<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/Deby706/a_hines.jpg"align="left"borders="0"/br><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/Deby706/G_Tonglet.jpg"align="left"borders="0"/>
MILWAUKEE (July 10, 2006) – When Matt Hines says that the Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod team has some experience with winning at Bandimere Speedway, he's just being modest. The current crew chief of the two-bike factory supported Harley-Davidson team earned four wins in five final round appearances throughout his NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle career.
This week Hines and the rest of the crew is aiming to put one of the two 23-year-old riders, Andrew Hines and GT Tonglet, in winner's circle at the 27th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.
"I won a few races there so I might give the guys some tips or ideas about the track but usually I don't have to say too much," Hines said. "From time to time we talk about what they need to do to improve their consistency in their performance, but to be honest, I have two great riders to work with and they know how to do their jobs."
The Screamin' Eagle squad should have an advantage over the competition because of the history they have with the location. Bandimere Speedway sits 5,860 feet above sea level. The Vance & Hines Motorsports shop was at 6,000 feet in Trinidad, Colo., for years.
"We have a lot of experience with the altitude at this track and we have good baseline data that we can start with that will immediately keep us competitive," Hines said. "Then we can make any necessary adjustments as we go along. Being based in Trinidad for so long has given us lots of information to work with. We did all of our dyno testing there for a long time before we moved to Indianapolis recently."
While Andrew Hines has earned the top qualifying position at Bandimere during the previous two events, Tonglet and Hines each rode to second round finishes in 2005 – something the youngest Hines would like to avoid.
"These Screamin' Eagle V-Rods were built in Trinidad and they respond well to the altitude," the Trinidad High School graduate said. "It's been a great track to us over the years but neither GT or I have won there yet. We always have a lot of friends there and it would be great to celebrate in winner's circle there this time."
Tonglet earned the first No. 1 qualifying award for a factory-backed Harley-Davidson in NHRA history in 2003. Over the years, a final round appearance has eluded him so far.
"Earning that first No. 1 qualifying award for Harley was great," Tonglet said. "But now we need to step up and win there. Matt (Hines) won so much it was like the Vance & Hines team couldn't stay out of the finals. It would be very satisfying to earn another win for Byron (Hines, team owner) especially since it would be the first for a V-Rod at Bandimere."
Hines is currently second in the point standings, aiming to defend his two consecutive NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle championships (2004-'05). Hines is just 28 points behind category leader Angelle Sampey and the U.S. Army Suzuki team.
Riders will have four chances to qualify for the eighth of 15 national NHRA events, starting with sessions at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. Friday before wrapping up on Saturday (10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.). Final eliminations will start at noon on Sunday.
The team had two weeks to prepare for the next event – something the tuner thinks will translate into improved performance.
"We spent two weeks working on the dyno just trying to figure out the answers to questions that came up in the last three-race swing," Matt Hines said. "We lost our way a little during that three-race span but we found the right direction again. Now it's just a matter of staying on the right path, which is absolutely possible."
Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin’ Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin’ Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information.
The Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team is sponsored by Ford Truck, Dunlop, Matco Tools and S100.
SCREAMIN' EAGLE TEAM LOOKING TO RETURN TO WINNING WAYS AT BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY IN MILE-HIGH CONDITIONS
Hines and Tonglet Looking for Redemption from 2005
MILWAUKEE (July 10, 2006) – When Matt Hines says that the Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod team has some experience with winning at Bandimere Speedway, he's just being modest. The current crew chief of the two-bike factory supported Harley-Davidson team earned four wins in five final round appearances throughout his NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle career.
This week Hines and the rest of the crew is aiming to put one of the two 23-year-old riders, Andrew Hines and GT Tonglet, in winner's circle at the 27th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.
"I won a few races there so I might give the guys some tips or ideas about the track but usually I don't have to say too much," Hines said. "From time to time we talk about what they need to do to improve their consistency in their performance, but to be honest, I have two great riders to work with and they know how to do their jobs."
The Screamin' Eagle squad should have an advantage over the competition because of the history they have with the location. Bandimere Speedway sits 5,860 feet above sea level. The Vance & Hines Motorsports shop was at 6,000 feet in Trinidad, Colo., for years.
"We have a lot of experience with the altitude at this track and we have good baseline data that we can start with that will immediately keep us competitive," Hines said. "Then we can make any necessary adjustments as we go along. Being based in Trinidad for so long has given us lots of information to work with. We did all of our dyno testing there for a long time before we moved to Indianapolis recently."
While Andrew Hines has earned the top qualifying position at Bandimere during the previous two events, Tonglet and Hines each rode to second round finishes in 2005 – something the youngest Hines would like to avoid.
"These Screamin' Eagle V-Rods were built in Trinidad and they respond well to the altitude," the Trinidad High School graduate said. "It's been a great track to us over the years but neither GT or I have won there yet. We always have a lot of friends there and it would be great to celebrate in winner's circle there this time."
Tonglet earned the first No. 1 qualifying award for a factory-backed Harley-Davidson in NHRA history in 2003. Over the years, a final round appearance has eluded him so far.
"Earning that first No. 1 qualifying award for Harley was great," Tonglet said. "But now we need to step up and win there. Matt (Hines) won so much it was like the Vance & Hines team couldn't stay out of the finals. It would be very satisfying to earn another win for Byron (Hines, team owner) especially since it would be the first for a V-Rod at Bandimere."
Hines is currently second in the point standings, aiming to defend his two consecutive NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle championships (2004-'05). Hines is just 28 points behind category leader Angelle Sampey and the U.S. Army Suzuki team.
Riders will have four chances to qualify for the eighth of 15 national NHRA events, starting with sessions at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. Friday before wrapping up on Saturday (10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.). Final eliminations will start at noon on Sunday.
The team had two weeks to prepare for the next event – something the tuner thinks will translate into improved performance.
"We spent two weeks working on the dyno just trying to figure out the answers to questions that came up in the last three-race swing," Matt Hines said. "We lost our way a little during that three-race span but we found the right direction again. Now it's just a matter of staying on the right path, which is absolutely possible."
Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin’ Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin’ Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information.
The Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team is sponsored by Ford Truck, Dunlop, Matco Tools and S100.
