagar Helmets & Designs, a Lockhart Phillips USA windsreen, Attack Performance rearsets and triple clamps, Pro Grip grips, Lockhart Phillips anodized parts and marker lights and uses Elf Moto 4XT oil.