T&S Racing: Cross Country

CROSS COUNTRY

2021 Hagerty AHRMA National Cross Country Series - Henryetta, OK

WORDS: SUZY MOODY PHOTOS: KENNY LAU - AWESOME SHOTS

“L et the fun begin!” That’s how I felt pulling into Nichols Park in Henryetta, OK. Greeting racers were welcoming signs, banners, cute autumn displays of hay bales and scarecrows. After multiple events of rain and/or dust and loading in the snow in Colorado, I was ready for what the weather service predicted as a perfect weekend. The schedule was full with Trials, Cross Country, Motocross, Dirt track, the Shoot Out, and of course, the Dog Show! It was amazing to see Team Parker and AHRMA Off-road manage all the details of the multiple events. Specifically writing about the Cross Country events, they were scheduled into all three days. Friday afternoon kicked it off with both Vintage and Post Vintage races. Saturday morning was just Post Vintage and Sunday morning was just Vintage. To say it was busy was an understatement!

FRIDAY: VINTAGE RACE

Luckily, we didn’t race until 1:00 on Friday afternoon. With a welcome soaking most of the day Wednesday, I knew the trails would just get better as a little sunlight and wind perfected the terrain. As I looked up and down the rows, I was just thrilled to see John Bowman on a cool Penton 100 and Wes Wyman on his big ol’ 1965 Honda 305 Scrambler, Ole Olsen on a beautiful BSA and everything in between. It takes a special person to ride a four-inch travel bike in the woods. But I think the simplicity of the machine and the connection each rider has with the steed they have chosen is the real meaning of competing in the Vintage Cross Country races. Riders were treated to a wellgroomed, flowing six-mile course that included roots, rocks, tight single track, open ATV trails and chocolate

Becky Hayes (77M)

cake soil; throw in some asphalt and two sections of a fun grass track it was just perfect! Trampas Parker took the Vintage Overall for the day riding a Team Bullprepped 1974 Bultaco 200 Pursang, followed closely by Kevin Obrien and fast Chris Gillespie on one of my favorite bikes, the 1974 CanAm TNT 250. With an 8:00 AM start time, it brought back memories of early morning enduro starts. It may have been my LT3 100, my MR175 or maybe a CanAm Qualifier that I would wipe off dew and/or sometimes frost in hopes that she would come to life. Luckily there was that beautiful early morning sound of two- and fourstrokes meeting at the starting line. Zahn Lewis, handling starting duties, flagged off the race right at 8:00 AM sharp. This must have been a surprise for seasoned pros Terry Cunningham, Fred Hoess and Alan Drane, who all missed the start and had to play catch up for the rest of the race. There was a good turnout for this end-of-the-year Post Vintage race with all the class lines loaded. Ricky Parker took the overall for the day followed by Fred Hoess who tagged one nasty tree knot in a horrific crash doing a good 40 MPH exiting a fast asphalt section. Tough as he I, he shook it off, came through the scoring tent in 25th place on the first lap, put his head down and climbed back to second overall at the checkered flag after passing third place finisher fast Heith Parker on the last lap. It was great to see Heith and Mike Parker duke it out on the grass track (see inset picture) at the start.

Pamela Liebgold (10) John Bowman (901)

A special shout out to David and Pamela Liebgold. They come all the way from NJ to most all the AHRMA National Cross Country races. They both took National #1 plates this year: Dave in the Post Vintage 200 Novice class and Pamela in the Vintage Women’s Novice class. Congratulations you two!

The Trampas train was still rolling Friday afternoon as he jumped on his Husky 250 for another overall win, followed by Terry Cunningham and AHRMA Off-road Director, Tony Paul. Big congratulations to newly married Robert Hicks winning the Pre-Modern intermediate class. Anyone who has met Robert knows he’s fairly special. He is not only a true enthusiast for AHRMA sports, but an inspiration to us all for he races very fast and very well with a prosthetic arm. Nary an excuse from him, although smack talk with any of his close friends should be expected. And it was great to see ex-AHRMA Cross Country coordinator Teddy Landers lined up on the Post Vintage 70+ Expert line. His contributions to AHRMA Cross Country are much appreciated and a special thank you Teddy!

FRIDAY: POST-VINTAGE RACE

SATURDAY: POST-VINTAGE RACE

A special mention for Zachary Ballard who is Razorback’s Prez Danielle Ballard’s son. He was racing in his first true AHRMA race placing sixth in the very competitive Post Vintage 200 Intermediate class, won by 31T, Thomas Garland.

Don’t forget the time change! Not that yesterday’s 8:00 AM start seemed early, due to the time change and a loaded schedule, Vintage Cross Country started at an even earlier 7:30 AM. We can do this! I must say the trails for the last of the Cross Country races for the weekend were prime. Some nice berms were well established, and some earlier logs and obstacles were pushed around by obvious wide open Post Triumph and Luke Sayer on his BSA putting those classic bikes through the woods with Mike winning the Classic Intermediate class.

SUNDAY: VINTAGE RACE

Vintage riders on Saturday. The trail was tacky and flowed like a river. Growing up in the Southeast and racing a lot of SE, TRA and SERA races, it was like heaven to ride in the hardwoods; tight snaky trails with lots of twists and rear brake turns. Suzy Moody took the Overall followed closely by Kevin Obrien winning the Sportsman Open Expert class and Mickey Sergeant winning the Sportsman 200 Expert class. Norwood Miller was super steady, holding down fourth place overall for the whole race and winning the Post Vintage 60+ Novice class with Randy Holdford and Larry Meeker keeping him honest. Keith Williams took high honors riding a vintage Husky winning the Vintage 50+ Intermediate class and crazy fast Darrel Parsons, on his Bultaco, won the Vintage 50+ Expert class. And I loved seeing Mike Stivason on his

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Promoting: we know Team Trampas and Sherri Parker put in months working with the town of Henryetta and securing Nichols Park which is a great staging location. They put in the motocross track and groomed the Cross Country course, set up trials sections and crazy as it is, put a dirt track into the park baseball field. But every promoter puts in these same types of hours and effort working with the locals, vendors, PR, course layout and hundreds of other details. So, I want to take this time to thank all those who put it on the line as promoters during this entire AHRMA year. As in Hee Haw; hats off and a SALUTE!

Cross Country Thanks: One last thank you but certainly not the least. Thank you to AHRMA Cross Country Coordinator Becky Hayes and her team, Lloyd Loux, Bob Doty, Greg Pruss, Diedra and Eddie Parks, Ann Gordon, Zahn and Tamara Lewis, Tim Grow, Bill Ryburn, Dennis and David Brown. And included as well, a thank you to his direction all year long, Offroad Director Tony Paul. His is not an easy job, there are a lot of moving parts for all our Off-road events, and we are fortunate to have his passion and enthusiasm for his position, which is the same for our Regional Coordinators, especially Albert Newmann coordinating this race in the South-Central region. Goodbye and See You at the Races! One final thank you to Executive Director Curt Comer. His past years of directing this big AHRMA ship is much appreciated. He and his wife, Dewanna, have put in hours tending to the many issues that are part of any large organization with multiple disciplines. Thank you both for your time and service; we look forward to seeing you on the starting line!

Kelly Shane (74Q) leads Darel Parsons (7P) and Trampas Parker (213)

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