American Motorcyclist 03 2014 Dirt Version

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MARCH 2014

Access Granted: Chris Horgan Keeps Trails Open

Photo Conrad Lim

Teaching Kids The Love Of Riding


AMA REWARDS

Watch this space for updates about your valuable benefits as an AMA member.

AMA Roadside Assistance

AMA Race Center

Available at no extra charge if you choose to automatically renew your AMA membership.

Your one-stop online source for all your motocross, Arenacross and ATV Motocross results from AMA-sanctioned events. Search by event, date, and even your name! http://results.americanmotorcyclist.com

You’re Among America’s Elite Racers Only AMA members chase national No. 1 plates.

• Coverage for bikes, cars, pickups, motorhomes and trailers (excluding utility trailers) registered to you, your spouse, and dependent children under the age of 24, living at home or away at college. • Coverage in all 50 states and Canada. • Towing up to 35 miles, with all dispatch and hook-up fees. • Flat tire, lockout, battery and minormechanical assistance. • Emergency fuel, oil, water, fluid delivery. • No exclusions for older motorcycles. • Toll-free assistance available 24/7/365. • AMA Roadside Assistance pays first. No need to pay and wait for reimbursement.

You’ll find everything you need—from races to rules to advice, at AmericanMotorcyclist. com > Racing. And as an AMA Competition Member, you’ll receive the competition edition of American Motorcyclist magazine.

HOW YOUR AMA MEMBERSHIP PAYS FOR ITSELF Are You Covered?

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STAYING INFORMED American Motorcyclist

Each month, you receive the best magazine covering the motorcycle lifestyle with two versions to choose from: street or dirt.

THE ESSENTIALS AMA Roadside Assistance

The Best Deal In Towing Get peace of mind with AMA Roadside Assistance, which covers all your vehicles, as well as those of your family members living with you. Best of all, you can get this coverage at no additional charge. For details, call (800) 262-5646.

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Save At Choice Hotels, Motel 6, Red Roof Inn At Choice hotels, save15 percent off the best available rates at participating Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, Rodeway Inn and Econo Lodge hotels. Use the Member Discount code #00947556.

PRODUCT DISCOUNTS ActionStation/Bohn Body Armor

Save 10 percent on complete product line—plus bonus. Go to www.actionstation.com/ama/ and use coupon code AMAB4U at checkout. AMA Members also receive exclusive discounted pricing on the Bohn Bodyguard System at www.bohn-armorpants.com/ama/.

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Special discounts at Motel 6 are also available up to 10 percent off. Use the Member Discount code CP540176. Plus, get a 20 percent discount off available rates at Red Roof Inn. For discounts, call (800) RED-ROOF and use the code VP+ 503343. You can also make reservations online at www.redroof.com. Just enter the code VP+ 503343 in the field labeled “VP+/ID#” when making reservations. The discount will be automatically applied.

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Arrive And Ride EagleRider offers a 15 percent discount on Harley-Davidson, Honda, BMW and Polaris rentals and tours. Call (888) 900-9901 or book at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Membership/EagleRider. aspx, using discount code AMA014.

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Ride Where You Want In the United States, call Federal Companies, an agent for Specialized Transportation, Inc., at (877) 518-7376 for at least $60 off standard rates. For international shipments, call Motorcycle Express at (800) 245-8726. To get your discount, be sure to have your AMA number handy. Motorcycle Express also offers temporary international insurance.

Car Rentals

Save Money When You Drive Get up to 25 percent off prevailing rates at any Avis or Budget car rental agency. For Avis, enter discount code: D388100. For Budget, enter code: Z942000.

AMA Gear

Buy AMA Stuff Online Find unique patches, pins, posters, T-shirts and books at AmericanMotorcyclist.com and at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio. Details at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

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Members pay only $19.99 for 2 years (24 issues) + 2 extra FREE issues. Visit the Members Only section on AmericanMotorcyclist.com for the discount link.

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RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazine offers a 20 percent subscription discount to AMA members. RoadRUNNER is the touring expert of North America, providing info on the best places to ride. AMA discount code is CRIAMA at www. roadrunner.travel/promo/ama.

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Save on advanced tickets; AMA members can get $5 off when they buy tickets online at Supercrossonline.com and use password AMA14. AMA members can get $5 off when they buy tickets online at Arenacross.com and use password AMA5OFF. Certain restrictions apply, call (800) 262-5646 for details.

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AMA members save on advanced adult one-day general admission. The promo code is “NAAMA1410” when you buy your tickets online from www. motorcycleshows.com.

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TRIM SAFETY

NAVIGATION

Navigation Photo

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Craig Vetter is a man of many talents—and motorcycling experiences. You can hear about them from the man himself at this year’s Breakfast at Daytona, a fundraising event for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Ticket information is on page 17 and at www.motorcyclemuseum.org. Photo by Brad Wenner

8. LETTERS You write, we read.

10. ROB DINGMAN Champions among us.

12. RIGHTS Update on the Johnson Valley compromise, military motorcycle-related deaths decline, Chicago alderman wants crackdown on motorcycle noise, and more. American Motorcyclist magazine (ISSN 0277-9358) is published monthly by the American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Copyright by the American Motorcyclist Association/American Motorcyclist 2013. Printed in USA. Subscription rate: Magazine subscription fee of $19.95 covered in membership dues. Postmaster: Mail form 3579 to 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Periodical postage paid at Pickerington, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices.

March 2014 Volume 68, Number 3 Published by the American Motorcyclist Association 13515 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) www.americanmotorcyclist.com

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18. RIDING The latest news, rides, interviews and more from the world of motorcycling.

30. HALL OF FAME A 1962 Yamaha Ascot Scrambler, Hall of Famer Randy Mamola and “Foo Rider.”

38. RIDING WITH THE FAMILY A single father in Southern Ohio wanted a riding buddy for his daughter. So, he bought a bike. Then another. Then another. Before long, he had spread the love of riding throughout his local community.

42. GO RIDE What to do, where to go.

50. JERRY MATTSON Forty rides in forty years.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com SAFETY


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COMMUNICATIONS

Husqvarna is a proud sponsor of the AMA National Dual-Sport Series

AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

American Motorcyclist 13515 Yarmouth Drive Pickerington, OH 43147 (614) 856-1900 submissions@ama-cycle.org

Contact any member of the AMA Board of Directors at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/ about/board Maggie McNally, Chair Albany, N.Y.

Grant Parsons, Director of Communications James Holter, Managing Editor Jim Witters, Government Affairs Editor Mark Lapid, Creative Director Jeff Guciardo, Production Manager/Designer Halley Miller, Graphic Designer Kaitlyn Sesco, Marketing/Communications Specialist

Russ Brenan, Vice Chair Irvine, Calif. Ken Ford, Assistant Treasurer Bartow, Fla. Perry King, Executive Committee Member Northern California

Steve Gotoski, Advertising Director (Western States) (951) 566-5068, sgotoski@ama-cycle.org Zach Stevens, National Sales Manager (626) 298-3854, zstevens@ama-cycle.org

John Ulrich, Executive Committee Member Lake Elsinore, Calif.

All trademarks used herein (unless otherwise noted) are owned by the AMA and may only be used with the express, written permission of the AMA. American Motorcyclist is the monthly publication of the American Motorcyclist Association, which represents motorcyclists nationwide. For information on AMA membership benefits, call (800) AMA-JOIN or visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com. Manuscripts, photos, drawings and other editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damage to unsolicited material. Copyright© American Motorcyclist Association, 2014.

Sean Hilbert, Hillsdale, Mich. Scott Miller, Milwaukee, Wis. Art More, Sun City West, Ariz. Stan Simpson, Cibolo, Texas Jim Viverito, Chicago, Ill.

(800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) AmericanMotorcyclist.com

AMA STAFF EXECUTIVE

AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES (continued)

Rob Dingman, President/CEO Rhonda Hixon, Administrative Asst./Litigation Manager Bruce Moffat, Chief Financial Officer Sen. Wayne Allard, Vice President, Government Relations Bob Chaddock, Vice President, Administration Jeff Massey, Vice President, Operations Jim Williams, Vice President, Industry Relations & Business Member Programs Rob Rasor, Director of International Affairs

Alex Hunter, MX Operational Coordinator Tamra Jones, Racing Coordinator D’Andra Myers, Organizer Services Coordinator Ken Saillant, Track Racing Manager Cherie Schlatter, Organizer Services Manager Serena Van Dyke, Organizer Services Coordinator Chuck Weir, Off Road Racing Manager Conrad Young, Timing & Scoring Manager

ACCOUNTING

John Bricker, Mailroom Manager Heida Drake, Copy Center Operator Bill Frasch, Mailroom Clerk

Dawn Becker, Accounting Manager Melanie Hise, HR Assistant/Payroll Coordinator Ed Madden, System Support Specialist Peg Tuvell, Member Fulfillment Specialist ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Sean Maher, Director AMHF/MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME

Supporting Sponsor

Jordan Brannan, Museum Admissions and Collections Assistant Connie Fleming, Manager of Events and AMHF Operations Beth Owen, Receptionist/Donor Relations Specialist Paula Schremser, Program Specialist Katy Wood, Collections Manager AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES

www.husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com

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Kip Bigelow, Amateur MX Manager Joe Bromley, District Relations Manager Jacki Burris, Organizer Services Coordinator Jane Caston, Racing Coordinator Lana Cox, Administrative Assistant Kevin Crowther, Director SX & Pro Racing Relations Bill Cumbow, Director of Special Projects Sandi Dunphy, Road Riding Coordinator Dave Hembroff, Road Riding Manager

AmericanMotorcyclist.com AMA_Husqvarna_Natl_Dual_Sport_Series_SeatConcepts_0114.indd 11/12/13 1 10:09 AM

DISTRIBUTION/FACILITIES SERVICES

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Marie Esselstein, Government Affairs Assistant Danielle Fowles, Grassroots Coordinator Nick Haris, Western States Representative Sean Hutson, Legislative Assistant Sharon Long, Legislative Coordinator Rick Podliska, Deputy Director Steve Salisbury, Government Affairs Manager - Off-Highway Imre Szauter, Government Affairs Manager - On-Highway INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Rob Baughman, Network Administrator John Boker, Developer Dave Coleman, Network Architect Amy Hyman, Senior Programmer/Analyst Bill Miller, Enterprise Architect MEMBER SERVICES/DATA ENTRY Lori Cavucci, Member Services Representative Deb D’Andrea, Member Services Representative Linda Hembroff, Member Services Representative Darcel Higgins, Member Services Manager Kimberly Jude, Member Services Representative Tiffany Pound, Member Services Representative Jessica Robinson, Member Services Representative Angela Warren, Member Services Representative


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MEMBER LETTERS

Send your letters (and a high-resolution photo) to submissions@ama-cycle.org; or mail to 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147.

LETTER OF THE MONTH IN THE CLUTCH

John Van Stry’s letter in the January issue concerning his reluctance to use his tax dollars for electric vehicle subsidies is a Each month, a lucky AMA member wins a Bike Bandit gift card worth $100. Didn’t win? No common opinion today. worries. You can still take advantage of your Subsidies are a subject worth examining, 10% AMA member discount at BikeBandit.com. but to make sense of it we would have to include why the government today heavily subsidizes milk, ethanol and oil, bread, hamburger, on and on, even to our election funding and its tax write offs. As for the electric motorcycle, I am a potential customer because I cannot operate a clutch lever for very long any more. Blame that on 30 years of squeezing the clutch lever on an iron barrel Sportster. William Miller Portland, Ore. SIGHT CLUES I just read with delight the January Letter of the Month about headlights on motorcycles (“Enlightened Perspective”). I want to applaud you for printing such life-saving information. I am currently the city engineer for the City of Omaha in charge of all transportation-related activities and have been a traffic engineer for the last 25 years. After reading the thousands of accident reports I’ve had to review in my career, I can attest that part of the reason people so often “don’t see us” is because of that single headlight. Did you know that Union Pacific Railroad uses three headlights on their trains because they noticed a measurable difference in crossing crashes when one of their engines was equipped with multiple headlights? Think about that: On a vehicle as large as a locomotive, additional headlights have reduced the frequency of accidents at crossings. Think how it could help us out. Very simply, the expanding of the headlight pattern from one to two or three as vehicles get closer tells the observer at what rate it is approaching. As drivers, we are creatures of habit and simply can’t tell with a quick glance how far away a vehicle with one point of light is. I am also a Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor, own four motorcycles and ride three of them on the street. I have multiple headlights on all three. With the advent of modern LED lights, [it’s] easy to put aftermarket running lights almost anywhere on the bike. They are small, bright and don’t use enough additional electricity to have to worry about modifying our charging systems. There is simply

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Todd Pfitzer

no reason not to do it. I have some mounted up on my handguards on my motard and streetfighter. They look fantastic and make the bike appear so much larger in dim light conditions. I always have them on. Let’s spread the news and make the streets safer for us! On another note, my busy life had me fall behind on my reading and I recently noticed that my monthly AMA magazines had piled up for the last nine months. It was frustrating getting up to speed, as the current events I was reading from nine months back were already acted on, so I had missed my opportunity to get involved. So, I read four magazines a week for the last two to three weeks and now want to know if you can print the magazine weekly as I’m more hooked than ever. I have never been more proud to be an AMA Life Member. Thanks for all you do! Todd Pfitzer Life Member Omaha, Neb. VISION QUEST I really enjoyed reading “Riding Into

Sunlight” in the “Ask the MSF” column in the January 2014 issue. I have a solution to that problem, taught to me by a wonderful racer/buddy named Chip Mead (sadly, he’s gone now, but not forgotten). Chip once said to me, about a problem I was having driving in the 1989 IMSA Daytona 24 Hour race at night: “Forget about what you can’t see, and concentrate on what you can.” Even though the track was lit for night, the apexes in the infield were gone as far as I could tell, and at 120 miles an hour, that was a problem. When I went out next time in practice, I searched for what I could see, which was the outside of the track. I turned when it turned and—voila!—an apex. Since then I have used his brilliant advice whenever I lose the vision I want to have. In sudden sunlight, it turns out there’s still lots of visual information, just not what you might choose. Just the calm that comes from knowing you will find something else to focus on let’s you relax and let in what you can see. Actually, that advice has become the mantra of my life, on a motorcycle or off. In every way in life, I “forget about what I can’t see, and concentrate on what I can.” I will be forever grateful to Chip for his wisdom. Perry King AMA Board Member TRAINING MATTERS I am a new member of the AMA and really enjoy your articles and features in American Motorcyclist magazine. I have been riding for over 30 years. I don’t know why it took me so long to join the AMA, but I am glad I finally did. I really liked the Guest Column in your February 2014 issue by Justin Pennella. He makes many great points about all kinds of training and how important it is. I am also a Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor and can relate to the satisfaction he feels when he sees his students gain skills and make progress. We need instructors like him who enjoy helping students learn better riding skills. The other article in the same magazine, “Ask the MSF: Riding With ABS” was interesting also. I felt like they omitted one very important step while braking hard with ABS. The article does state that the rider “may feel a pulsation through the lever/pedal as the pressure relief valves cycle on and off.” What they didn’t add is that it is important to keep the pressure on the lever and pedal if you feel this pulsation. Many people who are not familiar with ABS may think something is wrong and release the lever or pedal. I


fit mufflers to our machines. I can live with that. How about the rest of you? Peter Van Deusen Life Member Cobleskill, N.Y.

Patti Blaskovic

have witnessed people doing this in their vehicles not knowing that they should stay on the brakes until the vehicle stops. Patricia (Patti) Blaskovic Cleveland, Ohio

taCkling sound I just read your recent article on sound regulations (February 2014) and the possible future changes. One thing that struck me was a lack of real world policy. When the rubber meets the road, how will these regulations get enforced? With a tape measure and a protractor at the side of the road? Your tachometer or mine? Two simple solutions:

Cost of freedom • Laboratory test results by the I am responding to an article printed in the Nov. 22 issue of The Economist manufacturers in a controlled environment should be required by magazine concerning the cost to taxpayers of treating and rehabilitating the EPA for certification. Without certification, the product is not legal for head trauma cases resulting from helmetless motorcycle accidents. It use on the street. Certification results is the elephant in the room. Distilled in a conformance label or stamp readily legible for law enforcement. I believe down to its essence, I believe the this is currently the EPA policy. government entities at all levels from village to federal will allow us all to 13DBA277_AMERICAN_MOTORCYCLIST_BIKE_WEEK_FEB_PRESS.pdf 1 12/9/13 12:53 PM ride forever if we wear helmets and • Laws can be altered and easily

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enforced to include a dbA rating at a given distance—a sliding scale for distance to dbA. Radar and Lidar can be modified to take a sound reading. The speed detection equipment is already calculating distance. Give the public a standard sound rating at a given distance. The courts will be happy because, like the speed reading, there is little room for discussion. A lone rider on a given stretch of road is either in sound and speed compliance or he is not. If speed is the issue, he may be subject to additional penalty for sound and vice-versa. No sound compliance label? Same deal. No questions... Fran Yetso Sunnyvale, Calif. Thanks for the note, Fran. Unfortunately, many outcomes from the sound roundtable were not grounded in fairness or objectivity, despite objections from the AMA and our partners. We will continue to monitor legislative developments and advocate strongly for motorcyclists’ rights as the laws are written.


Jeff Guciardo

FROM THE PRESIDENT

CHAMPIONS AMONG US Honoring AMA Racers

As this issue was being put to bed, we had the honor of welcoming many of America’s most successful amateur racers to the 2013 AMA Championship Banquet. The annual gala event is where we celebrate the seasons of those who excelled in AMA-sanctioned motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle competition the previous year. On Jan. 18, riders from all disciplines By Rob Dingman sanctioned by the AMA came to Columbus, Ohio, to receive their AMA national No. 1 plates and championship medals. The AMA Championship Banquet is more than a celebration of speed, endurance and skill. The best competitors stand at the top of the podium because they posses both superior athletic ability as well as humility, dedication and desire to be the best. This is what makes participating in AMA racing events so significant. The AMA represents the gold standard of amateur motorcycle competition in America. Racing in an AMAsanctioned event means the rules are fair, the rules are the same no matter where you go, you compete with others who are at your skill level, you have opportunities to advance, and every effort is made to ensure a safe racing environment. Of course, this wasn’t built overnight. Our current racers, and the hundreds of thousands of AMA racers who came before them, are the reason that AMA amateur racing has achieved the status it enjoys today. Since 1924, racers of all backgrounds and skill levels have competed in AMA-sanctioned events and have contributed to the collective wisdom that has shaped our sport. One way those contributions manifest themselves is in AMA Congress. AMA Congress is the elected body that writes the rules in the AMA Amateur Competition Rulebook. They ensure that the rules put in place are consistent, fair and logical across all disciplines. Another powerful quality of AMA-sanctioned competition was also on full display at the AMA Championship Banquet. The event isn’t just about competitive success. It’s also a celebration of family, good sportsmanship, mutual respect and responsibility. It’s that last characteristic, responsibility, that is growing ever more important in our sport. We have seen over the decades, and we continue to see today, that if we aren’t responsible, then we find our favorite pastime at risk. In fact, if the AMA did not exist—or have the enduring support of many of our members—I truly doubt motorcycle racing in America would be possible. The importance of that responsibility is reflected right there in our slogan: Rights, Riding and Racing. Of these three, Rights is the most important thing that we do. If we do not fight for our right to ride and race motorcycles, that freedom will go away. There are many people and organizations that want to shut down your local racetrack. They want to stop

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you and your family from riding on trails in our national forests. Some even want to stop you from riding on your own property. Some people don’t understand that our sport is a family sport—that it is made up of moms, dads, brothers and sisters enjoying clean, safe fun. Others just think they know what’s best for you and want to tell you what you can and cannot do. Others argue that motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles damage the environment. Of course, we know that responsibly ridden off-highway vehicles cause no measurable environmental damage and represent a legitimate and viable way to enjoy, explore and travel across our public lands. This is why one of the best ways we can protect our sport is to always ride and race responsibly, as well as encourage others to do the same. Our champions would not be where they are—accepting their AMA No. 1 plates in front of hundreds of their peers—if they did not carry themselves responsibly. They do that every time they prepare themselves and their bike for practice or competition. They do that by respecting and following the rules in the AMA Amateur Competition Rulebook. Even when they are not racing, true champions approach motorcycling in the same way. They are responsible when they ride recreationally, as well as when they are off a bike. The more non-motorcyclists we can win over, the more of them will be on our side when those who hate motorcycles try to take our freedoms away. As an AMA member, you never ride or race alone. There are hundreds of thousands of AMA members who have your back. They love riding as much as you do. They are committed to improving the sport for today, and saving it for the enjoyment of future generations. Along with all of them, you protect your freedom to ride and race simply by being an AMA member. Thank you for your support. Rob Dingman is the president and CEO of the AMA.


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COMPROMISE SECURES MUCH OF CALIFORNIA’S JOHNSON VALLEY While military encroachment will restrict off-highway vehicle access to a portion of the Johnson Valley OHV Recreation Area, a significant section has been saved for OHV use, thanks to language included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 that President Obama signed into law on Dec. 26. Although land was transferred to the military to meet the training requirements of the U.S. Marine Corps, roughly 100,000 acres were saved for OHV recreation and, in a significant move, the OHV area was defined by federal law in a way that protects it from any further incursion. U.S. Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.), a retired USMC colonel, introduced the amendment that protects the interests of the OHV community in Johnson Valley. Cook’s amendment accomplishes three goals: It ensures the safety of the residents in the Johnson Valley area, which is just east of the San Bernardino Mountains near Los Angeles; it provides an adequate training area for the military personnel stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms; it codifies permanent OHV access to tens of thousands of acres. The victory for OHV riders is significant not only because it preserves off-highway riding in the most popular areas but also because of the difficulty in getting federal lawmakers to deny military requests in this post-9/11 era. Initial proposals from the military would

MOTORIZED RECREATION PUMPS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO COLORADO ECONOMY New Study Pegs Enthusiast Spending At $990 Million

Motorized recreational enthusiasts spent $990 million related to motorized recreation in Colorado during the 2012-13 riding season, according to a report done by The Louis Berger Group of Denver. The group, which has expertise in economic development, submitted the report to the Trails Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs, Colo., a group dedicated to preserving motorized, singletrack trail riding. Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations who is also a former U.S. senator and U.S. representative from Colorado, says the report shows the value

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have restricted OHV access to just 30,000 acres. The Cook amendment U.S. Rep. Paul Cook preserves access (R-Calif.) to 100,000 acres. Included in the amendment that protects riding is the entire “Hammers” area, both the front and back side. Spooners, Aftershock, Sunbonnet, the Riffle Monument, and the Cal200 Memorial (The Rockpile) are also located within the preserved OHV area. The majority of the Fry Mountains and full access to Soggy Dry Lake Bed are also guaranteed for OHV use, as well as access to Emerson Dry Lake Bed. The Johnson Valley OHV Recreation Area will continue to be controlled by the

U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Initial proposals gave the Marines control over a shared-use portion of the area, with live fire allowed. Now, Marine use of that shared-used area is limited to 60 days of military training a year, and dud-producing ordinance will be prohibited. “Without the Cook amendment, there was a very real possibility of further restrictions on access due to a future Wilderness designation or federal renewable energy project, together with the likelihood that the BLM would change their land-use management plan to restrict or eliminate OHV access use,” says Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. “It was the strong leadership and exceptional ability of Rep. Cook to work with the Natural Resources Committee

of motorized recreation in Colorado and serves as an example to other areas. “Colorado offers just one example of the great economic benefits of responsible motorized recreation,” Allard says. “The Hatfield-McCoy Trails in West Virginia are another great example of motorized recreation boosting the local economy.” In the report, The Louis Berger Group states that almost 150,000 resident households likely participated in some sort of motorized recreation in the 201213 season in Colorado. Another 36,000 non-residents traveled to Colorado to participate in motorized recreation. “During 2012-13, Louis Berger estimated that motorized recreational enthusiasts spent more than $602 million while taking trips using their motorized vehicle for recreational purposes,” the report says. “On a household basis, residents spent on average $109 to

$137 per day trip and $441 to $679 per overnight trip.” Amounts for non-residential households were even higher, amounting to $131 to $197 per day trip and $926 to $1,660 per overnight trip. More than 90 percent of these expenditures were during the summer OHV recreational season. The report notes that households also spent money on new vehicles, maintenance, repairs, accessories, storage and miscellaneous items associated with their vehicles. “Louis Berger estimated that motorized recreational enthusiasts spent more than $387.6 million annually on various items to support and enhance their experiences in Colorado, including $133 million in new vehicle purchases,” the report says.

SOURCE: http://cook.house.gov/johnson-valley-map

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and Armed Services Committees in the U.S. House and Senate that protected the popular off-highway area in Johnson Valley,� Allard says. Of even greater significance is that the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area is the first federal landuse designation for off-highway use and becomes a precedent for future motorized recreation. The AMA joined with the California Motorized Recreation Council, a non-profit represented in Washington, D.C., by The Livingston Group, to work with Cook to develop the amendment that preserves access to the Johnson Valley OHV riding area. CMRC members and partners include the Off-Road Business Association, California Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs, California Off-Road Vehicle Association, American Sand Association, California-Nevada Snowmobile Association, AMA District 36 (Northern California, Northwestern Nevada), AMA District 37 Off-Road (Southern California), The Partnership for Johnson Valley and countless individuals and businesses. The Specialty Equipment Market Association, the Motorcycle Industry Council and Americans for Responsible Recreational Access also provided valuable support. The U.S. Navy’s/Marine Corps’ original proposal to take over vast acreage in the Johnson Valley area, if left unchallenged, would have eliminated the majority of public access year round to the Johnson Valley OffHighway Vehicle Riding Area and resulted in the end of most major recreational and competition events in the area. In addition, without intervention, local economies that depend on OHV and recreational tourism would have been devastated.

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U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Knapke

A Marine practices hard braking during a Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic Dec. 12 at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

STUDY SHOWS DECLINE IN MILITARY MOTORCYCLE-RELATED DEATHS Yet Numbers Remain High The number of motorcycle-related fatalities is declining, but bike crashes continue to be a leading cause of death among service members, according to a new study. In 2012, there were 184 motor vehiclerelated deaths among service members, according to the study published in the Medical Surveillance Monthly Report, a

peer-reviewed journal on illnesses and injuries affecting service members from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center. Deaths in 2012 declined nearly 57.8 percent from a peak of 436 in 2004. For the study period of Jan. 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 2012, slightly more than 25 percent of all motor vehicle-related deaths were due to motorcycle accidents among active and reserve service members. As a result of a decline in non-motorcycle-related deaths, motorcycle-related deaths have become an increasingly higher proportion of all fatal motor vehicle accidents. “The annual number of deaths related to motor vehicle accidents among members of the U.S. Armed Forces declined in 2012 to their lowest level during a 14-year surveillance period,” says Army Col. William Corr, deputy director of the AFHSC’s division of epidemiology and analysis. “However, during that period, deaths from motorcycle accidents have not diminished.” The study included those who served as members of the active or reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the surveillance period. For some time, the Department of Defense has required service members who intend to own a motorcycle to participate in motorcycle safety courses.

CHICAGO ALDERMAN WANTS CRACKDOWN ON MOTORCYCLE NOISE Suggests $1,000 Fines

Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) on Dec. 11 introduced a proposal to crack down on excessive motorcycle sound that could result in fines of up to $1,000. “Unfortunately, [the] current Municipal Ordinance limits the Chicago Police Department’s efforts in enforcing the motorcycle noise regulations as it requires coordination and cooperation with the Illinois State Police to issue citations,” Alderman Reilly says. His proposed amendment would allow the Chicago Police Department to enforce the law with a simple visual inspection of the muffler. The amendment also would increase the fines for operating a motorcycle without a muffler from $100 to $1,000 per incident.

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Anti-OHV Action May Be Taken Without Public Debate In a letter to key members of Congress, the AMA late last year urged representatives to oppose any attempts by President Obama’s administration to unilaterally designate public land as national monuments without public debate. “On Oct. 31, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Secretary Sally Jewell spoke at the National Press Club and stated ‘there’s no question that if Congress doesn’t act, we will act,’ she said when asked if the president would use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate national monuments,” wrote Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. “This action will limit recreational opportunities on public lands and represents an overreach by the executive branch,” he wrote.

The letter was sent to Chairman Doc Hastings of the House Natural Resources Committee, Chairman Rob Bishop of the House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Protection, Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Ranking Member John Barrasso of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. The Antiquities Act of 1906 allows the president to declare national monuments. The federal law was initially passed to protect Native American artifacts such as pottery from being taken from small tracts of federal land in the West. But presidents haven’t interpreted the law to apply to small areas. President Clinton fueled uproar in 1996 when he

designated 1.9 million acres in southern Utah as the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. In 2006, President George Bush used the Antiquities Act to circumvent Congress and set aside 140,000 square miles of ocean and 10 islands and coral atolls in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a U.S. national monument. National monuments don’t automatically ban off-highway vehicle use but a national monument designation makes it much easier to ban their use without input from the public.

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AMA WARNS OF PRESIDENTIAL NATIONAL MONUMENTS DECLARATIONS

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S TATEWAT CH FLORIDA

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The U.S. Forest Service has opened the Springhill Motorcycle Trailhead at the Apalachicola National Forest. The forest, which is south of Tallahassee, spans 571,088 acres and features 111 miles of trails for off-highway vehicles. To get to the trailhead from Tallahassee, go south on Springhill Road from Capital Circle SW near the Tallahassee Regional Airport for about 3 miles. The trailhead entrance is on the right.

A new law allows motorcycle owners to mount their registration plates vertically if they pay an additional $20 fee and display special motorcycle registration plates featuring the identifying characters in a vertical alignment. The new law, created by House Bill 1060 originally introduced by Rep. Mark Keller (R-New Bloomfield), bill explicitly prohibits motorcycle registration plates with horizontal identifying characters from being mounted vertically.

NEVADA

MICHIGAN

A federal judge has upheld regulations limiting off-highway vehicle use at the Tahoe National Forest. But lawyers representing recreational users have vowed to continue the effort to protect their riding rights on public lands. U.S. District Judge John Mendez denied a challenge brought by OHV recreationists against the travel management plan for the Tahoe National Forest, which is an 800,000-acre forest. The Pacific Legal Foundation had filed suit against the plan in July 2012, claiming it had illegally closed more than 800 miles of roads and trails enjoyed by the public for decades.

Some 73 percent of motorcyclists in Michigan still wear helmets even though the state modified the motorcycle helmet law in 2012, according to a survey by the Wayne State University Transportation Group. The survey also indicates that sportbike riders are more likely to wear helmets. Women under 30 and over 60 are also more likely to wear helmets. To ride without a helmet in Michigan, a motorcyclist must be at least 21, have at least $20,000 in medical coverage and have a valid motorcycle license.

NEW HAMPSHIRE Gorham selectmen unanimously approved two motions that would open specific roads to all-terrain vehicle use year-round and a third motion to open all town roads during the Jericho ATV Festival Weekend on a trial basis. The votes were at a hearing in which a standing-roomonly crowd supported a proposal to allow ATVs to use the public roads in Gorham to access restaurants, motels and other businesses.

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MONTANA Montana has special motorcycle license plates called “Chrome For Kids” that raises funds for granting the wishes of critically ill children. The program began in 2008 and has raised more than $53,000. Thanks to the generosity of motorcyclists who chose to buy the Chrome For Kids plates, that money will go toward granting a wish for critically ill children in Montana. Charities receiving funds include the Montana Hope Project, Camp Make-a-Dream and MakeA-Wish Montana. VIRGINIA Virginia motorcyclists and others who use their vehicles only part of the year can now deactivate their license plates and cancel their insurance without turning in their plates, thanks to a new law that went into effect Jan. 1. Officials say citizens can deactivate and reactivate license plates online at www.dmvnow.com or by calling DMV at (804) 497-7100. To reactivate the plates, citizens must have no outstanding tax obligations on their motor vehicle, provide insurance information or pay the uninsured motor vehicle fee, and pay a $10 reactivation fee if the registration hasn’t expired. Meanwhile, the Colonial Downs racetrack in New Kent County has apparently proven to be a good neighbor. The facility sparked a lot of opposition from area residents when it sought a conditional use permit to hold a motorcycle race last August. The permit was approved. When the track sought another permit for a race in August 2014, no one opposed it.

Dealing With Bike Bans

W

hether it’s the Tanglewood Park in Forsyth County, N.C., parking near Jackson Square in New Orleans or at gated residential communities, AMA members alert the association about bike bans and wonder what to do about them. Imre Szauter, AMA government affairs manager, says that while private property access is more difficult to secure, in the case of public property, such as Jackson Square or the French Quarter, more can be done to preserve riding freedoms. “First, we can communicate our displeasure to the management,” he says. “If a parking structure is involved, ask for an explanation of their policy. And send a carefully worded, written communication expressing your displeasure at having been treated unfairly. “Second, don’t patronize the location,” he says. “As they say, money talks.” Tips to try to end motorcycle bans at gated communities include: • Find out exactly what form the rule takes, whether it’s a covenant, deed restriction, bylaw or regulation. Then find out specifically what it takes to change it. • Educate fellow homeowners about the rule. Explain to them that it’s unfair to ban motorcycles. Tell them how far you have to push your legally licensed vehicle to get to the edge of your community so that you can go riding. Find out if other motorcyclists live in the community and will help with the effort. • Work to alleviate any legitimate issues. If the bike ban was prompted by concerns about noise, propose a uniform vehicle sound rule to replace the motorcycle ban. • Consider contacting the media to focus attention on the problem. Community newspapers are often willing to publish stories, or at least letters to the editor, on such local issues. Send the letter to the editor of the community association newsletter as well. • Run for the community association board and encourage other motorcyclists in the community to do the same. But don’t try to run as a one-issue candidate. Your neighbors have the right to know that you’re concerned about the greater wellbeing of the entire community. • If you can’t make progress any other way, consider consulting a lawyer. In other cases, lawyers have been able to uncover legal precedents for striking down discriminatory rules. These precedents vary from state to state but they may give you some leverage in negotiating.


Featured Guest: Motorcycle Designer and Hall Of Famer Craig Vetter When Friday, March 14, 7 a.m. to noon Where Daytona 500 Club (Infield) Daytona International Speedway 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Contact Connie Fleming AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame cfleming@ama-cycle.org (614) 856-1910, ext. 1258 Tickets www.MotorcycleMuseum.org


CAREY HART

By Jim Kimball

Many things may come to your mind when you hear the name Carey Hart: privateer, Supermoto racer, freestyle motocross innovator, tattoo shop owner, husband of rock star Pink, parent, team owner. While the 38-year old has run his own AMA Supercross team for a few years, teaming up with Yoshimura Suzuki and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ricky Carmichael opens a new chapter in his career. We caught up with Hart at a publicity event in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., to talk about 2014. AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST: Carey, your career has taken many forms. Can you talk about the changes that have led you to become a team owner? CAREY HART: Being a team owner is just something that I fell into. I feel that I had a pretty successful career with freestyle motocross, Supermoto and my Hart & Huntington tattoo shops, but I still needed to further evolve my passion for dirtbikes. I really got into Supercross as a way to promote my clothing business. So we got started in Supercross, and it just snowballed from there. We came into Supercross with a different mindset than many of the other teams. They all wanted to finish on the podium, but I wanted to win off the track. We created the pit party aspect of it, and it really got a lot of attention. Then it really just grew from there. Has the involvement of the Yoshimura Factory Suzuki team taken it to another level?

You have the same riders [Broc Tickle and Josh Hill] as last year, but there were rumors that you were going after several other elite riders. There is no secret that we made an offer to Chad Reed. He was very serious about accepting the offer, too, but he wanted to maintain his own TwoTwo Motorsports team, which I can respect. There were a couple other guys that I’d like to leave nameless that we were very close to inking a deal with. It’s just that earlier in the season we did not have all our sponsors lined up, and I didn’t want to rush forward with anything, and not being able to back it up. But getting back to our riders, Tickle and Hill, we feel really good about them. Both those guys can be easily consistent top-10 riders. How is it to work with Ricky Carmichael, and how do you two share the team ownership responsibilities? It’s amazing to work with Ricky. I’m trying to learn more of the technical Simon Cudby

Oh, for sure. At the beginning, we were definitely the black sheep of the pro teams. We had a dealership out of Florida helping us, but that was about it. We fought and clawed our way from the bottom of the sport. Ironically, that was why I quit racing Supercross back in 1999, because I wore baggy gear, and had tattoos and was frowned upon. Now here I am 15 years later and back in it. We share everything with Yoshimura Suzuki, although this year we have taken a bit more initiative and have hired a lot of great people to work

with—and have become somewhat of a standalone team. Last year was definitely a rebirth for us, but not as bumpy as some people may have thought. We did what we always did. We set up shop with Yoshimura, tested bikes and went racing. I’m sure it was a little bit of a nail biter for Yoshimura with us moving in, but now a year later we are working all together. We all have the same goal, which is to get Suzuki on the podium.

side, and he is trying to learn more of the sponsorship side. We both know what our strong points are, and we both lean on each other for advice and help. We are both extremely hands-on with the team. Neither of us is one of those guys who just slaps their name on something and says, “All right, we will see you at Anaheim 1.” Ricky has been especially hands-on with all the preseason testing and stuff.

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AMA WELCOMES NEW EDITOR

Jim Witters Reporting On Rider Rights The AMA welcomes a new staffer tasked with covering the issues that affect your freedom to ride and race motorcycles. New government affairs editor, Jim Witters, brings 30 years of journalism experience and a lifetime of motorcycle riding to the job. Witters came to work in the AMA’s Pickerinton, Ohio, office on Jan. 6. He has a bachelor’s in Leadership and

Administration from the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md. As a journalist, Witters has covered Jim Witters motorcycle issues for the Daytona Beach News-Journal and served as its designated Bike Week and Biketoberfest reporter. A longtime AMA member, Witters is a life member of Florida ABATE and is a past member of Pennsylvania ABATE and Delaware ABATE.

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RUNNING A RACE? GET YOUR FORMS IN NOW Download 2014 Sanctioning, Insurance Forms

If you haven’t submitted the paperwork for your 2014 AMA-sanctioned event, now is the time to do so. Clubs and promoters can access sanctioning and insurance forms on the AMA website at www.americanmotorcyclist.com > Clubs & Promoters > Resources & Forms. The AMA has renewed with K&K Insurance as its preferred insurance provider. The insurance program features industry-leading event liability coverage options at great rates for AMA-chartered clubs and promoters. “Planning well is the first step to success, and we’ve made it easy for clubs and promoters to get their sanction and insurance forms right off the AMA website,” says AMA Vice President of Operations Jeff Massey. K&K Insurance offers high-quality base insurance coverage that meets all AMA-sanctioned event requirements, as well as an optional coverage plan that provides a higher level of coverage beyond the base level. Camping, setup and teardown coverages are included at no additional cost. “The AMA is the premier motorcycling event sanctioning body because it provides organization, rules and logistical support that are unmatched,” says K&K Senior Vice President Matt Sackett. “K&K is proud to do our part to offer AMA organizers industry-leading coverage at great rates.” K&K Insurance has been recognized as a leading provider of sports, leisure and entertainment insurance products for 60 years. The company, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Ind., is one of the largest managing general underwriters in the United States. AMA-chartered clubs and promoters who need assistance with their paperwork for 2014 are encouraged to contact the association at (800) 262-5646. Ask for AMA Organizer Services.


New Weekend For Vintage Extravaganza: July 11-13

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the country’s biggest celebration of vintage bikes and the people who love them, is moving up a weekend from the originally announced date. The new date is July 11-13. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in

Lexington, Ohio, features bike shows, national championship vintage motorcycle racing, seminars by AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers, the country’s biggest motorcycle swap meet, and more. The event is a fundraiser for the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the 501(c)(3) whose job it is to raise money for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. “Providing a date for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is never easy, given that it often can only be set after many other dominoes get lined up, including schedules for MotoGP racing in this country, World Superbike races here, and AMA Pro Racing events,” said

Jeff Massey, AMA vice president of operations. “Although it appeared the originally announced date was our only option, we worked with other groups to find a new spot on the calendar for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days that makes the most sense for the fans.” The new date avoids a conflict with another vintage motorcycling event held in Wauseon, Ohio. AMA members can purchase advance tickets to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at an exclusive discount. To purchase tickets, call (800) 262-5646. For more information on the event, see www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com.

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MOTION PRO REVOLVER THROTTLE KIT MSRP: $154.99 Info: www.motionpro.com For decades, dirtbikes have come with different-rate throttles for different applications. Trail bikes would come with a longer-pull “enduro” throttle and motocross bikes would come quickopening throttles, some going from closed to wide open in just a quarter turn. The rate of opening is determined by the size of the cam wheel, or the round, flat disk on the inner end of the throttle tube. The idea behind the Motion Pro Revolver throttle kit is straightforward: Perhaps the factory-installed cam doesn’t provide the best opening rate for you. The system allows riders to swap in smaller cams for slower throttle openings or larger cams for faster throttle openings. When I received the Motion Pro Revolver throttle kit, I was a little concerned about installing it on my 2013 KTM 450XCF. My previous experience has been with carburetors, and I was still learning about the KTM’s fuel injection. Simply put, my worries were unfounded. The installation was simple. I only had to remove the seat, radiator shrouds and tank, and that gave me complete access to route the cables to the fuel injection throttle body. In about 45 minutes I had the throttle kit installed and the bike running. Fine-tuning the cable tension is easy since the cables come with in-line adjusters, which is a great improvement over the stock cables. As the cables stretch over time, it will be nice to have that adjustability. And they look good too! I started with the smallest diameter cam wheel, as it was closest to stock. I couldn’t detect a change in the throttle opening rate with this cam, as expected, but the overall feel of the throttle

itself was more solid than the stock unit. When I installed the largest cam, however, there was a big difference. My previous bike was a 2009 YZ 450F, which had fairly aggressive power delivery. The stock XCF lacks a little power down low, so I was hoping the faster-opening cam would help with that. It did. Power came on much quicker, making the bike feel snappier. However, I did have to be much gentler with my throttle hand. It didn’t take much twisting to make things happen! The kit comes with two additional cam wheels that fall in between the largest and smallest, giving you the ability to tune your bike according to your riding style or track conditions. Changing out the cams takes just a few minutes and all you need is an Allen wrench. It’s also worth mentioning the grips that come with the kit. My hands blister easily. I typically run Renthal’s medium compound grips, which work well, but with this installation, I decided to run what came with the Revolver. Even a full day of riding didn’t result in one blister. I recommend this kit. Not only does it offer performance tuning that riders of all levels can appreciate, but it’s well-built, easy to install and adjust and comes with some really sweet grips as a bonus.— Dean McNicol


EXCEL TWS-206 SPOKE TORQUE WRENCH MSRP: $129.95-$149.95 Info: www.rkexcelamerica.com

I have been using the Excel TWS-206 spoke torque wrench to build and service motorcycle wheels. It’s a high-quality By Kelly Huffman kit that, in the right hands, can produce professional results. The tool comes well packaged in a compact plastic storage box. It includes not only the adjustable torque spoke wrench, but also a separate wrench to use while loosening spokes. This is helpful because the torque wrench itself should only be used for tightening to help maintain calibration. Also included as part of the set are eight of the most common size wrench heads, which fit a variety of spoke nipples. The kit does not include specific instructions regarding spoke torque, but rather some general guidelines that cover most common applications. Your owner’s manual will include the precise spoke torque recommendations for your bike.

I used this kit to help build and true several wheel sets, which were used in the last Baja 1000. Being able to accurately torque the spokes is a tremendous help in setting up the wheels. I have also used this wrench kit for regular maintenance and service on the wheels of multiple other bikes, both for on- and off-road use. Spoke maintenance is often overlooked, yet very necessary on any motorcycle. It only takes a few minutes to check and adjust the spoke torque on a typical wheel. This helps prolong rim and tire life, and can prevent an accident caused by a broken spoke. Overall, I am pleased with the build and function of the Excel spoke torque wrench. The tool is not inexpensive, but comes as part of a professionalgrade kit that is well designed. Any mechanic would be well served by adding it to their toolbox.— Kelly Huffman

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To download the AMA Motorcycle Value Guide powered by Black Book, search for it in the iTunes App Store or the Android Marketplace.

ANDROID, iOS APP PROVIDES USED BIKE VALUES Price It Right

We’ve all been there, wondering what a particular bike is worth, whether it’s already in our garage or is a prospective purchase in the AMA classifieds at ama.sprocketlist.com. Now, the AMA Motorcycle Value Guide powered by Black Book lets you find out right from your smartphone.

The app is easy to use and is available for iOS and Android devices. It leverages the full power of the Black Book Motorcycle and Powersports Value Guide. You can find it in the iTunes App Store and Android Marketplace for $1.99. The AMA Motorcycle Value Guide powered by Black Book includes comprehensive value information on

virtually all motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, dirtbikes, scooters, personal watercraft, jet boats and snowmobiles produced since 1981. The guide, updated monthly, includes the current retail values, a condition-based trade-in value, as well as the original MSRP. Prices reported by the app are based on actual sales data reported to Black Book.

JACOB ARGUBRIGHT WINS AMA WEST HARE SCRAMBLES OPENER First Major Victory For Revamped Husqvarna Brand

Less than one week into 2014, Husqvarna celebrated its first major North American victory since the brand forged a close partnership with KTM. Jacob Argubright rode the all-new Husky FC 450 to the win at the AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series opener at Arizona Cycle Park in Buckeye, Ariz. Argubright opened up a near two-minute lead over the field by the time he reached the checkered flag on the grand prix-style course. He had also lapped all the way up to fifth place by the finish of the 2.5-hour race. “I was pretty nervous for my first race with factory Husqvarna,” Argubright says. “The first couple laps didn’t go as I planned and then I finally loosened up. I feel like I really got used to my FC 450 in that race. It worked great all day.” Argubright also will contest the FMF/GPR AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series for Husqvarna.

“I was pretty nervous for my first race with factory Husqvarna. The first couple laps didn’t go as I planned and then I finally loosened up. I feel like I really got used to my FC 450 in that race. It worked great all day.”

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Husqvarna Motorcycles

~ A JC Motors Company ~


AMA VINTAGE DIRT TRACK KICKS OFF MARCH 8 Racing Through The Past

AMA dirt track racing is one of the country’s most storied motorsports, with a history dating to the early 20th century. Nowhere is that heritage more celebrated than on the flat ovals during AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship competition. The 2014 AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship will begin March 8 in Savannah, Ga., when the first of 13 rounds gets underway.

“Motorcycle dirt-track racing is one of motorsports’ great historic disciplines, and the AMA is honored to support the vibrant community of vintage dirt trackers with national championship recognition,” says AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. “The AMA has a rich history in the sport, dating to the original factory Class-A racing in the 1920s and the Class-C production-based format that continues today. The motorcycles that helped write that history are amazing machines, and it’s thrilling to see many of them still on the track, competing for AMA national No. 1 plates.” The AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series recognizes national champions in period-correct classes that reflect the rich history of AMA dirt-track competition. The first three rounds of the 2014 AMA Vintage National Dirt Track Championship Series run in conjunction with the AMA-sanctioned amateur dirt-track program that has grown up around Daytona Bike Week.

Following Bike Week, the 13-round series travels through Illinois, North Carolina, New York, Ohio and Indiana before returning to New York for the Sept. 21 finale in Cuddebackville. Class rules and equipment regulations are available at www. americanmotorcyclist.com > National Championship Series > AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series. The full series schedule is on page 45.

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New blood has arrived in the premier class of AMA Supercross. KTM rider and 450SX class rookie Ken Roczen won the opening round in Anaheim, Calif., on Jan. 4. The following weekend in Phoenix, Ariz., JGR Yamaha’s Justin Brayton, whose best finish in 2013 was fifth, led most of the main event before finally succumbing to a relentless charge by defending AMA Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto, who rides for Monster Energy Kawasaki. In Anaheim, in front of 45,050 fans, Roczen started just behind Villopoto, who claimed the holeshot, taking the lead when the Kawasaki rider crashed on the ninth lap. Villopoto remounted in fifth, but not before TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed, Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey got between him and Roczen. While many riders might have snapped under the pressure of having four past AMA Supercross champions threaten his lead, Roczen kept his cool. That proved critical on the 12th lap when Stewart, who had moved into second, crashed while attempting a pass for the lead through the whoops. Roczen went on to win, followed by Dungey then Reed. “This is insane,” said Roczen. “I got off to a good start and was holding on really tight. When there were four laps to go, I realized that I could win.” In Phoenix, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Jake Moss grabbed the holeshot with Brayton and Dungey in tow. Villopoto started in ninth.

Brayton took the lead on the first lap, bringing Dungey and Barcia with him. Barcia was flying, and passed Dungey for second before tracking down Brayton. Barcia briefly took the lead, but Brayton aggressively, yet cleanly, moved back out front. By now, the lead pack had tightened into a six-way battle involving Brayton, Dungey, Roczen, Barcia, Villopoto, and Stewart. Roczen crashed on Lap 7 while battling Barcia, while Villopoto was carving his way through the pack. On Lap 13, Villopoto took the lead, but Brayton didn’t fade. The Yamaha rider made a final push on the last lap, but Villopoto held on for his first career AMA Supercross win in Phoenix. Dungey finished third. “Justin was riding a hell of a race,” said Villopoto afterwards. “I have to give it to him, he made it tough.” Brayton’s runner-up effort tied his career-best finish, which came in Toronto in 2012. “This feels so good,” Brayton exclaimed. “The new Yamaha is unbelievable. We did our homework this year. It’s been a lot of hard work, but being up [on the podium] pays off. “ Meanwhile, the AMA 250SX West Region Championship is featuring a budding rivalry between two-race winner Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson and Lucas Oil Honda’s Cole Seely. Anderson won the first two main events of 2014 with a last-lap pass on Seely, who took second each time.

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High Adventure. No Hassle.

AMA Pro-AM Motocross offers PAth to Pros

For more information visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Riding.

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2014 Schedule Includes More Than 60 Events

With a number of events at the country’s top tracks, the 2014 AMA Pro-Am Motocross schedule will provide a fitting proving ground for tomorrow’s pro motocross racers. “Today’s top amateur motocrossers— and tomorrow’s best-qualified pros—can be found competing in AMA Pro-Am Motocross,” says AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. “The 2014 calendar is one of our most comprehensive ever, with more than 60 events at America’s best motocross tracks, giving these up-and-coming racers an opportunity to race for the points, purse money and contingency that will help them achieve their professional dreams.” The 2014 AMA Pro-Am Motocross competition kicked off Dec. 29 with the Texas Winter Series. The season wraps up Nov. 30 in St. George, Utah, just after Florida’s Mini Olympics Nov. 23-29. “The AMA Pro-Am racing schedule provides the quality events that are needed to determine a rider’s ability

and if they are ready to participate in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship,” says MX Sports Pro Racing Race Director Jeff Canfield. AMA Pro-Am Motocross events are open to both professionally licensed and A-class amateur motocross racers. The events allow amateurs to gain experience on America’s top tracks and prepare for the fast pace and long motos featured at the pro level. Pro-Am events feature two or three Pro-Am points-paying classes: 250 ProAm, 450 Pro-Am and Open Pro Sport. A rider must earn 75 Pro-Am points in one of the three Pro-Am classes to earn an AMA Pro Motocross endorsement on their professional competition license. The 2014 AMA Pro-Am Motocross schedule is available on page 43. For more information, see www. americanmotorcyclist.com > Racing > AMA Pro-Am Motocross or email mxracing@ama-cycle.org.

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Arrive, race, walk away—no air filters to clean, no bike to wash, no tires to change. If that sounds good to you, you might be interested in a new program offered by KR4 Performance, a new team chasing points in the AMA National Enduro Championship Series. Participants in the program get full bike race prep, bike delivery to the race from the KR4 Performance facility, food on site, fuel support, on-site maintenance and a professional team atmosphere. The company offers both one-off and full-season programs. In addition to the arrive-and-race program, KR4 will field two riders, Ian Blythe of Sedalia, Colo., who will contest the pro class on a KTM 350XCF and Jubal Brown who will race the Open A class on a Honda. Info: www.kr4performance.com

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The best routes, roads and twotrack, mapped by local experts. A great challenge with like-minded riders. A full weekend’s activities, with camping, campfires, food and prizes.


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1962 YAMAHA ASCOT SCRAMBLER

A Functional And Updated Norm McDonald Replica, Built To Race When the historic Catalina Grand Prix was revived in 2010, plenty of people scrambled to be part of an event that would once again bring motorcycle racing to the roads of Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California. One of them was John Stein. Only problem was he didn’t have a bike worthy of the race. So he found a forlorn Yamaha YDS2, and with the help of friends rebuilt it in just 90 days, ultimately turning it into a replica of the type of scrambler racebike that AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Norm McDonald raced as an amateur at Ascot Raceway in Southern California. “The original Catalina Grand Prix was legendary in California,” he says. “So when

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the opportunity came to race in the revival, I just knew I had to do it.” The event was popular for eight years after WWII, from 1951-58, and the 2010 Red Bull Catalina Grand Prix was a modern version of the same, with classes for vintage and modern bikes. To transform the YDS2 into race-ready form, Stein had engine work and expansion chambers done by Scott Clough Racing, shock and fork work by Race Tech, and he added plenty of other new bits. Ultimately, the bike won the Premier Lightweight Expert class and finished with the 22nd fastest time out of 104 entries. “I was astonished at how fast that bike


was during the race—it would nearly match the 650 Triumphs on the straights,” Stein says. “In a way, racing the Yamaha at Catalina was like witnessing the changing of the guard between British and Japanese technology that was just beginning to take place in 1962.” The motorcycle’s adventures have appeared in articles in Motorcyclist magazine, Autoweek, Classic Bike and elsewhere. You can find on-board video footage from the Catalina race shot from this bike on YouTube. Search “Catalina Lightweight Expert 1962

Yamaha YDS2.” Fitted with a period-style number plate bearing the 233 race number of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Norm McDonald—a racer, engineer and motorcycle dealer who was the founding “N” of “K&N Racing”—the bike appeared onstage at the 2013 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Las Vegas to honor McDonald at his induction. The machine is now on display at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, features the people and machines that have defined the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling in America. The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that receives support from the AMA and from the motorcycling community. For info and directions, visit www. motorcyclemuseum.org, or call (614) 856-2222.

Photos Rainer Ziehm


Hall of Famer

A FAST FAN FAVORITE AMA and World 500 Grand Prix Roadracer Randy Mamola was widely regarded as one of the most exciting and charismatic Grand Prix motorcycle racers of his generation. Mamola was a consistent challenger for the 500cc world championship title throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. After winning the AMA 250 Grand Prix Championship in 1978, he went on to win 13 500cc Grands Prix and finished runner-up in the championship four times and ultimately ranked in the top 10 a remarkable 11 times during his 13-season world championship career. After racing, Mamola became a founder of Riders for Health, making him one of the leading philanthropists to come out of motorcycle racing. Mamola was born in San Jose, California in 1959. At the age of 12, he learned to ride on a Hodaka Steens and was quickly racing. At 14, Mamola was sponsored by Yamaha, and he wore the yellow-andblack Yamaha racing leathers of his idol, Kenny Roberts. He raced flat track and began road racing. Mamola traveled to contest the New Zealand road racing series during the winter and won that country’s 125cc title. In America, he began winning AFM road races. Mamola turned pro at 16 and by 1977, when he graduated from high school, he began competing in the AMA 250 Grand Prix Championship. He scored three podium finishes in his rookie season and finished runner up in the championship. In 1978, he returned and scored wins

at Pocono and Laguna Seca en route to earning the AMA 250 Grand Prix Championship. With Kenny Roberts exploding onto the world championship scene, Mamola was already being considered the next big thing to come out of America, and in 1979 he got an opportunity to go to the world championships racing a Bimota, and later Yamahas, in the 250cc class, and a privateer Suzuki in the 500cc class. He made an immediate splash in both classes, earning podium finishes and scoring fourth in the 250cc championships (first privateer) and eighth in the 500cc Road Racing World Championships, despite racing in only half of the 500cc GPs. Mamola was so impressive that he earned a factory ride with Herron-Texaco

YOU CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. AMA members do it all—long-distance rides, offroad races, cruising main street, vintage dirt track... To better serve our broad membership base, American Motorcyclist magazine is now published in two versions. The dirt version includes more off-highway and racing content. The street version includes more articles for road riders. To switch, call (800) 262-5646, ask for membership services and tell them which version you want. Want to read both versions? Call the above number to get both delivered to your home for just $10 more a year. Members can read both online at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/magazine for free.

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Suzuki in 1980. In July 1980, Mamola broke through to win his first 500cc World Championship Grand Prix race in Zolder, Belgium. It was also early in his career that Mamola became a favorite of the fans and his fellow riders. Mamola was one of the first GP riders to acknowledge the crowd on the cool-down lap of the race. He would throw gloves, boots and even his T-shirt into the crowd. “I would wave to the fans, give them applause back and things like that,” Mamola said. “Before long, I noticed the fans were making signs with my name and wearing my team’s colors. I know how great I felt when I stood as a young fan if a rider acknowledged me. I just wanted to give something back to them.” After starting his GP career in 1979, Mamola continued to be competitive


through the early 1990s. He earned a total of 57 podium finishes in three decades and was a championship contender nearly his entire career. Mamola’s career hit its pinnacle in 1986 and 1987, when he rode for Roberts’ Lucky Strike Yamaha squad. During that period, he won four GPs, took a slew of podium finishes and finished third and second respectively in the 500cc World Championship. He then was hired by Cagiva to help launch that company’s entry into GP racing. He gave Cagiva its first podium result in Belgium in 1988. Mamola retired from racing in 1992. He felt an obligation to give back to society and began doing so from an early age. During his GP racing days, Mamola got involved in raising money for African relief, ultimately helping fund Riders For Health. Over the years, Mamola visited Africa and deepened his involvement in charity work. Mamola’s passion for this work led to several motorcycle manufacturers becoming involved. Riders for Health has raised millions for African relief. Randy Mamola was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000. He was not only one of the best riders of his era, but he remains one of the all-time fan favorites in the history of Motorcycle Grand Prix racing.

On Display At The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame

“FOO RIDER,” BY JEFF GAITHER

What it is: Artist Jeff Gaither invented the idea of a “Foo Rider” based on the WWII fighter pilot term “Foo Fighter,” which these days would be called a UFO. Gaither’s Foo Rider is conceived to take that idea and flip it. The helmeted creature is imagined to be a fanciful gremlin-chasher, traveling along with the motorcyclist, chasing away mechanical snafus and generally bringing good luck. How it works: Though primarily a work of art that displays as a sculpture, the piece also employs a removable helmet that can be worn on a motorcycle journey. Removing the helmet reveals another eye underneath that is part of the base. How it was made: Gaither started with a Bell 500, painted it with acrylics, built the base using a wire armature covered with foil and polymer clay. See it: “Foo Rider” is currently on display at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame as part of the exhibit “2 Wheels + Motor: an international Fine Arts Exhibition.”

Put yourself in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is YOUR hall of fame—we couldn’t exist without the generous support of our donors. Now there’s a new way for you to show that support in a very visible way: My Hall of Fame. The idea is simple: A $20 charitable donation gets you a 3-inch-square space on the wall in the Hall of Fame entrance foyer that hangs during the campaign year. Want a bigger space? A 6-inch square is an $80 donation, and an 8-inch square is a $180 donation. You also get an official certificate noting that your picture is on display in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Hang your picture, your kid’s picture, your company logo, almost anything. It’s up to you! Get in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame today!

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AMA member Chris Horgan is a former Sierra Club, Greenpeace and World Wildlife member who formed the Stewards of the Sequoia in California 2004 to promote responsible recreation and environmental stewardship. He says that Stewards of the Sequoia members enjoy all types of responsible outdoor recreation, including off-highway vehicle riding, horse riding, rock climbing, fishing and more. The organization encourages everyone to share the trails, believing that no one group of users has more right to enjoy public land and trails than another group. We caught up with Horgan to find out more about his life and his organization. AmericAn motorcyclist: How long have you been riding motorcycles? cHris HorgAn: As a kid I dreamed of riding in the woods, but with no offroading opportunities in New York City, I had to content myself by devouring every dirtbike magazine and book I could find.

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My love of bikes drove me to take my street motorcycle test as soon as I turned 17, at which point I parked the 10-speed bike I used daily on the streets of New York City and replaced it with a used 1973 Yamaha RD350. While attending the Art of the Motorcycle collection at the Guggenheim

Museum it was surprising to find I had owned just about every bike in the collection from the ’70s and ’80s. I guess I should have kept them. With no off-roading available, my desire to ride led me to road racing in the ’80s. I was finally able to begin my dream of trail riding in the woods at the age of 35 after moving to Connecticut. Right now I ride the dirt almost exclusively and have a 2005 KTM 400EXC, which is a truly incredible trail bike. tell us a bit more about your experience with the outdoors. I was born and raised in the Big Apple, but even though I was a city boy, I have always loved the outdoors. After retiring at the age of 40 from my custom audio installation business, my


Conrad Lim

wife and I spent four years touring the western United States in an RV. We saw all the usual sights like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, but took our time and stopped at most every national forest and other public lands along the way. My daughter KiSea was born on Halloween while we were on the road and toured with us for three years. She visited more national monuments and scenic areas by the time she was 3 than many people do in a lifetime. Picking up maps at each Forest Service ranger station allowed me to search out legal single-track trails to enjoy one of my great passions: dirtbike riding. I logged about 8,000 miles of trail each year during our travels including every state west of the Rockies.

When did you form Stewards of the Sequoia and why? In 2004, after having toured the western United States [and settling temporarily in California], I was determined to do my part to stop the closure of public lands, especially motorized single-track trails. Brian Hawthorne of the BlueRibbon Coalition, perhaps sensing my passion, suggested I start a local grassroots group. Since I wanted to volunteer to maintain trails, I decided to encourage others to help too. So I started Stewards of the Sequoia and created our first Trail Appreciation Day. It was so unexpected when we quickly grew to be the largest on-the-ground volunteer organization in the Sequoia National Forest (in California).

Later that first year, while making a presentation about our trail work, a high-level Forest Service staffer asked me how I had gotten so many volunteers during what is traditionally the worst month of the year for volunteering. I guess my ignorance allowed me to think outside the box and not be discouraged by preconceived notions. It was clear we needed to start working proactively to keep trails open, rather than complaining after trails were closed. We needed to have a seat at the table during planning processes that would affect our trails, and so began the Stewards Trail Preservation Program. What is Stewards of the Sequoia? What does the group do?


“In 2004 after having toured the western United States I was determined to step up and do my part to stop the closure of our public lands...” The Stewards of the Sequoia mission is to “promote responsible recreation and environmental stewardship.” We are a multiple-use group representing all forms of recreation. Our philosophy is that by sharing our public lands there is more for everyone to enjoy. Dispersing use over larger trail systems that allow all forms of recreation will minimize the impacts, too, so it is better for the environment. We maintain trails on public lands to help keep them open and are heavily involved in public lands planning processes. What are some of the accomplishments of the group? Stewards maintenance on trails since 2004 has included removing over 3,500 fallen trees, clearing 1,450 miles of overgrown brush, building 2,920 water bars to reduce erosion and planting over 500 trees to speed reforestation in burn areas for a total of almost 17,000 hours of volunteer work. Another key aspect to Stewards work is advocacy in what we call our Trail Preservation Program. This includes submitting articles to local newspapers about the positive aspects of motorized recreation, educating legislators attending agency meetings for planning and, most importantly, reading and filing substantive comments on each agency proposal that affect our public lands. We have been successful at preventing the closure of over 60 percent of the trails (at the Sequoia National Forest) while at the same time we have maintained trails so everyone can still enjoy them. What are some of the projects the group is working on now? Stewards are currently analyzing the Sequoia National Forest Plan revision to ensure that recreation is a priority for future forest projects over the next 15 -25 years. Over the past three years we have been forest stakeholders in a process called the Sierra Cascades Dialogs, where we were able to stop a biased and incorrect science synthesis report from maligning motorized recreation. That report would have mistakenly provided a basis for closing trails in the future across the nation. Last summer the Forest Service offered the public a mere 10-day comment period to review and analyze 1,646 miles of roads in the Sequoia National Forest to determine which should remain open in the future. It was quite a task for us to research so many roads and file a written proposal in such a short period of time with no advance notice. We had to drop just about everything.

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How many members are there? CH: Right now Stewards of the Sequoia has roughly 2,800 members, out of which 260 have donated over the past year to help fund our efforts. We are kicking butt in every aspect of keeping trails open except one, and that is funding. How is the group funded? Other than a couple of small grants, Stewards is totally member funded. As with most organizations, the few do the work for the many and with too little funding. That is why it is so important for every person who enjoys motorized trails to donate to local grassroots pro-access groups in the areas they ride, as well as at least one state and one national group. They do more with one buck than the anti-access folks do with a hundred, but without support they cannot continue to fight successfully to keep your trails open. We are grateful that AMA District 37 [Southern California] Dualsport has sponsored Stewards for the past three years. Fundraisers by local clubs like the Bakersfield Trailblazers, Chaparrals Motorcycle Club and Southern Sierra Fat Tire Association, and local businesses like Cyclesmith’s, have helped Stewards make ends meet. Thanks so very much, guys and gals. You enable us to keep up the fight and keep winning. Why does the group clear trees? With more and more areas in the forest suffering from extreme fires, there can literally be hundreds of trees blocking the trail in just a single mile. Stewards just cleared over 1,100 trees from the trails this spring in a burn area, and hundreds more have fallen since, which we have worked with the Forest Service to clear as well. Do you consider Stewards of the Sequoia to be an environmentalist group? As people who enjoy the outdoors on a dirtbike or 4x4 or any other form of recreation, many of us care about the environment. We want healthy forests. Stewards was founded as a multipleuse stewardship organization to give a voice to the majority of people who want to see continued abundant access to their public lands and support active stewardship to keep those lands healthy. Stewards programs help increase people’s awareness of the benefits of treading lightly to reduce environmental impacts and keep trails enjoyable. So, yes, we are environmentalists, but we prefer to call ourselves stewards. What made you decide to get involved in fighting to keep trails open?

Having seen firsthand the closure of the Massachusetts state forests to off-road vehicles in the ’90s for no valid reason, I was aware of how easily access to our public lands can be restricted or even eliminated. Some of those state forests were reopened due to the efforts of local dirtbike clubs who maintained the trails. It became clear help was needed to prevent trail closures. I wanted to do something more than just my annual memberships to BlueRibbon and AMA. Are you only concerned about motorized trails or for hiking, horse and other trails as well? Many years ago I realized every form of recreation is, or would be, in the crosshairs of those who seek to close our public lands. While motorized recreation was targeted first, there have also been attempts to restrict both mountain bike and horseback access. We are far more powerful and effective when we work together to protect our access. Stewards have always advocated for, and maintained, multiple-use trails that are open to all forms of recreation. What heroes have influenced you over the years and why? [AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer] Clark Collins, founder of BlueRibbon Coalition, went riding with me many years ago in Idaho. As we stopped at the top of a cliff he told me of his work to save the trail system we were riding on, how he met with the governor of Idaho and was told his group—The BlueRibbon Coalition—was not significant and that the trails would be closed. Not one for taking “no” for an answer, Clark was able to keep the trail system open by working with the community. That kind of can-do attitude and persistence is something I have always embodied in my work. What are some of the biggest challenges facing offhighway riders today? Apathy is our biggest enemy. We are the silent majority. We just want to be left alone. Most people are, understandably, busy with their family, jobs and recreation. Most people do not want to join an organization or donate. Most people do not have time and do not want to attend meetings or read 1,000-page documents and submit comment letters. Yet those are some of the most important things one can do to stop closures. Fortunately, there are pro-access groups who can do that work on your behalf, but they need your support. I recall during the early days of


The most rewarding aspects of trail advocacy, to me, are riding the trails and seeing the work we have accomplished, such as eliminating rain ruts to improve sections of trails, or knowing the substantive comments we made have been effective to keep the trail open, or seeing the smile on riders’ faces as they enjoy a trail that would have been closed to them if not for our efforts. What would someone be surprised to learn about you?

Conrad Lim

Back in the ’80s I used to be a Sierra Club, Greenpeace and World Wildlife member. Living in New York City at the time did not allow me to see the places these groups claimed were being harmed. I kept reading the magazines and alerts they would send me. After a while I did my own research and found they were not always telling the truth about many environmental issues. Many of the problems that they claimed existed—such as damage due to motorized use of trails—were actually caused by water running down the trail and occur just as frequently on non-motorized trails. They were misrepresenting the information in order to try to pit user groups against each other. How important are motorized trails for a local economy? Stewards being told legislators would not listen unless my group donated $10,000. This seemed wrong to me, so over the years I continued to educate legislators about the need to keep more trails open and was rewarded with support on many trail-related issues even though we had not donated even $1 to any of them. At one point my research revealed millions of acres of public lands had been studied 30 years ago and determined to be unsuitable for Wilderness designation, but they are just a mere pen stroke away from being designated as Wilderness today. This would prohibit all forms of use except hiking and horseback. These are the lands where the majority of the public recreate mostly via motorized and mountain bike recreation. Local economies would be devastated and the majority of the public locked out of much of the remaining multipleuse lands in many areas. I contacted our local congressman to see if he was interested in doing something and he asked me to brief him. Much to his credit, [Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)] created a bill called the “Wilderness Study and Roadless Release Act” to release those lands back to multiple use as promised by the government 30 years ago.

Legislators want to work with us on off-road issues, but we have to take the time to tell them why it is important to us. What can off-highway riders do to help protect existing trails and create new ones? Join your local grassroots group, donate to help fund the fight and roll up your sleeves to help maintain trails. These three things will do the most to keep your trails open. It may surprise people to learn that doing those three things persistently over the years is also likely to set the stage for getting more trails. What has been the most frustrating part for you in fighting to keep trails open? Dealing with agencies who work at a bureaucratic, or seemingly glacial, pace can be extremely frustrating, where even the simplest thing like being allowed to volunteer can take years. The good news is that developing strong relationships with land managers, as grassroots groups like Stewards have done, will often speed up those processes. What do you find rewarding in your efforts?

Motorized recreation has been one of the fastest growing forms of recreation for a while now. According to a study by the Outdoor Industry Association, off-roading contributes over $110 billion directly to local economies and people enjoying motorized recreation spend more than any other form of recreation. Motorized trails bring people into rural communities where they spend those dollars. When timber harvests were severely reduced on public lands, the government told us tourism would replace logging. Many rural economies which once depended on logging now depend on tourism, a large part of which is motorized recreation. Is there anything else you would like to add? Multiple-use pro-access groups and motorized groups have gotten better and smarter at keeping your trails open, but they lack the funding needed to engage in the many battles. If each of us would donate the cost of a set of tires each year to our local, state and national groups we would have the money needed to take back our trails. I encourage everyone to get involved to help make a difference.

March 2014

37


Riding

With The Family

Ohio Couple Plants Seeds Of Motorcycling Among Community

Front: Neil and Susan Bouchillon. Back, L-R: Jesse Lewis, 10; Grace Bouchillon, 13; Gunner Short, 15; Georgia “GiGi” Hankins, 14.

F

ive years ago, AMA member Neil Bouchillon bought what could have been the last kids’ bike sold by Huntington, W.Va.’s East End Cycle. “It was Dec. 24. It was the last dirt bike sold out of that shop before they stopped because of the lead law,” he says. The “lead law,” known formally as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, was an overarching attempt by Congress to protect children from lead exposure. The broad measure ensnared youth off-highway vehicles. Sales of bikes for kids 12 and under were being banned because of the lead in parts like batteries, engine cases, control cables and footpegs. Understandably, an uproar ensued in the OHV community. Neil was a single father and a lifelong

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dirt biker who dreamed of riding with his 7-year-old daughter, Grace. He didn’t want to miss out on that opportunity. Thankfully, members like Neil responded to the call to action from the AMA and its partners, and the lead-law ban was defeated for kid-sized OHVs. Little did Neil know then, but over time he would become one of the greatest beneficiaries of that victory. “Had I not bought that bike when I did, and had the AMA not done what they had

done to defeat the lead law, where would we be?” Neil asks.

Spreading The Love The significance of the lead-law win for Neil is clear when you fast-forward five years. Grace’s Suzuki DR-Z has been joined by “at least” 14 other kids’ bikes. Neil has added bikes for his wife Susan (they married last fall) and her son Jesse Lewis, 10, as well as a number of additional dirt bikes that he uses to spread the love of motorcycling among the Bouchillon’s southern Ohio community of Proctorville. “It started with just another dirt bike so Grace’s friend, GiGi, could ride with us,” says Neil, who works as an attorney in private practice in Huntington. “But as soon as I saw the self esteem that these

Corey Mays

By James Holter


Tools For The Job To be a dirt bike rider, you need, among other things, a dirt bike. These models represent different sizes of beginner-friendly options. If your son or daughter shows the interest and skill for a more a more aggressive or specialized machine, competition-oriented minibikes are available from these manufacturers and others (such as Cobra in motocross, Sherco in trials and KTM in motocross and off-road).

BEGINNERS ONLY

<<<<<<< <<< <<<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< << < <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < < < < < < < < < < <<<

Yamaha’s two-stroke PW50 has been starting motorcycling careers for more than three decades. It’s easy to ride, easy to work on, reliable as a claw hammer and offers the right performance for young riders. It has a throttle limiter, oil injection (no mixing fuel) one speed and an automatic clutch. It’s also relatively inexpensive, going for $1,440.* Other models: KTM’s 50 Mini is comparable in size, but offers liquid cooling, disc brakes, updated suspension and a more contemporary design. Modern looks and performance come at a price, however. Its MSRP is $3,299. Although it is no longer listed as a current model on Suzuki’s website, the JR50 is Suzuki’s answer to the PW50. Used ones are readily available.

*Prices are the most current model MSRP reported on the manufacturers’ websites at presstime. Additional destination, setup and registration charges may apply.

TIME TO SHIFT

Susan says that all of the kids, regardless of background, benefit from the emotional lift and self-confidence provided by riding dirt bikes. “For these kids, to say, ‘I actually rode a dirt bike,’ is a big boost,” she says. Susan says that the kids helped make a scrapbook for Neil to thank him for giving them the opportunity to learn to ride. One girl, Kelly, who Susan describes as “very academically smart,” wrote an especially touching letter that addressed how riding filled an athletic void that otherwise existed in her life. “All the kids feel like they’re a part of the group when they’re here,” Susan says. “We don’t leave out anybody.” Susan says that positive attitude is a Continued on page 40

The $1,399 Honda CRF50F (and its various permutations) has been the go-to four-stroke beginner bike since 1968. It oozes fun, simplicity, and the broad power delivery of the proven four-stroke engine is versatile enough to put a smile on the faces of kids young and old. Equipped with a three-speed transmission, it has an automatic clutch, ideal for beginners. Other models: Although technically replaced by the CRF110 in 2013, the CRF70 is a slightly larger, slightly more powerful version of the CRF50.

MORE POWER

Kawasaki’s $2,299 KLX110 owns the sweet spot of easy-to-ride and performance, with enough power to keep kids coming back for years. It’s also worth noting that while no selfrespecting parent would thrash their kid’s minibike around a motocross

CLUTCH PERFORMER

Suzuki DR-Z125 ($3,099) offers smooth performance, a five-speed transmission, ground clearance to get over trail obstacles and a manual clutch. For $100 more, you get the DR-Z125L, which comes with a disc front brake and 2-inch larger diameter wheels in the front and rear. Other models: Honda’s CRF80F, CRF100F and CRF125F; Yamaha’s TTR125 and TTR125L; and Kawasaki’s KLX140 and KLX140L all feature a manual clutch and similar styling.

track, this bike size is popular among the pit-bike racing crowd. Other models: Honda’s CRF110F and Yamaha’s TTR110 are comparable to the KLX110 in many ways but brand and graphics. Pick your favorite color and ride.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < < < < < < < <<<<<<<<<<< << <<<<<

Benefits

UPSIZE ME

The size is larger, but the idea is the same. The $3,640 Honda CRF150F is intended to give larger riders a safe, predictable, reliable and capable off-roading experience. It has electric start and, like all of Honda’s off-highway bikes, meets California Air Resources Board and EPA off-road emissions standards. Note that a similarly named model, the CRF150R is a highperformance, closed-course motocross race bike and is not designed for a beginner.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<< <<< <<<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< << <<<<<<< <<< <<<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< <<< <<<<< << <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < < < < < < <<

girls got from riding, I realized just how beneficial it could be.” Susan says that GiGi (also known as Georgia Hankins) was pretty nervous when she first tried riding. For Susan, that apprehension was a familiar feeling. “What was fun for me is I had never ridden either, so I learned to ride with these kids,” Susan says. Everyone has gotten over the first-ride jitters pretty quickly, though. That’s when the fun really begins. “A feeling of accomplishment sets in,” Susan says. “For the kids, and me too, it was a feeling like, ‘I can’t believe I’m actually doing this!’” It wasn’t long before the Bouchillons started welcoming more young riders into the mix. They recruited a lot of new dirt bikers at Grace’s ballet class. “The parents would bring the girls over to ride, and the neighborhood would come out and watch because it’s not common to see six or eight girls riding around with their pony tails sticking out under their helmets,” Neil says. “For some of the boys in the neighborhood, it was something to see because these are feminine girls. They are the ballet types, which I think actually complemented their ability to ride because of the coordination and flexibility they’ve developed.” By this point, there was no turning back. Other kids, including friends of Jesse, joined the fun, learning to ride dirt bikes responsibly under the watchful eyes of Neil, Susan and the kids’ parents. Neil says that over the past five years they’ve probably taught “about 50” kids how to ride, and have taken several of them on day trips to nearby public riding areas. “The first time that we ventured out of our yard and to some real trails was really exciting,” Susan says. “It was at Hanging Rock [part of the Wayne National Forest trail system] in Southern Ohio. We now go there pretty regularly, and it’s one of our favorite places to ride.”


Continued from page 39

big part of the success of their loosely organized riding club, which the kids refer to as “the Bouchillon Mud Bugs.” “It’s not about making these kids into the world’s best off-road racers,” she says. “It’s about realizing the positive benefits of accomplishment. We do have some who race hare scrambles, but we have some kids who are reluctant to go up hills or down hills. It’s about spending time with them to help them overcome their fears.” Susan refers to their group as a “real social network” and is proud that it includes kids from all economic backgrounds and across social circles. “Gunner [Short, 15], who rides with us, is on the local basketball team, and they are phenomenal players,” she says. “He rides with the younger kids and is so accepting of them and helpful regardless of whether they are athletes or not.”

Family Affair Neil says that he’s inspired by memories of dirt bikes breaking social barriers among his friends when he was young. “I started riding in 1973 on a Honda QA 50,” Neil says. “We’d go to the De Soto National Forest in Mississippi and ride. Everybody in the neighborhood had dirt bikes. We rode together. We ate together. We had fun get-togethers. But that died down. I don’t know if it was the price of gas or whatever, but everybody in our area just got out of doing it.” Neil’s family remembers those good times on the trails fondly. “Many years later, I was having dinner

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with my dad and he said to me that the closest we ever were as a family was when we were riding dirt bikes together,” Neil says. “He recognized the importance of riding together, not just to our relationship, but in strengthening the community.” Although Neil never quit riding himself (he currently has a KTM 200 XCW and competes in Southern Ohio hare scrambles), the benefits of recreational trail riding were just a memory until Grace and her friends started riding. “The parents come over and watch, and in many ways it’s like it was when I was a kid,” Neil says. “The kids are outside and playing. They’re getting exercise. They’re making decisions. They’re having experiences. Then, one thing we always do whether we’re at our house or at a trail, is we sit down and eat together. All the other parents say that this is some of the best quality time they have with their kids, and these are parents who otherwise might not be involved in dirt biking.” Neil admits that he can’t do it alone. In addition to Susan, who he calls their “lead social coordinator,” and the kids, who help wash the bikes and gear, his friends Tim Shephard, Greg Shephard and Ron Mallory help maintain the bikes. In addition to East End Cycle (“Susan and I got engaged in that shop,” Neil shares), Huntington’s Cycle Center and Lancaster Sport Cycle in Lancaster, Ohio, support Neil and Susan’s efforts to introduce new riders to the sport. “Our neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are also very generous with their property,” Susan adds. “Mr. Chapman really enjoys sitting on his front porch and just watching the kids ride, and if we ever miss a

weekend, they call and ask when we’ll be riding again. They are wonderful people.”

Responsibility Neil is an attorney. Susan is an insurance claims adjuster. They understand risk and take a careful approach to any riding that happens on their watch. “Everybody understands where the dangers are,” Neil says. “We show them where to ride. Everybody rides in the same direction. There are ground rules. It’s obviously non-negotiable that everyone wears safety gear and that parents are involved. We don’t do double or triple jumps. There’s a time and a place for more aggressive riding, and it’s not in the backyard. It’s at the racetrack.” In addition to safety, Neil says they teach the kids to respect the rights of others. “We live in a neighborhood, so we’re very conscious about noise,” he says. “I have FMF Q2 silencers on all of the two strokes, and I keep the packing in the fourstroke exhausts fresh. We don’t ride during church hours, and we don’t ride late at night, and if I see that we’re creating too much dust, we quit riding for the evening.” Both Neil and Susan feel that any risk concerns are properly managed and that the kids have just as much fun as they would in a less safe environment. The most important thing, Susan says, isn’t the risk of riding. It’s the benefits that come with it. “I never had anything to do with dirt bike riding before I met Neil,” Susan says. “Now I can’t imagine living without it.”

Corey Mays

Susan helps GiGi and Jesse get suited up to ride.


2014 www.AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com

AMA Members Call (800) 262-5646 before May 27, 2014, to order advance discounted tickets.


GO RIDE

A few of the hundreds of AMA-sanctioned events this month, detailed on the following pages.

1

The Hocking Valley Motorcycle Club is hosting a gem of a hare scrambles on March 16 in Logan, Ohio. Gates open at 8 a.m. and sign up starts at 9 a.m. Info: www. hockingvalleymc.com.

2

3

The AMA Pro Road Racing Championship kicks off March 13-15 on the famed high banks of Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Following the season opener, the gladiators of the asphalt tracks move on to Wisconsin, Alabama, Ohio and New Jersey. See the full schedule on page 44.

James Stewart, Ryan Dungey, Justin Barcia and Chad Reed are just some of the AMA Supercross stars hoping to keep Ryan Villopoto from earning another AMA Supercross Championship. The 2014 series is in full swing, so be sure to catch the action March 1 in St. Louis, Mo., March 8 at Daytona Beach, Fla., March 15 in Detroit, Mich., or March 22 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Info: www.amasupercross.com

2

3

3 1,2

2

3

2

2,3,4,5,6

4

Motorcycle inventor, designer and AMA Hall of Famer Craig Vetter, will be the featured speaker at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Daytona Breakfast on March 14 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Be sure to attend this prestigious event and support the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, a 501(c) (3) organization. Info: www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

5

The 64th annual Alligator Enduro hosted by the Daytona Dirt Riders is set for March 9, beginning at the Strickland Ranch property on U.S. 1 north of Interstate 95 in Favoretta, Fla. Info: www.daytonadirtriders. com.

6

To watch riders defy gravity and do the seemingly impossible on two wheels, head out to Ocala, Fla., March 8-9, for some amateur and youth observed trials competition, hosted by the Florida Trials Association Motorcycle Club. Info: www.floridatrials.net.

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COMING UP

The world will be focused on the United States as the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix visits America for two rounds: at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on April 13 and at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind., on Aug. 10. Info: www. fim-live.com.


MARCH EVENTS ALABAMA

LOUISIANA

(720) 220-4698, RMPEVENT.COM

COMPETITION

FLORIDA

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

COMPETITION

ENDURO

MAR 22: PELL CITY: 2 DAY EVENT, RPM SPORTS, (205) 699-8857, RPMSPORTSONLINE.COM

ENDURO

MAR 29: FOREST HILL: 2 DAY EVENT, ACADIANA DIRT RIDERS, INC., (337) 519-2520, ACADIANADIRTRIDERS.COM

ARIZONA

MAR 9: ORMOND BEACH: DAYTONA DIRT RIDERS, (386) 615-0722, DAYTONADIRTRIDERS.COM

RECREATIONAL

MOTOCROSS

ADVENTURE RIDE

MAR 1: CITRA: 2 DAY EVENT, MOTOCROSS OF MARION COUNTY, INC., (352) 591-2377, MXMARIONCOUNTY.COM

MAR 29: TUCSON: 2 DAY EVENT, TUCSON DUAL SPORT, LLC, (520) 979-8398, TUCSONDUALSPORT.COM DUAL SPORT RIDE MAR 29: TUCSON : 2 DAY EVENT, TUCSON DUAL SPORT, LLC, (520) 979-8398, TUCSONDUALSPORT.COM COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLES MAR 23: PEORIA: OFF CAMBER MOTORCYCLE CLUB CALIFORNIA COMPETITION DESERT SCRAMBLES MAR 23: (Includes ATVs) RIDGECREST : SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DIRT DIGGERS, (562) 432-5215, DIRTDIGGERSMC.COM ENDURO MAR 1: HOLLISTER: TIMEKEEPERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (408) 739-5762 GRAND PRIX MAR 1: (Includes ATVs) SAN BERNARDINO: 2 DAY EVENT, PRAIRIE DOGS MC, (714) 231-6718, PRAIRIEDOGSMC.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS MAR 8: OCALA: FLORIDA TRAILS ASSOCIATION MOTORCYCLE CLUB, INC., (352) 732-9574, FLORIDATRIALS.NET MAR 9: OCALA: FLORIDA TRAILS ASSOCIATION MOTORCYCLE CLUB, INC., (352) 732-9574, FLORIDATRIALS.NET HAWAII COMPETITION

HARE & HOUND MAR 22: CALDWELL: 2 DAY EVENT, DIRT INC, (208) 459-6871 ILLINOIS

MAR 8: DUQUOIN : INDIAN HILLS MX, LLC, (618) 542-6203, INDIANHILLSMX.COM MAR 9: DUQUOIN: INDIAN HILLS MX, LLC, (618) 542-6203, INDIANHILLSMX.COM INDIANA

MAR 15: HOLLISTER: 2 DAY EVENT, GHOSTRIDERS MC, (408) 265-2122, GHOSTRIDERSMC.NET

COMPETITION

MAR 15: (Includes ATVs) ANZA: 2 DAY EVENT, GET-XTR-EME, (805) 236-5866, GET-XTR-EME.COM

MAR 23: (Includes ATVs) CULVER: PLYMOUTH BLACKHAWKS MC, INC., (574) 259-0103, PLYMOUTHBLACKHAWKSMC.COM

COLORADO COMPETITION MOTOCROSS MAR 2: BERTHOUD: ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROMOTIONS, INC.,

ARENACROSS MAR 7: ALBUQUERQUE: FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, AREANACROSS.COM MAR 8: ALBUQUERQUE: 2 DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM NORTH CAROLINA COMPETITION

MAR 9: (ATV only) LEONARDTOWN: BUDDS CREEK MOTOCROSS PARK, (301) 475-2000, BUDDSCREEK.COM

MOTOCROSS

MAR 16: LEONARDTOWN: BUDDS CREEK MOTOCROSS PARK, (301) 475-2000, BUDDSCREEK.COM MAR 22: MECHANICSVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION, (301) 475-2000, BUDDSCREEK.COM

MAR 22: (Includes ATVs) PARK HILLS: 2 DAY EVENT, MISSOURI DIRT RIDERS, (314) 504-7287

COMPETITION

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

MAR 16: HALEIWA: HAWAII MOTORSPORTS ASSOCIATION, (808) 668-6276, RIDEHMA.COM

MOTOCROSS

MAR 29: SAN JOSE: P & D PROMOTIONS INC., (408) 249-4336, SANJOSEINDOOR.COM

COMPETITION

COMPETITION

MAR 9: (Includes ATVs) LUCERNE VALLEY: HUNTINGTON BEACH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (661) 510-3245, HUNTINGTONBEACHMC.COM

SHORT TRACK

MARYLAND

MAR 15: HALEIWA: HAWAII MOTORSPORTS ASSOCIATION, (808) 668-6276, RIDEHMA.COM

COMPETITION

MAR 1: (Includes ATVs) SAN BERNARDINO: 2 DAY EVENT, PRAIRIE DOGS MC, (714) 231-6718, PRAIRIEDOGSMC.COM

MAR 9: NEW IBERIA: DOWN SOUTH MOTO CROSS, (337) 380-1551

MISSOURI

HARE & HOUND

HARE SCRAMBLES

NEW MEXICO

MOTOCROSS

MOTOCROSS

IDAHO

MAR 23: SHAMONG: SOUTH JERSEY ENDURO RIDERS, (609) 268-9272, SJER.ORG

HARE SCRAMBLES

MOTOCROSS MAR 22: RICHWOOD: 2 DAY EVENT, LACHANCE RACING, (573) 701-8674, HTTP://SITE.ROMPMX.COM/HOME NEVADA COMPETITION DESERT SCRAMBLES MAR 1: LAS VEGAS: WILD BUNCH, (702) 610-7364, MRANRACING.ORG NEW JERSEY COMPETITION ENDURO MAR 16: GREENBANK: METEOR MC, (856) 889-2300, METEORMC.COM

MAR 30: (Includes ATVs) RAEFORD: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 3235497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM OKLAHOMA COMPETITION ARENACROSS MAR 1: TULSA: 2 DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM PENNSYLVANIA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLES MAR 29: PAXINOS: 2 DAY EVENT, SOUTH PENN ENDURO RIDERS, (717) 938-0690, SOUTHPENNENDURORIDERS.COM MOTOCROSS MAR 2: SHIPPENSBURG: DOUBLIN GAP MX PARK INC, (717) 249-6036, DOULINGAP.COM MAR 9: BIRDSBORO: PAGODA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (610) 582-3717, PAGODAMC.ORG MAR 29: SHIPPENSBURG: DOUBLIN GAP MX PARK INC, (717) 249-6036 MAR 30: SHIPPENSBURG: DOUBLIN GAP MX PARK INC, (717) 249-6036 SHORT TRACK MAR 23: (Includes ATVs) HANOVER:

HARE SCRAMBLES

MOTOCROSS MAR 29: (Includes ATVs) ROSSVILLE: WILDCAT CREEK MX, (765) 379-2482, WILDCATCREEKMX.COM COMPETITION MOTOCROSS MAR 30: (Includes ATVs) ROSSVILLE: WILDCAT CREEK MX, (765) 379-2482, WILDCATCREEKMX.COM

March 2014

43


MarcH eVents TRAIL-WAY SPEEDWAY, (717) 3594310, TRAIL-WAYSPEEDWAY.COM SOuTH cArOLINA cOMPETITION MOTOcrOSS MAR 9: (Includes ATVs) GASTON: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 3235497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM MAR 15: (Includes ATVs) HAMER: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 3235497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM MAR 16: (Includes ATVs) HAMER: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 3235497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

PRODUCTIONS, (931) 692-7223, MIDSOUTHRACE PRODUCTIONS.COM TEXAS

BNCMPARK.COM MAR 18: WORTHAM: FREESTONE COUNTY RACEWAY, LLC., (713) 9623386, FREESTONEMX.COM

MOTOcrOSS MAR 23: (Includes ATVs) SUTHERLIN: BIRCH CREEK PROMOTIONS, LLC, (434) 489-2992, BIRCHCREEKMXPARK.COM

ArENAcrOSS

MAR 23: HOUSTON: SCOREKEEPERS INK, (281) 4544440, RIOBRAVOMX.COM

MAR 14: HIDALGO: FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, AREANCROSS.COM

cOMPETITION

cOMPETITION

ArENAcrOSS

MOTOcrOSS

MAR 29: SALT LAKE CITY: 2 DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM

MAR 22: WEST RICHLAND: 2 DAY EVENT, HRMC, INC., (509) 496-2958, HORNRAPIDSMX.COM

cOMPETITION

MAR 15: HIDALGO: 2 DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 2167482, ARENACROSS.COM ENDurO

uTAH

MOTOcrOSS

cOMPETITION

MAR 23: BLACKWELL: ROSS CREEK TRAIL RIDERS, (325) 669-8866, ROSSCREEKTRAILRIDERS.COM

MOTOcrOSS

MOTOcrOSS

MAR 2: (Includes ATVs) BLOUNTVILLE: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

MAR 1: WORTHAM: 2 DAY EVENT, FREESTONE COUNTY RACEWAY, LLC., (713) 962-3386, FREESTONEMX.COM

cOMPETITION

MAR 29: (Includes ATVs) ALTAMONT: 2 DAY EVENT, MID SOUTH RACE

MAR 9: CROSBY: SCOREKEEPERS INK, (281) 843-6686,

MAR 16: DAHLGREN: VIRGINIA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLE

TENNESSEE

SERVICES, (540) 623-3426, VCHSS.ORG

MAR 5: ST. GEORGE: ST GEORGE MX, (435) 705-4125, STGEORGEMX.COM VIrgINIA grAND PrIX

WASHINgTON

WEST VIrgINIA cOMPETITION MOTOcrOSS MAR 8: HEDGESVILLE: TOMAHAWK MX, LLC, (304) 229-6682, TOMAHAWKMX.COM MAR 9: HEDGESVILLE: TOMAHAWK MX, LLC, (304) 229-6682, TOMAHAWKMX.COM

2014 eVents HALL OF FAME EXHIBITS AND EVENTS AMA MOTOrcycLE HALL OF FAME MotorcycleMuseuM.org The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

July 5: Hagerstown, Md.: Hagerstown Half Mile July 19: Elma, Wa.: Grays Harbor Raceway July 26: Sacramento, calif.: Sacramento Mile Aug. 2: castle rock, Wa.: Castle Rock TT

Sept. 28: Freemansburg, Pa.: Bushkill Valley MC Oct. 12: Oregonia, Oh.: Dayton MC

2014 LucAS OIL AMA PrO MOTOcrOSS proMotocross.coM

Motorsports Park July 19-20: Lexington, Oh.: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Sept. 13-14: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey Motorsports Park

May 24: San Bernardino, calif.: Glen Helen National

2014 MONSTEr ENErgy AMA SuPErcrOSS aMasupercross.coM

May 31: Sacramento, calif.: Hangtown Motocross Classic

Feb. 15: Arlington, Texas: Cowboys Stadium

June 7: Lakewood, colo.: Thunder Valley National

Feb. 22: Atlanta: Georgia Dome

Main Hall: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame: Recognizing those who have made significant contributions to all aspects of motorcycling.

Aug. 5: rapid city, S.D.: Sturgis Half Mile

Dirt-Track! All-American Motorcycle racing: Celebrating the storied history of the dirt oval.

Aug. 17: Peoria, Ill.: Peoria TT

June 14: Mt. Morris, Pa.: High Point National

Aug. 23: New kent, Va.: Colonia Downs MIle

June 28: Blountville, Tenn.: Tennessee National

Aug. 31: Springfield, Ill.: Springfield Mile II

Jul. 5: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud National

Mar. 22: Toronto: Rogers Centre

Sept. 28: Santa rosa, calif.: Santa Rosa Mile

Jul. 12: Mechanicsville, Md.: Budds Creek National

Apr. 5: Houston: Reliant Stadium

Oct. 11: Pomona, calif.: Flat Track Season Finale

Jul. 19: Millville, Minn: Spring Creek National

2014 AMA PrO HILLcLIMB aMaproracing.coM

Jul. 26: Washougal, Wash.: Washougal National

2 Wheels + Motor, A Fine Art Exhibition: The spirit, excitement and adventure of motorcycling is expressed through fine art. Founder’s Hall: Honoring the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame’s generous contributors. July 11-13, Lexington, Ohio: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. Information: www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com.

Aug. 8: Indianapolis, Ind.: Indy Mile

June 1: Spring grove, Pa.: White Rose MC

Aug. 9: New Berlin, N.y.: Unadila National

2014 AMA PrO FLAT TrAck aMaproracing.coM

June 8: Freemansburg, Pa.: Bushkill Valley MC

Aug. 16: crawfordsville, Ind.: Indiana National

Mar. 13: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona Flat Track I

June 18: canaan, N.H.: Ridge Runner/ Laconia Bike Week

Mar. 14: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona Flat Track II

July 13: West Branch, Mich.: Ogemaw Hills Bike Week

May 25: Springfield, Ill.: Springfield Mile

Aug. 3: Muskegon, Mich.: Muskegon MC *All Star Challenge

June 15: knoxville, Ia.: Knoxville Half Mile

Sept. 21: Spring grove, Pa.: White Rose MC

AMA PrO rAcINg

44

June 28: Lima, Oh.: Lima Half Mile

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Aug. 23: Tooele, utah: Utah National

2014 AMA PrO rOAD rAcINg aMaproracing.coM Mar. 13-15: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona International Speedway May 30: Elkhart Lake, Wis.: Road America June 21-22: Birmingham, Ala.: Barber

Mar. 1: Indianapolis: Lucas Oil Stadium Mar. 8: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona International Speedway Mar. 15: Detroit: Ford Field Mar. 29: St. Louis: Edward Jones Dome Apr. 12: Seattle: Century Link Field Apr. 26: East rtherford, N.J.: MetLife Stadium May 3: Las Vegas: Sam Boyd Stadium

AMA PrO-AM cOMPETITION Feb. 15-16: Buckeye, Ariz.: Arizona Cycle Park, AMA Amateur Naional Area Qualifier; www.arizonacyclepark.com Feb. 27-Mar. 2: Pell city, Ala.: Mill Creek Motocross Park, Spring Classic; www. rpmsportsonline.com March 2: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek Raceway, The United States Mega Series; www.victory-sports.com March 2: Wortham, Texas: Freestone Raceway, Texas Winter Series; www.freestonemx.com


2014 EVENTS March 1-2: Hollister Hills, Calif.: Hollister Hills, AMA AMateur National Area Qualifier; www.2xpromotions.com March 15-16: Hamer, S.C.: South of the Border, AMA Amateur National Area Qualifier; www.victory-sports.com March 16: Porterville, Calif.: Porterville OHV Park, Road to Mammoth-King of the West Rnd 3; www.2xpromotions.com March 18-22: Wortham, Texas: Freestone Raceway, James Stewart Spring Championship; www. freestonemx.com March 22-23: Richland, Wash.: Horn Rapids MX, AMA Amateur National Area Qualifier; www.hornrapidsmx.com March 30: Englishtown, N.J.: Raceway Park; www.racewaypark.com March 30: Turlock, Calif.: Oatfield Raceway, Road to Mammoth-King of the West Rnd 4; www.2xpromotions.com April 6: Birdsboro, Pa.: Pagoda Motorcycle Club; www.pagodamc.com April 6: Sanford, N.C.: Devil’s Ridge Motocross; www.devilsridgemotox.com April 5-6: St. George, Utah.: St. George MX, AMA Amateur National Area Qualifier; www.stgeorgemx.com April 9-13: San Bernardino, Calif.: Glen Helen Raceway, California Classic; www.2xpromotions.com April 12-13: Manheim, Pa.: Sleepy Hollow MX Park, AMA Amateur National Area Qualifier; www.sleepymx.com April 13: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek Raceway, Thor United States Mega Series; www.victory-sports.com April 20: Casey, Ill.: Lincoln Trails Motosports, JM Racing Suspension Spring-Shootout; www. lincolntrailmotosports.com April 26-27: Livingston, Tenn.: Thunder Valley, AMA Amateur National Area Qualifier; www.victory-sports.com May 4: Berwick, Pa.: Evansville Motocross Park; www. evansvillemxpark.com May 3-4: Bloomingdale, Mich.: Dutch Sport Park, AMA Amateur National Area Qualifier; www.dutchsportsparkmx.com May 11: Hedgeville, W.Va.: Tomahawk MX, MAMA MX Series; www.mamamx.com May 11: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge; www.sunsetridgemx.com May 10-11: Little Falls, Minn.: MotoCity Raceway, AMA Amateur National Area Qualifier; www.motocityraceway.com May 11: Pala, Calif.: Pala Raceway, Road to Mammoth-King of the West Rnd 6; www.2xpromotions.com May 18: Kellogg, Minn.: Motokazie Motocross; www.motokazie.com May 18: Wallkill, N.Y.: Walden MX, Walden MX Spring Pro-AM; www.waldenmx.com May 24-25: Southwick, Mass.: Moto 338, Motocross

League of American; www. motocrossleagueofamerica.com May 25: Athelstane, Wis.: Pine Ridge Raceway; www.pineridgeraceway.com May 26: Brush, Colo.: Sweney Cycle Park; www.sweneycyclepark.com May 29-30: Rancho Cordova: Hangtown Motocross, Pro National Amateur Day; www.hangtownmx.com May 31: Pecatonica, Ill.: Stateline MX; www.statelinemx.com June 1: Mt. Carroll, Ill.: MC Motopark; www.mcmotopark.com

Acres, Baja Brawl; www.bajaacres.com

www.unlimitedsportsmx.com

Aug. 31: Athelstane, Wis.: Pine Ridge Raceway; www.pineridgeraceway.com

Nov. 30: St. George, Utah: St. George MX; www.stgeorgemxw.com

Sept. 7: Seward, Pa.: Pleasure Valley Raceway; www.pvrmx.com

AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Sept. 7: Athelstane, Wis.: Pine Ridge Raceway; www.pineridgeraceway.com

2014 AMSOIL AMA ARENACROSS ARENACROSS.COm

Sept. 7: Mason, Ill.: Crossroads MX, World of Powersports Crossroads Cup; www.crossroadsmx.com

Feb. 14-16: Nampa, Idaho: Idaho Center

Sept. 13-14: Reynolds, Ga.: Silver Dollar MX, Vurb Classic (MLA); www. motocrossleagueofamerica.com Sept. 21: New Castle, Del.: Blue DIamond MX, Delaware State Championship; www.bdmxpark.com

June 28-29: Mammoth Lakes, Calif.: Mammoth Moutain, Monster Energy Mammoth Motocross; www.2xpromotions.com

Sept. 21: Tigerton, Wis.: Fantasy Moto, Midwest Mega Series; www.fantasymoto.com

June 29: Blountville, Tenn: Muddy Creek Raceway, Thor United States Mega Series-Pro National Amateur Day; www.victory-sports.com July 6: Clifford, Pa.: Hurrican Hills MX; www.hhmotocross.com July 6: Altamont, Tenn.: Fast Farms MX; www.midsouthraceproductions.com July 6: Buchanan, Mich.: Red Bud Motocross, Pro National Amateur Day; www.redbudmx.com

Sept. 20-21: Garwin, Ia.: Oak Ridge MX, Motocross League of America (MLA); www. motocrossleagueofamerica.com Sept. 28: Dalton, Ga.: Lazy River MX, Thor United States Mega Series; www.victory-sports.com Oct. 5: Englishtown, N.J.: Raceway Park; www.racewaypark.com

July 13: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek, Thor United States Mega Series; www.victory-sports.com

Oct. 12: Tallassee, Ala.: Monster Mountain MX Park; www.monstermx.com

July 19-24: Ponca, Okla.: Ponca City MX, Ponca City Amateur Championship (MLA); www. motocrossleagueofamerica.com

Oct. 11-12: Duquoin, Ill.: Indian Hills Motocross, Motocross League of America (MLA); www. motocrossleagueofamerica.com

Aug. 10: Crystal Falls, Mich.: Valley Raceway MX; www.valleyracewaymx.com

Oct. 19: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek, Thor United States Mega Series; www.victory-sports.com

Aug. 10: Malvern, Oh.: Malven Motocross, Battle of Ohio; www.omxa.net

Oct. 26: Buckeye, Ariz.: Arizona Cycle Park, Western Pro-Am; www. arizonacyclepark.com

Aug. 24: Nashport, Oh.: Briarclif MX, Battle of Ohio; www.omxa.net

Nov. 1-2: Pell City, Ala.: Mill Creek MX, Motocross League of America (MLA); www.motocrossleagueofamerica.com

Aug. 24: Edgewood, Tex.: Buffalo Creek; www.buffalocreekmx.com Aug. 24: Millville, Minn.: Spring Creek, Viking Clash; www.springcreekmx.com Aug. 30-31: Millington, Mich.: Baja

Feb. 21-23: Reno, Nev.: Livestock Events Center Mar. 1-2: Tulsa, Okla.: BOK Center Mar. 7-9: Albuquerque, N.M.: Tingley Coliseum Mar. 14-16: Hidalgo, Texas: State Farm Arena Mar. 29-30: Salt Lake City: EnergySolutions Arena

AMA INDOOR DIRT TRACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STEVENACERACING.COm Feb. 22: Duquoin, Ill.

2014 GEICO AMA ENDUROCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ENduROCROSS.COm May 2: Las Vegas: The Orleans Arena May 15: Austin, Texas: Circuit of the America’s June 21: Sacramento, Calif.: Sleep Train Arena Aug. 23: Atlanta: Gwinnett Center Oct. 4: Denver, Colo.: National Western Complex Oct. 11: Salt Lake City, Utah: Energy Solutions Arena Oct. 18: Everett, Wash.: Comcast Arena Nov. 15: Boise, Idaho.: Idaho Center Nov. 22: Ontario, Calif.: Citizen Business Bank Arena

Nov. 23-26: Gainsville, Fla.: Gatorback Cycle Park, Mini Olympics-Supercross; www.unlimitedsportsmx.com

2014 KENDA AMA NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP NATIONAlENduRO.COm

Nov. 27-29: Gainsville, Fla.: Gatorback Cycle Park, Mini Olympics-Motocross;

Mar. 2: Pelion, S.C.: Rhonda Dennis, Columbia Enduro Riders; (788) 422-0329

Check Out the All-New AMA CLASSIFIEDS! YOUR ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR MOTORCYCLES, POWERSPORTS & MORE.

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March 2014

45


2014 eVenTS Mar. 23: Blackwell, Texas: Joseph Roberts, Ross Creek Trail Riders; (325) 669-8866, RossCreekTrailRiders.com

July 18-20: Howard, Colo.: Bill Markham, ITS Offroad; (719) 942-3372, ITSOffroad.com

Apr. 6: West Point, Tenn.: TJ Kennedy, NATRA; (972) 977-4112, natra-westpoint.net

May 3, Youth; May 4, Amateur: Primm, Nev.: Ronald Maas, Sunland Shamrocks MC/Big 6 GP; (818) 7674594, ShamrocksMC.com

May 18: Park Hills, Mo.: Michael Silger, Missouri Mudders; (636) 639-6373, MOMudders.com

Sept. 6, Youth; Sept. 7, Amateur: Anza, Calif.: Justin Shultz, SoCal MC/ Big 6 GP; (949) 981-6776, SoCalMC.com

Mar. 8: Savannah, Ga.: Half Mile, Oglethorpe Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; www.stevenaceracing.com

June 1: Arrington, Va.: Chuck Honeycutt, April Fools Promotions; (757) 375-5665, VCHSS.org

Oct. 4, Youth; Oct. 5, Amateur: ridgecrest, Calif.: Chris Cory, Viewfinders MC/Big 6 GP; (661) 4508150, ViewfindersMC.com

Mar. 10: Barberville, Fla.: Half Mile, Volusia County Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; www.stevenaceracing.com

2014 AMA HArE ANd HOUNd amaracing.com

Mar. 11: Barberville, Fla.: Short Track, Volusia County Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; www.stevenaceracing.com

June 29: Marquette, Mich.: Nick Zambon, UP Sandstormers; (906) 2287010, UPSandstormers.com July 27: Cross Fork, Pa.: Peter Burnett, Brandwine Enduro Riders; (610) 883-7607, BEW.us

Mar. 22, Youth; Mar. 23, Amateur: Murphy, Idaho: No ATVs. Bill Walsh, Dirt Inc. (208) 459-6871, DirtIncRacing.com

Aug. 10: Grand Junction, Colo.: Thomas Jundtoft, Bookcliff Rattlers MC; (970) 250-9942, bookcliffrattlersmc.com

Apr. 12, Youth; Apr. 13, Amateur: lucerne Valley, Calif.: Justin Shultz, SOCal MC; (949) 981-6776, SoCalMC.com

Aug. 31: Union, S.C.: Duane Wellington, Greenville Enduro Riders; (864) 9086109, GreenvilleEnduroRiders.com Sept. 14: Matthews, Ind.: Doug Spence, Muddobbers; (765) 998-2236, MuddobbersMC.com

2014 AMA EAST HArE SCrAMBlES amaracing.com Mar. 23, Youth & Amateur: Park Hills, Mo.: Gregory Kinkelaar, Missouri Dirt Riders; (314) 504-7287, MODirtRiders.com June 14, Youth Bikes & ATV; June 15, Amateur Bikes & ATV: Berwick, Pa.: Duane Fisher, Evansville MX Park; (570) 759-2841, EvansvilleMXPark.com July 13, Youth & Amateur: Battle Creek, Mich.: Byron Kibby, Battle Creek Motorcycle Club; (269) 2098184, BattleCreekMotorcycleClub.com Aug. 16, Youth; Aug. 17, Amateur: Athens, Ohio: Kevin Brown, Athens Motorcycle Club; (740) 590-3490, AthensMotorcycleClub.com Sept. 20, Youth; Sept. 21, Amateur: Bartow, Fla.: Keith Finnerty, Central Florida Trail Riders; (407) 774-9090, CFTRiders.com Oct. 4, Youth; Oct. 5, Amateur: Plainview, Ill.: Ron Whipple, WFO Promotions; (309) 314-3343, WFOPromotions.com

46

Redding Dirt Riders; (530) 921-1233, reddingdirtriders.com

Apr. 26, Youth; Apr. 27, Amateur: lucerne Valley, Calif.: Gary Alspaugh, Vikings MC; (805) 680-6336, VikingsMC.org May 3, Amateur and Youth: Jerico, Utah: Neil Dansie, Sage Riders; (801) 369-5939, SageRidersMC.com May 17, Amateur and Youth: Caliente, Nev.: Zack Livreri, Silver State Trailblazers; (702) 994-6823, http://sites. google.com/site/silverstatetrailblazers/ Aug. 23, Amateur and Youth: Caliente, Nev.: Zack Livreri, Silver State Trailblazers; (702) 994-6823, http://sites. google.com/site/silverstatetrailblazers/ Sept. 20, Youth; Sept. 21, Amateur: Yerington, Nev.: Erek Kudla, Get-Xtr-Eme; (805) 236-5866, Get-Xtr-Eme.com Oct. 11, Youth; Oct. 12, Amateur: lucerne Valley, Calif.: Darren Moen, 100’s MC; (714) 863-7170, 100sMC.org

2014 AIrES AMA/NATC MOTOTrIAlS amaracing.com May 24 -25: Texas Creek, Colo.: Rocky Mountain Trials Association; (719) 5646476, RockyMountainTrials.org May 31-June 1: Sedan, Kan.: Ark Valley Trials Assocation; (316) 644-7774, AVTATrials.com

2014 AMA WEST HArE SCrAMBlES amaracing.com

June 21-22: Tremont, Pa.: Tiffany Tobias, Rausch Creek Powersports; (570) 682-4600, RauschCreekRacing.com

Feb. 15, Youth; Feb. 16, Amateur: Paicines, Calif.: Ed Tobin, Salinas Ramblers; (831) 384-4495, SalinasRamblersMC.com

June 28-29: Sequatchie, Tenn.: Ashley Jackson, South Eastern Trials Riders Association; (423) 9428688, TrialsTrainingCenter.com

Mar. 1, Youth; Mar. 2, Amateur: San Bernardino, Calif.: Craig Hunter, Prairie Dogs MC/Big 6 GP; (714) 2316718, PrairieDogsMC.com

2014 AMA/NATC EAST YOUTH MOTOTrIAlS amaracing.com

Mar. 15, Amateur; Mar. 16, ATV & Youth: Anza, Calif.: Erek Kudla, Get-XtrEme; (805) 236-5866, Get-Extr-Eme.com

July 4-6: Sequatchie, Tenn.: Ashley Jackson, South Eastern Trials Riders Association; (423) 9428688, TrialsTrainingCenter.com

Apr. 12, Youth; Apr. 13, Amateur: Chappie-Shasta OHV AreaShasta lake, Calif.: Russel Smith,

2014 AMA/NATC WEST YOUTH MOTOTrIAlS amaracing.com

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

2014 AMA VINTAGE dIrT TrACK amaracing.com

May 4: Henry, Ill.: Half Mile; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; www.stevenaceracing.com May. 17: Tar Heel, N.C.: Short Track, Tar Heel Speedway; (910) 258-2272; richard. lovette@robeson.k12.nc.us May 18: Tar Heel, N.C.: TT, Tar Heel Speedway; (910) 258-2272; richard/ lovette@robeson.k12.nc.us June 20: Harpursville, N.Y.: Short Track; Square Deal Riders; (607) 7253069; williamsracing12@yahoo.com; SquareDealRiders.com June 21: Harpursville, N.Y.: Short Track; Square Deal Riders; (607) 7253069; williamsracing12@yahoo.com; SquareDealRiders.com July 12: Ashland, Ohio: Half Mile; AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days; Ken Saillant, (800) 262-5646; ksaillant@amacycle.org; AmericanMotorcyclist.com Aug. 9: Indianapolis, Ind.: Short Track; Mid-America Speedway; (317) 871-4392; info@midamspeedway.com; MidAmSpeedway.com Aug. 29: Springfield, Ill.: Short Track; Illinois State Fairgrounds; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing, (270) 442-7532; SteveNaceRacing.com Sept. 20: Cuddebackville, N.Y.: Short Track; Tri-Sate M/C Ltd.; (845) 566-4956; TriStateClub.com Sept. 21: Cuddebackville, N.Y.: Short Track; Tri-Sate M/C Ltd.; (845) 566-4956; TriStateClub.com

2014 AMA VINTAGE MOTOCrOSS amaracing.com May 18: Athens, Oh.: Action Sports Moto-Park; www. actionsportsracing.com July 19-20: lexington, Oh.: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Aug. 3: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge Motocross, www.sunsetridgemx.com Aug. 24: Casey, Ill.: Lincoln Trail Motorsports, www. lincolntrailmotorsports.com Sept. 14: Coldwater, Mich.: Log Road Motocross, wwwlogroadmx.com Oct. 4: Greensburg, Ky.: Russell Creek Motocross

Oct. 18: Paoli Peaks, Ind.: Mammoth East, www.podium1motoplex.com

2014 AMA ATV HArE SCrAMBlES amaracing.com Mar. 22: Park Hills, Mo.: Gregory Kinkelaar, Missouri Dirt Riders; (314) 504-7287, MODirtRiders.com June 14-15: Berwick, Pa.: Amateur and Youth, Duane Fisher, Evansville MX Park; (570) 759-2841, evansvillemxpark.com Jul. 13: Battle Creek, Mich.: Joe Wathen, Battle Creek Motorcycle Club; (269) 729-9691, BattleCreekMotorcycleClub.com Aug. 16: Athens, Ohio: Kevin Brown, Athens Motorcycle Club; (740) 590-3490, AthensMotorcycleClub.com Sept. 20: Bartow, Fla.: Keith Finnerty, Central Florida Trail Riders; (407) 7749090, CFTRiders.com Oct. 4: Plainview, Ill.: Ron Whipple, WFO Promotions; (309) 314-3343, WFOPromotions.com

AMA FEATUrEd SErIES 2014 BIG 6 AMA WEST COAST GrANd PrIx SErIES Big6racing.com Mar. 1-2: Glen Helen, Calif.: Glen Helen Raceway, Prarie Dogs GP Apr. 5-6: Palms, Calif.: Rodeo and Motoplex, Hilltoppers GP May 3-4: Primm, Nev.: Buffalo Bills Casino, Shamrocks GP Sept. 6-7: Anza, Calif.: The Ranch, SoCal GP Oct. 4-5: ridgecrest, Calif.: Ridgecrest Fairgrounds, Viewfinders GP Nov. 1-2: Goran, Calif.: Quail Valley, Prospectors GP dec. 6-7: Pala, Calif.: Pala Raceway, Vikings GP

2014 EAST COAST ENdUrO rIdErS ENdUrO SErIES ecea.org Mar. 16: Greenbank, N.J.: Sandy lane Enduro, Meteor Motorcycle Club; (856) 889-7300, meteormc.com Mar. 23: Shamong, N.J.: Curly Fern Enduro, South Jersey Enduro Riders; (609) 268-9272, sjer.org Apr. 6: Chatsworth, N.J.: Pine Barons Clock run, Pine Barons Enduro Riders; (609) 654-6300, pber.webs.com Apr. 13: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Greenbrier Enduro, Tri-County Sportsmen Motorcycle Club; 1 (888) 274-4469, teamhammer.org May 4: delaware City, del.: delaware State Enduro, Delaware Enduro Riders; (302) 8344411, delawareenduroriders.com May 25: Heckscherville, Pa.: Broad Mountain Enduro, Reading Off Road Riders; (610) 921-3592, rorr.org June 1: Grier City, Pa.: Shotgun Enduro, High Mountain Dirt Riders; (570) 954-7799, hmdr.org


2014 EVENTS June 8: Deposit, N.Y.: Ridge Run Enduro, Ridge Riders Motorcycle Club; (973) 919-4780, ridgeriders.org June 29: Blain, Pa.: Foggy Mountain Enduro, Susquehanna Off Road Riders; (717) 533-2242, sorrmc.com July 13: Gillett, Pa.: Barbed Wire Enduro, Southern Tier Enduro Riders; (607) 382-8534, ster-mc.org July 27: Cross Fork, Pa.: Rattlesnake National Enduro, Brandywine Enduro Riders; (610) 368-7332, ber.us Aug. 10: Three Springs, Pa.: Green Marble Enduro, Green Marble Enduro Riders; (410) 6389367, greenmarbleenduroriders.org Aug. 17: Berkshire, N.Y.: Speedsville Enduro, Ithaca Dirt Riders; (607) 6578248, ithacadirtriders.com Aug. 24: Mauricetown, N.J.: Beehive Enduro, Competition Dirt Riders; (609) 319-7496, competitiondirtriders.org Sept. 7: Shippensburg, Pa.: Michaux Enduro, South Penn Enduro Riders; (717) 265-6055, southpennenduroriders.com Sept. 21: Brandonville, Pa.: Moonshine Enduro, Valley Forge Trail Riders; (484) 948-5361, vftr.org Nov. 9: Warren Grove, N.J.: Stump Jumper Enduro, Motorcycle Compeition Inc.; (609) 575-7820, ride-mci.com Nov. 23: New Lisbon, N.J.: Pine Hill Enduro, Central Jersey Competition Riders; (732) 558-6475, cjcrmc.org

2014 EAST CoAST ENDuRo RiDERS HARE SCRAMBLES SERiES EcEa.org Mar. 1-2: Tri-County Hare Scrambles, Tri-County Sportsmen MC; (888) 274-4469

(609) 319-7496 Nov. 15-16: Delaware Hare Scrambles, Delaware Enduro Riders; (302) 834-4411

2014 EAST CoAST ENDuRo RiDERS DuAL SPoRT SERiES EcEa.org

Sept. 13-14: MMC Hare Scrambles, Meteor Motorcycle Club; (856) 889-7300 Sept. 27-28: Ridge Hare Scrambles, Ridge Riders MC; (973) 919-4780

June 14-15: Wortham, Texas: Freestone MX (Youth)

June 7-8: Rancho Cordova, Calif.: Prairie City MX (Youth, Amateur)

oct. 25-26: Chatsworth, N.J.: Meteor Dual Sport, Meteor Motorcycle Club; (856) 889-7300, meteormc.com Nov. 1-2: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: TCSMC National Dual Sport, Tri-County Sportsmen MC; 1 (888) 274-4469, teamhammer.org

2014 WoMEN’S MoToCRoSS mxSporTS.com Mar. 9-10: Daytona Beach, Fla.: RCSX Daytona; (304) 284-0101 Mar. 22: Wortham, Texas: Freestone Spring Championship; (713) 962-3386 Apr. 13: San Bernardino, Calif.: California Classic; (559) 761-0887 June 29: Mammoth Lakes, Calif.: Mammoth Mountain; (559) 761-0887 Aug. 31: Millington, Mich.: Baja Brawl; (989) 871-3356 oct. 5: Englishtown, N.J.: KROC Raceway Park; (732) 446-7800 oct. 19: Blountville, Tenn.: Top Gun Showdown; (423) 323-5497 Nov. 29: Gainesville, Fla.: Winter Olympics; (312) 689-3461

AMA AMATEuR CHAMPioNSHiPS

NorThEaST rEgioNal champioNShip

Aug. 2-3: Shotgun Hare Scrambles, High Mountain Dirt Riders; (570) 954-7799

Aug. 10: Bastogne, Belgium

oct 12: Pine Grove, Pa.: Rorr Dual Sport, Reading Off Road Riders; (610) 921-3592, rorr.org

May 17-18: MCi Hare Scrambles, Motorcycle Competition Inc., (609) 575-7820

Jul. 19-20: Anthracite Hare Scrambles, Valley Forge Trail Riders; (610) 476-3747

SouTh cENTral rEgioNal champioNShip

June 14-15: Houston, Texas: Three Palms (Amateur)

RoCkY MouNTAiN ATv/MC AMA AMATEuR NATioNAL MoToCRoSS CHAMPioNSHiP mxSporTS.com

June 21-22: Reading Hare Scrambles, Reading Off Road Riders; (610) 921-3592

WoRLD CHAMPioNSHiP Fim-liVE.com

Feb. 23: Warren Grove, N.J.: Restore Our Shore Dual Sport, Motorcycle Competition Inc.; (609) 575-7820, ride-mci.org

Mar. 29-30: oXBo Hare Scrambles, South Penn Enduro Riders, (717) 938-0690

June 14-15: GMEW @ Rocket Hare Scrambles, Green Marble Enduro Riders; (410) 683-9367

June 21-22: Walnut, ill.: Sunset Ridge MX (Youth)

June 21-22: Armagh, Pa: Pleasure Valley Raceway (Youth) June 28-29: Mt. Morris, Pa.: High Point (Amateur)

SouThEaST rEgioNal champioNShip June 7-8: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek Raceway (Youth) June 14-15: Chatsworth, Ga.: Lazy River (Youth)

mid-EaST rEgioNal champioNShip May 31-June 1: Crawfordsville, ind.: Ironman (Amateur) June 7-8: Buchanan, Mich.: Redbud (Youth)

oct. 4-5: Sahara Sands Hare Scrambles, Pine Barons Enduro Riders; (609) 654-6300

NorTh cENTral rEgioNal champioNShip

oct. 25-26: ormond Farms Hare Scrambles, Competition Dirt Riders;

June 14-15: Mt. Carroll, ill.: MC Motopark (Amateur)

NorThwEST rEgioNal champioNShip

SouThwEST rEgioNal champioNShipS May 31-June 1: Hesperia, Calif.: Competitive Edge (Youth, Amateur)

NaTioNal champioNShip July 27-Aug. 2: Hurricane Mills, Tenn.: National Championship, Loretta Lynn’s Ranch

AMA DiRT TRACk GRAND CHAMPioNSHiP STEVENacEraciNg.com

FiM iNTERNATioNAL SiX DAYS oF ENDuRo Fim-liVE.com May 31-June1: idaho City, id., West Qualifier: Peter Reynolds, Boise Ridge Riders; (208) 384-5141, BoiseRidgeIdaho.org June 14-15: Wellston, ohio, East Qualifier: William Depue Jr., Appalachian Dirt Riders; (740) 384-6379, ADROhio.org Nov. 3-8: 2014 iSDE: San Juan, Argentina

FiM TRiAL DES NATioNS Fim-liVE.com Sept. 13-14: St. Julia., Andorra

AMA DuAL-SPoRT/ADvENTuRE SERiES

June 23-26: Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Fairgrounds

AMA HiLLCLiMB GRAND CHAMPioNSHiP VallEySpriNg hillclimb.com Aug. 15-17: Bay City, Wis.: Mike Bronk, Valley Springs Motorcycle Club; (715) 594-3726

AMA HuSqvARNA NATioNAL DuAL-SPoRT SERiES amEricaNmoTorcycliST.com

AMA iCE RACE GRAND CHAMPioNSHiP NaacTioNSporTS.com

Mar 15-16: Bartow, Fla.: CrossFlorida Adventure Ride, Dixie Dual Sport, Inc, Robert Frey; 727-919-8299; www.dixiedualsport.com

Feb. 8-9: Cadillac, Mich.: Mitchell State Park

AMSoiL AMA AMATEuR NATioNAL ARENACRoSS arENacroSS.com May 3-4: Las vegas: South Point Arena

kENDA AMA TENNESSEE kNoCkouT GRAND CHAMPioNSHiP

TENNESSEEkNockouTENduro.com

Aug. 17: Sequatchie, Tennessee

iNTERNATioNAL CoMPETiTioN: u.S. RouNDS/WoRLD CHAMPioNSHiPS FiM RoAD RACiNG WoRLD CHAMPioNSHiP GRAND PRiX Fim-liVE.com April 13: Austin, Texas: Circuit of The Americas Aug. 10: indianapolis: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

FiM RoAD RACiNG SuPERBikE WoRLD CHAMPioNSHiP Fim-liVE.com July 13: Monterey, Calif: Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca

FiM MoToCRoSS oF NATioNS Fim-liVE.com Sept. 28: kegums, Latvia

FiM JuNioR MoToCRoSS

Mar 29-30: Tuscon, Ariz.: 2 Sun Adventure, Tuscon Dual Sport, LLC, Chris Dodds; 520-979-8398; www.tuscondualsport.com Apr 26-27: Brooksville, Fla.: Devil’s Creek DS/ADV Ride, Dixie Dual Sport, Inc, Robert Frey; 727-919-8299; www.dixiedualsport.com May 17-18: McArthur, ohio: Hanging Rock 200 , Buckeye Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; www.kaeppnerswoods.com Jun 7-8: Mill Hall, Pa.: Durty Dabbers Great Adventure, Durty Dabbers, Nils Mantzoros; (570) 726-3343; www.durtydabbers.com Jun 7-8: Bixby, Mo.: Show Me 200, Midwest Trail Riders Assoc., Robert Kaufman; (314) 434-5095; www.ridemtra.com Jun 14-15: odell, ore.: Black Dog Adventure Ride, NW Tour & Trail, Tom Niemela; (503) 681-8881; www.blackdogdualsport.com Jun 7-8: Wabeno, Wis.: Ride For Research, Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, John Newton; (920) 350-2030; www.widualsportriders.org Jun 28-29: Fort Rock, ore.: Fort Rock National Dual Sport, Lobos MC, Billy Toman; (503) 656-5801; www.lobosmc.com/

March 2014

47


2014 EVENTS Aug 2-3: Walden, Colo.: Moose Run Dual Sport Rally, Front Range Riders, Deborah Nielsen; none; www.frontrangeriders.com

Nov 8-9: Prescott Valley, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (623) 826-1092; www.arizonatrailriders.org

Aug 10-11: Columbus, Ind.: Buffaloe 500 D/S Adventure Ride, Stoney Lonesome MC, Nathan Gaskill; (812) 343-9772; www.stoneylonesomemc.com Aug 16-17: Tillamook, Ore.: Rat Dog Dual Sport, NW Tour & Trail, Tom Niemela; (503) 681-8881; www.blackdogdualsport.com

Creek DS/ADV Ride, Dixie Dual Sport, Inc, Robert Frey; 727-919-8299; www.dixiedualsport.com

200, Buckeye Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; www.kaeppnerswoods.com

Nov 1-2: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, Tri-County Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (888) 274-4469 (856) 7852754; www.teamhammer.org

May 3-4: Buck Meadows, Calif.: Yosemite Adventure Tour, Family Off Road Adventures, Lawrence Borgens; (209) 649-3633; www.familyoffroadadventures.com

Nov 8-9: Prescott Valley, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (623) 826-1092; www.arizonatrailriders.org

Nov 28-29: Palmdale, Calif.: LABarstow to Vegas, AMA D37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 446-7386; www.district37ama.org

May 17-18: McArthur, Ohio: Hanging Rock 200 , Buckeye Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; www.kaeppnerswoods.com

Nov 1-2: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, Tri-County Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (888) 274-4469 (856) 7852754; www.teamhammer.org

May 17-18: Tolland, Mass.: Berkshire Big Adventure, Berkshire, Ross Mauri; 845-729-1715; www.mudslinger.org

Nov 15-16: Hammonton, N.J.: Pine Barrens 500, Cross Country Cycles, Jack O’Connor; 732-714-8874; pinebarrens500.org

Sep 6-7: Golden Pond, Ky.: Land Between the Lakes 200, KT Riders, Jesse Thomas; (270) 522-3703; www.lbl200.com

Jun 7-8: Mill Hall, Pa.: Durty Dabbers Great Adventure, Durty Dabbers, Nils Mantzoros; (570) 726-3343; www.durtydabbers.com

Sep 27-28: Buck Meadows, Calif.: Yosemite Dual Sport , Family Off Road Adventures, Lawrence Borgens; (209) 649-3633; www.familyoffroadadventures.com Sep 27-28: Wabeno, Wis.: Big Woods 200, Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, John Newton; (920) 350-2030; www. widualsportriders.org Oct 11-12: McArthur, Ohio: Baby Burr National Dual Sport, Enduro Riders Association, Steve Barber; (614) 5827821; www.enduroriders.com Oct 26-27: Chatsworth, N.J.: Meteor Ride in the Pines, Meteor MC, Jeff Fitzpatrick; (609) 654-5015; www.meteormc.com

AMA YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ NATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDING SERIES AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

Jun 8: Atlanta, N.Y.: Thrills in the Hills, Wayne County MC Club, John Albanese; 315-946-3082; www. waynecountymc.com

Mar 15-16: Bartow, Fla.: CrossFlorida Adventure Ride, Dixie Dual Sport, Inc, Robert Frey; 727-919-8299; www.dixiedualsport.com

Jun 14-15: Odell, Ore.: Black Dog Adventure Ride, NW Tour & Trail, Tom Niemela; (503) 681-8881; www.blackdogdualsport.com

Mar 29-30: Tucson, Ariz.: 2 Sun Adventure, Tucson Dual Sport, LLC, Chris Dodds; 520-979-8398; www.tuscondualsport.com

Aug 10-11: Columbus, Ind.: Buffaloe 500 D/S Adventure Ride, Stoney Lonesome MC, Nathan Gaskill; (812) 343-9772; www.stoneylonesomemc.com

Apr 26-27: Brooksville, Fla.: Devil’s

Sep 20-21: Logan, Ohio: Nutcracker

Nov 28-29: Palmdale, Calif.: LABarstow to Vegas, AMA D37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 446-7386; www.district37ama.org

AMA PREMIER TOURING SERIES AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM AMA SIGNATURE EVENTS AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM March of Dimes Bikers For Babies Rides: Nationwide: www.bikersforbabies.org Rides For Kids Events: Nationwide: www.rideforkids.org

No matter what or how you ride, the AMA has a special card for you. Want one? Just let us know by renewing early, or telling us when you renew via our online signup form at AmericanMotorcyclist.com, or calling (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646).

ES ED FORC U.S. ARM

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New! from Road Dog Publications In this collection of stories, Kirk Swanick tells the story of growing up a gear head behind both the wheels of muscle cars and the handlebars of motorcycles. In the title story, “A Tale of Two Dusters,” join Kirk and his colorful sidekicks as they navigate the ups and downs of wrenching and wrecking hot rods, going to school, and growing up on the back of a scrambler. Those who grew up in the 1970s culture of muscle cars and motorcycles will relate to the episodes of moto-craziness and find it hard not to grin at the mostly harmless hooliganism of the era. The second half of this book is full of colorful stories inspired by riding and wrenching those fun-filled hot rods of the two-wheeled variety. In these stories, Kirk not only relates his experience with the mechanical challenges of motorcycles, but also describes the great rewards granted to those who are lucky enough to ride them. Distributed to the trade by:

P U B L I C A T I O N S

www.roaddogpub.com

1-800-462-6420

278 pages, ISBN 978-1-890623-40-1 (paperback), 978-1-890623-41-8 (eBook) Kindle version from amazon.com • Nook version available from bn.com

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AMA Trademarks The following represent active, registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks of the AMA. Usage of any AMA trademark or registered trademark without our permission is prohibited. Please contact smaher@ama-cycle.org for more information or assistance. (800) AMA-JOIN® • AMA Dragbike™ • AMA Endurocross® • AMA Pro Grand National Championship™ • AMA Pro Racing® • AMA Race Center™ • AMA Racer® • AMA Racing® • AMA Supermoto® • AMA Supercross® • AMA SX Lites™ • AMA U.S. Drag Racing Championship® • AMA U.S. Flat Track Championship® • AMA U.S. Hillclimb Championship® • AMA U.S. Motocross Championship® • AMA U.S. Supercross Championship® • AMA U.S. Supersport Championship® • ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series™ • ATV Motocross National Championship Series™ • Amateur National Motocross Championships™ • American Motorcyclist Association® • Arenacross® • Dirt Track Grand Championships™ • Grand National Enduro Championship™ • Gypsy Tour® • Hare & Hound National Championship Series™ • Hare Scrambles Championship Series™ • Hare Scrambles National Championship Series™ • Kids Just Want To Ride® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum® • Motorcyclist of the Year™ • National Adventure Riding Series™ • National Dual-Sport Series™ • National Enduro Championship Series™ • Protect Your Right to Ride® • Protecting Your Right to Ride® • Ride Straight® • Rights. Riding. Racing.® • Road Race Grand Championships™ • Vintage Grand Championships™ • Vintage Motorcycle Days® • Vote Like A Motorcyclist®


GUEST COLUMN FORTY RIDES IN FORTY YEARS In 1974, a rag-tag group of eight motorcycle riders got together in Utica, Mich., for a 900-mile round trip heading north to Marquette. Many of these guys were meeting for the first time. For some, this would be the only long-distance run they would ever make with this group. For others, it was the beginning of a tradition. In August 2013, two of those riders, myself and Randy Spangler, along with six others, met for the 40th annual ride. Spangler had been on 39 rides (missing 2001 with a stator failure) and others had ridden on more than 25. Marquette was the destination again and accommodations still consisted of camping out, but many changes had taken place over those 40 years. For this trip, there were no 350 Hondas with pup tents and sleeping bags strapped on. For the 40th, four of the full-dressed bikes pulled trailers. The additional storage space that once held a supply of adult beverages was now taken up by c-pap machines, electric tent heaters, air mattresses and pumps to inflate them. On some of the early trips, Marion Sheppard, then in his mid-40s, was “the old guy.” Now, a whole group of old guys—some nearing the age of 70—were making the latest run. The first trip took place after Spangler talked to a couple of his the engine in my R90/6 BMW. I limped friends about taking a ride to see an about five miles to the campground. The old college buddy, Larry Gould, and his end of the needle-bearing cage for one of ette, Doug hu Sc n ya Br : L-R el, 82, wife, Pauline, in the Upper Peninsula. the rocker arms had broken and bearings herd, Joe Rang The group in 19 ep Sh n rio Ma , Moore McKinney, Larry Jerry Mattson. d Word spread and guys showed up at were found loose inside the rocker cover. an r gle an Sp Randy Rick Schuette, the appointed time and place. After some thought on the subject, a thin At least one terrified rider approached metal washer was fashioned from a beer can. The bearings were put the Mackinaw Bridge that day. Earlier, with straight faces, some of back in the cage and the washer installed to keep them in place. The his “friends” told him to make sure he watched out for the expansion temporary fix got me home. joints on the bridge, as they thought his front tire might be too narrow Potential mechanical malfunctions were not the only thing to make and drop through. They knew better, he didn’t. some riders nervous. Climbing New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington in The first nine runs were all made to Marquette. Maybe it was the 1997 and again in 2012 proved to be less than enjoyable for a few of temperature of the first year, which was exceptionally hot, but it the guys. One trip up the road that started as two-lane blacktop and became a yearly event that everyone had to take a “bath” in the creek ended as a narrow dirt and gravel combination at the top was enough that ran behind the Gould home. Guys soaped up near the bank, then for some. The second visit had several guys waiting at the bottom rinsed off by jumping into the ice-cold water. The second part could while three others took a trip up the mountain. take a person’s breath away. It wasn’t fun, but one way or another, The only major accident to occur in the 40 years happened on everyone was destined to take a dip. the second run. A non-bike owner had gotten to Marquette by riding In 1982, the trip to Marquette was longer, as the group took the double with a friend. The former passenger borrowed a bike and lost S. S. Badger across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin and did some control during a ride into town. The single-vehicle accident resulted in touring along the way. This included a trip to Copper Harbor, north of him staying an extra week in Marquette, in the hospital. The bike was Houghton. patched up and ridden back downstate by the unhappy owner. These four-day weekend ventures were growing longer. The In 2009, on the ride to Pennsylvania to see the Hershey factory, longest one lasted 14 days. Lancaster and Gettysburg, a side trip was made to Washington, D.C. Over the years, the group rode to several states including New This resulted in one of the highlights of all the trips taken. A brother of Jersey, Maine (via Quebec), Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Colorado, one of the riders provided a private, guided tour of the Pentagon. This Georgia, Wyoming and South Dakota for two trips to Sturgis. left a positive impression on all the bikers. A total of 24 guys have been on the runs. For eight riders, once The run to Traverse City, Michigan, in 1987 was the shortest at 400 was enough. The lowest number of riders was six and the highest miles, while the 5,200-mile trip to Montana’s Glacier National Park in 12. The core eight “regular” riders are almost all retired now. 2007 was the longest. They worked, or are still working, as policemen, engineers, Now in his 80s, Marion is still riding his Gold Wing in Arizona where manufacturing managers, a construction equipment operator, a he spends the winters. The rest of us seem to be riding a little less banker and an auto repair technician. Several are military veterans. each year, but like they say, “It’s been a good run.” As a biker, having some mechanical ability is always a plus. Woe In 2014, the trip will be to Georgia and points in the southeast to the rider who has a bike problem on the road. You then became United States. The annual rides will continue for a while. the focal point of ribbing for the rest of the trip, and maybe longer. My turn came in 1997 in central Ohio when an awful racket came from Jerry Mattson is an AMA member from Whitehall, Mich.

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AmericanMotorcyclist.com

David Matuzeski, RIVERSEDGE Photography

Coming Back For More By Jerry Mattson

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James Claeys, Seattle, member of the Bad Chickens Motorcycle Club, on a 2014 Indian ® Chief ® Vintage through Lebec, CA

STAYCATIONS ARE DANGEROUS. People say riding a motorcycle is dangerous. But for those who can’t imagine life without two wheels, NOT RIDING A MOTORCYCLE IS DANGEROUS. That’s why Allstate offers protection with one purpose: to keep riders riding.

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Subject to terms, conditions, availability and qualifications. New Motorcycle Replacement is an optional coverage. Claims will be settled based on customer choice to obtain original equipment manufacturer parts for their bike make and model. Actual savings will vary and may depend on coverages selected. Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL and Allstate New Jersey Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Bridgewater, NJ. © 2014 Allstate Insurance Company


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