The Bear Creek Blast - Northeast Regional

The Bear Creek Hancock, NYBLAST BLAST

Drew Smith chasing the younger riders. Should he have pursued MX? Photo by: Sarah Lane

Bear Creek Sportsman Club, September 5th and 6th, 2020

"Maicos Rule" as Darril Wassil (21B)

Labor Day weekend shows Russell Van Norman (168) and Brad has a special significance Schaible (38L) how its done. Photo by: Sarah Lane Is Brett Darrow (82J) smiling for our Northeast AHRMA as he enjoys the excellent riders. It involves that delicate negotiation with our families that—if successful—allows us to travel to the Catskill Mountains of Hancock, NY, for one or two days of cross checkered flag first. On the starting line, he was track conditions while leading Andy RIder (72R)? Photo by: Sarah Lane country and motocross racing at the world famous Bear Creek heard remarking how “fun” it Sportsman Club (don't forget, they hosted a 2006 round of the was that the cross country loop was using some of his World Enduro Championship). The good news is that these property. Uh-huh. Rick Ketcham (Sportsman 200 Intermediate) negotiations must have gone well with 45 entries for Saturday’s continued to pick up speed on his Honda “XLsinore” four-stroke cross country race and 81 class sign-ups for Sunday’s motocross. and finished second Intermediate. But a special shout-out is also These were a couple of great days of racing, with sunny skies and warranted for Henry James (50+ Novice), who finished behind temperatures in the 70s. Some rain in the middle of the previous Otto, but ahead of Rick, on his KDX. week served nicely to keep the dust down for Saturday and at The Post Vintage race left the line in three groups starting least some of Sunday. at approximately 2:30 PM and could just not ignore the fact

Dave Verdetto and his son, Sam, were largely responsible for that a gentlemen standing approximately 7’ 4” and known as laying out a very challenging four-mile loop on—if my compass the “Dunking Dutchman” in a previous life had joined the is correct—the west side of the club property, which AHRMA Expert line on a 1984 Husky 430 loaned to him by his friend rode on for the first time last year. And it was truly a Northeast Otto. Yep, that would be Rick Smits. After one hour plus “delight” with enough roots, rocks and slickness to keep everyone one lap, it was once again Dale Sonnenschein (Post Vintage on their toes—and occasionally off their bikes. All eyes were 50+ Expert) showing everyone how to go fast in the Catskill on Mike Ferguson (Sportsman Open Expert), his cousin, Tim Mountains, with Mike Ferguson (Post Vintage 200 Expert) Ferguson (Classic Expert), and Dale Sonnenschein (50+ Expert) and the aforementioned Mr. Smits (Post Vintage 50+ Expert) as the Vintage racers left the start. They were not disappointed not far behind. The second line was led home by Tony Yanitelli as these guys put on quite a show with Mike and (Post Vintage 50+ Intermediate) and Brett Yarrow (Post his Penton Hare Scrambler taking home the blue Vintage 200 Intermediate), who bested four other ribbon after four laps, Tim second and Dale third. competitors in his class. Otto DeJager (Post Vintage For the Intermediate racers, well, you just might 60+ Intermediate) grabbed another gold in a class with have to argue that this race was “rigged” with five riders, and Rick Ketcham yet again got the best hometown/club member and Ossa-mounted of his mentor, Bob Close, (uh, that’s me) in Historic Otto DeJager (60+ Intermediate) reaching the 200 Intermediate with Dave Salmen winning Historic Open on his very cool Maico.

Dave Verdetto Tribute • AUGUST 15, 1945 – SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 (Continues on Page 48)

Several weeks after our Bear Creek event, AHRMA Northeast riders learned that Dave had passed. Dave was a founding member of the Bear Creek Sportsman Club in the early 2000s, which he pulled together with others because ”good racing/riding land in northern New Jersey was getting more and more difficult to use for events,” according to Drew Smith. Dave was instrumental in bringing AHRMA racing events to the club’s property beginning in the mid-2000s and he and his son, Sam, have continued to support our efforts and events. And get this—he continued to ride into his 75th year, swinging his leg over an XR500 and a Can-Am 250. Yes, an XR500. Rest in Peace, Dave. Our thoughts and prayers go out his family and fellow club members.