Todd Stanley in Section #5
At the LeMay Trial
NORTHWEST REGION
Words & Photos: Kate Jorgenson
T
he AHRMA Northwest deserves a nice warm day to bring their motorcycles to play and that is exactly what they got to do at the LeMay Redwood Engineering AHRMA National Trial event on the weekend of Father’s Day and Saturday June 19, 2021. After the wind, snow, and rain at the previous events it was wonderful to attend an event, camp, spend time with the AHRMA community and not worry about cancelations or getting too cold and that is quite a surprise for Western Washington! The trials riders, families, and spectators enjoyed the activities for the weekend including the following: motorcycle soccer, the Seattle Cossacks, the LeMay car and motorcycle museum, and of course the AHRMA Northwest Regional Trial on several acres of forested land. Ten sections were laid out by trialmasters Dirk Murphy and Dana Salsman and their team. Some of the sections looked easier than others; some sections made you wonder if the handlebars would fit between those two trees or require shifting my bike to a certain direction to fit. Other sections had deep ruts from many bikes roosting up the hills popping wheelies and crossing their fingers hoping they would make it up without stalling, or worse. Salsman did say though that Richard Mann told him once that, “You don’t make every section difficult; you have to throw in some give-me sections to make riders feel 54
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confident when they are riding.” Salsman, Murphy and their team utilized the Washington forest to layout a great trial that included rotted logs, active and inactive ant hills, slippery dirt, squishy moss, and leafy vines. A great way to challenge the 45 trials riders who turned out to ride at LeMay. The largest class of the day was the Modern Classic Intermediate with 16 riders. First place went to Kevin Newins with a score of 18. Second place went to Don Cookson with 19 points and 23 cleans. Third place came down to age because they tied both on score and the amount of cleans; Mike Houde (age 64) earned third place with a score of 19 and 22 cleans. Fourth place went to Brian Loso (age 40) who also scored 19 and cleaned 22 times. Sometimes age out ranks us when it comes to vintage events! Modern Classic Novice had 11 riders for the day. First place went to Jerry James with a total of four points. Second place went to Debbie Poole with a total of seven points. Carson Solsem earned nine points and third place for the day. The Modern Classic Expert class had three riders. Jason Gitchel earned first place with a total of 16 points. Second place went to Kevin Loso with a total score of 49 points and Murphy received 54 points and third place. In the Classic Intermediate class, John Hart scored
AMERICAN HISTORIC RACING MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
JULY 2021
