CHAMPIONSHIP
• T&S Off-Road Finale at Henryetta
• Dick Mann National Vintage Challenge
• Taste of Tsukuba
• The Miracle of Zoar 2024 ... and much more Race Reports & Stories KEEPING THE PAST FAST!
• Pete Jorgenson’s Dick Mann Moment
Carolina motorsports Park
MARCH 14-16 16
EDITOR
Steph Vetterly ahrmamag@ahrma.org
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Daniel May, Leasha Overturf, Terry McPhillips, Albert Newmann, Steph Vetterly, Pete Jorgenson, Dave Crussell, Bob Close
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS
Etechphoto.com, Paul Elledge, Mark Glenn, Leasha Overturf, Nickless Photos, Sharon Coad, Bobby Hedge, Steph Vetterly, Kenny Lau - Awesome Shots, Steve Quinn, Lorraine Crussell, Tada Ito, Paula Kyle-Stephens
2025 AHRMA MAG Proposed Content Schedule
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PUBLISHER
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association
Everyone, document is to help provide guidance on the AHRMA MAG publication schedule, as well as estimation on which National events are planned to be showcased in each issue. This will be updated as the year progresses and as race schedules are available. Reports for races more than 3 months in the past will utilized. We are trying to keep the magazine as relevant as possible. (i.e. a for an April event submitted August 10th will not be used) there is additional non-race content that you would like to submit and it is not please reach out to me so I can plan accordingly.
ADDRESS
8913 Town and Country Circle #1093 Knoxville, TN 37923
PHONE
888-41AHRMA (888) 412-4762
DIRECTORS: Please shoot for 400-500 words max; the column should be something relevant to your position. If you would like to update the photo accompanying your column, please provide with photo credits. The Executive Director is the only position required to write in each issue.
COVER -
Greg (GT) Tomlinson takes the win for the 2024 Dick Mann National Vintage Challenge with a total of 316 points.
Photo by monti smith
COORDINATORS: Regional schedules will not be shown on this document. If you like to showcase a race, please plan accordingly. Submit all content through the submission portal. If you have more than 10 photos to submit, please utilize WeTransfer and send to ahrmamag@ahrma.org
you, Vetterly
Vetterly, AHRMA MAG Publications stephanie.vetterly@ahrma.org // ahrmamag@ahrma.org
JAN / FEB content due Jan 10 (1/10)
AHRMA MAG is published ten times a year by the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American copyright conventions. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. AHRMA MAG is printed in the United States of America. The articles contained in this magazine are works of journalism and do not represent the opinions or ideas of AHRMA MAG. AHRMA MAG and the publisher assume no responsibility for the content of advertisements. While we welcome submissions, the magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Please do not send originals.
ROAD RACE - interview with Vintage Cup
ROAD RACE - history piece about 2025 Vintage Cup class
REGIONAL (MA) - Field of Dreams / Blacks
Hollow / Reynlow Park / White Rose Trustee Bike Spotlight Crussell racing in Japan
MARCH content due Feb 10 (2/10)
APRIL
MAG Publication Schedule
The AHRMA MAG is published ten times a year and is available to read online for free at www.ahrma.org/ahrmamagazine. Members who subscribe for $10 will be mailed four issues per year.
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Jan/Feb (digital)
March (print)
April (digital)
May (digital)
10
10
March 10
April 10
June (print) May 10
July (digital) June 10
3
3 (online) Feb 20 (to printer)
April 1
May 1
June 2 (online)
May 20 (to printer)
July 1
Aug/Sept (print) August 10 Sept 2 (online) Aug 20 (to printer)
Oct (digital) Sept 10 Oct 1
Nov (digital) October 10 November 3
Dec (print) November 10 Dec 1 (online) Nov 20 (to printer)
SUBMIT CONTENT HERE
www.ahrma.org/ahrma-mag-submission-guidelines/ or www.wetransfer.com
JUNE content due May 10 (5/10)
» ROAD RACE - Willow Springs (4/18-20)
Thanks to everyone who subscribes and looks forward to each issue. We at AHRMA MAG want to hear from our readership. We’d like to know how we’re doing. Send us feedback and comments about your favorite stories and columns, likes and dislikes and what you’d enjoy seeing in future issues.
» CC/Trials - Bark Buster’s (4/5)
» CC/Trials/VMX - Burrows Ranch (4/5-6)
» MX - Freestone MX (4/12-13)
OCTOBER
content due Sept 10 (9/10)
» ROAD RACE - Blackhawk (8/1-3)
» ROAD RACE - Pittsburgh (8/15-17)
email: ahrmamag@ahrma.org call: 888-41AHRMA (888-412-4762)
» DT - Columbus Speedway (4/19)
» MX - Gateway MX (4/26-27)
JULY
content due June 10 (6/10)
» ROAD RACE - Inde Motorsports (4/25-27)
» CC/Trials - Chaney Ranch (5/17-18)
» CC - Rocket Raceway (5/17)
» MX - Thunder Valley (5/24-25)
» Trials - Donner Ranch (8/2)
» CC/Trials - BSA Club (8/9)
» DT - Athens County Fairgrounds (8/22-23)
NOVEMBER
content due Oct 10 (10/10)
» ROAD RACE - Nelson Ledges (9/5-7)
» MX - Johnsonville (9/6-7)
» Trials/MX - Rattlers Run (9/13-14)
» MX - Field of Dreams (9/20-21)
DECEMBER
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Daniel May, Executive Director
email: executive.director@ahrma.org
8913 Town and Country Circle #1093 Knoxville, TN 37923
Ed Roman, Special Committee Chairman email: ed.roman@ahrma.org
MEMBERSHIP
Lorraine Crussell
email: membership@ahrma.org
8913 Town and Country Circle #1093 Knoxville, TN 37923
COMMUNICATIONS
Cindy McLean
email: communications@ahrma.org
RACE DIRECTORS
ROAD RACE DIRECTOR - Leasha Overturf
email: roadrace.director@ahrma.org
OFF-ROAD DIRECTOR - Terry McPhillips
email: offroad.director@ahrma.org
RACE COORDINATORS
CROSS COUNTRY COORDINATORJeff Oakley email: jeffoakley325@gmail.com
NATIONAL TRIALS COORDINATOR
Debbie Poole email: pooleschl1@hotmail.com
EASTERN TRUSTEES
Mike Dixon - michael.dixon@ahrma.org
Jeff Hargis - jeffhargis@comcast.net
Bob Robbins - bobr@inter-techsupplies.com
David Rutherford - david.rutherford@ahrma.org
Tim Terrell (Treasurer) - tim.terrell@ahrma.org
Colton Roberts (interim) - coltonroberts3065@hotmail.com
WESTERN TRUSTEES
Al Anderberg - al.anderberg@ahrma.org
Kerri Kress (interim) - kerrikress@gmail.com
Wesley Poole - wes.ahrma@gmail.com
Luke Sayer (Secretary) - sayerlu@gmail.com
Kelly Shane - kelly.ahrma@gmail.com
Greg Tomlinson (Chairman) - chairman@ahrma.org
MOTORSPORTS INSURANCE
As I travel back from the AHRMA Road Race season opener at Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomindale, GA, I am thankful for a very safe weekend.
The AHRMA Safety Committee has done a fantastic job educating all disciplines on the procedures to make racing as safe as possible. This is important not only for the safety and well-being of our racers, but also for the risk profile assessed to AHRMA as we shop the insurance market each year for coverage. Unfortunately, nearly all the insurance underwriters have left the motorcycle motorsports market, leaving organizations like AHRMA in an unfavorable position. We
were able to acquire the necessary policies to cover all disciplines in 2025, but once again we are with a new underwriter who has different compliance requirements for our events.
With so few players in the market, we are in a difficult negotiating position, and our rates have once again increased considerably. The good news is that we are in the same position as other motorcycle race organizations, so it will not put us at a competitive disadvantage, but the costs to run racing events in North America will be more expensive in 2025 for everyone. To quote our 2024 provider, “We are leaving the market as we no longer have the appetite for the risk profile.”
or spectators (non-racers), but AHRMA is still providing insurance for everything that occurs at a race weekend event. The AHRMA safety committee will be releasing the new pit vehicle requirements in the coming weeks. Please understand that compliance is not optional, and the restrictions will seem extreme to many who are accustomed to riding scooters and unlicensed minibikes throughout the paddock. Children and unlicensed riders will be restricted also. Unfortunately, this is the litigious world we live in, and we must have insurance to operate.
Please help us to comply so we can keep AHRMA insured and run the race programs our members have come to expect.
One of the big changes you will see in 2025 is restrictions on pit vehicles. It appears the number of insurance claims from accidents in the pits often exceeds those on the track. These are often children
Daniel May
DANIEL MAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Racing & Resilience
Over the course of our first race weekend of 2025 at Roebling Road Raceway, I was thinking a lot about resilience and determination. Hence, I looked up the meaning of resilience to ensure that what I think of it as was the same or similar to the dictionary or Google.
“Resilience refers to the ability to successfully adapt to stressors, maintaining psychological wellbeing in the face of adversity. It’s the ability to ‘bounce back’ from difficult experiences.” In my opinion, our weekend at Roebling Road Raceway was a serious weekend for bouncing back due to all the rain. Rain does not equal a bad weekend by any means. As I went through the paddock, there were still plenty
of smiles and folks were just happy to be back at a track and know the new season had started.
It is also stated that “resilience is not a trait that people either have or don’t have.” I truly believe one must build up their resilience one building block at a time. It’s also a lot like choosing how you want your day to go. If something is not going your way, it’s up to you to choose to be positive or you can sit in negativity. This choice is the first building block of being resilient. And it’s a great building block for your race day.
Weather is a big test for resilience, determination and pivoting. I feel all racers inherently have a base for being resilient. On a bad weather day alone, a racer may change tires
multiple times to pivot with the weather. That requires resiliency and determination. Same for a blown engine or the other multitude of things that can happen on a race weekend. You can remain mad, or you can choose to be resilient and sort out a new plan. At the end of the day, it’s up to the individual racer to choose what level of positivity and resiliency they want to run at.
As Road Race Director I want to make everything great for everyone, but some days a lot of curve balls are thrown my way. No different than when I was still racing. I always work to be resilient and pivot with the issues. It has taken a full season under my belt to realize I cannot please everyone all the time, though I still really try to. But when the curve balls start coming at me, I make a plan, remain positive and move forward. I seek my inner determination and resiliency. I challenge you all to do the same in the 2025 season!
I’m looking forward to seeing you at CMP in March!
Leasha Overturf
LEASHA OVERTURF ROAD RACE DIRECTOR
BY
PHOTO
MARK GLENN ROAD
2025 AHRMA Dick Mann National Vintage Challenge
Introduced in 2021, the Dick Mann National Vintage Challenge (DMNVC) is one of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association’s (AHRMA) most prestigious Championships. This competition pays tribute to motorcycle racing legend Dick Mann and mirrors the spirit of the illustrious Grand National Championship by bringing together AHRMA’s diverse on- and off-road disciplines. Participants must compete in Vintage Motocross, Cross Country, Trials, and/or Dirt Track and Road Racing events to showcase their versatility and skill.
For 2025, the DMNVC introduces a team format. Each team will consist of two riders, with one rider living east of the Mississippi River and the other residing in the west. This format emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and nationwide collaboration. Teams will be formed by the riders and will not be a random draw from registrations.
INTENT AND ELIGIBILITY
The DMNVC celebrates the spirit of classic motorcycle racing, encouraging riders to compete across multiple disciplines while
fostering camaraderie and honoring the legacy of Dick Mann. The challenge is open to riders who are members of AHRMA and meet the event’s competition criteria. Teams must declare their intent to participate before the championship begins.
For rules, eligible classes, registration, etc, scan the QR code:
AHRMA Announces Revised 2025 Vintage Dirt Track Schedule
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) 2025 National Dirt Track Series presented by Motobilia will unfold over 12 weekends at a variety of venues across the United States. The revised 2025 schedule partners with several high-profile promoters and venues.
“We are excited to revamp the AHRMA Dirt Track Program in 2025, and the partnerships will bring more vintage flat track racers together for exciting on track battles.” said Daniel May, AHRMA’s Executive Director. “With races from Florida to California, and the Midwest in-between, there is something for everyone.”
The season kicks off February 22 with a full weekend of competition at the Crossroads Motorplex in Jasper, FL with the Southern Dirt Track Association (SDTA) and will conclude the weekend of October 11, at Callahan Speedway in Callahan, FL again with the SDTA. AHRMA will be partnering with Roeder Racing for the historic Wauseon Vintage Nationals and the Vintage Davenport Races.
Motobilia is sponsoring the AHRMA National Dirt Track series for 2025.
Mark your calendar now for some of the world’s best classic flat track racing events with AHRMA.
2/22 SDTA - Crossroads Motorplex - ST / TT Jasper, FL 4/12 SDTA - Marion County Speedway - ST / TT Ocala, FL
5/12 AJ Herrera Memorial Race, Plaza Park Raceway Visalia, CA
6/13-14 TBD
7/18 Roeder Wauseon Vintage Nationals - 1/2 mile Wauseon, OH 7/25 TBD
8/23 TBD
8/28 Vintage Davenport Races, Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds Davenport, IA
9/13-14 Willow Springs Round Up Willow Springs, CA 9/26-27 Caruthers Fair Short Track Caruthers, CA
10/3-4 Barber Vintage Festival - ST Leeds, AL 10/11 SDTA - Callahan Speedway - ST Callahan, FL
* Any AHRMA Member can earn AHRMA National Championship points at any of the scheduled events.
2025 AHRMA NATIONAL DIRT TRACK SERIES PRESENTED BY MOTOBILIA
Membership Updates
MEMBERSHIP CARDS - We’d like to recognize Greg Glevicky for the newly designed AHRMA Membership card. We’re saving over $5,000 a year by not printing and mailing it but it still looks great on your phone or a printout. Thank you Greg!
SNOWBIRDS – If you change your address seasonally, the US Post won’t forward magazines and the AHRMA MAG is returned to us. You can easily update your address in your MotorsportReg account by going to ahrma.motorsportreg.com, click on My Account, then your Profile. Take a look! There is all kinds of information for you in your Profile such as your email, membership card download, bike list (garage), and registration history.
2024 Dick Mann National Vintage Challenge
A Championship for the Ages: Competition, Camaraderie, and Cooperation
WORDS BY AHRMA STAFF
PHOTOS BY NICKLESS PHOTOS, SHARON COAD, & BOBBY HEDGE
he 2024 Dick Mann National Vintage Challenge (DMNVC) delivered everything vintage racing fans hoped for and more: tight competition, a nail-biting finale, and the hallmark sportsmanship that makes racing with AHRMA so special.
TWhat began with 16 eager competitors whittled down through the season, as injuries, machine failures, and the grueling demands of AHRMA’s multidiscipline championship tested even the toughest riders. By the time the series rolled into its off-road finale in Henryetta, Oklahoma, only four riders remained in serious contention
GT Tomlinson PHOTO CREDIT NICKLESS PHOTOS
GT Tomlinson and Jacob Ritorto PHOTO CREDIT SHARON COAD
for the title: the Poole trio—Rob, Emmy, and Wes—and Greg “GT” Tomlinson.
With just five points separating Tomlinson and Wes Poole heading into the final weekend, the stakes were sky-high. Could the Pooles team up to dethrone Tomlinson? Would Tomlinson hold his nerve and finish strong? Despite the pressure, the competitors showed what makes AHRMA racing so unique: cooperation and camaraderie prevailed even in the heat of battle.
At Henryetta, the points race was electric. Rob Poole maxed out his tally with a third-place finish in VMX, adding 13 points to his total. Meanwhile, Tomlinson delivered a stellar performance, racking up 40 points across Trials and VMX. Wes Poole gave it everything he had, sweeping all three disciplines of the weekend for a perfect 60-point haul—but even that wasn’t enough to close the gap.
In the end, the final standings told the story:
• GT Tomlinson: 316 points
• Wes Poole: 308 points
• Rob Poole: 284 points
• Emmy Poole: 267 points
The championship came down to a thrilling combination of grit, skill, and the kind of mechanical ingenuity that defines vintage racing. Broken machines were patched, borrowed bikes were shared, and competitors worked side by side to ensure the racing stayed as close as possible.
Tomlinson’s victory was a testament to consistency and resilience throughout the season. But the true star of the 2024 DMNVC was the unshakable spirit of the competitors, who reminded everyone that while winning is sweet, the friendships and memories forged along the way are what truly endure.
Congratulations to Greg “GT” Tomlinson and to every rider who made this season unforgettable!
Rob Poole PHOTO CREDIT NICKLESS PHOTOS
Wes Poole PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
Emmy Poole PHOTO CREDIT NICKLESS PHOTOS
John Mclemore (82)
Jacob Ritorto
Tanner Hudson
THE FINAL CROSS COUNTRY SHOWDOWN
Anyone who thinks cross country riders aren’t tough, should have been at the Henryetta finals! Mother Nature stepped in on Friday and threw a challenge to all the riders in this event!
Just before the race started, she hinted that she was going to participate. The sprinkles started just before the start of the vintage race and, once the riders took off, she opened the heavens.
It certainly didn’t deter our participants, They were off, running and ignoring the rain. Those of us scoring were unable to ignore it. It was cold and wet. I’m pretty sure we weren’t as tough as the riders.
We saw rider after rider come through with smiles on their faces in the vintage race. When done, none of these riders had a dry spot on their bodies or on their bikes.
The Post Vintage riders got even more of a challenge. As the rain kept coming down, the creek, which started at 4” deep, continued to rise. By the end of the day, it was up to the bottom of the gas tank on most bikes.
I was amazed when many of the riders came in at the finish and exclaimed “That was fun!” with smiles on their faces.
Saturday’s Post Vintage Cross Country was pushed back to Sunday as the course was no longer ridable.
The Parkers and their team went out and created a new course to be run Sunday so that the riders could get the event in. Although it was much shorter, it is a tribute to Trampas and Sherri Parker in that they will do whatever it takes to make Henryetta a great event.
WORDS TERRY MCPHILLIPS
PHOTOS STEPH VETTERLY
Although Sunday was run on a shortened course that combined both Vintage and Post Vintage races, all riders seemed to take it in stride and had a really good time. It was a fast and fun event.
I want to thank the folks who volunteered to help score and flag these races. Although it was miserable weather on Friday and a scoring challenge with such fast lap times on Sunday, you all stuck it out with a smile on your faces!
All I can say is that I was personally really impressed by all the riders and volunteers that took the challenges in stride! You folks are rough and tough individuals!
Have You Updated Your MotorsportReg Profile?
AHRMA is working toward having our race results published in other magazines and online publications. To make this happen we need your help! Please complete your MotorsportReg profile with the following info for all of your race bikes: your name, bike, make, model, and year.
This is a great chance for AHRMA to shine, so please log into your account and make these updates.
Jeff Bushey
Mitchell Jean
Emmy Poole
MOTOCROSS ACTION
Adeluge of rain in the days leading up to the fifth year of the AHRMA National Motocross Championship finals in Henryetta, Oklahoma, had many of the competitors on the edge of their seats wondering how the track would be impacted. Well, it turns out the terrain was just fine, and as usual by the end of Saturday’s racing schedule, dust was starting to prevail. Warming temperatures, clear skies, and a light wind helped to dry things out quickly and as the track sits high on a hill, most of the water drained quickly into Jim Hall Lake at Nichols Park. The other item keeping racers on edge was the course had a new design with the track being run backwards. It was welcomed by many to keep things fresh and competitive. With many national championships to be decided this weekend, the racing was spectacular as riders from across
the nation would face off to decide who stands atop their respective classes. While the weather did keep some of the racers away, the weekend was a great success with 167 Vintage Motocross entries and 191 Post-Vintage and Next Gen Motocross entries. Another
NOVEMBER 8-10, 2024
strong outing for AHRMA’s year-ending round!
Highlights from Saturday’s Vintage Motocross racing program included many familiar faces, some returning members we have not seen in years, as well as new members. A group of
WORDS ALBERT NEWMANN & STEPH VETTERLY PHOTOS BOBBY HEDGE, KENNY LAU - AWESOME SHOTS, STEVE QUINN
Stuart McAvoy (56), Bill Hester (735)
PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
Austin Kienast (625) PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
racers from Minnesota including former Kawasaki team racer Tom Benolkin along with Austin Kienast and Clay Olson left a definitive mark on the weekend’s racing results. It was great to see Tom returning to AHRMA after several years of inactivity. The smile never came off his face the entire weekend so expect to see more of Tom and his fellow racers in 2025. With that said, the Vintage Open Age Expert was one of the fastest races of the day. Clay Olson had a battle on his hands the first moto with Wesley Poole, Benolkin, Trey Jorski, Kienast, Jacob Taylor, and Bill Hester. Olson prevailed with the first moto win; however, the second moto had Poole in the thick of the battle and prevailing with the moto win and the overall. Olson finished second overall with a 1-3 finish and Kienast managed third place with his 7-2 finish. Jaw-dropping action from the snap of the rubber band both motos.
With the double point format in play, the classes that were tight in the standings put pressure on those to ride at their peak level for as high a finishing placement as possible. Two classes on this day came down to tie breakers in the end. One of those classes was the Sportsman 250 Intermediate, where Californian Blake Lawson put in two great moto’s to go 1-1 over the very fast Laci Horvath. Laci scored a 2-2 finish which put both her and Blake in a tie. The head to head tie breaker came into play and Lawson won the championship. Also, the highly competitive 60 Plus Novice group encountered the same scenario but it was a real nailbiter as two former champions of the class had to dual it out and an unexpected second moto ride from Tracy Gibbens nearly cost him the championship with Stephen Clark. Gibbens did win the first moto with Clark finishing second however Gibbens stumbled in the second moto with ninth place out of eleven competitors resulting in a tie with Clark for the championship. Once all the tie breaker rules were calculated, it was Gibbens with the national championship.
One of, if not the most, hotly contested class in all of AHRMA motocross racing was the Sportsman 125 Expert class. Going into the weekend there were three potential champions so winning was the goal of Jamie Adams, Jerry Mattox, and Rider Mattox. Whoever took first place would most likely be the national champion. It was intense racing from the snap of the rubber band though Jamie Adams just had another level this weekend. Jamie finished 1-1 with an exclamation point to win the race and championship. Rider Mattox’s third place was enough to garner his second place standing in the championship with father
Jerry finishing second overall in the race and third overall in the championship. After the race, Jerry Mattox stated on the track changes “it was a welcome change for me and it flowed nicely on the back sections of the course.” Many others were stating nearly the same thing of the new layout. The upcoming year will be even more exciting as Benolkin plans to join this crowd of finely tuned bikes and high pedigree group of racers.
Something new to this year’s race at Henryetta was the AHRMA Motocross of Regions. A team format consisting of four members of their respective
Trey Jorski (35K), Phillip Mills (79P)
PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
Craig Jackson (3j)
PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
regions would face off in a one moto format with the Saturday racing program being the Vintage Motocross race and Sunday having a Post Vintage team format. This year the South Central, Pacific Northwest, and Heartland regions fielded three highly competitive teams. It was lights-out racing from the fastest members that met qualification rules to represent the regions.
Jordy Burnett, Wesley Poole, and Trampas Parker jumped to the front of the pack with all three jockeying for positions throughout the race. Briefly it appeared Wes Poole was going to win until Burnett made a last lap pass for the lead. Being a team race format though, the SouthCentral representation finished third, fourth, fifth, and sixth to win the first ever VMX des Regions
team race. Congratulations to Hoot Parker, Craig Jackson, Trey Jorski, and Trampas Parker on the win.
What a day of racing!
The Sunday racing program featuring the longer travel suspension bikes and of course more horsepower was outstanding. Again, to have so much representation of the best racers in AHRMA come together creates such a great experience for both the racer and the fans to watch a simulation of how racing was in the early days of motocross in the United States. Today would not let anyone down. With nearly 200 entries, the day was long and the race gates were crowded. The largest class of the day was a tie with the 60 Plus Intermediates and Experts and of course they had some of the best racing of the day to boot.
A very fast group of Intermediates featuring several former champions lined up in the 60 Plus class. Multi-time champion John Fedor had a great first moto to edge out Danny Moore and Rick Owens. The second moto had Owens finding his way to the lead for the moto win and overall. In the process, Fedor locked up
Clay Olson (973)
PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
Tom Benolkin (39M), Jerry Mattox (1K)
PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
another national championship in this class. Congrats to John for another fine year of racing.
The PV 60 Plus Expert class was going to be a real barnburner as defending champion Trey Jorski was battle-worn and hobbled up from all of this year’s racing and in a near tie with Jeff Reed heading into the race for the championship. What nobody was expecting was to see Tom Benolkin show up and race this weekend and particularly in this class. Benolkin, aboard a Yamaha YZ100 and completely outgunned put on a clinic against some of the finest competition in AHRMA. Benolkin surprisingly took both moto wins and Jorski mustered up a 2-4 finish to get a commanding points lead as Reed went 7-6 in the moto finishes. Stuart McAvoy put in one of his best rides of the year to take second overall.
Always a competitive class is the Ultima 500 groups. Today, the Intermediate group had national championship implications on the line between Mark White and Richard Stephens. White did exactly what he needed to do each moto which was to get a good start and battle for first place in each of the motos and that is exactly what he did. White went 1-1 to Stephens 2-2 to win both the race and the national championship for the class.
The Ultima 4-stroke classes have become a hotly contested group as the popularity of the Honda XR 200s continues. The competition was fierce as several former national champions of the class lined up. The Expert group had a national championship on the line and there were some surprise racers that disrupted those in competition for the championship. Duggan Hartzog out of Huffman, Texas, made his first AHRMA appearance of the year and took the first moto win over AHRMA racers Tommy Fabregas and Brian Smith. Our leaders in standings were Bill Hester and Bill Rockley who both were buried in the pack. By the end of the day, Rockley mustered enough points to edge out Hester
for the championship but the surprise riding of Hartzog was the stunner. His 1-2 finish order gave him first place and Fabregas’s 2-3 garnered him second place along with Brian Smith going 6-1 to finish third on the day.
Small bore speed was insane in the Next Gen-1 125 Expert class with five very good riders gated together. Mason De Keyrel and Jordy Burnett put on a show each moto swapping leads throughout
both races and defending off the newly crowned national champion Josh Horvath. With a 2-1 finish, Mason De Keyrel won the overall in this hard-fought battle that had the crowd fully entertained.
The brainchild of Sherri Parker, the Okie Wild West Team Shootout made its return to the 2024 Henryetta event for another year of outstanding racing. The concept is simple: teams are comprised on three
Bubba Dennis (513)
PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
Reed Borgfield (49)
PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
riders – one pro, one expert, and one intermediate or novice rider, with a combined age of at least 150 years. Teams are allowed to race either a Yamaha YZ 100 or a Honda XR 200 and must finish on the same bike they start on.
Each of the three motos of the competition is nine laps in length, with each rider on the team competing three laps. The first rider of the team would complete three laps, return to the start gate and switch arm bands to the next rider. The second rider would complete their three laps, then return and switch arm bands to the final rider. Each moto would start with a different level rider,
with the final moto seeing the B-C riders finishing the last three laps of the race.
The stakes were high, with the prize being the traveling gold boot trophy donated by Scott Sears and his wife in the Shootout’s inaugural year.
Trampas’s father, Keith, had passed away the month before the race, and his brother, Heith, had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and wasn’t able to join in the competition. “For me, the whole race is about the fun factor,” explained Trampas. “This year, it was more about winning it for my brother, [Heith], and my dad, [Keith]. It was just one of
those years, and it meant a lot to win it. My brother, who normally rode with me as the other expert rider, wasn’t going to be able to be on the team with me.” Trampas wanted to be able to bring the trophy back home to his brother; stakes were high, and Trampas had his eyes set on the prize –nothing was going to stop him.
The Okie Wild West Team Shootout always brings some of the most exciting, nail-biting racing of the weekend, and this year was no different. Teams that weren’t normally at the top of the results were pushing hard to keep out front, and when it was Trampas’s turn as a rider of Team For Heith to take his three laps in the first moto, they were far behind. With a lot at stake this time around, Trampas put his head down, pinned the throttle, and flew to the front of the pack to win the race.
In the last moto, Team For Heith’s XR 200 was having ignition issues. They stayed the course, and when John Mclemore handed the bike off to their third rider, Clint Sodowsky, their team had a big lead. However, he was quite a bit slower than the two teams behind. The final moments of the race were so close that if there had been another 50 feet of track, the checkered flag would have seen a different winner.
Overall, Trampas was able to complete his goal and take home the gold boot. Second place went to Team Bean Bag – Bob
The South Central team with the Motocross des Nations trophy PHOTO CREDIT KENNY LAU - AWESOME SHOTS
Laci Horvath (996) PHOTO CREDIT BOBBY HEDGE
Bean, Kevin Hutchinson, and James Winn – with Team BA Motorsports – Jason Dennis, Jamie Adams, and Trey Jorski – taking the final step on the podium. In honor of Keith Parker, trophy seat covers were made for the top team without a pro rider; this was awarded to Team Bean Bag.
The final treat of this long day of racing was the Motocross des Regions Post-Vintage race which pitted the South Central and Heartland regions against each other. For the Sunday event, Joel White replaced Trey Jorski on the South Central team. All the riders were mounted on Ultima or Pre-Modern era motorcycles, so the speeds were definitely up a notch for this day’s event. To add more drama to the race, Trampas Parker had to borrow a bike from fellow AHRMA racer Mark White to make the gate. The replacement rider for the South-Central region, Joel White, jumped to an early lead over Jordy Burnett and Trampas Parker. The top three riders were wheel-to-wheel the entire race but White never relinquished the lead to the onslaught behind him from Parker and Burnett. It was blistering speed and excitement from start to finish as the South-Central team held off the Heartland team for their second des Regions win of the weekend. This was one of the most intense AHRMA races witnessed as a spectator of this sport over my twenty years. Congratulations to Joel White, Trampas Parker, Craig Jackson, and Hoot Parker of the South Central region team on the victory. We are all looking forward to the des Regions format for 2025. It is not something you want to miss.
Many thanks to the city of Henryetta for their hospitality and the use of Nichols Park for our showcase finale. The entire staff of T&S Racing was spectacular, our AHRMA volunteers performed admirably, the racers were great sports and of course hats off to Trampas and Sherri Parker for their hard work and dedication to creating such a wonderful event for AHRMA. See you in 2025!
Trey Jorski (513), Trampas Parker (13) during the Okie Wild West Shootout PHOTO CREDIT STEVE QUINN
Team For Heith takes the win
PHOTO CREDIT KENNY LAU - AWESOME SHOTS
Team Bean Bag wins top non-pro team PHOTO CREDIT KENNY LAU - AWESOME SHOTS
EVERY DAB COUNTS
WORDS & PHOTOS STEPH VETTERLY
Trampas and Sherri Parker pulled no punches when it came to the final round of the 2024 Redwood Engineering AHRMA Vintage Trials Series.
Kevin Kight and Jay Holton did a fantastic job utilizing every ounce of challenge that Nichols Park had to offer. Sections were strewn accross the property, from seemingly simple, level sections with some tight turns and small hill climbs, to rocky creekbeds that truly showcased the sport. Creating sections for vintage motorcycles is different than it is for their modern counterparts. Suspension differences and lack of a sharp turning radius puts limitations on how involved/ detailed the section can be; riders also have to be given plenty of room to turn, as few riders can perform hops or stoppies on a 200-300 pound motorcycle.
Competitors also weren’t spared from some environmental obstacles. As riders made it to their third and fourth sections on the day, the skies opened up and the rains started. While it wasn’t
quite the deluge that the cross country racers would face later in the day, it was still enough to soak into the top layer of dirt and make the terrain slick.
Despite the conditions, the results were on par with a well-developed event. It was also one of the more well-attended events in the 2024 calendar, with over 40 riders in attendance.
In the Premier Heavyweight Expert class, Graham Foster made short work of the course on his 1955 Ariel, improving his scores every loop, finishing on a clean last loop for only nine points on the day and taking the win. Despite finishing two clean loops, Matt Parson’s 11 point first loop kept him in second place, with Rob Poole taking the final podium position with 18 points.
Several other riders were able to find their groove with the sections and complete multiple clean loops, including Fran Hall in the Premier Heavyweight Intermediate class, who only dropped five points total and took the win in his class. Jay Holton also dropped five points and had two clean loops to take the win in the Classic Expert class, and Robert Lord took six points
total in the Classic Intermediate class, but had to settle for second place behind Greg Houchin who dropped only four points.
The Modern Classic classes had the biggest turnout despite having several riders who were unable to complete all three loops. Trials staple Mark Sturtevant showed his skills, going 1-2-1 on the day for a total of only four points, the
only rider in his class to finish with single digits.
Blake Lawson, in an outstanding showing, was the only rider to have a completely clean day, taking the win in the Modern Classic Intermediate class.
Eddie and Charlie Poole were battling until the very last loop in the Youth C class, with Eddie
finishing just ahead with 28 points to Charlie’s 34.
Henryetta’s observed trials was a showcase of what’s possible with vintage trials. Despite Mother Nature trying to help, the sections were well-organized and marked, checkers were knowledgable, and at the end of the day, it was a true test of a rider’s skill and fortitude.
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Awards Banquet
KENNY LAU - AWESOME SHOTS
Congratulations to all National Championship winners for the 2024 season. And what a season it’s been! The 2025 racing season is already underway!
CROSS COUNTRY SERIES CHAMPIONS
Premier Expert: Mark Sturtevant
Premier Intermediate: Wesley Wyman
Classic Expert: Jacob Ritorto
Sportsman 200 Intermediate: Randy Holdford
Sportsman Open Expert: Scott Price
Sportsman Open Intermediate: David Salmen
Vintage 50+ Expert: Trampas Parker
Vintage 50+intermediate: Steve McWhorter
Vintage 60+ Expert: Tim Shepard
Vintage 60+intermediate: Steve McWhorter
Vintage 60+ Novice: Dal Aymond
Vintage 70+ Expert: Marty Strouse
Vintage Womens Expert: Laci Horvath
Vintage Womens Intermediate: Linda Dowell
Vintage Womens Novice: Chloe Sawyer
Historic 200 Expert: Mark Reed
Historic 200 Intermediate: Randy Holdford
Historic Open Intermediate: David Salman
Post Vintage 200 Expert: Rick Helmick
Post Vintage 200 Intermediate: Steve McWhorter
Post Vintage 200 Novice: David Liebgold
Post Vintage Open Expert: Scott Price
Post Vintage Open Intermediate: Eric Bolin
Post Vintage 50+ Expert: Chris Gillespie
Post Vintage 50+ Intermediate: Mark White
Post Vintage 60+ Expert: Tim Shepard
Post Vintage 60+ Intermediate: Neal Raggett
Post Vintage 60+ Novice: Charles Eiman
Post Vintage 70+ Expert: Bob Bean
Post Vintage Womens Expert: Lacy Horvath
Post Vintage Womens Intermediate: Becky Hayes
Post Vintage Womens Novice: Kristen San Juan
Pre-Modern Expert: Keith Williams
Pre-Modern Intermediate: Mitchell Jean
PHOTOS:
Classic 125 Intermediate: Stephen Brown
Classic 125 Expert: Gerard Hayes
Classic 250 Intermediate: Charles Morris
Classic 250 Expert: Joe Klokkevold
Classic 500 Intermediate: Kenneth Jeter
Classic 500 Expert: Jacob Ritorto
Sportsman 125 Intermediate: Ted Landry
Sportsman 125 Expert: James Adams
Sportsman 250 Intermediate: Blake Lawson
Sportsman 250 Expert: James Adams
Vintage Open Age Novice: Stephen Clark
Vintage Open Age Intermediate: Philip Bush
Vintage Open Age Expert: Trey Jorski
Vintage 40+ Novice: Michael Boudreaux
Vintage 50+ Intermediate: Blake Lawson
Vintage 50+ Expert: Hoot Parker
Vintage 60+ Novice: Tracy Gibbens
Vintage 60+ Intermediate: Mick Spisak
Vintage 60+ Expert: Trey Jorski
Sportsman 500 Intermediate: Richard Stephens
Sportsman 500 Expert: Bob Bean
Vintage 40+ Intermediate: Allen McWilliams
Vintage 40+ Expert: Jay Gref
Vintage Women Intermediate: Linda Dowell
Vintage Women Expert: Laci Horvath
Vintage 70+ Expert: Bob Bean
Vintage 70+ Intermediate: Gayland Bennett
Premier 500 Expert: Kelly Shane
Premier Open Twins Expert: Greg Tomlinson
Premier LWT Intermediate: Alexander Sohn
Premier LWT Expert: Jeff Mullins
Vintage 100cc Intermediate: Frankie Lapina
Premier 350 Expert: Beno Rodi
ESS 250 Intermediate: David Salmen
ESS 250 Expert: Andrew Blackburn
ESS 500 Intermediate: Kenneth Jeter
ESS 500 Expert: Andrew Blackburn
Sportsman Novice: Tracy Gibbens
POST-VINTAGE MOTOCROSS SERIES CHAMPIONS
Historic 125 Intermediate: Gordon Mcclellan
Historic 125 Expert: Jerry Mattox
Historic 250 Intermediate: Marc Warburton
Historic 250 Expert: Wade Doering
Historic 500 Intermediate: Richard Stephens
Grand Prix 125 Intermediate: Kenneth Thexton
Grand Prix 125 Expert: Rider Mattox
Grand Prix 250 Intermediate: Mark White
Grand Prix 250 Expert: Joshua Horvath
Grand Prix 500 Intermediate: Kenneth Coen
Grand Prix 500 Expert: Jeff Reed
Ultima 125 Intermediate: Kenneth Thexton
Ultima 125 Expert: Jake Gould
Ultima 250 Intermediate: Ted Landry
Ultima 250 Expert: James Adams
Ultima 500 Intermediate: Mark White
Ultima 500 Expert: James Sanchez
PV 40+ Novice: Skeet Taylor
PV Open Age Intermediate: Allen Mcwilliams
PV Open Age Expert: Trey Jorski
PV 50+ Intermediate: Mark White
PV 50+ Expert: James Adams
Ultima 4-Stroke Expert: Bill Rockley
PV 60+ Expert: Trey Jorski
PV 60+ Intermediate: John Fedor
PV 60+ Novice: Tracy Gibbens
PV Women Novice: Sharon Bean
PV Women Expert: Laci Horvath
PV 70+ Intermediate: Ted Landry
PV 100cc Expert: Reed Borgfield
PV 100cc Intermediate: Laci Horvath
Historic Novice: Tony Edwards
Grand Prix Novice: Tony Edwards
Ultima Novice: Tracy Gibbens
PV 70+ Expert: Bob Bean
NEXT GEN MOTOCROSS SERIES CHAMPIONS
Next Gen Pre-Modern 250 Intermediate: Greg Conn
Next Gen Pre-Modern 250 Expert: Bob Bean
Next Gen Pre-Modern 500 Expert: Bill Boram
Next Gen 50+ Intermediate: Dario Campo
Next Gen 40+ Expert: Jay Gref
Next Gen 1 – 125 Expert: Joshua Horvath
Next Gen 1 – 250 Expert: Jay Gref
Next Gen 1 – 250 Intermediate: Kenneth Coen
Next Gen 1 – 500 Expert: Bill Boram
Next Gen 50+ Expert: Hoot Parker
Next Gen 60+ Intermediate: John Fedor
Next Gen 60+ Expert: Stuart Mcavoy
Next Gen Novice: Allen Wilson
TRIALS SERIES CHAMPIONS
Rigid Heavyweight Novice: Greg Tomlinson
Premier Lightweight Expert: Steve Glinski
Premier Lightweight Intermediate: Bill Douglass
Premier Lightweight Novice: Stephanie Daniels
Premier Heavyweight Expert: Graham Foster
Premier Heavyweight Intermediate: Francis Hall
Classic Expert: Jeff Bushey
Classic Intermediate: Greg Houchin
Classic Novice: Colin Kirn
Air Cooled Mono-shock Masters: Scott Stewart
Air Cooled Mono-shock Expert: Gary Holbert
Air Cooled Mono-shock Intermediate: Brad Jones
Modern Classic Master: Wes Poole
Modern Classic Expert: Mark Sturtevant
Modern Classic Intermediate: Blake Lawson
Modern Classic Novice: Emily Poole
Youth C: Eddie Poole
car love
MY DICK MANN MOMENT
WORDS BY PETE JORGENSON PHOTOS FROM JORGENSON FAMILY COLLECTION
Most everyone reading this publication has heard of Dick Mann. Two-time AMA Grand National Champion in 1963 and 1971, one of only four professional racers to achieve the “Grand Slam” awarded for winning at least one race in each type of event included in the AMA Grand National Series. Dick also did well racing motocross and off-road events including the ISDE (International Six Days Enduro). As a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast and wanna-be racer, I always looked up to Dick Mann during his professional racing career. Of course I followed the Grand National Series through Cycle News and other publications that my dad subscribed to. I never imagined I’d actually get to meet Dick, or any other of the famous racers I read about.
Then in 1970, my Uncle Jim Dour and his wife, Barbara, came up to visit us in Washington State. Jim had been a professional racer and has a business called Megacycle, making high performance racing camshafts being used by many competitors of that era. Lucky for me, my uncle was a very good friend of Dick Mann. I was told to put on my white pants and shirt
and meet my Aunt and Uncle at Castle Rock for the National TT race. As you could imagine, I was really excited about being Dick Mann’s pit crewman at Castle Rock! He treated me like an old friend. I was thunderstruck pushing his bike to the practice line and running errands for him and my Uncle Jim. Dick did well in his heat race, transferring directly to the main even. I’m 71 years old now and I still get goosebumps thinking about the race that night! My uncle and I watching from the infield as the race progressed; this was a star studded group of riders as you must know. Dick was near the front of the pack as the laps wore down, always he was closing in on the leader, a young David Aldana. Using a high line through the right hand turn, Dick was able to get to the inside line through the sweeper leading to the straight away, putting him in a great position to pass. Soon Aldana and Mann were in a race for the lead, the fearless and talented rookie and the cagey veteran battling side-by-side. With Mann on the outside against the wall, Aldana closed the hole Mann was riding into! Mann dropped back and pulled in behind Aldana. Using his outside line through the right hander,
OPPOSITE: Pete Jorgenson sitting on Dick Mann’s race winning bike at Castle Rock.
LEFT: Dick Mann with Mert Lawill discussing the track at Castle Rock.
Dick pulled alongside Aldana going into the sweeper onto the straight. At the time it appeared to me that Dick, having the advantage of the inside line could set the pace through the corner, he didn’t let off the throttle and Aldana on the outside bailed off. Dick Mann sailed on to win the race!
Years later at Dick Mann’s Celebration of Life, Dave Aldana filled me in on the rest of the
story. David said he pushed Dick into the wall that night, “I wanted to beat that old guy” is what he said. The following lap when Dick got inside, David said, “Dick looked over at me, grabbed a hand full of throttle and slid his rear wheel into my handle bars taking me down.” David saw Dick after the race inn the pits and said, “You took me out pretty good.” Dick replied, “You deserved it!” David Aldana and Dick Mann remained friends afterwards.
The following year, my Uncle Jim and Dick Mann came up and spent a week with my family at my parents home in Bellevue. The BSA and Triumph Team had rented Pacific Raceways in Kent to tune up for a National Road Race held there the following weekend. My brothers and I got to go out to the track everyday and mingle with the factory racers we read about, pretty cool!
Dick had brought one of his BSA race bikes with him in the hopes of racing it at Graham Speedway the Friday night before the road race. Unfortunately, the rain came, Graham was rained out. Still, it was neat seeing his dirt tracker in our basement up close. He worked on his bike and helped us out with ours! The motorcycle he brought with him had a 180-degree crankshaft as opposed to the standard 360-degree crankshaft and sounded like a Honda 305 when it was running. My Uncle Jim told me later that he and Dick eventually got the glitches worked out on that motor but Dick elected not to use it in competition.
During the many great conversations we enjoyed with Dick, he suggested I should help
LEFT: Jim Dour and Dick Mann looking over the BSA Rocket 3 road racer
ABOVE: Jim pushing the BSA to tech inspection; in the background is Pete admiring the motorcycle.
Pete posing with Dick and Kay Mann after his first win in AHRMA at Burrows Ranch in Chrome, CA
drive the van with him back to California after the race in Kent. I had to get permission at my part time job to get the week off. Much to my dismay, they said no. Hearing this, my dad, a very wise man, told me to quit that job! Thanks dad. The plan was made for me to help drive to the San Francisco Bay Area, spend the week with my aunt and uncle, and help Dick drive back up the following week for the Castle Rock TT where I would meet my parents. I was one excited kid!
Dick ended up winning the road race on the BSA Rocket 3 after a race long duel with Kel Carruthers on the Yamaha 350. Dick got fifth at Castle Rock that year with strong showings throughout the season including three road race wins, earning him a second AMA Grand National Championship. Dick had cleaned out his tool box while staying at my parents place. He tossed out a few mismatched gloves, which I retrieved from the trash and proudly used myself. My time with Dick Mann was really special; he was an accomplished racer and motorcycle builder who just really enjoyed riding motorcycles. I got to catch up with him again in AHRMA and even rode practice with him a couple times, couldn’t catch him though.
Pete asking Dick’s advice at the Farm in Chehalis, WA
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Taste of Tsukuba
WORDS BY DAVE CRUSSELL
PHOTOS BY LORRAINE CRUSSELL & TADA ITO
Many of you have not heard of this event. It’s a race meeting held in Japan twice a year. The featured class of this event is similar to our Superbike Heavyweight class. The field is so packed with early ‘80s Kawasaki Z1’s, Suzuki GS’s, etc. that they have to run a qualifying race to determine who is in the fast vs. slow races. It’s the most popular class in vintage racing in Japan.
I am used to racing outside of the US, attending and bringing other riders to events in Australia, Spa in Belgium, and the Isle of Man. I have done this 20+ times, so I am used to other racing clubs, international shipping, and all the other logistics in these events. However, they only mildly prepared me for what it takes to go to Japan to compete.
I planned to take my 1978 Kawasaki Z1R that I race in
AHRMA, race fresh after the event at Laguna. I needed to get a Japanese racing license as they do not accept licenses from other organizations including FIM. I would attend race school at Sugo one weekend to earn my license and then race at Tsukuba (pronounced Scuba) the following weekend. It takes Japan several days to issue a license so, unlike AHRMA, you cannot take a race school and race the same weekend. It’s unusual for these two events to be so close together, but I was lucky as I could easily spend a week in Japan between events. We had a plan.
I was also incredibly fortunate that I have a friend, Darrell Baker, pronounced BaaKeerSan, who is fluent in Japanese. He has a good friend Tadataka Ito, an ex-racer who won a Japanese 250 championship. Tada is well networked in Japan racing.
Without Darrell and Tada, I could never have done this, and it was only through their hard work, persistence and determination that we were able to pull this off.
Apart from the language, there were many hurdles to overcome. Japan does not have many, if any, other gaijin (foreign) riders licensed in Japan, it’s a foreign concept for them. Forms were submitted in Japanese for both the race school and preliminary license, as well as the race entry.
The bike shipped late August in our usual shipping crate taking a boat to Japan and then trucking to Tada’s friend’s warehouse in Sendai. It was expected to arrive Oct 5th. Lorraine and I arrived in Tokyo Oct 24, met Darrell and took the shinkansen (bullet train) to Sendai located an hour north of the Sugo Circuit. After a welcome dinner we finally got to bed after 36 hours of travel.
Dave at Tsukuba Circuit on his 1978 Kawasaki Z1R. PHOTO CREDIT TADA ITO
Friday morning, after numerous delays, the bike arrived in the warehouse literally five minutes before we did. Phew that was close! Japan customs are very detail oriented and have a whole bunch of very strict rules. This is unlike every other country I have visited to date. We loaded the bike in the back of Tada’s van with our spares, including tires, and headed to Sugo for my race class. It was also a track day, so I was able to prep the Z1R and get onto the track. Massive pinging, the 102-octane race gas at the track turned out to be only 96. The bike runs C12 which is 108 in the US and is not available in Japan. Bike parked for the weekend; we’d figure out fuel for the following weekend. I concentrated on school. Two hours of classroom training and a book an inch thick on the rules all delivered in Japanese, Darrell translated. I have a copy of the book if anyone wants some bedtime reading. Next step was 30 minutes of supervised track time, but I did not want to risk this on my bike given the fuel issues. After some
Tada networking, a Honda 250 was rented and it was probably the slowest and most boring 30 mins of track time I have ever had, but I passed!
Next day was spent preparing the bike for all the minor rules that are required in Japan, some make no sense whatsoever. Please consult the rule book. Tada hit his network and found a drag racer in Kawasaki near Tokyo who has managed to get some C16 into the country that would work. At a price 3x that of the US, this was the most expensive fuel I
have purchased. At least we had a source.
As an aside, there is a Japanese movie from the early ‘80s called “Dirty Hero.” It contains a bunch of footage of TZ500’s and other GP bikes, much of it filmed at Sugo. I immediately recognized the track from the film. The star of the movie rode #62 and many Yamahas in Japan use this number. After discussion with Tada, I understood the main character was based on Barry Sheene who raced at the track at the end of the ‘70s and ‘80s.
One weekend down, we headed out for some R&R and sightseeing in Aomori. Behind the scenes, Tada and Darrell were working hard. Despite completing all the paperwork, a letter of reference from AHRMA and the race school,
LEFT: Dave at Sugo on his borrowed 250 single to get his race license. RIGHT: Waving his hard-earned Japanese race license.
PHOTO CREDIT LORRAINE CRUSSELL
Tada and Dave celebrate the “just in time” Z1R bike arrival. PHOTO CREDIT LORRAINE CRUSSELL
the governing motorcycle group in Japan, MFJ (similar to the AMA), said they needed documentation from the AMA to issue a license. But it was not clear exactly what they needed. To compound this, my prime contact at the AMA that has helped me with many FIM license applications in the past was taking a long weekend for her birthday. After trying to navigate the AMA, I sent her a message on Facebook begging for help. She sent in documentation despite being on vacation. The AMA really goes above and beyond to help its members!
The MFJ denied again! By this time, we had headed back to Sendai where Darrell and Tada were going to take the bike to Tsukuba while Lorraine and I headed by train to Kawasaki to buy the race fuel. It was now Thursday night, practice starting Friday and only one more day that the MFJ was open. We stayed by the track Thursday night and headed in on Friday morning. We were notified that I could practice on Friday with a provisional license. We had eight more hours to figure the license out.
There were masses of bikes at the track, super trick Superbikes. The Japanese really like these bikes and they were all prepared to perfection. I found out that my bike had been bumped from Monster (Superbike Heavy) to Monster Evolution because of the 17” wheels. That put me against modern bikes, bikes you could buy today, with fat wheels and brakes, and up to 1300cc. I had little chance, but a race is a race. The circuit was small and the course quite simple, and the event was awesome. Even on Fridaylarge crowds, food stands, vender booths, costumed spectators, just like a big event. I had two practice sessions. The bike ran well on the expensive gas and I learned the circuit. Tada was still working the license situation, networking through the MFJ in the politest way. We headed for dinner, not sure if we could run over the weekend.
What was clear was that I was not running on Saturday. The tail end
of a typhoon was coming through and it was raining hard across the whole of Japan. We headed down Saturday morning with the great news that a license had been issued. There were politics going on and only Tada’s network got us to someone friendly who issued the license.
We prepped the bike again for tech on Sunday and Tada helped get someone to pre-tech the bike to ensure we had no issues. There were quite a few modifications I had to make to pass tech. For example, I had to add engine bungs and a shark fin for my chain. And, my favorite, I had to drill a hole in my perfectly good belly pan and plug it with a rubber stopper. My Vanson leathers required a label stating it was made in Japan and conformed to the MFJ rules, so we put one on. Tech required that I had the tear in the leg seam of my leathers stitched and I was lucky to find a repair shop in the paddock who completed it right away and at no cost. After I finally passed tech, I toured the pits talking with other riders via Darrell. Japanese racers are the same as us. As a fellow racer, you are an immediate friend and accepted. Many offered to help with anything we needed, and we took that help where we could.
Sunday, onto the big day. It was sunny again!! The track was buzzing with racers prepping their bikes and crowded with spectators. If you wanted to warm up your bike, you had to wheel it down to a specific area in the paddock, not in your paddock space! We were three Americans in a sea of Japanese folks. There were cameras at the track, the races were covered by YouTube live stream, and we had the full racing entourage including young women holding umbrellas. Now just so everyone knows, I find this a little sexist and would never consider this to be a role for a woman, however, Toko, my umbrella assistant, was super cute and did a great job.
One practice completed. Later in the day we headed out for our race. I had qualified second to last given the class structure. We wheeled the bikes to the grid, took some nice pictures with shade, then three minutes before the start, we received the signal to start engines. Unbelievable, my &^%#@ battery was dead! After all this effort to get to the race grid, a dead battery. This has never happened with the KZ before. I pushed off the track and Darrell ran like Usain Bolt to the paddock to get a replacement. The bike fired but I had to start
Darrell Baker and Dave Crussell with the Tsukuba umbrella girls. PHOTO CREDIT LORRAINE CRUSSELL
from pit lane on cold tires. I tried hard, did not finish last and was covered on the live stream as the leaders lapped me on the last couple of laps.
Afterwards, I said to one of my fellow racers (though Google translate) “sometimes it’s way harder to get to the start line than get to the finish line.” So true in this case, I think we can all relate. In the US, getting a bike ready for the track is a major undertaking. In Japan, being allowed to race as a seasoned racer on a proven bike is just as significant.
The Tsukuba event was outstanding, and I loved the whole experience, but I did not enjoy the race and results. I had a Taste of Tsukuba, but it was only the slightest bit of a taste, and it wasn’t bad. Will I go back? Not for this event but there are twostroke races at Sugo next year!
Race crew at Tsukuba. L-R: Tada Ito, Dave Crussell, Darrell Baker, Akira Matsumoto. PHOTO CREDIT LORRAINE CRUSSELL
The Miracle of Zoar 2024
WORDS BY BOB CLOSE
PHOTOS BY PAULA KYLE-STEPHENS
On September 29th, 2024, AHRMA Northeast held a regional motocross event at the restored Zoar Motopark, located about 30 miles south of Buffalo, NY. That event drew 360 entries on the day, a number that topped all other 2024 AHRMA Regional and National Motocross events with the exception of one two-day combined event. We’ll get to the racing a little later – the real story is about how this racetrack was resurrected from the “dead,” and the guy who did it, Ed Abdo.
BOB CLOSE - Ed, can you first tell us a little about yourself? You have been around motorcycles for a while, on both the industry and racing side of things, right?
ED ABDO - I’ve been in the motorcycle industry for all but one working year of my life. I started working in 1972 at a local shop when the owner got tired of me hanging around and handed me a broom. My career has taken me from small shops to big
dealers, and I was also involved with teaching technicians at the vocational and college level. I worked for American Honda’s motorcycle division for 10 years and I was in charge of technical training with them for the United States. I have also written a couple of textbooks for the industry and wrote the “Jammin” Jimmy Weinert biography. I left Honda in 2008 and came home to operate a small shop in my hometown of Springville, NY.
I started racing motocross in 1973 in western New York. I raced every motocross race at Zoar from its opening day until 1979. My motocross claim to fame is that I beat David Bailey when he came with his dad, Gary to teach some of his motocross schools in 1974. We were racing 100cc bikes at the time. I had a Hodaka B+ and he had a sleeved down Bultaco “100” Pursang. I also had a few great years of amateur and professional road racing in CCS, AHRMA, and AMA Pro-Twins in the ‘80s up to the early ‘90s, primarily
on V-twin Hondas. I can proudly say I was the first to build a 750cc displacement Hawk!
BC - You are an off-road AHRMA racer these days, along with your son Nick, who shows up occasionally to kick a bunch of old guys’ butts. Tell us about that.
EA - I have to talk about Nick first, because that is how I ended up involved in AHRMA racing. We rode modern bikes up to 2017 and Nick got really fast, but he also had a couple of bad get-offs and got hurt. When he told me he didn’t want to race anymore, I was fine with it, I just wanted him to have fun. I did tell him that motocross is just like the Hotel California - you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave!
A couple years later, I came across a 1978 YZ125 from a customer. Nick saw it on my lift in my shop, heard it running, and he wanted to take it out for a quick ride. He immediately fell in love with the bike. Our first race with AHRMA
Northeast was at Lamoka MX. He went out to practice and came in smiling and loved the way a vintage track is laid out. Nick and I have been racing in AHRMA Northeast motocross races ever since. Currently I race an XR200R in either age or 4 stroke post vintage classes.
BC - Time to talk about Zoar Motopark. It is pretty clear to me from the social media posts on your Zoar Facebook group page that this was The Place To Be for a lot of motocross racers. What can you tell us about its history?
EA - Zoar Motopark opened in May of 1973 and in September of that same year they held an AMA National 250 and an early Trans AMA race with the European racers invited. Edison Dye promoted those races. Zoar opened at the perfect time because the sport was just beginning to flourish and expand like no other motorsport in history. In 1974, another Trans AMA race was held as well as a round of the 125 World GP! The track itself was started by a guy named Don Kessler. Thousands of riders rode the track in its day, and to see 600 riders a race was not unusual. The property that Zoar was built on has been in the same family since 1812. They agreed to let Don build a track on the land. It was a perfect setting: an all-natural motocross track with lots of hills, multiple types of dirt, and natural
jumps. In 1973, Roger Decoster was quoted to say that Zoar was the closest thing to European motocross tracks in United States. The track was operated until 1983. After they ran the last race, they walked away, leaving everything just as it was placed for the race.
BC - Where did the idea come from to take on the restoration of Zoar? Vision quest/dream, bench-
racing with friends, burning desire to finally win a race there yourself?
EA - In 2008 when I moved back home from Honda, I met up with a close motocross friend from Zoar, Mike Bender, and the first thing we started to talk about after not seeing each other for over 30 years was Zoar. In January of 2023, I started the Zoar Motopark and Bluemont as Motocross History
Practice Day session at Zoar. Photo CREDit Paula kylE-stEPhEns
and Memories Facebook page and soon found out that the track meant so much to thousands of others as well as myself. A nephew of the landowner came across the Facebook page and asked me to stop by and talk about the history of the track. After that, I met with the owner, Donna, in late February 2023. We talked about the land history and of course the track. At the end of our visit I explained that 2023 was the 50th year anniversary of Zoar, and asked if I could restore the track for a reunion and ride. She agreed!
BC - When did you start the restoration project? What did the property look like in the beginning?
EA - Forty years of nature taking over a piece of land is really hard to describe, but to put it in a nutshell: you couldn’t see 15 feet in front of yourself because thick brush covered the entire track area (about 25 acres). Areas where the track was washed out over 25 feet deep were common. I thought it was so cool to see the land again but knew deep inside it was impossible to bring the track back to life. At least that’s what I thought at the time.
Work began on April 4th of 2023, and I had a fantastic group of volunteers that were all eager to help. To me, it was really
I also want to say that there was never a “for profit” thing for me or any others; all time and labor was donated. I just wanted to get back the amount of money it took me to make the event happen. All profits from the event went to local volunteer organizations, with the majority going to the Mortons Corners Fire Dept. In 2023, we donated $30,200.09 (and just over $49,000 in 2024!).
BC - Tell us about your 2024 Reunion event.
important that the track was brought back to life in its original 1973 configuration, though it would have been a lot easier just to build another track on the property. We recovered hundreds of tires in the process and of course had a lot of wood/trees to deal with.
BC - In September of 2023, you held your first Zoar Motopark Reunion. Tell us about that event, what were the numbers, and how did you organize each Track Day?
EA - I had no idea just who or how many would come to the first event after doing all this work. We had just under 600 riders register to ride, and they brought about 1200 bikes. They came from 30 states and different countries including Canada, Europe, and even two folks from Australia! We ran on the track both clockwise and counterclockwise back in the day, so I did the same, running Saturday in one direction and Sunday the opposite.
It was unbelievable the number of riders that had not been on a dirt bike since their days at Zoar, or just riding in general. Over 40 years in some cases. From the Facebook page, I could see that guys were working spring and summer to get bikes ready. It’s hard not to get emotional about it; I had no idea that Zoar meant so much to so many people.
EA - Saturday’s practice had 629 riders who brought just over 1500 bikes. I should mention that we split our practices into five different groups, accounting for bike periods and skills (i.e. Novices had their own practice, and we modified the track for them). Each session was 10 minutes, and we ran from 10:00 till 4:00 in the afternoon. About halfway through, we stopped, cleaned up and regroomed the track a little bit, and then we turned the track direction from one way to the other. It was remarkable the number of people that got to ride on the track. Most practice groups were 45 riders. We had music on Saturday night along with a huge bonfire, using wood from the original land clearing. There had to be a couple thousand people around the fire, and just watching all of that was pretty cool.
Northeast champ, Kevin Guernsey (78)
BC - I will start with Sunday’s racing event by sharing with your readers that Ed Roman, myself, and some of our regular NE racers all pitched in to deal with racing registration on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I’m fairly sure I explained to 50 or more riders just at MY table what period class or what age class they would fit into. The registration tent was mobbed on Saturday night after your track day was done! I’ll let you take it from there, Ed.
EA - The deal I made with Ed Roman was for AHRMA to take care of all the race day entries, racing orders, and scoring, and I would take care of running the races, track safety workers, ambulance, and insurance. We had previously agreed to run bikes up to 2004 (similar to AHRMA Millennium). We brought in Jessica Reichart from AHRMA Mid-Atlantic to work her magic with the Trackside software and – it took a while – but she did it! Based on the 360 race entries, we organized 19 motos on the day, starting about Noon and finishing by 5:30 pm. It was a great, safe day of racing with no serious injuries, just a few broken bikes.
BC - I found it interesting what your class sign-ups looked like and – in my mind – I wondered if it was not a vision of what direction AHRMA motocross racing could be heading in the
future. What were your two biggest sign-ups, and gosh were they impressive gates when they dropped!
EA - First of all, I need to tell your readers about the actual motocross starting gates we used for race day. The gates at Zoar are the original forward falling units that were used in 1973. They were brought in by Edison Dye and the deal that Don Kessler made was…” you bring those in here, they’re staying” because Edison actually took those grates from track to track back in those days. I am all but certain that they’re the oldest working motocross gates in the United States. We literally dug them out of the ground and one of my volunteers offered to restore them.
As far as the racing and motos are concerned, we stacked classes to get at least 25 riders in each race. The biggest classes on the day were the Next Gen classes, with the 250 Intermediate and +60 classes both having 28 riders sign-ups. The Millennium classes also had large sign-ups. I think that if we’re looking at the future of vintage motocross, you have to move with the age of the riders, not with the age of the bikes. A “vintage” bike to my 24-year-old son is a lot different than a vintage
bike for someone in their 60’s. I think AHRMA has to take that into consideration if you want to see the organization grow.
BC - Thanks for telling us all about the Miracle of Zoar Motopark, Ed. What are your plans for 2025?
EA - In 2025, we’re going to bring back BMX racing, which was also held at Zoar in the mid-’70s, and have a kids race on the track (between 7 and 15 years old) on Sunday, along with another AHRMA Northeast regional race. Another detail will be a predesigned race order at sign-up, which will be VERY helpful for the racing admin team. If someone wishes to race back-to-back motos, it is their decision. I’m also holding a special 125cc two-stroke and 200cc four-stroke money race combined (post-vintage specification) with a guaranteed purse of $5,100 to celebrate the 51st anniversary of the 125 World Cup GP. This will be limited to 90 riders.
More info for 2025 and history of Zoar can be found at www.zoarmotopark.com.
MARKETPLACE
1979 Maico 440 Magnum
PRICE: $7,000
ADVERTISE YOUR VINTAGE RACING RELATED BUSINESS & PRODUCTS HERE
LOCATION: Jackson Hole, WY CONTACT: (307) 733-3626
SWAP MEET
WHERE AHRMA MEMBERS BUY, SELL, AND TRADE
trials cub
Triumph trials cub built by Speed and Sport. Matt’s Dad did the motor, and Matt did just about everything else to make a competitive AHRMA trials bike.
PRICE: $4,500
LOCATION: San Rafael, CA
CONTACT: Kevin Burrell - (415) 518-8066
motorcycle transportation
Will transport bikes and gear to road race and/or multi-discipline events, Florida to California, and all events in between.
LOCATION: Port Orange, Florida
CONTACT: Ralph Wessell - (386) 760-0932
72 maico 400 radial head
Race ready vintage MX 72 Maico 400 with Radial Head. Works shocks. Mullens foot pegs and chain tensioner. $6900 bill of sale only. Open to reasonable offers and interesting trades.
PRICE: $6,900
LOCATION: Bend, OR CONTACT: Thomas Chapple(www.ahrma.org/advert/72-maico-400-radial-head/)
famous “franken-sixty” sportsman 350 - race ready
Hybrid SL-350 motor, modified CB-160 frame, 35mm Ceriani forks, CB-450 brake, Progressive shocks, D.I.D. shouldered rims, Trackmaster tank & seat, Full TTR 362cc motor, TTR MAG, 34mm Mikunis. Six races on bike – Four 1st places – One 2nd place –One 3rd place. Super light, super fast.
PRICE: $6,000
LOCATION: Chatsworth, CA
CONTACT: Gary Swan - (818) 675-5625
vintage views magazines
I have almost all Vintage views magazines from 2001( i think) til present. Wife kept a few where I made the print. Free to anyone who wants, have to free up space and don’t want to toss in recycle bin.
PRICE: FREE
LOCATION: Richland, MI
CONTACT: Mick McCauley - (269) 312-6004
ex luke connor race bike - 1976 triumph 750
Braced frame, Works shocks, aluminum swing arm, RaceTech forks, new Excel rims, stainless spokes, A/P Racing calipers, belt drive TTR MAG, new motor, 11-1 JE pistons, KibbleWhite, Barnett SRM pressure plate, 34mm Mikunis, 520 chain.
PRICE: $6,000
LOCATION: Chatsworth, CA
CONTACT: Gary Swan - (818) 675-5625
79 yz250f restored pv race bike
1979 Yamaha YZ250 vintage motocross bike. Bike has been nut and bolt restored. Starts first, or second, kick! Too nice for what I want to do with a moto. See photos. If you’re seriously interested I’m happy to take more photos. Frame/engine same VIN. Includes original owners manual. Also includes new tank decals to replace the ones on backwards. $4500 Bill of Sale. Open to reasonable offers and interesting trades
PRICE: $4,500
LOCATION: Bend, OR
CONTACT: Thomas Chapple(www.ahrma.org/advert/79-yz250f-restored-pv-race-bike/)
82 husky cr/wr250 rebuilt motor, new carb
I have a vintage 82 Husqvarna CR 250 with a WR 250 engine. Engine was just rebuilt – 1 hour riding time. New piston/rings, bored/honed cylinder, new crank bearings, new connecting rod and rod bearing, new gasket kit, new Mikuni 38 mm carb set up by AMS Racing to factory specs, new reeds, new complete Vape ignition system.
PRICE: $3,900
LOCATION: Bend, OR CONTACT: Thomas Chapple(www.ahrma.org/advert/82-husky-cr-wr250-rebuilt-motornew-carb/)
1974 yamaha dt360 for sale to good home
1974 DT360 Runs well, needs love, bill of sale only, $2,700. Can deliver to Roebling or CMP.
PRICE: $2,700
LOCATION: Jacksonville Beach, FL
CONTACT: Alex McLean - (832) 992-1065
SWAP MEET ADS: AHRMA members may submit two free Swap Meet, non-commercial, motorcycle-related ads of up to 50 words each, per issue. Each ad will run only once, but you are welcome to renew monthly. All ads will also be placed on www.ahrma.org for at least one month.
MARKETPLACE ADS: The Marketplace plan is specifically designed for small business owners. Members or nonmembers may submit an ad of up to 50 words and may
SWAP MEET & MARKETPLACE AD GUIDELINES
include 1 photo. This ad will appear both on ahrma.org’s AHRMA Swap Meet page, and in AHRMA MAG’s Marketplace section for 2 issues, with photo. Marketplace ads cost $25 for 60 days and may be renewed as many times as you like.
Please include: name, address, phone number and AHRMA membership number with your ad.
Go to: www.ahrma.org/classifieds-etc/
AHRMAMAG
ADVERTISE WITH AHRMA!
AHRMA members invest a lot of money in their sport. In addition to owning 19 motorcycles, the average member spends over $10,000 each year on new and used motorcycles, parts, accessories, publications, race fuel, lubricants, safety gear, tools and other related items. In other words, the association's members represent nearly $60 million in spending power!
Advertising opportunities include Sponsorships, the AHRMA Handbook, AHRMA MAG, the AHRMA website, Special Events, Barber Program and more.
Contact AHRMA and let us build an advertising package that works for you!
For
2025 AHRMA NATIONAL SERIES SCHEDULES
SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE! PLEASE CHECK WWW.AHRMA.ORG FOR
2025 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by Motobilia AAR: Academy of Roadracing SRS: Sidecar Racing School
Date Venue
2/13-16 Roebling Road Raceway; Bloomingdale, GA (AAR & SRS)
3/14-16 Carolina Motorsports Park; Kershaw, SC (AAR & SRS)
4/18-20 Big Willow, Willow Springs Raceway; Rosamond, CA (AAR & SRS)
4/25-27 Inde Motorsports Ranch; Willcox, AZ (AAR & SRS)
5/30-6/1 Motorsports Park Hastings; Hastings, NE (AAR & SRS)
6/20-22 New Jersey Motorsports Park; Millville, NJ (AAR & SRS)
8/1-3 Blackhawk Farms Raceway; South Beloit, IL (AAR & SRS)
8/15-17 Pittsburgh International Race Complex; Wampum, PA (AAR & SRS)
9/5-7 Nelson Ledges; Garrettsville, OH (AAR & SRS)
10/2-5 Barber Motorsports Park; Birmingham, AL
* all events, except Barber Motorsports Park, are hosting both the AAR and SRS
Redwood Engineering 2025 AHRMA National Observed Trials Series
Date Venue
3/7 White Lightning; Buffalo, SC
4/5 Burrows Ranch; Chrome, CA
5/17 Chaney Ranch; Warner Springs, CA
6/7-8 Tennessee Ridge Runners; Bybee, TN
8/2-3 Donner Ranch; Nordon, CA
8/9 BSA Club; Toronto, OH
9/13 Rattlers Run; Fiarfield, WA
9/27 Bushy Ranch; Canby, CA
10/3 Barber Motorsports Park; Leeds, AL 11/7 T&S Racing; Henryetta, OK
2025 AHRMA Dirt Track Series Presented by Motobilia
Date Venue
2/22 SDTA - Crossroads Motorplex; Jasper, FL (ST/TT)
4/12 SDTA - Marion County Speedway; Ocala, FL (ST/TT)
5/10 AJ Herrera Memorial Race, Plaza Park Raceway; Visalia, CA
6/13-14 TBD
7/18 Roeder Wauseon Vintage Nationals; Wauseon, OH (1/2 mile)
7/25 TBD
8/23 TBD
8/28 Vintage Davenport Races, Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds; Davenport, IA
9/13-14 Willow Springs Round Up; Willow Springs, CA
9/26-27 Caruthers Fair Short Track; Caruthers, CA
10/3-4 Barber Vintage Festival; Leeds, AL (ST)
10/11 SDTA - Callaha Speedway; Callahan, FL (ST)
2025 AHRMA National MX Series Presented by Motobilia
Date Venue
3/1-2
Shorty's MX; Blythe, CA - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
3/29-30 Farm 14; Centreville, MS - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
4/6
Burrows Ranch; Chrome, CA - VMX only
4/12-13 Freestone MX; Wortham, TX - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
4/26-27 Gateway MX; Lebanon, MO - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
5/24-25 Thunder Valley; Lakewood, CA - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
6/8
Chaney Ranch; Warner Springs, CA - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
6/21-22 Muddy Creek Raceway; Blountville, TN - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
7/19-20 Honda Hills; Thornville, OH - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
9/6-7 Johnsonville; Yantis, TX - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
9/14 Rattlers Run; Fairfield, WA - VMX, PVMX
9/20-21 Field of Dreams; Greensburg, PA - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
9/28 Bushy Ranch; Canby, CA - VMX only
10/4-5 Barber Motorsports Park; Leeds, AL - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
11/8-9 T&S Racing; Henryetta, OK - VMX, PVMX, NGMX
2025 AHRMA National Cross Country Series Presented by Motobilia
Date Venue
3/8-9
White Lightning; Buffalo, SC
3/28-30 Farm 14; Centreville, MS
4/5
Burrows Ranch; Chrome, CA
4/5-6 Brush Buster's Bonanza; Marceline, MO
5/17-18 Rocket Raceway; 3 Springs, PA
5/31 Old Desmond Ranch; Burney, CA
6/7
Chaney Ranch; Warner Springs, CA
6/7-8 Tennessee Ridge Runners; Bybee, TN
8/9-10 BSA Club; Toronto, OH
9/27 Bushey Ranch; Canby, CA
10/3 Barber Motorsports Park; Leeds, AL
11/7-9 T&S Racing; Henryetta, OK
2025 AHRMA REGIONAL SCHEDULES
2025 AHRMA Northeast Schedule visit www.ahrma.org/northeast
Date Event Disciplines
3/8-9
Carolinas White Lightning; Silver Hawk Plantation; Buffalo, SC CC, Trials
4/26-27 Irish Valley MX Park; Paxinos, PA CC, MX
5/17-18 Lamoka Motocross; Bradford, NY CC, MX
6/6-8 Unadilla MX; New Berlin, NY CC, MX (including PV Pre 1978, PV Post 1977, and NG-1999)
6/21-22 Ashcraft Run; Bellefonte, PA CC, MX
6/28-29 Allen's Farm MX; Lawton, PA CC, MX
7/19-20 Quiet Oaks; Cross Fork, PA CC, MX
8/16-17 State Line Riders; N. Pownal, VT CC, MX
8/30-31 Bear Creek Sportsmen; Hancock, NY CC, MX
9/6-7 Wentz Training Facility; Pennsburg, PA CC, MX
9/13-14 Kelso Creek Classic; Minerva, NY CC, MX
9/27-28 Zoar MX Park; Springville, NY MX (including NG-2004)
10/4-5 French Woods; Hancock, NY CC, MX
10/25-26 White Rose MC; Spring Grove, PA CC, MX
Championship Criteria for Cross Country and Motocross are:
• Six (6) events minimum to qualify for regional championship and year-end awards.
• Best seven (7) events count toward points championship.
4/26-27 Gateway MX; Lebanon, MO
5/18 Thies Compound; Pleasanton, KS
6/22 TonyLand; Jonesburg, MO
10/19 Possum Hollow; Halltown, MO
Regional MX Championship Qualifying Requirements:
• Three (3) stand alone regional events minimum to qualify for regional championship and year end awards
• All five (5) events count towards points championships.
• You must be an AHRMA member to receive Regional AHRMA Championship Awards and Points. Non members points will be removed and rescored for members
Schedules and venues are subject to change, Visit regional websites for up to date information
2025 AHRMA Mid-Atlantic Schedule visit www.ahrma.org/mid-atlantic
Date Event Disciplines
3/8-9
4/12-13
Carolinas White Lightning; Silver Hawk Plantation; Buffalo, SC CC, Trials
Shady Acres; Friendsville, MD CC, MX
4/26-27 Irish Valley MX Park; Paxinos, PA CC, MX
5/3-4 Blacks Hollow Rec; Spring Church, PA CC, MX
5/17-18 Rocket Raceway; Three Springs, PA CC
5/31-6/1 Sutton Station; Summerville, PA CC, MX
6/21-22 Ashcraft Run; Bellefonte, PA CC, MX
6/29 Allen's Farm; Montrose/Lawton, PA MX
7/19-20
Quiet Oaks Camp; Cross Fork, PA CC, MX
8/23-24 Coyote Run; Ebensburg, PA CC
9/6-7
Wentz Training Facility; Pennsburg, PA CC, MX
9/20-21 Field of Dreams Farm; Greensburg, PA MX
10/11-12
10/25-26
Reynlow Park; Reynoldsville, PA CC, MX
White Rose MC; Spring Grove, PA CC, MX
All MX events will host Vintage, Post Vintage, and Next Gen (up to 1999) competition. All Regional CC events will host Vintage, Post Vintage, and Disc Brake (up to 1999) competition.
Mid-Atlantic Championship criteria for Cross Country and Motocross are:
• Rider must be an active AHRMA member
• Minimum six (6) class placings required to qualify for MX championship and year-end awards.
• Minimum seven (7) class placings required to qualify for CC championship and yearend awards.
• Best six (6) MX class placings/points count toward MX series championship.
• Best seven (7) CC class placings/points count toward CC series championship.
Date Event Disciplines
3/9
4/5-6
4/26
Fingerlake; Red Bluff, CA *If weather delay 3/16 VMX, CC
Burrows Ranch; Chrome, CA *If weather delay 4/12-13 CC, VMX, Trials
Leapfrog Classic Trials, Frog Pond Motoranch; Vacaville, CA Trials
5/3-4 Steel Stampede, Deshutes County Fairgrounds; Redmond, OR VMX, Trials
5/31-6/1 Old Desmond Ranch; Burney, CA CC, VMX, Trials, Iron Butt Weekend* 7/? TBA VMX, Trials
8/2-3 Donner Ski Ranch; Norden, CA Trials
8/23-24 Tea Cup Trials & Tea Cup Scott Trials; Point Arena, CA Trials
9/13-14 Rattlers Run Ranch; Fairfield, WA MX, Trials
9/27-28 Bushey Ranch; Canby, CA VMX, CC, Trials, Iron Butt Weekend* 10/? TBA VMX
2025 AHRMA Northwest Regional Championship Series
• All Northwest events count for 2025 Northwest Championships.
• All events count
• VMX – 4 to qualify
• Trials – 5 to qualify
• Cross Country – 3 to qualify
• Regional points awarded at National events on Northwest’s schedule.
• PVMX, NGMX – support only – no season points
You must be an AHRMA member to receive Regional AHRMA Championship Awards and Points. Non-member points will be removed and rescored for members.
* denotes Iron Butt Weekend
• Complete 2 motos in the same class
• 3 Trials loops
• Finish Cross Country in all 4 scheduled events
2025 AHRMA Southwest Schedule visit www.ahrma.org/southwest
3/1-2 AVDRA - Shorty’s Sports Park; Blythe, CA MX
3/9 ARX - Glen Helen; San Bernardino, CA MX
4/27 OSSRG - Glen Helen; San Bernardino, CA MX
5/17 ARX - Glen Helen; San Bernardino, CA MX
6/7-8 Chaney Ranch; Warner Springs, CA MX, CC, Trials
6/22 OSSRG - Glen Helen; San Bernardino, CA GP (double points)
7/27 ARX - Glen Helen; San Bernardino, CA MX
9/14 ARX - Glen Helen; San Bernardino, CA MX
10/26 OSSRG - Glen Helen; San Bernardino, CA GP (double points)
11/8-9 AVDRA - Shorty’s Sports Park; Blythe, CA MX
11/16 ARX - Glen Helen; San Bernardino, CA MX
12/14 OSSRG - Glen Helen; San Bernardino, CA MX
For Details on each event go to:
AVDRA go to avdra.com - OSSRG go to ossrg.org - ARX go to americanretrocross.org
Regional Championship Qualifying Requirements:
• You must race in at least 6 events in the same class.
• All races (MX and GP) in this series counts towards the championship
• Each promoter may have different classes than AHRMA, so sign up in the promoter’s appropriate class.
• You must be an AHRMA member to receive Regional AHRMA Championship Awards and Points. Non-Member points will be removed and rescored for members
Date Event Disciplines
1/26
Southern Roots Race Series (AMA) 2-Hour Race; Lincolnton, GA CC
3/7-9 White Lightning; Buffalo, SC CC, Trials
3/15 Dogtown Challenge - North Georgia Vintage Trials; Mount Airy, GA Trials
3/16 Jimmy Weinert MX Facility; Maysville, NC MX
3/28-30 Farm 14; Centreville, MS CC, MX
4/5 Barber Motorsports Park; Leeds, AL MX
4/19 Top-of-the-Rock; Lookout Mountain, GA Trials
4/27 Sunshine State Vintage Motocross Club; Waldo, FL MX
5/3
Southeastern Vintage Motocross (SEVMX); Fannin Co., GA MX
5/24 Whooping Creek, 2-Day Trial; Carrolton, GA Trials
6/7 Tennessee Ridge Runner; Bybee, TN, 2ea CC & Trial CC, Trials
6/14 Henry's Hills, North GA Vintage Trials; Cornelia, GA Trials
6/21 Muddy Creek MX Park; Blountville, TN MX
8/2 Southern Roots Race Series, (AMA) 2-Hour Race; Location TBD CC
8/30 Tennessee 2-Step, 2each CC & Trials; Crossville, TN CC, Trials
9/13 Wildsville; Roberta, GA CC, MX
10/3-5 Barber Motorsports Park, Vintage Fest; Leeds, AL CC, MX, Trials
10/25 Elizabeth City, NC MX
2025 Southeast Regional Championship Requirements
• Regional points awarded at National events located in the Southeast Region.
• You must be an AHRMA member to receive regional points and end-of-year Championship Awards.
• For each discipline, 50% of all events offered plus 1 event is the minimum to qualify for a regional championship. Of those events 50% must be regional. More than the minimum regionals may be used to make the required total for a championship. If 50% does not fall on an even number that number is rounded up to the next whole.
