IMS Products

Thanks for helping us break 1000 fans!

imsoffroad — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 21:10:21 +0000

Back when IMS Founder CH Wheat started making high-performance off-road parts and accessories in 1976, we were a small company that spread by word of mouth amongst local off-road racers. But by the early 1980′s, IMS had grown considerably.

When fellow desert racer Scott Wright joined IMS in 1995, things really took off. IMS Products were being stocked in stores across not just California, but the entire world, and the best off-road racers, from GNCC to Baja and everything in between, were sponsored by IMS. As a result, IMS had become more than just a small, dedicated group of racers in Southern California. We became a family.

This, of course, comes as our Facebook fan page has reached over 1000 fans.

While small in comparison to some of the larger companies on the Internet today, having 1000 fans (and counting!) is a gratifying and humbling feeling.

We’re all brought together under the same common interest – the love of off-road racing – and we’re happy to be a part of that family. Which is why we are dedicated to making the great products and keeping our customers happy.

Leave us a comment on this blog post with your favorite memory of off-road racing, and we’ll send you an IMS Sticker. It’s our way of saying – thank you!

2011 GNCC Season Kick-off!

imsoffroad — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:06:44 +0000

IMS Products may have been bred from desert racing, but that doesn’t mean it’s all we’re into. Here at IMS, we love all forms of off-road racing – including the GNCC series!

IMS has a lot of history in GNCC racing, which is why it has to be one of our favorite types of off-road racing. Each year, the series takes some of the world’s best motorcycle and ATV racers through tough and challenging tracks, from Florida to Indiana to New York, winding in and out of forests or trudging through the deep mud. GNCC racing has a little bit of everything in it.

So that’s why we’re excited about the 2011 GNCC Series, which kicks off this weekend in River Ranch, Florida!

Our tanks were doing a lot of winning in last year’s series. FMF Makita Suzuki’s Josh Strang won the 2010 GNCC title, while the Am-Pro Yamaha duo of Charlie Mullins and Paul Whibley placed second and third respectively. But IMS wasn’t limited to just the XC1 class – we supported competitors in all classes, from all over the world and all different skill levels.

This year’s series is looking to be one of the most competitive there’s ever been. Josh Strang looks to defend his title against a host of strong competition, including new teams and new manufacturers.

With new products already coming out for 2011, and many more in the works, we’re going to make sure that Team IMS riders have the best equipment available this season.

See you at the races!

Looking Forward at 2011

imsoffroad — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:42:22 +0000

There is a duality about the desert. At times it can be remarkably beautiful – the openness, the starry nights, the sanctuary from the everyday concrete jungles. Yet all at once, the desert can be a desolate, undesirable, and ultimately very challenging place. This is what continues to drive us here at IMS Products to desert racing.

Desert racing is the ultimate liberation from the closed-circuit motocross tracks and the tight trails of the mountains. There are few thrills more visceral than barreling through the desert at top speed on a fast bike, hovering between control and chaos. It’s the finest form of concentration and just thinking about it makes us want to fill up the gas tanks, put the bikes in the truck, and head out of town!

That’s why we’re so excited about the 2011 racing season. From the WORCS Series to the 44th Baja 1000, this is going to be a busy year of off-road racing and we’re committed to bringing our fellow desert racers – from the top-level factory teams to the everyday weekend warrior – the best products possible. We’ll be continuing our innovative line of accessories into 2011. IMS foot pegs, IMS shift levers, as well as our world famous IMS gas tanks just keep getting better and better. Being the leader in desert racing fuel systems and accessories doesn’t mean we will rest on our laurels. For 2011, our R&D group will be busy refining existing products and developing new technologies. Why do we do it? Because we love it!

We’ll also be expanding our web presence. Our new website, which includes an all new shopping cart and more fan-interactive content, is almost finished. Fans of IMS on Facebook will continue to get the latest news, as well as really cool special promotions.

We hope to see you all out in the desert this year. Let’s make 2011 a great year!

IMS Products Looks Back and Forward at the Catalina Grand Prix

imsoffroad — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:27:17 +0000

The City of Avalon, Catalina Island (source: www.thecatalinagrandprix.com)

From 1951 to 1958, the Catalina Grand Prix was one of the biggest motorcycle races on the West Coast. Held in the beautiful city of Avalon on California’s Santa Catalina Island, the Catalina Grand Prix was immensely popular amongst both fans and riders. Unfortunately, the event stopped in 1958 and many feared the race would never return.

Fast-forward to the present – in just one month, the Catalina Grand Prix returns to the island after a 52-year long hiatus.

Projected to be “the most unique motorcycle race in 50 years,” promoters received authorization to run the race earlier in 2010 and immediately created a buzz that spread through the Internet almost immediately. Riders and racers from dirt to street and beginner to pro are eager and excited to be a part of the historic event.

The Catalina Grand Prix brought out some of motorcycle racing’s best riders of the time. AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Inductee Walt Fulton, riding aboard a Triumph, won the inaugural running of the race in 1951. The next year, another Hall of Fame Inductee, Nick Nicholson, took the top spot aboard a BSA. All around off-road legend Chuck “Feets” Minert and famed stuntman Bud Ekins, both Motorcycle Hall of Fame Inductees, were race winners at the Grand Prix, as well.

One of Catalina's trails (source: www.thecatalinagrandprix.com)

This year’s event, to be held on December 4th and 5^th, will look a bit different, as the Triumphs, BSAs, and Matchless motorcycles will be replaced with modern machines such as Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha and KTM.

Already signed up for the upcoming event, are riders representing a “Who’s Who” of top competitors. The rider who ends up winning the race will look a little different then those who came before. The leather riding suits of days gone by have been replaced with modern materials, plastic, and carbon fiber. Essentially though, the 2010 winner will be a younger version of the legends who came before.

Speaking of the legends, there are many of the original racers planning on making it out to the event and participate! There is never too much of a good thing. One thing for sure, the participants can expect to see many glimpses into the past, both on the track and off. The spirit of the racers, and the Island itself remain the same.

Hey WR250 Owners!

imsoffroad — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:35:34 +0000

Doing any adventure riding in the near future? Check out the press release on our new 3.0 gallon tank for the WR250.

http://blogs.dirtrider.com/6689459/industry-buzz/ims-releases-adventure-inspired-fuel-tank-for-wr250r-x/index.html

Black IMS tank on WR250

Our Favorite Escape: Trail Riding

connerawc — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:15:50 +0000

Growing up in Southern California’s high desert had its ups and downs, but the biggest up by far was the riding.

I’d get home from a long day of work or school and just need to get away from it all, so I’d throw on my gear, pull the bike out of the garage and leave the everyday stress behind me. The second I left the city streets and got out into the lonely, unmaintained trails, everything in my head would get pushed out, as if I were entering a completely new world. It was therapy at its finest.

My favorite one of those trails was the one my dad called the “West Loop” – a sweeping, five mile trail that featured a little bit of everything that makes motorcycle riding awesome. Steep, technical hills, wide-open straight-aways through tunnels of brush, deep sand sections, and magnificent scenery make this trail a great getaway for anyone who’s overwhelmed with the stress of their daily grind. The West Loop was my favorite trail because it seemed to be the most removed from the rest of the world. Nestled amongst hills and mostly concealed by dense plant life, the West Loop was always a welcome change of scenery.

What’s your favorite trail you’ve been on? Tell us about it in the comments!

Summer in October?

imsoffroad — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:49:37 +0000

After a long and cool summer it finally got hot here in Southern California. It was around 105˚ in most of the Riverside, Inland Empire area over the weekend, and it made us think of some real cookers.

After a quick survey around the shop there were some great stories of events past. There was a Barstow to Vegas race years ago that was amazingly hot. It was around 110˚ the whole way and as dusty and miserable as one could imagine. This was back in the days before hydration systems and everyone had canteens and water strapped everywhere. Bikes were seizing up all over the place and it was a real test. But at the end of the day, everyone was smiling through their parched lips!

Another place that put the “H” into hot on everyone’s list was Loretta Lynn’s. Sometimes you go there and it’s 70 degrees and beautiful, but trust me, sometimes it is the hottest place on planet earth. Being down in a “holler” (valley) the humidity is trapped into that place. So you can easily get 98 degrees and 90% humidity. I have seen vapor clouds form in the treetops as the sun cooks the water in the grass and turns it into steam! One time the swimming pool almost evaporated! But, again, at the end of the day, everyone was smiling.

Then there was Florida.

Gary Jones and I remembered riding near Lake Okeechobee in August when it was so hot and humid that there were vapor trails coming off of our helmets! Then there was the joy of hitting those Palmetto roots, also known as an instant crash. Gary, being the machine that he is, would just keep going and going. The brush, the bogs, the bugs, the heat…gotta love it. By the end of the day no one was smiling. But then Gary started telling all of his bad jokes and sure enough, everyone was laughing and slapping each other on the back in spite of the heat stroke and Palmetto root bruises.

We really didn’t have much of a summer out here on the left coast this year, but we want to hear about your hottest ride ever. Just put it here on our blog. The best one chosen by our staff will win a product credit of $50 at www.imsproducts.com

Interview with Ron Lawson

imsoffroad — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:47:01 +0000

Check out this interview with Gary Jones and Dirt Bike Magazine editor Ron Lawson!

Welcome to IMS Products

imsoffroad — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:42:20 +0000

In an ever-increasing world of grey areas, riding dirt bikes and ATV’s is one of the more “pure” experiences a person can do. Riding them fast is about as real as you can get. Falling down tends to hurt; and the faster you go, the more it hurts.

Then comes racing.

Racing is all about reaching beyond what is thought possible, overcoming fear, and enjoying life in a robust way. It doesn’t really matter how good or bad you are as a rider. It’s relative really, from the mind-boggling-fast Factory Pros to the beginners.

At IMS, we love getting outdoors in this wonderful country, whether it’s aboard a motorcycle or an ATV. We have been doing it our entire lives and appreciate that special feeling you get from riding off-road. It’s hard to explain to those who’ve never sliced through forest trails or raced across the desert floor, but to those who have, well – you understand.

While IMS designs and builds products to make life a little easier for the off-road motorcycle/ATV experience, our real joy comes from riding. This will never change and it’s the key reason why we’re in the business. But forget about the business end of things; let’s just talk about the real deal: riding!

We’d like you to respond to this blog with tales of your own riding or racing experiences. This blog is meant to be an open forum where we can all talk about the passion of riding and racing. Some of our friends, such as Gary Jones, Wayne Hinson, and others, will be on from time to time to share their thoughts and stories, so stay tuned!

Let’s all keep up the tradition of personal freedom and enjoying riding. Get active in your community and become a positive role model whenever you ride. There are great organizations like the Blue Ribbon Coalition and others that fight for our ability to enjoy public lands every day. Let’s all support each other and promote good “trail citizenship” whenever we ride.

Happy trails!

IMS