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www.PowersportsBusiness.com NEWS Powersports Business • July 13, 2015 • 3 HOTNEWS CONTINUED FROM COVER Don't miss the latest products for V-twin, metric, street, sport bikes and off-road, ATV/UTV, watercraft and snowmobile. MIC PROMOTES VAN HOOYDONK TO VP, COMMUNICATIONS The Motorcycle Industry Council has promoted long- time staff member Ty van Hooydonk to vice president, communications. Van Hooy- donk has worked, and will con- tinue to work, on the industry's mainstream media and market expansion programs, including Discover Today's Motorcycling. "Since 2001, Ty has been heavily involved in promoting motorcycling and rider safety, and he's instrumental in many of our biggest media placements for two-wheeling, which are mostly the result of building solid relationships," said MIC president Tim Buche. "He's a serious enthusiast with a deep background in journalism and media relations, and he does it all, from writing and editing, to video production and spokes- person duty, to hosting training sessions and great rides that share motorcycling with media, influential VIPs and big audi- ences everywhere." Prior to his hiring as MIC communications director, van Hooydonk was a director at PainePR in Orange County, senior account executive at Burson- Marsteller public relations in Los Angeles, news editor at Cycle magazine and associate editor at Cycle News. Although based out of Irvine, Calif., van Hooydonk has worked for weeks at a time in New York City, home to most major media outlets, for more than 20 years and travels throughout the country to promote motorcy- cling. In addition to his past BRP dealer Duluth Lawn and Sports has been recognized for its longtime support of organized snowmobiling with the American Council of Snowmobile Associations Dealer of the Year award. The award is given annually to retail dealers that have proven to go above and beyond in supporting their local and statewide snowmobile clubs and organizations. Duluth Lawn and Sports in Minnesota was chosen based on its past and present promotions and partnerships. In business since 1991 at the Duluth location, owner Pete Gassert has been the driving force behind the activism, but the entire staff gets involved. The dealership has been an active member of the Black Woods Blizzard Tour for nearly two decades, raising thousands of dollars for ALS research each year. It's also a major supporter of MnUSA, the statewide snowmo- biling association. The dealership pays for customer member- ships in MnUSA at its open house each fall. Last year, that was 58 memberships. With local clubs the dealership is very involved in projects that include providing sleds and equipment for veterans rides, promoting snowmobiling at city, county and state meetings and protecting access and trail rights. "The entire family, which owns two stores in northern Min- nesota, are very active riders and leaders in their community for motorsports recreation," said Matt Hill, BRP national sales man- ager. "The honor is well deserved and shared amongst many." SKI-DOO DEALER WINS NATIONAL AWARD FROM SNOWMOBILE GROUP NEWS 10 ... NPA announces new hire FINANCIAL NEWS 14 ... Steve Dodds 15 ... Polaris picks Allstate as insurer OPINION 17 ... From the Editor 17 ... Online at PowersportsBusiness.com PSB: FOCUS UTV-Sport 18 ... Quadna Mud Nationals grows 28 ... Top KBB.com UTV searches 30 ... Dealer finds success with DragonFire 31 ... Polaris racing on the throttle SOLUTIONS 32 ... Steve Jones 33 ... Paula Crosbie ATV/UTV 34 ... Yamaha's new 2016 Grizzly 35 ... Can-Am unveils '16 ATVs/UTVs 38 ... New Mules in Kawasaki's lineup MOTORCYCLE 41 ... Kawi's debuts Z800 ABS 44 ... YZ250X joins Yamaha lineup SNOWMOBILE 48 ... 2014-15 snowmobile sales numbers AFTERMARKET 49 ... Hot Products POWER 50 54 ... Wilkins H-D earns top CSI scores INSIDE CycleSoup.com enters market CarSoup.com has launched four niche web- sites customized to powersports enthusiasts. The sites, which are now live, are CycleSoup. com, ATVSoup.com, BoatSoup.com and SnowmobileSoup.com. These sites are designed to connect those powersports enthusiasts with relevant pur- chase information from manufacturers, deal- ers and private sellers. In addi- tion to the large dealer inventory available on the sites, a robust private-seller community is being developed. Additionally, the sites have been designed for users to view on smartphones and all of their favorite devices. "We're building on the strength and suc- cess of CarSoup.com, applying it to powers- ports and addressing these individual product lines and lifestyle audiences," said Su-Lin Velin, CarSoup.com director of marketing. "Whether from a business or a consumer per- spective, these are active consumers. We're providing them access to buying or selling with our mobile-first approach. These new sites give powersports dealers an effective way to reach more of their in-market, local shop- pers and consumers a great experience cus- tomized to their area of interest." PSB New Jersey Harley-Davidson dealership sold to 'biggest competitor' After 43 years of ownership, Jeff Margaritell has sold Long Branch Harley-Davidson to Asa Murray, owner of Ocean County Harley-Davidson in Lakewood, N.J. George Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services facilitated the transaction. Margaritell founded Harley-Davidson of Long Branch in 1972 along with three partners. He grew the operation into a 20,000-square-foot facility with more than 25 employees. The dealership has received Gold, Silver and Bronze Bar & Shield Awards from Harley-Davidson Motor Company and is con- sidered the No. 1 service department in the district, according to Harley-Davidson customer service surveys. Murray's Ocean County Harley-Davidson was awarded the Platinum Bar & Shield Award in 2010 and the Gold Award in 2011 and 2012. Murray intends to bring his same philosophies, processes and procedures to Long Branch Harley-Davidson. The dealership will undergo an interior remodeling to include administrative offices and will remain in its current location at 671 Broadway. Within the next few years, Murray will relocate the dealership to a new, state-of-the-art facility and continue to service the community. The dealership now operates under the name Shoreline Har- ley-Davidson, and general manager Dawn White has remained with the dealership. "I had a strong interest and desire to own that dealership and expand my territory for years," Murray said. "I was very excited about working with George and making a deal happen, and this dealership was the perfect strategic fit. George was very informa- tive, professional and shared all pertinent infor- mation very quickly. He was extremely help- ful in success- fully maintaining confidentiality while negotiat- ing through the Letter of Intent, especially since the seller, Jeff Margaritell, was very concerned about word getting out that he was selling his dealership. I knew that Jeff was most likely nervous and uncomfortable about me hav- ing discussions about buying his store as we were direct competi- tors for many years. Once Jeff and I became comfortable with each other, with George's assistance, we were able to work through a buy/ sell in order to consummate a deal that all parties felt was fair and equitable. I look forward to continuing the legacy that Jeff began 43 years ago at Harley-Davidson of Long Branch. I greatly appreci- ate George's assistance in navigating through this transaction and would definitely recommend George Chaconas and Performance Brokerage Services if you are buying or selling a dealership." "It was with great pleasure, and I am very proud to have repre- sented and advised Jeff Margaritell in the sale of the business that he owned and operated for 43 years," Chaconas said. "Although this was very emotional for Jeff, it was exceptionally moving for me to have helped Jeff take the necessary step to move on to the next stage of his life. I found it gratifying to be able to help Jeff change his lifestyle and path moving forward, after being involved with the dealership and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company for over four decades. Additionally, it was rewarding and exciting to assist the new owner, Asa Murray of Harley-Davidson of Ocean County, with his dreams and aspirations of growing his business by acquiring a very desirable, strategic and well-known Harley- Davidson dealership in New Jersey. I wish both of them great suc- cess in their new endeavors." Pete Gassert (center), owner of Duluth Lawn and Sports in Minnesota, received the Dealer of the Year Award from the American Council of Snowmo- bile Associations. Bob Kirchner, ACSA vice president (left) and Duane Sutton, ACSA president, presented the award. (From left) Sandy Murray, Jeff Margaritell and Asa Murray at the closing of the sale of Long Branch Harley-Davidson in New Jersey. TY VAN HOOYDONK work for enthusiast publications, van Hooydonk has written and shot photographs for the New York Times, USA Today, Popular Mechanics, Men's Journal and other mainstream outlets. He's also a Motorcycle Safety Foun- dation RiderCoach, ATV Safety Institute Instructor and Driver- Coach for the Recreational Off- Highway Vehicle Association. "I'm extremely privileged to be working for this industry and fortunate to have the resources provided by MIC members, plus See Hot News, Page 4