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Powersports Business • May 2026 • 3

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N orth Carolina State Senator Steve Jarvis was the featured speaker at the North Carolina Motorcycle Dealers Association Winter Meeting in March at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club in Durham.

Motorcycle Dealers Association Winter Meeting took place in March at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club in Durham.

BY DAVE McMAHON CONTRIBUTOR

Powersports dealers in North Carolina have shown their organizational strength for years via their support of the NC Motorcycle Dealers Association. With President Chris Brewer( Brewer Cycles) at the helm, the NCMDA is among the top two most productive associations in the country, alongside Texas.

So it was no surprise that the speaker lineup at the NCMDA Winter Meeting at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club in March featured State Sen. Steve Jarvis. In 2021, Jarvis worked alongside Kyle Wrightenberry( Unseen Pass), Brewer and the NCMDA to gain support for the eventual laws that allows outfitted side-by-sides to be street legal in North Carolina by bringing a modified side-by-side to the State Legislature. Politicians buckled in for their demo ride. When the wind blew their ties one way and their hair the other during the ride, dealers in the state were nearly assured that a successful passage of the bill was pending. The lawmakers’ smiles said it all. Jarvis also guided the successful ATV / side-by-side titling bill.

Today, it’ s not uncommon for dealerships in the state to sell a variety of streetlegal accessories like turn signals, horns and windshields when a side-by-side is purchased. In fact, it’ s a penetration rate of anywhere from 30−50 %, according to dealers we talked to. And for those additional lines on the Purchase Order, North Carolina dealers can thank the NCMDA. So, if your dealership is not yet a member, head on over to NCMDA. com to join.

Jarvis and Brewer pointed out at the Durham meeting that they will now be tagteaming efforts to lower the state’ s tax rate on powersports vehicles, which at 7−plus percent on a big-ticket side-by-side can make a prospective buyers consider making their purchase from a dealership in a neighboring state in order to save thousands of dollars.

“ That’ s our main goal now – decreasing the tax rate,” Chris Brewer said.“ The prices of sideby-side vehicles are so expensive that the tax rate adds thousands of dollars on certain units.”

Senator Jarvis also will be trying to add dirt bikes to the titling legislation.

Dealers appear to be catching on that the NCMDA brings influence at the capitol. That’ s likely why there was an impressive number of statewide dealerships represented at the meeting.

“ It’ s great to have legislators in attendance who support powersports dealerships,” said

NCMDA Vice President Justin Alpiser of Team Powersports.“ It’ s helpful to talk about our concerns because we’ re an important part of our local economic engines.”

The barstool chatter included January and February sales results that were, in general, positive and strong.

A sprucing up that might as well be called a complete interior renovation at the Garner location of Team Powersports certainly has helped customers take notice. From new flooring to slatwall and more, there’ s plenty for customers to notice.

“ It’ s like walking into a new store,” Alpiser said.“ We figured it was going to be nice, but yeah, it really turns your head when you walk in compared to the old space.”

Rider’ s Advantage and Synchrony teamed up to sponsor cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres on March 14. It started a great two days of successful planning and preparation by NCMDA Executive Director Lisa Brewer.

The meeting started at 8:45 a. m. on March 15, with registration, check-in, and coffee sponsored by Farris Insurance and Live Oak Dealer Services. The general membership meeting included Jarvis taking the stage to discuss legislative issues that are of concern to dealership owners.

The lineup also featured speakers representing First National Bank, Federated Insurance, Rider’ s Advantage, Triangle Risk Advisors, Live Oak Dealer Services, Motorsports Marketing Group, Synchrony, Torque Group, Farris Insurance, Aegis Powersports, Law Tigers, Sport Bike Chic, Vitu, ZiiDMS, Sheffield Financial and B. U. D. S. Foundation.

Door prizes sponsored by Triangle Risk Advisors, Synchrony, Torque Group, Sheffield Financial and ZiiDMS brought a late afternoon close to the day. Federated, First National Bank and Aegis sponsored a catered southwestern luncheon buffet.

After they join the NCMDA, North Carolina dealers are encouraged to become members of the PowersportsDealerShowcase – North Carolina Collective, a private LinkedIn group that I host. Send an email to davemcmahon68 @ gmail. com to get your invitation to join for free. State-specific surveys, polls, articles, videos and more content have been viewed more than 200 times by members of the NC Collective. The NC Collective has more members than any other state Collective.

Contact McMahon at Dave. McMahon @ Ready2Ridemobile. com.

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