The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association
ADDRESS
8913 Town and Country Circle #1093 Knoxville, TN 37923
PHONE
888-41AHRMA (888) 412-4762
COVER -
Wes Poole chases veteran flat tracker, Fuzzy Beeching, on the TT at Lodi.
AHRMA MAG is published ten times a year by the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association. All rights reserved under International and PanAmerican 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.
from the editor
Just like many of you, my world is completely filled with motorcycles. Motorcycles of all shapes and sizes, of all ages and colors, from all walks of life. My world also takes me across the country several times a year. I prefer to drive rather than fly, as I’ve had too many issues with delayed or canceled flights, and I don’t need that in my life. Yes, driving takes a lot longer, but I get to see all the variations in this country we call home.
My latest trip took me all the way out to California, and I couldn’t resist taking a short stop at the iconic Bonneville Salt Flats. If you haven’t been there, let me tell you - they’re just as flat as you think!
We’ll be showcasing some racing from California here in a bitthe awesome AHRMA Classic Motofest™ at Laguna Seca - but for now, enjoy catching up with some local and national racing excitement.
see you on the track!
Steph Vetterly
by
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.
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
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
DIRT TRACK DIRECTOR - Richard Brodock email: dirt.track@ahrma.org
RACE COORDINATORS
CROSS COUNTRY COORDINATOR - TBD
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
TBD
WESTERN TRUSTEES
Al Anderberg - al.anderberg@ahrma.org
Kerri Kress - 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
An Update from Daniel May & Ed Roman
AHRMA Members, Ed Roman and I wanted to reach out with an update on the 2024 season and the financial health of your organization. We have released the Compiled fiscal year 2023 financials along with the IRS form 990 filing (https://www.ahrma.org/memberresources/archives/) . As I reported in my last message to the members, I am happy to say that we ended the 2023 year in the black to the tune of about $56,000. This is a phenomenal turnaround from the over ($335,000) loss in 2022.
The cost cutting and expense reduction continues into 2024, and the first half of 2024 proved to be very successful with a net profit of roughly $50,000, which is equal to the 2023 full year profit. Historically, the second half of the season (June – November) is more profitable as National events like the Barber Vintage Festival add significant dollars to the bottom line. Speaking of Barber, 2024 will
be a fully multi-discipline event, with Barber Motorsports Park building a brand new, purpose-built vintage motocross track for a better overall race festival experience.
While we still have debt to service, I am happy to announce that we have retired $150,000 of the outstanding $350,000 principle. This leaves a very manageable $200,000 of debt (plus nominal accrued interest).
Membership levels have stabilized, but there is still room for improvement. Look for a membership campaign in the coming days and do your part to recruit a member to the club that keeps you on the track! Membership is important to the health of AHRMA and every effort to build membership counts.
Ed and I continue to actively attend and participate in AHRMA events. We are both traveling nearly every weekend to support all the AHRMA disciplines and help our race
directors run and put on great events. We understand the importance of being accessible and available.
Finally, Ed and I are always open to questions and comments from our members, email us and we will do our best to address any concerns you may have.
Thank you for trusting in us as we steer this ship into the future.
Daniel May
DANIEL MAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
PHOTO
CALL FOR 2025 TRUSTEE CANDIDATES
This is the time of year we begin our annual trustee election process. Four seats on the 12-member AHRMA Board of Trustees are up for election annually. This year, Eastern Region (east of the Mississippi River) seats currently held by Mike Dixon and David Rutherford are up for election, as are the Western Region seats currently held by Al Anderberg and Kelly Shane.
Any full member in good standing may run for election. The procedure requires that the Candidate Statement and photo MUST BE SUBMITTED through the Board of Trustee Candidate Statement/Photo Submission beginning on October 1, 2024. Candidate statements submitted any other way WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
For those interested parties, please review the trustee’s duties and responsibilities while you consider the commitment being made. Click on the button below. It is a very fulfilling position that requires time, effort, and some travel to meet your obligations.
Come join our board!
Greg “GT“ Tomlinson
GREG “GT” TOMLINSON CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
BY LUKE SAYER
PHOTO
We’re All in This Together
One of the very best things about AHRMA is the people we race with. I can’t count the number of times when I have seen someone needing a part or help with a bike that wasn’t running where there weren’t 4 or 5 people digging into their spare parts bins or racing around the pits trying to find the part needed.
And, if it’s a bike not running, folks are grabbing the local experts on that brand and dragging them over to help. I’ve seen folks offer up a bike when they couldn’t get the dead one running again. I’ve even seen folks volunteer to try kickstarting a Maico 440 or, better yet, one of the big premier twins (putting their ankles at risk of a kick back or flying over the handlebars! lol).
We sit around and bench race, eat and drink together and everything is great! And then, on the track it happens. Someone on the track decides that they have to win at all costs and the aggressive riding starts. Fortunately, this is an exception to the rule and doesn’t happen too often. We all know that there is a $15 trophy on the line, not a factory ride or a big check. And no trophy is worth the cost of sending someone on an ambulance ride or worse.
Remember that the passing rider has the responsibility to initiate a clean pass. Make sure that you have the room to make a safe pass when you initiate one.
OFF-ROAD
Even when we race cleanly mistakes can be made and two people get together and one, or both, go down. When this happens, please make sure all riders are OK before moving on. This is especially true in cross country as we don’t have flaggers all over the 3+ mile loop. Check on the downed riders and, if they are OK, continue on. If not, send the next riders to get the medics.
If a rider goes down due to a move that you made (this sometimes does happen inadvertently). Look them up after the race and make sure they are OK. If they went down due to something on your part, apologize and explain that it wasn’t deliberate. If you are the recipient of one of these incidents, take a moment to calm down before heading over to rake someone over the coals.
I’ve been on both sides of this kind of thing (I’ve made mistakes that took someone down and had others take
BY SHARON BEAN
me down by making a mistake). In all of these events, we as riders, got together and checked on each other. A couple of these folks have become great friends (that I didn’t know prior to us going down!).
The bottom line is that we are here for each other. Remember, these are your friends and that you want to be able to race with them in the future. So, let’s keep helping each other to have fun riding our old bikes!
Have Fun, Be Safe, and Go Fast!
Terry McPhillips
TERRY MCPHILLIPS OFF-ROAD RACE DIRECTOR
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PHOTO
CORNER TURNING THE
The Impact of Youth Classes on Racing
FOSTERING FUTURE AHRMA CHAMPIONS
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) has long been dedicated to the preservation and celebration of classic motorcycles and the culture surrounding them. As the organization looks to the future, youth classes play a crucial role in ensuring that the legacy of vintage motorcycle racing thrives for generations to come. These programs provide a host of benefits, nurturing young talent and fostering a deep appreciation for the sport.
Youth classes in AHRMA offer young enthusiasts the opportunity to engage with vintage motorcycles and racing techniques from an early age. These classes are designed to impart foundational skills, teaching children the intricacies of handling classic bikes, understanding their mechanics, and mastering racing strategies. By starting young, participants can develop the lifetime passion for vintage machines. Early training in youth classes allows these young riders to familiarize themselves with the unique challenges of vintage motorcycle racing. The experience gained through these formative years translates into highly skilled riders who are well-prepared for competitive racing. This early exposure is critical for cultivating the next generation of AHRMA members.
Racing vintage motorcycles is not just about speed; it demands a high level of discipline and responsibility. Youth classes emphasize these values, teaching young riders the importance of maintaining their bikes, following safety protocols, and respecting the rules of the sport. These lessons are essential for ensuring both their safety and the longevity of their motorcycles.
AHRMA’s youth classes foster a spirit of healthy competition and sportsmanship. Racing in a controlled environment with peers allows young riders to experience the highs and lows of competition. They learn to celebrate victories gracefully and accept defeats with resilience. These programs emphasize the importance of teamwork and camaraderie. Even in individual sports like motorcycle racing, the support of a team, including fellow riders and mechanics, is essential. This environment teaches young riders the value of collaboration and mutual respect, which are crucial attributes both on and off the track.
Youth classes in AHRMA serve as a pipeline for young talent, providing pathways to gain lifetime members and adding to the family environment that is AHRMA. These programs often include mentorship which are critical for young riders to learn and aspire to make a mark in vintage
BY
motorcycle racing. By nurturing young talent, AHRMA can ensure that the sport or motorcycle racing remains vibrant and competitive. The support provided through these programs helps young riders progress through the ranks, from local races to national and even international competitions. This structured approach ensures that the future of vintage motorcycle racing is in capable hands. Youth classes are integral to the future of AHRMA, offering a comprehensive foundation for young enthusiasts to develop their skills, discipline, and sportsmanship. By creating pathways for young riders to advance in the sport, AHRMA ensures the preservation and growth of vintage motorcycle racing. These programs not only prepare the next generation of racers but also foster a deep appreciation for the heritage and culture of the sport, securing its legacy for years to come.
Richard Brodock
RICHARD BRODOCK DIRT TRACK DIRECTOR
PHOTO
MARIAH LACY PHOTOGRAPHY
Greg “GT” Tomlinson Retains the Lead in the DMNVC, But By a Nose
Greg Tomlinson and Rob Poole have both ridden a whopping 13 events thus far in their effort to gain the most allowable points for all disciplines in the 2024 Dick Mann National Vintage Challenge (DMNVC).
Tomlinson has reached the maximum points in the four required Cross Country events, but he must keep going to increase his scores and/or meet the event requirements for Motocross, Dirt Track and Trials.
Poole has not yet reached the highest allowable score for any discipline, but has no chance of improving his Dirt Track scores due to travel limitations. He trails Tomlinson by ten points.
Third in the DMNVC standings is Emmy Poole, also with a completed Dirt Track score due to travel constraints. Both she and Rob Poole can hope to clinch as many points as possible in their other disciplines between now and the Henryetta, OK off-road events.
In exemplary sportsmanship, fellow DMNVC competitor Wes Poole shared a trials bike with Tomlinson at Laguna Seca, and Rob Poole put him on his Premier Open Twin machine for the MX. Tomlinson eked out 5 points in the trials and notched another required event in that discipline, but got a second in the MX, earning 21 DMNVC points for the weekend that he otherwise would not have.
There are a number of DMNVC competitors who could be a dark horse in this race, but who haven’t entered many events yet. For competitors needing Off-road DMNVC points, there are three remaining opportunities for optimal points-getting weekends; Bushey Ranch in Canby California, Barber in Birmingham, AL, and Henryetta, OK. Road Race offers just three more weekends, and Dirt Track six more events at which DMNVC points can be earned.
The 2024 Dick Mann National Vintage Challenge championship could definitely come down to the wire!
INSET: Rob Poole going for DMNVC points at the AHRMA Dirt Track event in Lodi, CA. PHOTO CREDIT NICKLESS
RIGHT: Greg “GT” Tomlinson successfully navigates section 1 of the AHRMA National Trial at Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA. PHOTO CREDIT SHARON COAD
PHOTOS
Pro Challenge Returning to Barber Vintage Festival
Pro racers will once again add to the sights, sounds, and smells of the upcoming Barber Vintage Festival.
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is hosting the third annual running of the Pro Challenge on October 12, 2024, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. The event will take place during the 19th Annual Barber Vintage Festival as part of the 2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series.
The Pro Challenge will feature an array of today’s most exciting racing motorcycles being ridden by professional racers and qualifying AHRMA racers. There will also be a cash purse that will be announced soon.
Select FIM professional licensed road racers may obtain a special waiver from AHRMA for the competition. Waivers must be submitted through the online AHRMA Barber Waiver Request Form no later than Saturday, September 30th at 12pm CDT. Submission period opens September 9th at 12pm EST.
In addition to FIM professional licensed road racers, any AHRMA member pre-qualified to race at the 2024 Barber event with AHRMA may register for the Pro Challenge but must participate in qualifying and meet the qualifying criteria.
The opening of race registration will be announced at a future date.
To be eligible, a Pro Challenge racer must meet the following criteria:
1. Be a licensed AHRMA member/competitor.
2. Be in compliance with the AHRMA Barber Racer Eligibility Requirements (found at org/schedulesresults).
3. Take part in the Friday practice (Thursday optional).
4. Take part in a 20-minute timed qualifying session on Friday afternoon.
5. Be registered in the “Pro Challenge” race on Saturday.
6. Be capable of racing at a competitive pace within the Pro Challenge race (based on lap times during the Friday qualifying session).
7. Compete on a race bike which conforms to the Formula Thunder class machine requirements (refer to org/ahrma-handbook).
HERE FOR FORM
Action from the AHRMA Pro Challenge race in 2023 with Geoff May (99) leading Stefano Mesa (37), Hayden Gillim (77X), Chris Fillmore (11R), Rennie Scaysbrook (33X), Gus Rodio (296), Nate Kern (9T), and the rest.
PHOTO CREDIT etechphoto.com
UPDATE: New Motocross Track for Barber Vintage Festival
WORDS BY TERRY MCPHILLIPS
If you haven’t heard yet, we are going to be running motocross at the Barber Vintage Festival on October 12th and 13th (along with cross country and trials on October 11th).
“I heard that, and heard that the track we ran in the past wasn’t very good. I probably won’t be going.”
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this since we announced MX was going to be available.
However, what you NEED TO KNOW is that we are having a brand new, vintage-friendly track built just for us! Allen McWilliams, former owner of Mill Creek MX in Pell City, AL, has agreed to build the track. Allen is a long-time AHRMA member who has been racing with us and has the understanding and skillset to build a track that specifically meets our needs.
This is an event that you will NOT want to miss. The Barber Vintage Festival is one of the largest gatherings for vintage motorcycle enthusiasts in the world. There is so much to do at Barber that you may find it hard to find time to race (but if you miss racing on this track, you will regret it for a long time).
Allen and his team have been working feverishly to make this happen. Here are some pictures of the progress currently being made. This is just the beginning, as there is still a lot of work to be done. When you see Allen or his team, make sure you tell them how much we appreciate all the work and effort that they have put into this project. This is going to be one of the best, if not THE best tracks in the country for us to race on.
Make sure to put this event on your calendar to attend. It’s going to be one glorious race on a premier track and a part of one of the biggest vintage venues of the year. Come bring the family and friends.
New Jersey Motorsports Park Disciplinary Actions
Several AHRMA members were issued Disciplinary Actions from incidents at the 2024 New Jersey Motorsports Park Road Race event.
DAVID ROPER
David Roper was issued a 6-month probation, through December 30th, 2024. On July 5th, 2024, an ontrack incident was in violation of AHRMA Handbook Sections 3.61 and 6.1.4. AHRMA Handbook Section 3.6 - Road Race Procedures, Section 3.6l states that the responsibility for the decision to pass another motorcycle rests with the overtaking rider. AHRMA Handbook Section 6 - Offenses, Penalties, Protests and Appeals, Section 6.1.4 states that an offense includes reckless or dangerous riding, or an act exhibiting a disregard for the safety of any participant or any other person, including the offender. David was being overly aggressive and made a poor decision to pass another rider on the track. This was particularly egregious as it was a practice session and not a competitive race.
BILL WILLMEROTH
Bill Willmeroth was issued a 6-month probation, through December 30th, 2024. Bill was reprimanded for two separate incidents, both offtrack and on-track during the 2024 AHRMA road race event at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Incident #1 involved Bill and his sidecar passenger, Michael McGovern, in possession of a partial package of 10-shot roman candles. Michael admitted to shooting them off in the presence of his sidecar driver for the weekend, Bill Willmeroth. It was explained to both that fireworks, race fuel, and race bikes do not mix, and this behavior put our relationship and reputation with the New Jersey Motorsports staff in jeopardy. The incident demonstrated a continued pattern of poor judgement and lack of personal responsibility to prevent situations that put the safety of himself and others at risk. Incident #2 occurred on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024, in the Sidecar Race #3. Bill exited the track surface at the exit of decreasing radius Turn #9, stopping just off the pavement in an impact area, and re-entered the track without looking to see if there was oncoming traffic and re-entered directly into the race line. AHRMA Handbook Section 6 - Offenses, Penalties, Protests and Appeals, Section 6.1.4 states that an offense includes reckless or dangerous riding, or an act exhibiting a disregard for the safety of any participant or any other person, including the offender.
MICHAEL MCGOVERN
Michael McGovern is officially on probation with AHRMA for an indeterminate time. His behavior will be monitored for the next six months and at that time if he has demonstrated positive shifts in his behavior, race staff will recommend lifting the probation or take other action as warranted to protect the safety of our racers. Michael was involved in two separate incidents at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Incident #1 involved fireworks being shot from the paddock. Michael McGovern was found in possession of a partial package of 10-shot roman candles. He admitted to shooting them off in the presence of Bill Willmeroth. Michael was told he made a very poor decision, and AHRMA would not tolerate any more trouble from him over the weekend. Incident #2 was during Sunday’s Sidecar Race #3. Grid Marshals reported that after Bill Willmeroth had stopped at his grid position, his passenger, Michael McGovern, got off the rig and was break dancing on the hot track while other teams were still approaching their grid positions. AHRMA Handbook Section 6.2Penalties, Section 6.2.1e Probation is for cases of offenses that are repeats of previous reprimands. Michael has displayed multiple instances of poor decision making that could have had grave consequences for himself and others.
Congratulations to the 2023 AHRMA Perpetual and Special Awards Recipients
DICK MANN SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
BARBER VINTAGE MOTORSPORT MUSEUM TROPHY
BARKER CONSTRUCTOR/RIDER AWARD
BILL NILSSON TROPHY
BRAD LACKEY TROPHY
BRIAN MARTIN TROPHY
BRITISH BIKE MAGAZINE WOMEN’S AWARD
CB 160 HIGH-POINT AWARD
IVAN HARKNESS TROPHY
DANIEL BEHER BRAKELESS HIGH-POINT AWARD
DAVE BICKERS TROPHY
DEBBIE EVANS TROPHY
DON SCHMUTZLER TROPHY
DWAINE WILLIAMS TROPHY
ENDERS CUP
GARY MOORE SPIRIT AWARD
HAILWOOD CUP
HENSLEY HANDSHIFT TROPHY
IRENE SMITH TROPHY
JEFF SMITH TROPHY
JIM MCCLINTON AWARD
JIMMY NATIONS OFFROAD MECHANIC OF THE YEAR
JIM POMEROY TROPHY
JOHN AND GINNY DEMOISSEY TROPHY
LADY ROADRACER OF THE YEAR
MIKE LIGHTFOOT TROPHY
MIKE SMITH TROPHY
NOBBY CLARK TROPHY
PACO BULTO TROPHY
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
SYD TUNSTALL TROPHY
STAN DIBBEN AWARD
TOMMY MCDERMOTT TROPHY
TONY HENDON TROPHY
TRIUMPH INTERNATIONAL OWNER’S CLUB AWARD
VINTAGE IRON PREMIER AWARD
AHRMA YOUNG RACER AWARD
Becky Hayes
Grant Spence
Jason Griffin
Kelly Shane
Trey Jorski
Robert Belliccitti
Mindi Walker
Brian Laraburre
David Miller
Richard Brodock
Jeff Mullins
Bryce Pophal
Dirk Murphy and Dana Salsman
Tim Terrell
Bernard Juchil
Gary Moore (posthumas)
David Roper
Tim Joyce
Emmy Poole
David Wilson
Robert Lisey
Rob Poole
Jeff Mendes
Leasha and Mark Overturf
Silke Crombie
Trampas and Sherri Parker
Cristy Klamfoth
Mike Bootes (Posthumas)
Paul Germain
Tom Watkins
David Miller
Wendy Stefaniak
Clint Hawk
Clayton Ferris
Clint Austin
Jeff Mullins
Ethan Mendes
AHRMA Mourns the Passing of Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson, a pillar of the vintage racing community and former chairman of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Board of Trustees, has died.
“Carl’s passing is a heartbreaking and profoundly saddening loss to our AHRMA family,” said Greg Tomlinson, 2024 Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “He served our membership honorably, with a passion for every aspect of our club. His contributions were significant, and his legacy will help guide our future.”
Anderson served as member of the Board of Trustees for several years before serving as chairman during 2017, 2018, and 2023. He also served several years as Technical Consultant for the Vintage Roadracing Rules and Eligibility Committee.
As Chairman of the Board during 2023, Anderson successfully spearheaded AHRMA’s recovery efforts from financial difficulties.
“Carl had a relentless passion for the AHRMA organization and its members,” said Daniel May, AHRMA Executive Director. “He was a mentor, teacher, racer, and builder who always had time to help a willing learner. His calm and cool demeanor along with an unselfish approach to fairness will remain unmatched. Godspeed as you reach terminal velocity in the afterlife.”
As a racer, Anderson built, raced and maintained several motorcycles for both road racing and off-road events. During the last several years he supported and promoted young racers, specifically his protégés Colton Roberts and Jonathan Hollingsworth, who also competes in MotoAmerica events.
“Carl was one of the greatest friends anyone could ever have
been blessed with. But to me and many others, he was family,” said Colton Roberts. “He had the ability to move mountains, but more than anything loved to see the people that he surrounded himself with succeed. He shared his wisdom, his expertise, and his witty sense of humor with all that had the privilege of meeting him. He truly loved his friends, family, and our sport.”
“Carl was my mentor, not only in racing, but in my life too. He was one of the most kindhearted people I will ever meet. I’ll always be eternally grateful for our friendship and cherish the many great memories we shared. I will always carry a piece of him with me in my heart, he was my best friend. We will all miss him dearly,” said Roberts.
Tomlinson said, “Our paddocks will miss his genuine enthusiasm for the machines he loved to race and build. Our fellow racers will miss his mentorship, willingness to teach, and sage advice. Our board will miss his institutional knowledge, fair-mindedness, and selfless volunteerism. I will personally miss the light in his eyes and his bearish, southern growl. He was truly one of a kind. On behalf of the AHRMA and vintage racing community, I wish to extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Godspeed, good buddy. You will be missed but not forgotten.”
AHRMA will be paying tribute to Anderson with a parade lap at the 2024 Barber Vintage Festival. Details to be announced later.
Colton Roberts (L) and Carl Anderson (R) at the 2022 Barber Vintage Festival PHOTO
CREDIT JACINDA ROBERTS
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OFF-ROADERS IN DIRT-TRACK LAND
Banging Bars and Breaking Bread at Irish Valley
The Poole family tries their hand at dirt track racing for the 2024 Dick Mann National Vintage Championship
WORDS BY DEBBIE POOLE
PHOTOS BY NICKLESS PHOTOS
With everything AHRMA has to offer, it’s not easy to take advantage of it all. Having the desire and, sometimes the nerve to do so, adds a layer of challenge. The difference in experience of each AHRMA discipline was described very well in Dirt Track Director Richard Brodock’s column in the June magazine (“Embracing Versatility”).
Road Race is without question the most complex racing experience in AHRMA and must have a certain rigidity which is necessary for safety. Road racing and road racers are about precision and speed, a daunting challenge to many off-road folks. Even the road racers at the slower end of the spectrum amaze us!
Motocross and cross country are close cousins, with similar demands in skill and endurance. Trials is altogether different, and a comment often made about this special discipline is, “I can’t go that slow,” which is not a cut towards trials, but a legitimate and deserved compliment to it, and to trials riders. If MX’ers and Cross Country riders are envied for rough and He-Man (or He-
Youth vs ExperienceWes Poole (19x) and Fuzzy Beeching (31)
Woman?) strength, the Trials riders are Balance Gods.
Three of my family members –Rob Poole, Wes Poole, and Emmy Poole - are competing in the Dick Mann National Vintage Championship (DMNVC), which requires riding four out of five of AHRMA’s disciplines. Their only opportunity to get their DMNVC dirt track points was at the 3-day dirt track event at Lodi, California. None of them have much, or any, experience on ovals or TT’s, although Rob did ride at Lodi in 1968!
Dirt track riders who appear like any other AHRMA rider while hanging out in the pits, suddenly become surfers on wheels once on the track. The technique is not easy to master, as my son Wes found out when he went down while experimenting during practice. As he slid along the ground hiding behind his bike, looking back for on-coming riders, he said he kept picturing the part of “On Any Sunday” where a rider does just that.
There were four races over the three days. Friday night was a 3/8 oval, Saturday afternoon a TT and a Short Track that evening, and another 3/8 mile Sunday afternoon. Without question, the most difficult for Rob, Wes and Emmy was the short track, and the favorite for all was the TT. By the end of the weekend they had all “got it” to a greater or lesser extent, and showed improvement. The excitement of it all- racing at night under the lights, the roar of the bikes, close racing through the corners; surfing and surfers with steel shoes, on wheels, in the dirt. There isn’t anything quite like it in AHRMA.
We have no dirt-track machines in our “stable,” and changing three sets of tires on the motocross bikes, then having to change them back, is a mild form of torture. Although both Rob and Wes would very much like to do more dirt track events, sometimes you just can’t do everything. The social scene is no different from any off-road pit we’ve been a part of, and new friends and acquaintances were made over the three days. A great time was had by our family, and will be had again if we get the chance.
Emmy Poole (70t) tries to stay ahead of Luke Sayer (76u)
Rob Poole (57z)
Reynlow Reboot
Iknew you’d be back. Reynlow Park is too good to avoid for long. The quaint and rustic storefronts of downtown Reynoldsville, the gorgeous off-road friendly Jefferson County park just south of town, the spacious and level paddock area surrounded by a spectacular horizon of rolling hills and luscious foliage, and the chicken-on-a-stick from food vendor WingNutz are just a few of the reasons to draw you back to the rural community in northwest Pennsylvania. And, most important, the racecourses are always downright epic. Yes! The AHRMA Bridgestone Tires National Cross Country Series has returned to Reynlow Park after a one year hiatus. AHRMA’s MidAtlantic region, along with
Reynlow Riders, the park’s offroad organizers, played the role of host and were eager to share one of the region’s premier venues.
The two-day event took place in mid-May and saw competitors from as far away as New Mexico seek some valued national points in the PA forest. However, the MidAtlantic regulars weren’t going to let the national folks carpet bag into their region without some pushback. Since the weekend was slated to pay out points for both the regional and national series, there was plenty of racing action throughout the pack. In following the MA region’s playbook, the event was organized into a three-race per day affair with the increasingly popular discbrake event capping off each day
WORDS BY JOSHUA SCHUCKER PHOTOS BY EMILY REICHART
Brock Kutskel (K5)
Grant Reichart (731)
thus giving the national scene a glimpse at the region’s novel approach and providing another opportunity for seat time for those who came equipped to do so.
Regardless of which points race you were chasing, you were sure to be chasing one man. Word got out a few weeks before the event that former off-road pro Tim Shepard would be attending the Reynlow event and was quickly named the honorary grand marshal for the weekend. With the spotlight on Tim in the pre-race rider’s meeting, he took the opportunity to share a wealth of stories about his life in Ohio and heading out to pursue glory in GNCC, ISDE, and other off-road series and the great deal of success that he was able to achieve. Riding predominantly Yamaha motorcycles throughout his career, Tim talked about the company’s support of off-road racing and the period of time where his Lancaster Sport Cycles shop in Carroll, Ohio was heavily involved in running Yamaha’s US racing program. As anyone who was honored enough to have been passed or lapped by Tim during any of the weekend’s races can attest, Tim still rides a Yamaha and he is still fast as ever. In fact, through four races, Tim collected his class win and stood on the overall podium in each one. The awards presented on both days were graced by pictures of Tim
on his current vintage ride and a vintage picture from his heyday in the mid-80s. As friendly and approachable a guy as you could hope to meet, he gladly autographed awards and posed for pictures with as many people as desired. Thanks Tim!
The racing action and course layout was typical Reynlow Park, which is to say an awesome mix of everything in the off-road encyclopedia, at least that which you can find on the East Coast, although surprisingly sparse on the rocks considering this is Rocksylvania. As usual, trailboss Mike Zdybak used a mix of fresh trail woven into established single-track sections, dirt road transfers, and grass track. Plenty of elevation changes throughout and enough roots to keep your attention. Saturday’s start led directly into a winding bit of fresh single-track that got the blood flowing quickly before hitting the back half of the park’s motocross (MX) track enroute to a gnarly switchback ascending the ridgeline just above the MX track. The loop then spent several miles exploring the plethora of wooded
area beyond the ridge before returning to conquer the front half of the MX track in a lead up to the scoring tent. Despite great weather Saturday and Sunday, the Mid-Atlantic region cannot seem to escape rain (trust me, I’m as tired of writing about rain as you are reading about it and riding in it…). Rain leading up to the event and as late as Friday presented a few obstacles out in the woods. While the vast majority of the nearly five-mile course drained well and was wonderful, there were a few spots that were a challenge. Poor drainage in these spots led to stretches of mud the consistency of World War II era axle grease. As noted by our New Mexico friend, this is NOT a part of the West Coast version of the off-road encyclopedia. Thankfully some serious efforts from Mike and MA coordinator Dave Kutskel rerouted the Sunday course around these troublesome areas with a sweet virgin trail section using higher elevations. Apart from those changes, Sunday’s course was identical but run in reverse. Seeing the trail from the opposite perspective is always a unique experience but beware
Pamela Leibgold (10)
NATIONAL
- cross country of those MX track tabletops. Sculpted to be jumped one direction, the lip going the other way is followed by a very abrupt descent!
Hopefully the national folks have come to their senses and will return to Reynlow Park in perpetuity from this point on, because, well you know, I just told you why…It’s awesome. Imagine it with no rain, it’s going to happen, someday. And you’ll be there. Thanks to Tim Doan and Reynlow Riders for allowing the series to invade their private playground, and thanks to the Mid-Atlantic region’s team of Reichart, Marshall, Frye, Cole, Kutskel, Zdybak, Reitz, Colahan, Hershey, and everyone else that keeps these events on track, the hard work is appreciated. When the opportunity presents itself, please show some gratitude to the sponsors that step up each year to support vintage motorcycle racing. The AHRMA National Cross County series is sponsored by Bridgestone Tires while the regional series is sponsored by Potomac Vintage Riders, Preston Petty Products, Stainless Cycle, Grove Printing, KMI Printing, Horizon Homes, and M3One.
Kyle Warner (725)
Keith Folmar (519)
MX FACILITY OR RESORT?
Chaney Ranch near Warner Springs, California, is an oasis in the high desert. Few AHRMA members realize that the property and MX facility is open only by invitation, and does not run public events; we are among a rare minority granted the privilege of racing and exploring this exceptional venue.
The property once belonged to the 1930’s and ‘40’s Hollywood
film star Lon Chaney Jr (The Wolf Man), and is steeped in history and legend. An abandoned house is even rumored to be haunted, and owner Ed Pecozzi enjoys relating a number of stories about this and other things of interest about his property. But on May 18 and 19, the story was AHRMA’s and the riders who attended the national off-road events over the weekend.
AT CHANEY RANCH, IT’S BOTH
WORDS BY DEBBIE POOLE PHOTOS BY MONTI SMITH
Trialsmaster Morgan Proffitt kicked things off on Saturday morning. Sections had a nice mix of terrain; on the hillside near the lake, up dry creeks and gullies, and on some smooth rock surfaces.
Participation was light, but showed an increase of six riders over the first event held in 2022. Blake Lawson, who made the trip at the last minute, had
probably the best ride of the day in the Modern Classic intermediate class with 4 points lost for the day. Michael Zesiger followed for second with 15 points, and Keith Caldwell with 18. Don Duquette took the Premier Lightweight intermediate class by a 22-point lead over second place Simon Yeatman. With 20 riders total, these two classes were the largest. First loop points began higher than trialsmaster Morgan would have liked, but everyone improved markedly on their second and third loops.
New trails and roads were cut into parts of the property for the cross country, and as a result the course was notably more fun than two years ago. There
was plenty of elevation change, dry creek features, and an opportunity to jump if desired on the short portion on the motocross track. Ed kept the water truck working and wetted down any part of the track he could reach. The cross country event had a large increase in entries over two years ago, with 18 Vintage entries and 15 Post Vintage. Overall Vintage winner Rick Wernli, riding Sportsman Open intermediate completed 8 laps in 59 minutes and 55 seconds, just seconds ahead of 50+ intermediate rider Todd Winslow (1:01:53). Classic expert Greg (GT) Tomlinson, one of only four who completed eight laps, had the fastest lap of the day, and finished fourth overall.
Post Vintage 200 expert Rick Helmick completed 8 laps with an overall win time of 1:00:10, followed by 60+ intermediate Kelly McCully 44 seconds later. Eight PV riders in all completed 8 laps, with the fastest lap going to Todd Winslow, who also finished second overall in the Vintage race. Todd had a blistering 6:57 on his first lap, but evidently had problems that took him out of the race after lap one.
Though the entries for the Vintage, Post Vintage and Next Gen motocross races were modest, a surprising number of riders came from out of state, and traveled substantial distances: Kansas, Idaho, Arizona, Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Colorado, Washington, Nevada and Alberta, Canada. Young Rider Mattox and his father Jerry came from North Carolina, and went 1-2 in Sportsman 125 expert with Rider besting his father, ahead of Canadian Gerard Hayes in third. Ex-pro Trey Jorski of Oklahoma swept the 60+ expert class in both Vintage and Post Vintage. Sportsman 500 intermediate featured Morgan Proffitt, who set up the trials event for the weekend, went 1-1 over Keith Caldwell’s 2-2. In Post Vintage, the 50+ intermediates were among the largest classes of the day, was won by Jo Grima, with Todd Winslow taking second.
First or last place, there was no disappointment because spending time on the Chaney Ranch is a reward in itself. Visiting with friends under the immense old oak trees that shade the entire pits, or sitting by the lake after a day of riding, maybe doing a little fishing. All that, and a full offering of off-road on the menu - what more could an AHRMA rider want?
COURSE CLASSIC
WORDS &
PHOTOS BY KATE JORGENSON
On the weekend of June 22nd and 23rd, 2024 the AHRMA Northwest region competed in sweltering heat in Ontario, Oregon. Temperatures in the desert were in triple digits by day and cooled down to about 85 degrees in the evening.
Saturday featured the vintage motocross with 96 riders and 11 motos. The track was on the old driving range in town and was laid out by Rob Poole, Kelly Shane, and Kelly’s granddaughters. Riders, photographers, volunteers, and fans experienced dust, golf balls, and sand traps, and the
back stretch had a motorcycle slip and slide as the riders rode through farming sprinklers left on throughout the day making for a straightaway of knee-high mud.
Let the race results begin… In race one there were 12 riders in the Sportsman 500, Sidney
Ed Schandl dusting out his competition.
INSET: Sidney Mocke in the cross country
Mocke got the hole shot and snatched the win for the Expert class and Mark Bungay won for the Intermediate class. The 70+ and Women were on the line for race two, Peter Jorgenson came out of the first corner leading the pack, the winner for the 70+ Intermediate was Allen Niehaues and Ellen Voermans took the win for the Women. Race three was one of the larger ones of the day, it featured Classic 250 Intermediate winner, Debbie Poole, Early Sportsman Stock 500 Expert Ed Schandl who won for his class, Sportsman 250 Intermediate had eight competitive men and Blake Lawson captured the overall win for that class, and Luke Ransom won the Sportsman 250 Expert class. Race four featured the Vintage 40+ Novices, Vintage 60+ Novices, and the Women Novices. Duane Diener captured the win and was moved up to intermediate after being the race leader for both motos, congrats Duane, Leland Long edged out the competition for the 60+ Novice class, and Bree Hawes and Cheryl Long battled for the win in the Women Novice class, each taking a win, with Bree Hawes winning overall. The Early Sportsman Stock 500 Intermediate, Vintage Open Age Expert, and Vintage 50+
Expert classes took to the track next in race five; Scott Mcclellan won for the Early Sportsman Stock 500 Intermediate class, Rowland Coad won the Vintage Open Age Expert class, and Sidney Mocke won the Vintage 50+ Expert class. Race six featured the Classic 125 Intermediates and Classic 500 Intermediates, Marty Ness took the win for the Classic 125 Intermediate class and Todd Glass edged out Sean Chase in the Classic 500 Intermediate class. Race seven was next on the line with the largest amount of riders with 14 racers; the results are as follows: Rob Poole won the 70+ Expert class, Ed Schandl won for the Vintage 60+ Experts, Blake Lawson won the Vintage 50+ Intermediate class, and Scott Mcclellan won the Vintage Open Age Intermediate class. In race eight three racers took to the track next in three classes, Rick Teegarden won the Early Sportsman Stock 250 Intermediate class, Mark Baer won the Early Sportsman Stock 250 Expert class, and Mickey Sergeant took the win for the Sportsman 125 Expert class. Race nine featured the following winners: Peter Jorgenson in the Premier 350 Intermediate class, Mike Atkins in the Premier 350 Expert class
Todd Glass edged out Sean Chase in the Premier 500 Intermediate class and Kelly Shane squeezed by Rob Poole in the Premier 500 Expert class. Race eleven and the final race of the day featured the Vintage 60+ Intermediate class, Mark Percy and Tom Hooker both won a moto, but Tom Hooker won the second moto and took first for the class. The races were done by midafternoon so many riders, volunteers, and fans alike spent time telling stories, catching up with old friends, and enjoyed their air-conditioned motorhomes. Thank you to the sponsors: The Jorgenson Family, Laguna Electric,
Kaptured by Kate Photography, Motion Pro, MXG Designs, 1 Up Motosports, and Gorrono Art.
Sunday morning, 19 trials competitors competed in the difficult sections laid out by Rob Poole and his crew. As for the results, Rob Poole edged out his competition by just three fewer points, earning 22 points and the win in the Premier Heavyweight Expert class over Kelly Shane. Sean Chase won the Premier Lightweight Expert class. Jeff Bushey captured the win in the Classic Expert class. Lance Maddux edged out Paul Deree
Tre Hawes riding up the boat ramp in the cross country
Rob Maguire
in the Modern Classic Expert class. Sidney Mocke captured the win in the Modern Classic Intermediate class with only 11 points, the fewest for the day. John Blumthal took the win in the Modern Classic Novice class. Scott Stewart continued his streak of wins in the Air Cooled Mono Masters class. Brian Restrom edged out his competition, Ed Schandl in the Air Cooled Mono Intermediate class. Brant Lawson, age eight, first time trials rider, won the Youth C class riding trials with his grandparents, Kim and Blake Lawson! The sections were along the track of the sprint boat racing. Thank you to the trials sponsor: Redwood Engineering.
Sunday afternoon 17 riders competed in the cross country. Jeff Bushey along with his sidekick, Wayne Hawes laid out a fast muddy experience for riders to battle lap after lap. The track was laid out in the canals of a sprint boat racetrack and the track promoter even provided some water for riders to slip and slide in. Sidney Mocke won overall after snatching and splashing through twelve laps on the course. Jeff Bushey, Wayne Hawes, and the class sponsor, West Country Stables provided awards for all riders!
A special thank you to Ron Dillon the track promoter, the Life Ways Rehabilitation Center for providing wonderful volunteers all weekend, the Hawes Family, Bushey Family, Poole Family, and all the other volunteers for the weekend. In addition, a special thank you to our sponsors regionally and nationally! Thank you to everyone that came out for the weekend and gave this new location a try, it was a fabulous weekend, and we are looking forward to the next events!
THIS ONE IS GONNA BE GUD!
WORDS BY JOSHUA SCHUCKER
This season marks the sixth time that AHRMA’s MidAtlantic and Northeast regions have huddled together for a summertime showdown in the hills north of State College, Pennsylvania. Without fail, each year our hosts Brian and Lisa Ashcraft continue to outdo themselves in hospitality and event preparation. From the very first time the pin was pulled on the rubber band start in 2019, Ashcraft Farm has been a bright spot on the schedule and remains so through the present. As with any event, these things take a solid investment of sweat equity to pull off, and the Ashcraft family certainly has relied heavily on their extended family of Uncle Brian’s battalion of two-wheeled troops, an exceedingly talented group of trail ride regulars familiar with the Ashcraft’s slice of moto paradise. For the first five years, one such regular consistently contributed time and effort into ensuring the
BY LORENA WALKER
success of this two-day motocross/cross-country affair. From initial pre-2019 concept phase, to hanging ribbon and cutting limbs, to recruiting friends and co-workers, to pounding stakes in the Ashcraft’s cattle pasture, Paul “Gud” Hardy was omnipresent in preparation and execution of a renowned vintage extravaganza.
This year’s event was dedicated to Gud and his family as the Paul “Gud” Hardy Memorial Ride. Of course, the gut-punch, catch-22 of calling anything a “memorial” typically means there was an awful prerequisite. Sadly, Gud was recently taken from this world far too young, and while we can hope he is practicing for the Lord’s Motocross of Nations team as we speak, the void left in the lives of his wife Dawn and children Gage and Lucas is incalculable. So, this weekend, we focus on the positive side of the catch-22 and pay homage to his memory amongst
June 22-23, 2024
his people and share with his family the strength, honor, and love the motorcycling community does so well. It is important to take these moments as reminders
PHOTOS
Brian Haney (307)
Brock Kutskel (K5)
to be grateful for the remarkable and awe-inspiring community that we find ourselves in whether you categorize it as AHRMA, vintage, motorcycle, off-road, racer, race fan, or all the above or more. Thanks for all you did to support the sport Gud, and to everyone else, hug someone you love today.
Perhaps the best way to memorialize is to enjoy life in the moment as you would hope Gud would want. And racing dirt bikes is a great was to enjoy life, so that is what we did. And it was, in typical Ashcraft fashion, great.
Saturday found spectators gathered on the south lawn of Brian and Lisa’s home overlooking a meandering path through the grassy pasture outlined starkly with yellow ribbon. The grass track motocross course laid out in this patch of land usually reserved for grazing cattle is always a unique but familiar experience. Each year the layout is sure to incorporate a handful of terrain elements that are trademark Ashcraft Farms like the pair of down/up one-eighties, the high-tensile fence straight, and the mini-gravity cavity centered in the expanse of green grass. The lefts, rights, swerves, curves, and shoots that connect them is where the variety is dealt. Plenty of off camber turns, hard packed soil, and residual cut grass require attention and good line selection to minimize lap times. The race action was hot, just like the weather. So hot that the Ashcraft clan set up an industrial sized fan blowing down the starting line. A welcome relief for sure to Wally Naletko and Keith Folmar while they spent the day wrangling the rubber band for two motos of sixteen separate races. Also, it was dry for a change, but with hot and dry comes dust, which was certainly a challenge throughout the weekend. Despite pummeling the course with untold gallons of water before and during the races, the dust was barely phased. Between the quick evaporation facilitated by the unrelenting sunshine, or the baked hard-pan soil shrugging off absorbing any moisture, the battle was futile, but the effort appreciated. A few changes between motos one and two helped mitigate some of the
Laci Horvath (996), Dan Ambrosio (718)
Junior riders Nina Govolova, Carter Billett, and Keira Grove with a fist bump from Women’s class hero Emily Reichart
Mike Blackwell (241), John Brant (861)
dust by eliminating a couple spots where the soil had devolved into fluffy powder. Plenty of air filters to be cleaned after this day.
Sunday’s attention turned toward the picturesque mountain serving as the northern boundary of the Ashcraft property, where the day’s participants would tackle some combination of the multitude of trails crisscrossing the forest therein. There was still dust in some of the open areas or dirt roads that transfer riders between tighter single track. Thankfully, the majority of the course was under cover from enough foliage that the soil retained some measure of moisture keeping the plumes of dust at bay. As for the course layout, the Ashcraft’s always ensure you get your money’s worth on their mountain. In the last few years, there was a separate vintage course that kept things a bit tamer on the lower elevations while the other races got to explore the upper reaches. This year, the five-ish-mile loop was the same for all three races (vintage, post-vintage, and discbrake), so the vintage bikes were unleashed upon the mountaintop as well. All classes took off from the uphill starting area and into some familiar single track just beyond the wood line of the paddock, across the powerline, and headed west toward a logging road that provided a direct route to the highest elevation. Here the bikes and their pilots descended through a tangle of tight trees, curves, roots, and rocks before heading back uphill yet again on a few challenging multi-tiered climbs. Once near the top, the course took a fresh off-camber route toward some neat single track introduced last year. Here, a trio of side hill paths, peppered with roots, ascend the mountain in parallel, connected by upswept one-eighties. A few bowl turn switchbacks carry the riders downward to the fan-lined sinkholes, through a small rock garden, and a final bit of flowy fun. Completing laps at Ashcraft Farm’s 2024 event was no-doubt one of the more challenging affairs held here, but also very rewarding. Not in a “I survived
Mason Grove (702)
Ronald Gavlak (200), Claudia McDowell (13R)
Tough Like Ashcraft” way, but more of a “proving your mettle as a skilled rider” sense of accomplishment. Whether completing one lap or twelve, you did well.
Another great weekend in the books in Happy Valley, as we’ve come to expect over the years. And, as anyone who has followed the MidAtlantic/Northeast region’s exploits recently, it was finally rain-free. Sure, there was dust, there was heat, but no rain was a welcome reprieve after a seemingly yearlong battle with the wet side of the force. I’d like to think Gud was above holding the rain spigot closed so we could enjoy the weekend, because not long after the final cross country race concluded, the skies darkened hastily and unloaded a twenty minute torrent. Thanks Gud! And, thanks to the Ashcraft family for the continued hospitality, their loyal group of assistants that help prepare and operate the weekend’s events, the AHRMA region’s crews for keeping the wheels turning, everyone that participated in the pre-race Parade for Paul and the outpouring of support for his family, and the sponsors that provide fuel to feed the fire of racing desire; Potomac Vintage Riders, Preston Petty Products, Stainless Cycle, Grove Printing, KMI Printing, Horizon Homes, and M3One.
Please visit www.ahrma.org/ahrma-midatlantic-region to see the results for the entire weekend and use the upcoming schedule to plan your effort to join in the fun…you know you want to.
Nik Dudukovich (1), Mike Blackwell (241)
Tennessee Ridge RunneR Trial
WORDS BY STEPHANIE DANIELS
John Strange is a fortunate man. In a long list of blessings, there is one he shares with us: 300 acres of hillbilly-style East Tennessee goodness. Tucked up in Talley Hollow, the Fourth Annual TN Ridge Runner AHRMA National was exactly what John wants it to be known as, and that is none other than the best vintage trial event in the country. Coupled with cross country races in the afternoon, it was a perfect mix of what the property has to offer.
Morning ride times each day didn’t give riders much respite from the heat and humidity, but John and his Volunteer Riders checked sections over the Father’s Day weekend with all the hospitality one could ask for. Because of
the holiday, there were a few regulars missing from the ranks. Despite their absence, 36 riders for Saturday and 28 for Sunday was a good turnout. Both days provided ‘thought provoking’ sections, many of them new, served up by Trials Master and co-promoter Mark Hawk. An excellent single track loop cleared the mind and exhaust in between.
Vintage events are all about the bikes, similar to Pleasure classes at horse shows. Less about Equitation, but the better your skills are, the more you can show off that prized pony. Graham Foster trotted out his 1955 Ariel HT 350 for Premier Heavyweight each day and let it shine. “The sections were all very ridable but challenging. You couldn’t
relax too much!” Ridden like they should be were Triumphs, Hondas, Montessas, Steve Glinski’s Greeves, and Dennis Simoes’ Cotton.
Saturday had eight sections with four being within walking distance. Consideration is always given to spectators and Mark tries to provide ample viewing opportunities. A crowd favorite was one of the ‘separators,’ section 7, with a rocky line in a mostly dry creek and a nasty exit. Cheers to the heroes with zeros and the not so fortunate alike. Section 1 was another carnage inducer with a hill climb and wheelies through the exit. Jake Farr was filming all the action; he’ll be posting the video soon for everyone to enjoy.
The most contested class of the weekend was Modern Classic on the expert line. Chattanooga legend Randy Bailey rode his 1974 Suzuki RL 250 in the morning and raced a 1984 Yamaha IT 200 in the afternoon. Following a stellar trials showing at The Chirt Pit in Georgia for rounds 3 and 4 (0,0), he moved up to come in second (7) on Saturday to perennial standout Mark Sturtevant (6) with Paul Thistle in third. Sunday’s top three were the same riders with a switch to second for Paul.
Day two of the event dawned with more of the same, weather-wise.
Riders didn’t know whether to curse the trees causing dabs or be thankful for almost every section being under the canopy. Checking at section 6 on Sunday, Reggie Wrinkle noted there was a single tree that 99% of the riders tapped in one way or another. It’s always after a race or trial that you find out one feature made everyone’s day just a bit harder. Camaraderie between riders themselves is something that stands out for trials during competition, unlike any other motorcycle endeavor. Add in witty commentary by checkers, especially with those who have known each other for decades across various dirt bike disciplines, and the laughter is infectious. Some joyously give fives and others are almost apologetic. Of the eight sections on Sunday, there were a few stealthy features who challenged every rider from Novice to Masters, represented by section2 with a muddy ditch and section 7’s creek. There were a few logs that are probably still giving the 2-line riders nightmares.
Support Class had two exemplary riders for the weekend. Expert
line had the only clean total score of the day for Trent Webster. David Wolfe jumped in to join the fun. Beginning trials just last November, David was the only Masters rider with scores of 24 on Saturday and 12 on Sunday.
Air-Cooled Mono Expert was a match between Gary Holbert and Mark Hawk, riding dueling Yamaha TY’s. Gary held out for the win each day. “This has become a yearly must ride event.” Mr. Holbert, we thoroughly agree!
Awards were presented quickly after the last rider came in. Promoter of the event, Mark Hawk said, “I have seen a significant increase in the number of people riding trials since we began this event four years ago. Plans are already in the making for the 5th Anniversary event.” Flip on up to June of ’25 and mark your calendars. Don’t miss it!
2024 AHRMA NATIONAL SERIES SCHEDULES
SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE! PLEASE CHECK WWW.AHRMA.ORG FOR INFO & UPDATES
2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series AAR: Academy of Roadracing SRS: Sidecar Racing School
Date Venue
2/16-18 Roebling Road Raceway; Bloomingdale, GA (AAR & SRS)
4/13-14 Rocket Run; Three Springs, PA Cross Country and Motocross
4/27-28 Irish Valley; Paxinos, PA National/Regional Cross Country and Motocross
5/4-5 Sutton Station; Summerville, PA Cross Country and Motocross
5/18-19
Reynlow Park 1; Reynoldsville, PA National Cross Country
6/22-23 Ashcraft Run; Bellefonte, PA Cross Country and Motocross
6/30 Allens Farm; Lawton, PA Motocross
7/6-7
7/20-21
Shady Acres; Friendsville, MD National/Regional Cross Country and Motocross
Quiet Oaks; Cross Fork, PA Cross Country and Motocross
8/24-25 Coyote Run; Ebensburg, PA Cross Country
9/7-8 Field Of Dreams; Greensburg, PA National/Regional and Motocross
9/21-22
Blacks Hollow Recreation; Spring Church, PA Cross Country and Motocross
10/12-13 Reynlow Park 2; Reynoldsville, PA Cross Country and Motocross
10/26-27 White Rose; Spring Grove, PA Cross Country and Motocross
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 series championship and yearend awards.
• Best six (6) cross country class placings/points count toward CC series championship.
• Best six (6) motocross class placings/points count toward MX series championship.
Date Event
Disciplines
3/2-3 Fingerlake; Red Bluff, CA - cancelled Cross Country, VMX, PVMX
4/6-7 Burrows Ranch; Chrome, CA * National Trials, Cross Country, VMX
4/21 Leapfrog Classic Trials; Frong Pond Motoranch; Vacaville, CA Trials
5/4-5 Steel Stampede, Deschutes County Fairgrounds; Redmond, OR Trials, VMX
6/8-9 Grizzly Trials and Cross Country; Grizzly Flats, CA National Trials, Cross Country
8/10-11 Pomeroy Memorial; Yakima, WA * Trials, Cross Country, VMX
8/24-25 Tea Cup Trials & Scott Trials; Point Arena, CA Trials
9/14-15 Rattlers Run Ranch; Fairfield, WA National Trials, VMX
9/28-29 Bushey Ranch; Canby, CA * National Trials, Cross Country, VMX
10/20 Original Standard MX, MMX Racing; Marysville, CA V, PV, NG MX
2024 AHRMA Northwest Regional Championship Series
• all Northwest events count for 2024 Northwest Championships
• VMX - 9 events, 4 to qualify, best 7
• Trials - 10 events, 5 to qualify, best 7
• Cross Country - 7 events, 4 to qualify, best 5
• 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 5 scheduled events
Date Event
Disciplines
2/11 Sunshine State; Waldo, FL V, PV, NG MX
3/16 Wildsville; Reynolds, GA V, PV, NG MX & CC
3/22-24 Farm 14; Centerville, MS National CC & V, PV, NG MX
4/6-7 Sugar Hill; Whiteville, TN National Trials & CC
4/13-14 Chirt Pit; Ringold, GA National Trials
4/19-21 S. of the Border; Hamer, SC National CC & V, PV, NG MX
5/11 Fannin Cnty MX; Fannin County, GA PV, NG MX
6/1-2 Aonia Pass; Washington, GA Trials, CC, V, PV, NG MX
6/15-16 Tennessee Ridge Runner; Bybee, TN National Trials & CC
7/13 Acres Above; Lookout Mountaun, GA Trials
8/9-11 Muddy Creek; Blountville, TN National V, PV, NG MX
8/17 Henry’s Hills; Cornelia, GA Trials
9/14-15 Hickory Hills; Lenoir City, TN Trials
9/21 Aonia Pass; Washington, GA Trials, CC, V, PV, NG MX
10/11-13 Barber Motorsports Park; Leeds, AL Trials, CC, V, PV, NG MX
Date Event Disciplines
3/15-17 Wildwood MX; Kentwood, LA National CC & V, PV, NG MX
3/22-24 Farn 14; Centreville, MS National CC & V, PV, NG MX
5/25-26 Swan MX; Tyler, TX V, PV, NG MX
5/3-5 Freestone County Raceway; Wortham, TX CANCELLED National CC & V, PV, NG MX
6/8-9 3 Palms Action Sports Park; Conroe, TX CANCELLED CC & V, PV, NG MX
9/21-22 Johnsonville MX; Yantis, TX National CC & V, PV, NG MX
10/5-6 Waco Eagles; Waco, TX CC & V, PV, NG MX
10/25-27 Mill Creek Motorsports; Combs, AR National CC & V, PV, NG MX
11/8-10 T&S Racing Final; Henryetta, OK National CC, Trials, V, PV, NG MX
Regional Championship Requirements to Qualify
• You must be an AHRMA member to receive Regional AHRMA Championship Awards and Points. Non-member points will be removed and rescored for members.
Motocross Regional Championship
• Must score points in 7 of 9 races of which 2 must be a regional-only race
Cross Country Regional Championship
• Must score points in 10 of 14 races of which 1 must be a regional-only race.
All race points count toward a regional championship
4/13-14
9/21
3/23
5/26
6/1 Aztec Family Raceway; Colorado Springs, CO V, PV, NG CC
6/16 Aztec Family Raceway; Colorado Springs, CO V, PV, NG MX
6/29 Thunder Valley Motocross Park; Morrison, CO V, PV, NG CC
7/14 Sweney Cycle Ranch; Brush, CO V, PV, NG MX
8/18 Sutak Raceway; Alamosa, CO V, PV, NG MX
8/31 PNCC Hare Scramble; Potter, NE V, PV, NG CC
9/15 Sweney Cycle Ranch; Brush, CO V, PV, NG MX
10/5 Aztec Family Raceway; Colorado Springs, CO V, PV, NG CC
PV, NG MX
10/13 Aztec Family Raceway; Colorado Springs, CO V, PV, NG MX 2024 AHRMA Rocky Mountain Schedule - visit ahrmarm.org
2024 AHRMA Southwest Schedule - visit ahrmasw.org
2/4 Duel in the Desert; Shorty’s Cycle Park; Blythe, CA
Glen Helen Raceway; San Bernardino, CA V, PV, NG MX
3/24 Shorty’s Cycle Park; Blythe, CA V, PV, NG MX
4/13 Willow Springs Raceway, CA Trials
4/21 Motoland; Casa Grande, AZ V, PV, NG MX
4/27 Pasha GP, Glen Helen Raceway; San Bernardino, CA CC (Grand Prix)
5/18-19 Chaney Ranch; Warner Springs, CA National CC, Trials, V, PV, NG MX
6/23 Bull Hollow Stampede, Bull Hollow Raceway; Monticello, UT V, PV, NG MX
TBD 11 Mile Corner V, PV, NG MX
7/20-21 Weathertech Raceway (Laguna Seca); Salinas, CA National CC, Trials, V, PV, NG MX
10/27 Octoberfast Grand Prix, Glen Helen Raceway; San Bernardino, CA CC (Grand Prix)
12/8 Shorty’s Cycle Park; Blythe, CA V, PV, NG MX
12/15 Glen Helen Raceway; San Bernardino, CA V, PV, NG MX
MARKETPLACE
1972 bsa b50 road racer
PRICE: $5,000
LOCATION: Atlanta, GA CONTACT: (770) 713-2254
1974 bultaco pursang 360 mk7
PRICE: $8,000
LOCATION: San Jose, CA
CONTACT: (415) 509-6114
ADVERTISE YOUR VINTAGE RACING RELATED BUSINESS & PRODUCTS HERE
rm250e 1984 with lots of spare parts
PRICE: $4,000
LOCATION: Durham, NC
CONTACT: (919) 389-9891
cz360 twin pipe
PRICE: $16,000
LOCATION: Lewiston, ID CONTACT: (208) 589-0312
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
1974 honda tl 125
PRICE: $4,000
LOCATION: Whitehall, MT CONTACT: (406) 570-7381
41 indian scout & 67 honda dreamcycle
PRICE: $47,000
LOCATION: Middletown, CT
CONTACT: (803) 446-1359
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/
SWAP MEET
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
2018 honda crf450 cylinder head
2018 Honda CRF-450 cylinder head
This is a new, unused cylinder head
Part number 12010-MKE-A00
Price does not include shipping
PRICE: $400
LOCATION: San Rafael, CA
CONTACT: Jim Dour - (415) 472-7422
1974 tl 125
1974 Honda Trials bike, runs well, clean title, Sammy Miller exhaust and seat. $1700 OBO. Call/Text 253-218-9380, ask for Pete.
PRICE: $1,700
LOCATION: Auburn, WA
CONTACT: Pete Jorgenson - (253) 218-9380
1985 yamaha tzr250
The bike is finished in white with red accents and wheels over an extruded Deltabox aluminum twin-spar frame. The full front fairing features a rectangular headlight, a clear windscreen, integrated turn signals, and mirrors. Equipment includes a 4.3-gallon fuel tank, a black vinyl two-up seat with a passenger seat cowling, rearsets, passenger foot pegs, and a side stand. Reach out to me me for more details and photos.
LOCATION: Dallas, TX
CONTACT: David Wilkes - (208) 839-6559
76 honda tl250
1976 Honda TL250 trials, runs great ready to ride. calif title, pick up at Laguna Seca and ride it
PRICE: $1,600
LOCATION: Carmel Valley, CA
CONTACT: Dan Wilson - (831) 659-0329
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.
