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PAGE A6, Wlff1Y FREE PRESS, The Auto Section, MARCH 28, 1990 LclH arl..ey is one of "best-dressed" By Mike Kowalaki Doug Nicolson isi a relative newcomer to motorcycle competi- tions. But he already has the mark of a champion. The Whitby. resident entered New program of truck, bus safety checks Ontario Trans ration Minis- ter William rye ecently announced a new Progam of on-site safety checks imi th facili- ties of commercial motor vehicle operators. Called the facility audit pro- gram, the new safety initiative will send ministry inspectors to selected transportation coin- panies te ensure thefr drivers and vehicles adhere to the National Safety Code and other new federal and provincial high- waylegistation. Under the National Safety Code, truck and bus operators are required to monitor driver performance, maintain their vehicles, inspect the vehicle before every trip, and ensure their drivers stay ithinprescri- bed liours of wr limita. Wrye said the on-site safety checks of the audit; program will complement the mimisfry'sbigh- way insecton program which i. cridout seven days a week using mobile umits and roadside stations. Twenty-one additional inspectors have been bired for the audit progralm Some companes will b. selec- ted for on-site inspections through random samphfng. Oth- ors will bo tarqeted as a result of p ublic complamts aud referrals fromother companies's commer- cial vehicle operator registration (OCVOR) files. lus firat motorcycle show last April and walked away with third-place honora. Since then he bas placed in the top threo i e vory show ho has ontered. "I was nover into showing it but my wifo Carol and friends said togiv it a try,» said Nicol- son. «'I took thefr advico and sa, far rvo done fafrly well.» Nicolson a. prido andjoy is a 1984 Harloy-Davidson UFLHTC» Touring Classic. «It's tho first classic they made and the firet evolution motor Harley came out with. It was also their first five- speed transmission.» The stock engin was 80 cubi inches, but Nicolson bas in- creased it to 93. Sinco taldngthfrd place ini the International Motoccle Show in Toronto last'April, Nicolson has participated ithree other com- petitions. This pastJanuar at the ceshow i Toronto, Nicolson's bike was chosen the best i the dresser casas and finished third in tho outstanding American street claas. uWhen wo were at Speed-O- Itama a fellow from Syracuse (New York) asked me if I'd like to bring my bike down thero for a show i February' said Nicol- son. «We went there more for some- tbing to do on the weekend and I ended up taking first place mi my class. Boy, were those Americanse mad. Nicolsn said ho could pro- bably. travel ail over North Amelrica entern - motorcyclo shows overy wokod, b ut bie plans are flot t ambitioua. Ho oxpects to enter shows at EibiUtion Place in Toronto and the Oshawa Civic Auditorium lator this year. wHITrBY' Doug Nicoison astride bis Nicolson bas won a 'number of cham- award-winning 1984 Harley-Davidson pionsbips since ho began eneçig bis ¶!LHTC' Touring Classi motorcycle. bilke in motorcycle shows Jast ybar. hardest bike te, start that lvo ever owned. You kicked your heart out togt it goin.-_ Nicolson soon repLed that bike with a 194 Harley-David- son and bas "nover had any £thauho does not plan on travelliîng te many.shows, one miunity becomes a virtual motro- polis wfhon motorcyclo afiîciona- do from around the globe des- cend on it for a weekond of fun and festivities. Nicolson said over 60,00 people attonded the last rally ho went tei 1987- aud this years SOth anniversay could draw -a quarter million peéople.Y Activities includo niotercycle = touridesa swaqp meets, fùntins ndtrade shows. "I know theres not a hotel with a room within 200 miles.» Amotorcycle devoteo for more cipates i h anaàotryl than 50 years, Nicolson "fondly" ra ly i SturgsSuhDkt recalîs his firat bike. this Auguat. gsSuhDkt "It was a Francis Barnett, the The smail mid-western com- GAR«Y POLONSKY (Ieft), Durham Coilege pre- sident, and Yahama president Ike Saguchi try on for size one of the 29 motorycles donated to the college by Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd. for the coilege's motorcycle skilis and t.raining weekend course that starts March 30. Cost is $190 for the course.