T&S Racing: Trials

TRIALS

Z

PHOTO BY PAULY CHAMBERS

2021 Redwood Engineering AHRMA National Trials Series Henryetta, OK

WORDS: JAMES HOLTON PHOTOS: KENNY LAU - AWESOME SHOTS, PAULY CHAMBERS

What a beautiful weekend of racing in Henyretta, Oklahoma. We could not have asked for better weather. This was the final trials event of the year and double points would be awarded. We had riders from 16 different states competing with several national championships to be decided. AHRMA took over city-owned Nichols Park courtesy of Trampas and Sherri Parker. Located on the property is Nichols Lake with a paved road around the perimeter. This road was blocked so only motorcycles were allowed which allowed anyone with a motorcycle to ride the road and watch riders negotiate through the sections. With the help of Kevin Kight from the local trials club out of Tulsa (NEOTT - Northeastern Oklahoma Trials Team), ten sections were laid out around the perimeter of the lake. The loop was approximately 2.6 miles in length with road riding between many of the sections. This gave the riders a chance to relax and cool off a bit. From the pits, riders rode over the dam and over a metal pedestrian bridge to get to the south side of the lake. Section One was relatively short in a small drainage ditch high above the lake. This section proved to one of the easier to ride except for the Master line. They had to drop down, make a 90 degree turn, then power over a relatively large step. Riders then followed the loop markers down the road to where they were pointed into the woods to Sections

Two and Three. These sections were close together up a ravine. Section Two was somewhat flat with riders crossing the creek with a few turns between trees. Up the ravine, it became much steeper with large rocks mixed in. This section took quite a few points for all riders. The loop continued through the woods and popped out back onto the road. Down the road the loop pointed riders back into the woods for Sections Four and Five. Sections Four and Five were on the side of a hill with tight off camber turns and rocks mixed in for two challenging sections. Section Five had one turn that was almost impossible for the three big Ariels and a Matchless. Every effort was made to accommodate the big bikes, but a couple of turns slipped through cracks. Next year we will try and do a better job of confirming all sections are big-bike friendly. B ack out on the road it was a short ride to Section Six. Section Six was basically a wide flat ditch with rocks lining the banks. Riders would navigate up the side of the ditch between rocks and back down in the flat area and to the other side to ride more rocks. This section proved to give riders a challenge due to the number and location of the rocks. A short road ride down to Section Seven. Section Seven was all off camber, weaving between trees. This was the only section that did not have any significant rocks which was fun and challenging. Exiting this section was a short ride across the road and then trail riding to Sections Eight, Nine, and Ten. Section Eight was up hill in a dry creek through washed out rocks. The line was relatively straight, but the rocks wouldn’t let you go where you wanted to many times. Just hang on and ride it out the best you can. Section Nine and Ten were up, over and between rocks. These sections were very tight and many points were dropped in these sections for all lines. A ride through the woods from Section Ten to the road, then back to the pits to turn in cards and begin the next loop. We had 39 riders with seven of those riding support from the NEOTT club This event would not be possible without the awesome volunteers. I want to thank Trampas and Sherri Parker for making it happen. They also assembled ten observers who did an excellent job of scoring sections. The sign-up for the event can be challenging at times. I cannot thank Mike and Donna Collier and Sherri Parker enough for their help.

PHOTO BY PAULY CHAMBERS

Next year will be even better. The sections were challenging and that is what you would expect in a seasonending, double-point, national event. We know where to make several sections better so you don’t want to miss the Oklahoma Trial next year.

PHOTO BY KENNY LAU - AWESOME SHOTS

Tom McNeal, 1st place, 38 points total

CLASS: MODERN CLASSIC MASTER PHOTO BY KENNY LAU - AWESOME SHOTS PREMIER HEAVYWEIGHT EXPERT

1. Matt Parsons - 28 points 2. Graham Foster - 57 points 3. Kelly Shane - 98 points

PREMIER LIGHTWEIGHT EXPERT 1. Mark Sturtevant - 22 points 2. Robert Bellicitti - 32 points 3. Dennis Simoes - 112 points

PREMIER LIGHTWEIGHT INTERMEDIATE

1. George Kirby - 24 points 2. Will Salter - 27 points

CLASSIC EXPERT

1. Scott Porter - 37 points

CLASSIC INTERMEDIATE 1. Scott Kirn - 45 points

CLASSIC NOVICE

1. Michael Collier - 225 points

MODERN CLASSIC MASTER 1. Tom McNeal - 38 points

MODERN CLASSIC EXPERT

1. Dennis Burnett - 65 points 2. Jason Baisden - 107 points

MODERN CLASSIC INTERMEDIATE

1. Randy Sharp - 15 points 2. Bill Gould - 110 points 3. Henry Gregorich - 111 points

MODERN CLASSIC NOVICE

1. Andrew Blackburn - 15 points 2. Zachary Kirn - 40 points 3. Gene Horstman - 131 points

MODERN CLASSIC BEGINNER 1. Fred Traskoway - 8 points

YOUTH B

1. Ari Horstman - 165 points

YOUTH C

1. Colin Kirn - 49 points

MODERN TWIN SHOCK INTERMEDIATE

1. Tony Glueck - 43 points 2. John Mathewson - 86 points 3. John Snyder - 229 points

SUPPORT

4. Jaxon Mizell - 66 points 5. Jason Shakelford - 72 points 6. Cort Mizell - 72 points

16 racers came to Henryetta from the Northwest Region. In total, they took home 11 National Championships!

BACK ROW (L-R):

Kelly Shane, Al Anderberg, Roy Whitney, Doug Brown, Brian Curtis, Bob Bellicitti, Matt Parsons, Richard Bryant, Rick Eaton, George Amaro FRONT ROW (L-R): Mark Amaro, Ken Conrad, Mickey Sargeant, Luke Sayer, Jeff Mullins, Don Hildebrandt