American Motorcyclist 09 2009

SEPTEMBER 2009

ROCKER & ROLLER RUSH’S NEIL PEART LIVES FOR MOTORCYCLES

SOUND MANAGEMENT WHAT THE NEW MOTORCYCLE SOUND TEST MEANS FOR YOU

THE JOURNAL OF THE

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We care about you. Ride safely, respectfully and within the limits of the law and your abilities. Always wear an approved helmet, proper eyewear and protective clothing, and insist your passenger does too. Never ride while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Know your Harley ® motorcycle and read and understand your owner’s manual from cover to cover. © 2009 H-D. Harley, Harley-Davidson, and the Bar & Shield logo are among the trademarks of H-D Michigan, LLC.

The roar of the engine of your own H-D® motorcycle drowns out the opinions of the world.

Harley-Davidson and Buell salute the riders of the 2009 AMA International Women and Motorcycling Conference Presented by Harley-Davidson and Buell. See what inspires women riders at www.h-d.com/womenriders.

Cover Photo Rush’s Neil Peart, photographed by Holly Carlyle.

Navigation Photo The scene from one of the biggest Gypsy Tours: Laconia, N. H. Photographed by Bob Stegmaier.

Navigation VIEWPOINTS

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Snapshots Your Images, Your World Letters You Write, We Read Ed Moreland Sound Strategy Piet Boonstra An AMA Member’s View

September 2009 Volume 63, Number 9 Published by the American Motorcyclist Association 13515 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 (800) AMA-JOIN AmericanMotorcyclist.com

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THE LIFE

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Protecting the Ride New Public Singletrack Trail Open For Business In Michigan

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Living It H-D Unveils Top-Line CVO Models For ’09

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Connections Hostel Territory: Touring Canada’s Gaspe Peninsula On The Cheap

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Adrenaline Michael Avila Captures AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award

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Heritage Ness-Tique: Trophy In Motion Go Ride What To Do, Where To Go

FEATURES

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Neil Peart: Rocker & Roller This Member Of Mega-Band Rush—And Life Member Of The AMA—Rides To The Beat of His Own Drum

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Sound Management New Motorcycle Sound Test Could End Inconsistency In Law Enforcement

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 2009. Printed in USA. Subscription rate: Magazine subscription fee of $10 covered in membership dues; $15 a year for non-members.

Postmaster: Mail form 3579 to 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Periodical postage paid at 7PJRLYPUN[VU 6OPV HUK H[ HKKP[PVUHS THPSPUN VMÄJLZ

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Products underwritten by PaciďŹ c Specialty Insurance Company and its afďŹ liates. A.M. Best “Aâ€? Rated. Admitted in all states. Š 2009 McGraw Insurance Services, P.O. Box 40, Anaheim, CA 92815. CA License #0531139 / NPN #963519.

Snapshots Congratulations, Steve. You’re the winner this month!

Winner: Steve Quinn, who submitted this photo of Stu Kerr and Max Hendrix in Moab, Utah. Below: 1) Gene McAllister sent this photo of Ride to Work Day at General Electric’s Peebles Test Operation in Peebles, Ohio. 2) Julie Turgeon poses. 3) Charles Hammack’s take of Flaming Gorge, Utah. 4) Bones Engelman. 5) Three generations of Swangos ride together: Howard, 78; Jamie, 19; and Tim, 47. 6) Anthony Scordo. 7) Emma and Jacob Fain. 8) John and Bob Maki, and Ryan and Dale Sanborn at the 2009 WUDI ride in White Rock, Ark. 9) David Himlin. 10) AMA Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith and friends. 11) Greg, Catherine, Bianca Babor in Livermore, Calif.

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From the TT course to Du Quoin’s world-famous Magic Mile, the annual AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships bring out the top talent in amateur dirt track. This year was no different. Read more on page 32. Photos: Jim Grant, Jim Bowie.

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Got an image that captures what’s cool about motorcycling? Send it to American Motorcyclist. Send your highresolution photos and mailing address to: submissions@ama-cycle.org. We’ll even pick one standout photo next month and send the photographer a free gift card from BikeBandit.com.

September 2009

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0QFO PS $MPTF :PVS (BSBHF %PPS XJUI EDITORIAL OFFICES AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS American Motorcyclist 13515 Yarmouth Drive Pickerington, OH 43147 (614) 856-1900 submissions@ama-cycle.org

Stan Simpson, Chairman 413 FM 1103, Cibolo, TX 78108-1028 Jon-Erik Burleson, Assistant Treasurer 38429 Innovation Ct., Murrietta, CA 92563

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Grant Parsons, Managing Editor James Holter, Associate Editor Bill Kresnak, Government Affairs Editor Mitch Boehm, Contributing Editor Mark Lapid, Creative Director Nora McDonald, Production Coordinator Jen Muecke, Designer

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ADVERTISING

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Erik Buell 2799 Buell Dr., East Troy, WI 53120 (UK` .VSKĂ„ UL 8 S. 18th Ave., West, Duluth, MN 55806 Charles Goman PO Box 81, Winder, GA 30680

Ray Monroe, Advertising Manager (815) 885-4445, rmonroe@ama-cycle.org

Perry King c/o AMA, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147

Misty Walker, Advertising Assistant (614) 856-1900, ext. 1267, mwalker@ama-cycle.org 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.

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Jim Williams, Assistant Secretary 9950 Jeronimo Rd., Irvine, CA 92618-2084

American Motorcyclist is the monthly publication of the American Motorcyclist Association, which represents motorcyclists nationwide.

-VY PUMVYTH[PVU VU (4( TLTILYZOPW ILULĂ„ [Z JHSS (4( 1605 VY visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com. Manuscripts, photos, drawings and other editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage.

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Michael Lock 10443 Bandley Dr., Cupertino, CA 95014 Arthur More 16153 Starlight Dr., Surprise, AZ 85374 John Ulrich 581-C Birch St., Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 Bill Werner +H]PKZVU +Y )YVVRĂ„ LSK >0

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Contributors and Staff

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RICHARD J. ATKINS, Writer Richard J. Atkins, Ed.D., founder of Improving Communications, provides corporate training to develop writing, public speaking, customer service, and leadership skills. Rich is a hardcore urban motorcyclist, having clocked almost all of his 100,000 miles in and around the New York City area.

MONTY SOUNGPRADITH, Photographer Monty’s eye for the sublime extends well beyond the shoot in front of him, as the photo above shows. It was the only moment during a non-stop three-hour photo shoot extravaganza that two LKP[VYZ HUK HU HY[ KPYLJ[VY HWWLHYLK [V IL SVHÄ UN ^L Z^LHY Has that guy got uncanny timing, or what?

BILL KRESNAK, Government Affairs Editor “The best kind of bikes to ride? Other people’s bikes!� Good work if you can get it.

See you at the World’s Largest Touring Rally NEXT year! June 7- 12, 2010 www.tourexpo.com

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518-798-7888

MARK LAPID, Creative Director After riding KTM demo bikes on-track at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Mark Lapid was last seen drooling heavily over sportbikes, attempting to drag his knee in his work chair and otherwise grinning wildly while planning his next on-track foray.

GRANT PARSONS, Managing Editor Grant has gone off the deep end lately, spending far too much time on his scooter, to the jealousy of his sportbike and dual-sport.

After much tinkering, head-scratching and automatic-

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choke replacing, he’s proud to report that the Moo-Scoot is representing hard—and getting over 102 mpg. Huzzah!

JEN MUECKE, Designer In Jen’s world, motorcycles have replaced “home,â€? since the last two weeks have been a blur of: A Mid-Ohio track day, racing at Heartland Park Raceway in Topeka, Kan., some track time at Road America, then VMĂ„ JL [PTL PU 6OPV¡ZVVU [V IL MVSSV^LK I` TVYL 4PK 6OPV Blackhawk Farms Raceway, and then, maybe, home. But probably not.

NORA McDONALD, Production Coordinator With new TV[VYJ`JSL SPJLUZL Ä YTS` PU OHUK 5VYH OHZ IYHUJOLK PU[V solo lunchtime sorties on borrowed motorcycles while she WYLWHYLZ [V Q\TW OLSTL[ Ä YZ[ PU[V [OL ]PU[HNL TV[VYJ`JSL lifestyle. She swoons hardest over cafÊ-racer Hondas, but YLTHPUZ Å L_PISL JAMES HOLTER, Associate Editor With an MX100 with a points problem, an FLHTC with a starter-relay issue, a TC125 with a wonky ignition key switch and a lawnmower with no spark, James is ready to trade the lot for a bicycle and a billy goat. But you’ll only pry his YZ250F out of his JVSK KLHK Ä UNLYZ Other contributors include: Holly Carlyle, Chelsea Daniels, Tyler Landow, Jim Grant, Piet Boonstra, Brian J. Nelson and Shan Moore.

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Letters [ NICE STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE You guys are bad, bad, bad. We oldtimers are not supposed to dwell in the past, and you go ahead and print a double page picture in your August edition from a 1958 Gypsy Tour. I can’t put this issue in my collection yet. It’s going to stay on the coffee table for some time, I’m sure.

The photo by Eric M. Sanford deserves to IL HUHS`aLK MVY [OL ILULÄ [ VM [OL `V\UNLY riders.

Sure, it’s a ’57 or ’58 Sportster, but notice the absence of a throttle cable. It’s inside the handlebar. Neat and uncluttered.

Bobbed front fender. At most rallies the VMÄ JPHSZ ^VYL ^OP[L JV]LYHSSZ JVVS ;OL old AMA patches. The checker holding the clipboard is dressed as my wife dressed, loafers, white socks and the collar over [OL Z^LH[LY ;OL Ä LSK L]LU[Z Z[HY[LK PU [OL morning, and it appears to be foggy. Not all spectators were bikers. Some came just to take in the excitement of the rally.

I should also mention the great job that Mark Lapid did on the cover. It was fun to compare his covers to my own collection. The only disappointment was that the “Rider Of the Century,” King Kenny Roberts, was not included.

And by the way, you have my permission to be bad, bad, bad, anytime you want.

Al Chenaille AMA No. 546479 Ludlow, Mass.

FIVE EQUALS ZERO As the International Safety Committee chairman for the Blue Knights International—and an AMA Life Member—I wanted to let you know of the good work VM [OL >PZJVUZPU :[H[L )\YLH\ VM ;YHMÄ J Safety, the State Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation on a Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Campaign. Our campaign is set to augment the “Zero in Wisconsin” program, which is aimed at achieving Zero Fatalities on Wisconsin Highways.

Our program is called 5=Zero, and we are working to achieve zero motorcycle fatalities in Wisconsin through raising awareness and encouraging riders to be responsible.

The State Patrol’s motorpatrol unit has been at events displaying patrol bikes and

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

^VYRPUN ^P[O [OL )\YLH\ VM ;YHMÄ J :HML[` to get the word out on motorcycle safety statewide. It is not very often that you see the state government, law enforcement and a motorcycle club working so closely for [OL ILULÄ [ VM YPKLYZ PU [OLPY HYLH Anyone wanting more information can visit www.5equalzero.com. Thank you for your great publication and all of your efforts on behalf of all riders.

Clint Cagle AMA Life Member No. 461556 Sturtevant, Wis.

GREAT NEWS ON THE NEW MOTORCYCLE SOUND TEST Having worked with government agencies and groups to address issues of motorcycle access to public lands and roadways, I can attest to the fact the general public doesn’t care if excessively loud exhaust noise comes Don Amador from a dirtbike or streetbike.

They view all obnoxiously loud motorcycles as the same. (See a full report on the new sound standard on page 46—Ed.) To see how the test plays out in the real world, I performed a sample sound check on my bone stock 2001 Suzuki 1500 V-Twin Intruder using the test procedures of the SAE J2825 20-inch sound test for street motorcycles.

Results for the 1500 Intruder were an idle level of 80.4 dBA, and the sound level at 2,000 rpm was 85.5 dBA. With the limit being 92 dBA, it appears this test procedure leaves plenty of room for healthy sounding aftermarket street exhaust systems, while screening out the obnoxiously loud street bikes.

I believe this is a quantum step forward for the motorcycle community. Reasonable enforcement of this new standard will help keep both our trails and streets open for our sport.

Don Amador AMA No. 421222 Oakley, CA

A POWER-USER TIP FOR SEARCHING GOOGLE BOOKS I love having past issues of American

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Motorcyclist now available on Google Books. This is a great resource for all motorcyclists. Here’s a tip so readers can narrow Google Books’ search to only American Motorcyclist magazines.

Select, “Advanced Book Search,” then enter “American Motorcyclist” in the Google )VVRZ :LHYJO Ä LSK HUK KLZLSLJ[ ¸(SS Content,” and select “Magazines” instead.

Keep up the good work. Thanks.

Robert J. Dombrow AMA Life Member No. 520518 Keswick, Va. GODSPEED, WOODY WOODWARD I’m saddened to report that the motorcycling world lost a most valuable peaceful warrior on Saturday, June 13, 2009. Woody Dot Robinson, Woodward, one Woody Woodward of the founding members of the Moving Violations Motorcycle Club and central member of the Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation’s all-volunteer army, passed peacefully in her sleep after a valiant battle against ovarian cancer.

The irony is that Woody was instrumental PU OLSWPUN [V YHPZL V]LY TPSSPVU [V Ä NO[ breast cancer. Woody also worked tirelessly to raise funds and awareness around HIV and A.I.D.S. Woody did so much for so many through her passion for life on two wheels that Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino declared June 7, 2008, to be Woody Woodward Day in Beantown!

Despite the challenges Woody faced confronting the monster that is cancer, two weeks prior to her death she was telling us, “Well, I may not be able to ride every day or all of any day; but I’ll be there just the same.”

Sue Slate LeRoy, N.Y.

Royse and Wyckoff

SHORT AND SWEET Loved your 85th anniversary edition. Keep up the good work.

Butch Royse and Judy Wyckoff AMA Nos. 428174 and 603603 Hamilton, OH

THE BUILT TO BE RIDDEN

SALES EVENT, GOING ON NOW.

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Bike is shown with optional accessories. *The industry’s only full-line five-year limited warranty is available on all new 2009 and prior Victory® motorcycles. **Offer is valid only in the U.S. and Canada and does not apply to prior purchases. The five-year coverage consists of 48 months’ POLARISTAR ESC coverage in addition to the Victory 12-month factory warranty for a total of five years. The ESC carries a standard $50 deductible and no mileage limitation. The ESC will be mailed six to eight weeks from receipt of purchase. Victory and Victory Motorcycles® are registered trademarks of Polaris Industries Inc. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing and obey the speed limit. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. V9JFFPE ©2009 Polaris Industries Inc.

Viewpoint THIS NEW TEST PROCEDURE WAS A LONG TIME COMING, AND IT ARRIVES JUST AS A NOISY MINORITY OF STREET RIDERS RESISTS REINING IN EXCESSIVELY LOUD MOTORCYCLES.

A Sound Strategy When it comes to motorcycle sound, the argument is not about the freedom to be as loud as you want to be. The argument is about the freedom to go where you want to go.

Like their streetbike counterparts today, off-highway motorcycle and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) riders in recent decades were running up against restrictive laws and outright land closures because their machines were drawing too much attention due to the loud sounds coming out of their exhaust pipes. Instead of standing back and waiting for even more land to be closed, the off-highway vehicle (OHV) community embraced change and moved toward a quieter solution.

The result of their efforts was the creation of a simple, consistent, economical and enforceable sound WYVJLK\YL MVY 6/=Z ;OL ILULÄ [ VM [OPZ standard—formally labeled J1287 by the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE)—was continued access to more public lands than would otherwise have been possible.

Now, streetbike riders are facing the same kinds of concerns. Ask the

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residents of Canyon Lake, Calif., or any number of private neighborhoods that have closed their gates to motorcycle [YHMÄ J ILJH\ZL VM L_JLZZP]LS` SV\K bikes. It doesn’t stop there. Today, under pressure from business districts, citizens and county boards, entire cities have WHZZLK \UMHPY TV[VYJ`JSL ZWLJPÄ J UVPZL ordinances due, in part, to the absence of an objective on-highway test that law enforcement and motorcycle owners can rely upon.

Fortunately, there’s a solution, in the form of a new SAE sound-test procedure MVY VU OPNO^H` TV[VYJ`JSLZ 6MÄ JPHSS` dubbed the SAE J2825 “Measurement of Exhaust Sound Pressure Levels of Stationary On-Highway Motorcycles,” it was developed with substantial support from the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) and published by the SAE in May. The AMA’s ongoing efforts to encourage quieter riding can be documented as far back as 1948 and [OL ¸4\MÅ LY 4PRL¹ JHTWHPNU 4VYL recently, the AMA hosted the Sound Summit in 2003, which brought together riders, manufacturers, the aftermarket,

by Ed Moreland law-enforcement and federal agency personnel to develop responsible approaches to sound management. Now, thanks to the MIC, we have SAE J2825 for the street-riding community.

This new test procedure is a long time coming, and it arrives just as a noisy minority of street riders resists reining in excessively loud bikes. We all know at least one: an otherwise sensible person who just doesn’t get it that their straight pipes or competition exhaust is determining whether countless others among the silent majority will enjoy the freedom to even ride in their own neighborhood.

It’s up to us. The new on-road standard can be the same kind of change agent for street riders that SAE J1287 was for OHV riders. At a time when the future of riding on our roads and highways is at stake, we now have a very important tool available to help us preserve the open road for motorcyclists.

Ed Moreland is AMA vice president for government relations. Read more about the new SAE sound test procedure and the people who created it on page 46.

Photo Erin Lassahn Photography

The Threat Of Excessive Motorcycle Sound, And A New Way Forward

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Protecting the Ride Page 16 Living It Page 20 Connections Page 26 Adrenaline Page 32 Heritage Page 36 September 2009

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The Life | Protecting the Ride

Florida Toll Road Fix Motorcyclists in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula put in a lot of hard work to create and maintain trails. This new singletrack trail is the latest example.

Cooperative Effort Creates New Michigan Trail Sandstormers Club Spearheads Project Michigan off-highway motorcyclists now have 27 miles of new singletrack trail in the Upper Peninsula, thanks to the hard work of the U.P. Sandstormers Motorcycle and ORV Club, in cooperation with the state Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service.

The key to making it happen? ;LHT^VYR HZ VMÄJPHSZ UV[LK H[ [OL recent dedication ceremony.

“Opening a trail to the public is not a simple, overnight task, and this trail is no exception,” said Hiawatha National Forest Supervisor Tom Schmidt. “There has been a lot of effort and outstanding commitment from our project partners.”

In addition to their work in planning and getting the money and labor necessary to build the trail, the Sandstormers will be responsible for maintaining the trail.

“We are proud to be actively involved in making this riding opportunity available to the public,” said the Sandstormers’ Jeff Magowan. “We invite area riders to show their commitment by joining us in future trail maintenance efforts.”

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources funded the environmental

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analysis and trail construction through its ORV Trail Improvement Grant program, and will fund maintenance of the trail.

Others present for the opening included Anne Okonek, assistant district ranger for the Hiawatha National Forest; Ron Yesney, recreation management specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources, Ann Jousma-Miller representing Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Sherie Davie, representing U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Royce Wood, AMA government affairs manager.

“This is something that clubs around the nation can do,” Wood said. “There are opportunities to create trails if the clubs partner with the right government agencies and commit to the project.”

The new singletrack Moss Lake OffRoad Motorcycle Trail is about 3 miles north of Nahma Junction in the Hiawatha National Forest. It’s 1 mile east of Forest Highway 13 on Forest Road 2231, which is about 3 miles north of U.S. Highway 2.

For information on how you can increase riding opportunities in your area, contact Wood at rwood@ama-cycle.org or call him at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1225.

The Easy Way To Keep From Getting Charged On The I-95 AMA member Marc Allen brought to our attention the preponderance of confusion among motorcyclists riding between the I-95 Express lanes and the Turnpike or other adjacent toll roads in southern Florida.

The I-95 Express is free for motorcyclists but the other toll roads aren’t. The problem is that it’s unsafe for a motorcyclist to shield his or her SunPass transponder while riding on I-95 and then uncover it for all other toll roads.

To solve the problem, we spoke with Rick Nelson of the Florida Transportation Department. Not only is Nelson director of toll operations for Florida’s turnpike, but he also rides a 2007 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. To avoid being charged when riding on I-95, put your transponder in the shiny silver RF-shield bag that shipped with it.

Then leave it there. Don’t uncover it.

If your trip includes both travel on the I-95 express lanes and Florida’s Turnpike, or one of the other adjacent toll roads in south Florida, the answer is the same. Bag your transponder. The SunPass system will take a photograph of your license plate and image-toll you for your use of the other adjacent toll roads.

If you plan to take advantage of image tolling, make sure to keep your transponder account updated with license plate number, address and credit card information.

The Life | Protecting the Ride

legislatively concerning rider education, and offer your support to contact your LSLJ[LK VMÄJPHSZ [V PUMVYT [OLT VM [OL ILULÄ[Z VM MVYTHS [YHPUPUN Oh yeah, if you can give us access to a parking lot about the size of a football ÄLSK SL[ \Z RUV^ >L HYL HS^H`Z VU [OL lookout for suitable sites.

Three Questions With...

ABATE of Indiana Executive Director Jay Jackson Talks Rider Safety Training

Photos Michigan: Tom Buckhoe; Jackson: THINK Photographics; Irving: Erin Lassahn Photography

1H` 1HJRZVU OHZ ILLU ÄNO[PUN MVY TV[VYJ`JSPZ[Z» YPNO[Z ZPUJL HUK OHZ ILLU OLH]PS` PU]VS]LK PU TV[VYJ`JSL ZHML[` [YHPUPUN MVY HSTVZ[ HZ SVUN /L PZ L_LJ\[P]L KPYLJ[VY VM ()(;, VM 0UKPHUH HZ ^LSS HZ OLHK VM [OL NYV\W»Z 4V[VYJ`JSL :HML[` +P]PZPVU ^OPJO WYV]PKLZ YPKLY [YHPUPUN \UKLY H JVU[YHJ[ ^P[O [OL Z[H[L American Motorcyclist: Many states currently face budget problems. What danger does this pose for rider safety training in those states?

Jay Jackson: Rider education and motorcycle safety programs are subject to the same threats as any agency that has a pot of money. As states look for ways to attempt to balance the budget, nothing is sacred. +VU»[ IL [VV JVUÄKLU[ ZPTWS` ILJH\ZL the funds are dedicated or protected, as we’ve seen several states make a grab for these monies. Cash may not be the single most important component of a program, but it certainly is a factor. The formula for a successful rider-ed program includes personnel, facilities, equipment and dollars.

The scarcest rider-ed commodity has changed through the years. For a while, we just couldn’t recruit and train enough X\HSPÄLK PUZ[Y\J[VYZ >L ZVS]LK [OH[ HUK YHU PU[V KPMÄJ\S[` ZLJ\YPUN HKLX\H[L facilities to meet the demand for courses, followed by some concern about the availability of entry-level bikes for training.

A fat wallet won’t solve all problems, but

it can go a long way toward helping to bridge gaps in these areas.

Finances appear to be the most likely shortage approaching, especially with state budgets in question and the uncertainty of what may (or may not) be included in the next re-authorization of the federal highway bill. We have seen the cost of classes increase, and some states have shifted to a pay-for-play philosophy wherein students may pay upward of $300 to participate in an educational experience.

Although training remains an exceptional value at virtually any price, we would not want the cost to present a stumbling block or serve as an excuse for someone to not enroll in a safety class.

AM: What can riders do to protect or support rider education in their states?

Jackson: The answer is actually quite simple: get involved. Particularly in these challenging economic times, providers of rider education need all the contributions and assistance that they can get.

This doesn’t mean you have to write a check. Go talk to your state program and ask what they need. Volunteer to help maintain the facilities, or acquire donated equipment, material and supplies necessary for the operation of the program. If they need an air compressor and you’ve got a spare, give it to them.

Check with the program or your state motorcyclists’ rights organization (SMRO) to see what they are working on

AM: What do you see as the future for rider education around the country?

Jackson: Online courses, simulators, PU [YHMÄJ [LZ[PUN HUK H OVZ[ VM V[OLY variations are likely to be considered.

As a matter of fact, some are already in use. With a motorcycling population that does not appear to be getting any younger, there will continue to be a growing focus on motorcycles with more than two wheels. Training for these units, as well as scooters, will probably become more prevalent.

A number of states have indicated they are experiencing declining enrollment in 2009, which is likely related to the economy, but still requires evaluation.

Protecting Your Right To Ride Getting Involved Is Easy Thanks to AMA Grassroots Coordinator Jessica Irving of the Washington, D.C., VMÄJL [OLYL»Z H UL^ WHNL VU [OL (4( website called “Get Involved” that is chock full of information to make it easy for you to help protect your right to ride, whether you are a street rider, dirt rider or racer.

There, you can: Sign up to get instant e-mail UV[PÄJH[PVUZ ^OLU [OLYL HYL UL^ issues affecting your right to ride.

Get advice on how to deal with your lawmakers and the media to make opinions known.

Get tips on how to organize likeTPUKLK YPKLYZ [V ÄNO[ WYVWVZLK IHK laws.

To get to the new page, go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com and click on “Rights” on the left side of the page then click on “Get Involved.”

Jessica Irving Irving spearheads the AMA’s efforts to get out the troops [V ÄNO[ IHK SH^Z and proposals, and to push good legislation, at the local level.

You can contact her at jirving@amacycle.org, or call her at (202) 742-4310.

The Life c 7YV[LJ[PUN [OL 9PKL

Going Strong /H[Ã&#x201E;LSK 4J*V` 0Z ;OL 4VKLS -VY 7YP]H[L 7\ISPJ 6/= 9PKPUN (YLH 7HY[ULYZOPWZ By Nick Haris AMA Western States Representative Sitting atop a mountain ridge in the /H[Ã&#x201E;LSK 4J*V` ;YHPSZ Z`Z[LT PU >LZ[ =PYNPUPH ^OPSL [YHPS YPKPUN 0 SVVR V\[ V]LY [OL MVYLZ[ HUK KV^U H[ H Z[YLHT 0»T [OPURPUN! ;OPZ YLHSS` PZ HSTVZ[ OLH]LU ;OL /H[Ã&#x201E;LSK 4J*V` ;YHPSZ PZ HJ[\HSS` H ZLYPLZ VM [YHPS Z`Z[LTZ ZWYLHK HJYVZZ UPUL >LZ[ =PYNPUPH JV\U[PLZ ;OL /H[Ã&#x201E;LSK

You Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Feel the Wires!

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CALIFORNIA ( WVVYS` JYHM[LK IPSS [V ZTVN [LZ[ TV[VYJ`JSLZ HWWHYLU[S` PZ KLHK MVY [OPZ `LHY ^P[OKYH^U I` ZWVUZVY :LU -YHU 7H]SL` + :HU[H 4VUPJH :LUH[L )PSS ^HZ MHJPUN [V\NO VWWVZP[PVU PU [OL /V\ZL HM[LY UHYYV^S` WHZZPUN V\[ VM [OL :LUH[L MVSSV^PUN H ZLYPLZ VM HTLUKTLU[Z ;OV\ZHUKZ VM (4( TLTILYZ HUK V[OLY TV[VYJ`JSPZ[Z JVU[HJ[LK SH^THRLYZ [V L_WYLZZ JVUJLYUZ [OH[ [OL IPSS \UMHPYS` [HYNL[LK TV[VYJ`JSPZ[Z FLORIDA ( UL^ SH^ Z[H[LZ [OH[ PM [OL VWLYH[VY VM H ]LOPJSL PZ LUJSVZLK I` H JHIPU [OLU P[»Z UV[ H TV[VYJ`JSL ;OH[ PZ \USLZZ P[ TLL[Z [OL MLKLYHS KLÃ&#x201E;UP[PVU VM H TV[VYJ`JSL ;OL SH^ ^OPJO ^HZ :LUH[L )PSS HSZV YLTV]LZ [OL YLX\PYLTLU[ [OH[ H TV[VYJ`JSL VY TVWLK SPJLUZL [HN IL WLYTHULU[S` HMÃ&#x201E;_LK OVYPaVU[HSS` [V [OL NYV\UK I\[ HKKZ H WYV]PZPVU [OH[ ¸5V KL]PJL MVY VY TL[OVK VM JVUJLHSPUN VY VIZJ\YPUN [OL SLNPIPSP[` VM [OL SPJLUZL [HN VM H TV[VYJ`JSL ZOHSS IL PUZ[HSSLK VY \ZLK ¹ ILLINOIS ;OL KYP]PUN WYP]PSLNLZ VM HU`VUL JVU]PJ[LK VM JLY[HPU VMMLUZLZ ^V\SK IL YL]VRLK PTTLKPH[LS` \UKLY /V\ZL )PSS ZWVUZVYLK I` 9LW >PSSPHT )SHJR 9 +HU]PSSL ;OL YL]VJH[PVU ^V\SK IL MVY HU`VUL JVU]PJ[LK VM HU` VMMLUZL PU ^OPJO ZVTLVUL ^HZ RPSSLK \UKLY HU` SH^ YLN\SH[PUN [OL TV]LTLU[ VM [YHMÃ&#x201E;J 0SSPUVPZ YPKLYZ HYL \YNLK [V JVU[HJ[ [OLPY YLWYLZLU[H[P]LZ PU Z\WWVY[ VM [OPZ SLNPZSH[PVU MAINE ( UL^ SH^ YLX\PYLZ [OL Z[H[L ;YHUZWVY[H[PVU +LWHY[TLU[ [V PUZ[HSS ^HYUPUN ZPNUZ PU IV[O KPYLJ[PVUZ VU HSS Z[H[L OPNO^H`Z ^OLYL JLU[LYSPUL Y\TISL Z[YPWZ HYL SVJH[LK ;OL SH^ PZ [OL YLZ\S[ VM /V\ZL 7HWLY ZWVUZVYLK I` 9LW 7H[Z` .HYZPKL *YVJRL[[ + (\N\Z[H MICHIGAN ;OL :LUH[L HKVW[LK H YLZVS\[PVU [OH[ \YNLZ *VUNYLZZ [V LUHJ[ HU L_JS\ZPVU MVY `V\[O TV[VYJ`JSLZ (;=Z HUK ZUV^TVIPSLZ MYVT [OL SLHK YLX\PYLTLU[Z VM [OL *VUZ\TLY 7YVK\J[ :HML[` 0TWYV]LTLU[ (J[ :LUH[L 9LZVS\[PVU ^HZ PU[YVK\JLK I` :LU *HTLYVU )YV^U 9 :[\YNPZ

The Life c 7YV[LJ[PUN [OL 9PKL

MISSOURI Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed Senate Bill 202, sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia), that wouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve permitted motorcyclists and passengers 21 or older to decide whether to wear a helmet on all non-interstates. It also stated that operating a motorcycle shall not be considered evidence of comparative negligence. Finally, it stated that no insurer could assign a percentage of fault to a party based upon the sole fact that the party was operating a motorcycle in a legal manner.

PENNSYLVANIA A bicycle or motorcycle operator could come to a full stop and then proceed with caution through an intersection JVU[YVSSLK I` H [YHMĂ&#x201E;J HJ[\H[LK ZPNUHS if the vehicle detection device doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recognize the bicycle or motorcycle, under House Bill 590, introduced by Rep. Joseph Markosek (D-Monroeville). While TVZ[ [YHMĂ&#x201E;J HJ[\H[LK ZPNUHSZ JHU IL tuned, the Pennsylvania Transportation Department of Transportation and local transportation departments donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the money or staff to adjust all malfunctioning signals. Show your support for this legislation by visiting the Statewatch area of Issues and Legislation section of AmericanMotorcyclist.com and contacting your representative.

Statewatch

WEST VIRGINIA 0U SH[L 4H` [OL /H[Ă&#x201E;LSK 4J*V` Regional Recreational Authority YLWVY[LK [OH[ [OL /H[Ă&#x201E;LSK 4J*V` trail system had largely recovered MYVT Ă&#x2026;VVKPUN PU 4PUNV *V\U[` earlier in the month. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100 WLYJLU[ UV^ +\YPUN [OL Ă&#x2026;VVKPUN /H[Ă&#x201E;LSK 4J*V` SVZ[ YV\NOS` OHSM of the Rockhouse trail system and nearly half of the Buffalo Mountain trail system.

The Authority also reported that it was loaning equipment to repair the trails to the town of Gilbert, which connects to the Rockhouse trail system, to OLSW ^P[O Ă&#x2026;VVK YLJV]LY` -VY the latest information visit the /H[Ă&#x201E;LSK 4J*V` ;YHPSZÂť ^LIZP[L H[ TrailsHeaven.com.

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TVYL KPMĂ&#x201E;J\S[ ZLJ[PVUZ HZ [OLPY ZRPSS HUK L_WLYPLUJL HSSV^Z 0 LUQV`LK [OL ILH\[` HUK M\U [OH[ [OPZ NYLH[ WHY[ VM >LZ[ =PYNPUPH OHZ [V VMMLY 0 JHU [OPUR VM UV IL[[LY ^H` [V ZWLUK H ML^ KH`Z ^P[O MYPLUKZ HUK MHTPS` -VY TVYL PUMVYTH[PVU NV [V ;YHPSZ/LH]LU JVT L THPS PUMV' [YHPSZOLH]LU JVT VY JHSS

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Available at better bike shops.

19

:LW[LTILY

High Rollers H-D Unveils Top-Line CVO Models For ’09 There’s a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth these days as the stock market slouches along, America’s auto industry teeters on the brink, and most motorcycle customers don’t have enough purchasing WV^LY [V ÄUHUJL [OL Z[LHT VMM H IV^S of hot soup. Even Harley-Davidson is emphasizing its lower-priced models, such as the new Sportster 883 Iron.

But before you load granny into the Model A and head for a WPA work camp, consider this potential good news: The folks at Harley-Davidson are bullish enough on the economic outlook that they’re positioning four models as this year’s premium-oriented Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) lineup, and the lowest priced one of the bunch starts at $25,299.

That’s because despite the tough times, H-D still sells a lot of bikes, and the CVOs are a way to deliver the ultimate expression of style and performance to the marque’s most loyal and fanatical customers.

20

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

¸0[»Z HIV\[ KLÄUPUN HZWPYH[PVUZ MVY V\Y consumers,” said CVO marketer Steve Renshaw, as well as a “showcase to display new features, technologies and innovations.”

After all, H-D needs a top-of-line product for potential owners to aspire to.

“Nobody needs a new motorcycle, but everybody wants a CVO,” says Renshaw.

There are two new models, and two JHYY`V]LYZ [OPZ `LHY ;OL ÄYZ[ UL^ IPRL PZ the CVO Street Glide. It’s based on the new-for-’09 FL Touring chassis, rubbermounting the CVO 110 cubic-inch graniteÄUPZO TV[VY 5L^ ^OLLSZ ZHKKSLIHNZ and tail lamps extend style and function, and new suspension—adjustable for preload and rebound damping—gives a better ride. An advanced audio system is standard, of course, as you’d expect from the bike’s $30,999 sticker price.

The other new model is the CVO Softail Convertible. It’s also based on the FL platform, and it also gets new black-and-

chrome wheels. But the cool factor is in the detachable fairing, backrest, passenger seat and saddlebags, allowing you to convert the bike from bagger to boulevard stunner in less than 2 minutes, without tools. The other two models, the CVO Ultra Classic ($35,999) and CVO Fat Bob ($25,299), get new paint schemes and cosmetic upgrades, PUJS\KPUN H ZTVR` JOYVTL ÄUPZO JHSSLK Midnight Pearl. The Ultra also gets a larger Tour-Pak. We spent a day riding the new machines in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, and I found the bikes deliver what they promise. The 110-inch motor is smooth, quick-revving and powerful everywhere, suited for touring or cruising applications. Handling varies with chassis: the Ultra, as always, surprises with its easy low-speed manners, good highspeed stability, ample corner clearance and surprisingly light steering. The brakes work well, too, although the ABS isn’t as seamless as you’d encounter from other manufacturers. The Street is much the

Photos Tips: ©iStockphoto.com

The Life | Living It

The Life | Living It

The most fun is the Fat )VI ^P[O H SPNO[ ÄYT JOHZZPZ NYLH[ Z\ZWLUZPVU HUK ZTVV[O YLZWVUZP]L engine. same, if a bit lighter and lower. The new Convertible is bigger and heavier than what I like in a cruiser, demanding more input and rider attention than a smaller bike, but its versatility (the convertible parts work as advertised and look great) and great motor make up for it. The TVZ[ M\U PZ [OL -H[ )VI ^P[O H SPNO[ ÄYT chassis, great suspension and smooth, responsive engine. It can carve up a smooth, fast road like it was made in Italy.

After a day testing a couple hundred grand worth of bikes I could see the sense in selling luxury in dark times; these are bikes styled and built to outlast L]LU [OL ÄLYJLZ[ KLWYLZZ VVWZ 0 TLHU downturn.—Gabe ets-Hokin

10 TOP TOURING TIPS Travel Smart, Travel Well Eat at odd times. Everyone and their dog eats around 8 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. To get in and out of restaurants in a hurry, eat between these times when possible.

1

2

Carry a spare key. Zip-tie or duct tape it somewhere hidden on your bike, or better yet, give it to a traveling companion.

3 4

Take a tip from off-road riders and carry a backpack hydration system so you can drink while you ride.

Keep your stuff dry in saddlebags by using trash compactor bags as waterproof barriers. They’re thicker and more durable than standard garbage bags.

5

Use earplugs to help reduce wind noise. You can get them from most mail-order shops or dealers, or in bulk from safety-equipment supply houses and even drug stores.

Custom plugs are also available.

6

You’ve heard it a million times, but we’ll say it again: look over your bike carefully every morning on the road.

Checking the simple stuff—air pressure, oil and coolant level, loose or missing fasteners—can save you from big trouble.

7

Sign up for AMA Roadside Assistance. Best of all, it’s free when you sign up for automatic renewal or make a three-year commitment with your AMA membership.

8

Stash a little cash somewhere hidden on the bike or on you, so you have a reserve when all else fails.

9 10

Especially if you’re riding alone, wear a dog-tag or ID bracelet with your name and contact info.

If you call a hotel—even if you’re two blocks away—you can often get a better rate than if you just walk in. And don’t forget your AMA member discount with Choice Hotels.

;OL 3PML | Living It

WORTH READING RoadBike – Motorcycle Cruising WHAT IT IS: The recently improved RoadBike is the premier monthly magazine for “motorcycle cruising” riders of all levels and brands. The editorial focus is on cruisers and touring motorcycles, gear, skills and fun destinations, all intended to better enjoy the ride.

If you are looking for a fun and informative magazine about motorcycle cruising and motorcycle tours, pick up a copy of RoadBike.

FIND IT: Available at Wal-Mart, Kroger, :HML^H` )HYULZ 5VISL HUK V[OLY ÄUL retailers, or online at RoadBikeMag.com.

THE ROADBIKE STAFF SAYS: According to publisher and AMA Hall of Famer Buzz Kanter, “Our readers are active street riders interested in real-world motorcycles and ways to better enjoy them. Every issue features accurate reviews of the latest cruiser and touring motorcycles and products, tech and how-to, and a few custom motorcycles that can be ridden daily.

RoadBike also features great tours and destinations worth the ride, as well as regular articles on how to improve riding skills from novice to expert.

We keep it real at RoadBike, sharing TV[VYJ`JSLZ HUK TVKPÄJH[PVUZ [V\YZ and riding skills our readers can use, afford, and appreciate. We prefer practical and reliable over radical and extreme, as do our readers. It shouldn’t cost a fortune to own and enjoy a motorcycle. Our job is to show readers how to get the most out of the time and money they spend on their bikes.”

Crash Course Backroads, High Shoulders 0[ ^HZ [OL ÄYZ[ [PTL 0 [VVR V\[ T` YLI\PS[ ’78 Kawasaki KZ650 for an overnight trip on the backroads of West Virginia. It was H ILH\[PM\S KH` ^P[O SP[[SL [YHMÄJ HUK ^OLU I noticed a great photo opportunity on the side of the road, I decided to stop. To my surprise, as I rode off the road, there was H Z[LLW KYVW HUK 0 ^LU[ KV^U 0 ÅL^ V]LY my bars into a large mound of thick grass.

With my past military training and proper full riding gear, I went into an automatic tuck and roll, ending up with no harm to myself—except my pride. My rebuilt bike wasn’t so lucky, with damage to the tank, right mirror and handlebar.

When I looked at the road, I saw the problem: a 9-inch drop off from pavement to shoulder. I then noticed the entire road was like that, with no warning signs posted at all.

The lesson learned? Always expect the unexpected, don’t make snap decisions, and proceed with caution when approaching turns in unfamiliar territory.

Peter Kareski, Front Royal, Va.

THROWBACK. A Look At Past Issues Of American Motorcyclists On Google Books.

American Motorcyclist June 1985 With more than 600 issues of American Motorcyclist available online for free at Books.Google.com, there’s plenty of good reading to be found. Each month, we highlight a past story or issue.

6UL 9PKLY»Z 9LÅLJ[PVU 6U ;OL 3VZZ 6M A Friend In June 1985, we took a look at one

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rider’s reaction to the loss of a riding buddy. In “Margin: The Ragged Edge May Be Nearer Than You Think,” writer Thomas Finnegan found himself questioning his own actions after a friend—a conscientious and safe rider—failed to negotiate a pass, struck a guardrail and crashed. Finnegan wrote: “Hannes had died on his bike. It could happen to me, too.

“The thought occurred to me that perhaps all of us are dealing with a problem of margin. Margin is like oxygen.

We have it in abundance and take it for granted…right up to the instant when we realize it has run out.

“Margin is what you whittle away at when you tell yourself the trip to work takes 25 to 35 minutes depending on [YHMÄJ HUK [OLU `V\ ZP[ OVTL PU ZSPWWLYZ until your watch says you have to be there in 30 minutes. Margin is what a

racer prays will not fail him when things go abruptly wrong. It’s what you neglect I` HZZ\TPUN `V\Y [PYLZ HYL M\SS` PUÅH[LK and your brakes aren’t worn out, never admitting that something could go wrong.

And each time you manage to get safely home after having had just a couple drinks before wishing your friends good night, you up the ante and reduce your margin.”

You can read the full story at tinyurl. com/june85story, and browse past issues by searching on “American Motorcyclist” at Books.Google.com.

We’re happy to report that Thomas Finnegan is alive and well, and is now living in San Francisco. After almost 25 years away from motorcycling, he is planning on participating in the Ducati Riding Experience in Italy this year.

He’s writing a book on the history of motorcycling in the United States in the 1960s (www.motorsixties.com).

®

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Y alley, K enfro V 5-26 R April 2 7 Zeleski, OH -1 I May 16 1 Wabeno, W -3 on May 30 1 Mill Hall, PA ers Associati -3 Rid May 30 Midwest Trail -7 June 6 Custer, MI R -7 June 6 Hood River, O -7 June 6 Loudon, NH -7 June 6 5 Gaylord, MI Y -2 July 19 -9 Hancock, N KY iz, t8 Augus er 12-13 Cad itsville, OH b tra Septem er 5-6 New S rd, OR b fo Septem er 19-20 Med , IL b ing Septem er 19-20 Sterl bus, IN b m Septem er 26-27 Colu nd, CA b vela Septem er 26-27 Gro o, WI b en Septem er 26-27 Wab , OH b an Septem er 26-27 Log Falls, MI b ne Septem er 26-27 Boy A b ,V Septem 3-4 Mt. Solon OH ur, er Octob 17-18 McArth L er Octob 24-25 Delta, A Z ,A er Octob 24-25 Payson e, TX utt er Octob 24-25 Study B beth, NJ liza er Octob Nov. 1 Port E J ,N Oct. 31 r 7-8 Jenkins geles, CA be An Novem r 27-28 Los be Novem

, ETAILS ORE D FOR M HE VISIT T SECTION RIDINGERICAN OM OF AMRCYCLIST.C O T O M

BOOK REVIEW: The American Motorcycle Girls A Look Back, With Lots Of Pictures WHAT IT IS: The American Motorcycle Girls, 1900 to 1950, A Photographic History of Early Women Motorcyclists, by Cristine Sommer Simmons, is a lavishly PSS\Z[YH[LK WHNL IVVR [OH[ JOYVUPJSLZ how the perceptions and realities of ^VTLU YPKLYZ JOHUNLK PU [OL Ă&#x201E; YZ[ OHSM VM [OL [O JLU[\Y` WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COOL: Pictures, pictures, WPJ[\YLZ -YVT WOV[VZ VM [OL LHYSPLZ[ [YHJR YHJLYZ SPRL 4HYNHYL[ .HZ[ [V ZRPY[LK women riding side-saddle to preserve their modesty, to vintage ads aimed at women from teens onward, to World

Dunlopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Newest Sport Rubber New Q2 Aimed At Sportbikes WHAT IT IS: Dunlopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sportmax Q2 is the newest iteration of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highly Z\JJLZZM\S 8\HSPĂ&#x201E; LY THE TECH INSIDE IT: A multi-compound tread sports high-mileage rubber in the middle, and grippier rubber on the edges, for a real-world blend of long life and OPNO WLYMVYTHUJL ( ZSPNO[S` [HSSLY TVYL HNNYLZZP]L WYVĂ&#x201E; SL [OHU [OL 8\HSPĂ&#x201E; LY [OL Q2 offers enhanced steering response HUK JVYULYPUN Z[HIPSP[`

0 to 120Âş In 4 Seconds!

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>HY 0 KPZWH[JO YPKLYZ [V ¸4PSL H 4PU\[Lš girl Alice Brady to Dot Robinson, Bessie :[YPUNĂ&#x201E; LSK HUK TVYL [OPZ PZ VUL IVVR `V\ÂťSS [HRL WSLU[` VM [PTL [V WHNL [OYV\NO REVELATION: 4HU` [LUK [V [OPUR VM women motorcyclists as a relatively recent phenomenon, but this book proves that for nearly as long as there have been motorcycles, there have been women YPKPUN [OLT >OH[ÂťZ JOHUNPUN UV^ VM course, is that women riders are no longer H UV]LS[` @L[ SVVRPUN IHJR Z\YL PZ M\U GET IT: At your local bookstore, or (THaVU JVT 4:97!

Check Your Battery’s Vital Signs Battery Bug Tells You Before Your Battery Dies WHAT IT IS: The $60 Battery Bug is a smart voltage monitor that uses the voltage drop your battery experiences during starting as an indicator of battery health. An alarm chirps when health drops below a certain level to remind you to replace the battery.

HOW IT INSTALLS: Mount the 2-inchsquare unit somewhere you can see it easily, snake the 6-foot wire back to your battery, coil up and secure the extra length and connect the two terminals directly to your battery.

HOW IT WORKS: We tried the unit on a couple of bikes. On a 2-week-old fully charged battery, it indicated 100 percent cranking power; on a 3-year-old battery that had been fully discharged at least once, the Battery Bug read 35 percent life. It’s all visible on an easy-to-read screen.

BONUS: Since it also serves as a voltmeter, it’s easy to see if your charging system is working correctly.

VERDICT: As a general indicator of battery health, the Battery Bug does the job. And we like the fact that although it’s designed to be mounted on a single bike and left there, the unit could also work for periodic checks on multiple motorcycles.

Touring doesn’t have to be expensive, and the combination of a strong U.S.-Canadian dollar relationship and budget-friendly hostel touring in Canada’s Gaspe Peninsula can get you incredible sights on the cheap, from rock spires to quaint villages, to impromptu driftwood art to lighthouses, lighthouses and more lighthouses.

Hostel Territory Touring Canada’s Gaspe Peninsula On The Cheap—With Great Results By Tyler Yandow If you live in Vermont and don’t spend a lot of time skiing during the winter, the colder months can last forever. Because motorcycle travel is one of my passions, I use the time to plan trips for the summer.

This year, I worked up the idea for a camping tour around the Great Lakes.

I had never combined motorcycle travel with camping before, so I made a dry run in May to the Down East Rally of the BMW Motorcycle Riders of Southern Maine.

The weather forecast was iffy, but I saw this as a plus if I was serious about doing the Great Lakes loop, where I’d no doubt see some spotty conditions. Saturday was good, but Sunday morning arrived with steady rain. Packing up in the rain was a thankless exercise, with everything becoming soaked beyond belief.

I could only imagine having to use this soggy shelter the next day, had I been traveling to another destination, so even before I got home I was thinking about

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altering my summer tour plan. When a friend later suggested staying in hostels, that made perfect sense—a cost-effective way to travel and meet people along the way, complete with a clean bed, bathroom and usually an adequately appointed kitchen. What more did I need?

When I discovered through the Hostelling International website that there were far more hostels in Maine and the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec, Canada, I changed my route plans. I found a series of hostels that were about a day’s ride apart, and in June, my Suzuki V-Strom 650 and I were off.

4` ÄYZ[ Z[VW ^HZ PU )L[OLS 4HPUL I arrived late in the afternoon and was greeted by a large “HI” sign, making this HU LHZ` WSHJL [V ÄUK ;OL OVZ[LS P[ZLSM was quite basic, without much character, but clean and tidy. The next day I was off [V -YLKLYPJ[VU 5L^ )Y\UZ^PJR T` ÄYZ[ stop in Canada. I crossed the border in

Calais, riding over the St. Croix River to St. Stephen, Canada. My destination, Fredericton, was a real city. Finding the hostel there took more than an hour.

I awoke to rain for my next leg to Cambellton, and I rode through walls of water all day, arriving soaked despite my “waterproof” liners. Luckily, the hostel, located in a lighthouse on the south bank of the Riviere Patapedia within sight of the suspension bridge leading north to the province of Quebec, was worth it.

The next day’s ride, along the shoreline of the St. Lawrence River, was spectacular, and the hostel at the end in Ste. Anne des Monts, situated on a beach along the shoreline, was even better,. The hostel was a series of eclectic buildings ranging from a simple dormitory to a teepee.

The following day I explored the Parc National de la Gaspesie, located just south of Ste Anne des Monts—an ideal playground for dual-sport enthusiasts.

It had a sense of remoteness that left me feeling like I could have been on another continent. With the exception of an occasional vehicle passing by, the only sounds were the birds and the wind whistling through the trees. The quiet was mesmerizing.

Then I was off to Riviere du Loup, another town on the north coast of the peninsula, and my lunch at a picnic table next to a lighthouse near Rimouski, was perfect. The hostel was a charming Victorian house near the center of Riviere du Loup. The staff of approximately half a dozen young people was multilingual, and at one point during the meal there were three languages being spoken at once.

Photo Tyler: Lee Krohn

The Life | Connections

After dinner I was treated to roasting marshmallows V]LY HU VWLU Ä YL HUK [YHKLK travel stories with a charming Australian woman who, besides myself, was the only one there who didn’t speak French.

I had scheduled stops in Trois-Rivieres and Ottawa, but I had lost any desire to be in an urban environment after experiencing the natural beauty of the Gaspe Peninsula. So I headed for Newport, Vt., before venturing further west to Cape Vincent, N.Y., a stop my friend Anita had said was a must. She was right.

The hostel in Cape Vincent was great, with accommodations in the keeper’s house only a few feet from the Cape =PUJLU[ SPNO[OV\ZL 4` ZLJVUK Å VVY dormitory room, which I had to myself, had an unobstructed view of the St. Lawrence River, all for the unheard-of price of $17. Maria, the hostel director, could not have been more welcoming and even offered to let me keep the motorcycle safe and secure in the vacant lighhouse garage overnight.

After making two more stops to visit family, I rolled into the driveway after 12 days on the road and more than 2,600 miles.

I don’t know what’s next, but I’ll have to up the ante to top this trip.

Ask The Motorcycle Safety Foundation What A Motorcyclist Should Know About Riding A Scooter YOU ASK: I’ve been riding motorcycles for more than two decades, and I’ve taken a few MSF courses over the years. In addition to my bikes, I recently bought a 50cc scooter for running small errands and saving gas, and I realize that it’s a different animal. Since I’m going from a motorcycle to a scooter, are there any key things to keep in mind from a riding safety standpoint?

THE MSF RESPONDS: Congratulations for adding a thrifty ZJVV[LY [V `V\Y [^V ^OLLS Å LL[ The additional advice we offer scooter riders beyond what we recommend for standard motorcycles is based on a scooter’s lighter weight, smaller size and drivetrain, especially for scooters 200cc and below.

Lighter weight, combined with smaller tires and a shorter wheelbase, mean the scooter will react more quickly to your steering inputs. Lighter weight also makes the scooter more susceptible to the effects of side winds. Smaller tires will react more harshly to potholes and other road surface irregularities. Practice your maneuvering skills frequently,

particularly swerving and quick stops, in a safe area. ;OL UHYYV^LY WYVÄ SL VM [OL ZJVV[LY may make it harder for other motorists to detect you—the best defense is to wear a brightly colored helmet and jacket, assume you are invisible, and leave plenty of time and space to respond to problems. For navigating among city [YHMÄ J [OL 4:- :,, Z[YH[LN`·ZLHYJO evaluate, execute—works equally well for any type of two-wheel vehicle.

A scooter’s automatic transmission may also take some getting used to, as it will react to throttle input quite differently than a motorcycle with manual transmission and clutch.

There will be some throttle “lag.”

The Life | Connections

AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAMER Doing The Triple Hall of Famer Steve Wise Has Won MX, SX And Road-Racing Nationals AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Steve Wise has earned a singular distinction: He is the only rider in history to win Nationals in AMA motocross, AMA Supercross and AMA Superbike, cementing his place as one of the most multi-talented riders ever.

The Texan further proved his all-around talent by rounding out the podium with H [OPYK WSHJL Ä UPZO H[ HU (4( .YHUK National Championship race.

In the early 1980s, Wise twice won the popular ABC Wide World of Sports Superbikers competition, an event that featured the top motorcycle racers in the world from all disciplines. ABC’s Superbikers was a predecessor to :\WLYTV[V ^OPJO Å V\YPZOLK PU ,\YVWL and later attained AMA national status in 2003. Wise’s versatility helped him earn the prestigious AMA Pro Athlete of the

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Year Award in 1982. .HY` :[L]LU >PZL ^HZ IVYU PU 4J(SSLU Texas, on June 2, 1957. Steve’s father was an avid motorcycle enthusiast and took young Steve to local races from an early age. In the late 1960s, Wise was a ZWLJ[H[VY H[ VUL VM [OL Ä YZ[ TV[VJYVZZ races in America, held in Conroe, Texas.

“I remember as a young kid sitting by [OPZ Q\TW HUK ^H[JOPUN :`S]HU .LIVLYZ HUK 1VOU +L:V[V Å `PUN V]LY [OPZ Q\TW 0 was thrilled,” Wise recalled.

When his father bought Steve a Honda SL90, he began tearing up the hills surrounding McAllen, and he only PTWYV]LK MYVT [OLYL >PZL [VVR OPZ Ä YZ[ AMA National victory aboard a Jim Straittuned Honda CR125 in Keysers Ridge, 4K PU ·^OLYL OL ILJHTL [OL Ä YZ[ privateer to win an AMA 125 National motocross race.

Honda signed him to a factory ride in 1978. He would remain with Honda the rest of his racing career.

Wise won the 1979 New Orleans Supercross on his birthday, edging out Jimmy “Jammin’ Jimmy” Weinert in the main to take an emotional victory. With Honda, Wise earned his highest national motocross ranking of third in the AMA 250 National Motocross Championship in 1980, winning the RedBud 250cc National in Buchanan, Mich., along the way.

Ultimately, Wise proved to be a

leading contender in both motocross and Supercross, but injury and untimely bike failures kept him from winning the national title he coveted.

Wise made a spectacular road-racing debut in 1981. He led the AMA Formula One point standings for most of the season and was nipped by veteran Mike Baldwin by just three points for the championship.

0U >PZL OHK X\HSPÄ LK MVY [OL Houston TT in the Astrodome in his Ä YZ[ L]LY HWWLHYHUJL PU HU (4( .YHUK 5H[PVUHS +PY[ ;YHJR YHJL 3H[L PU [OL Ä UHS Wise worked all the way up from the back VM [OL Ä LSK [V [OL [HPSWPWL VM SLHKLY 9PJR` .YHOHT ;OLU OPZ YLHY IYHRL YVK IYVRL MVYJPUN OPT IHJR [V [OPYK H[ [OL Ä UPZO In 1983, Wise would earn a permanent place in American motorcycle racing lore by winning the Mid-Ohio round of the AMA Superbike Series. He became the only motocross National winner to cross over to roadracing and win a National. ,HYSPLY [OH[ ZLHZVU >PZL LHYULK H WVKP\T Ä UPZO PU [OL +H`[VUH /PZ M\[\YL PU roadracing looked bright.

Just when things seemed to be gelling for Wise in 1983, he was injured in a roadracing crash and subsequently decided to retire from racing.

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Left: Mike Avila rails on the half-mile. Above (clockwise from top): Randy Blackwell on the Magic Mile, Youth Rider of the Year Jeffery Lowery, Fast Brain Award winner Davis Fisher.

Michael Avila Races To The Horizon California Rider Emerges As Top Prospect At AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships by Chelsea Daniels other on half-mile, Mile, shortOne thing is certain about the track and TT courses.

AMA Racing Dirt Track Horizon â&#x20AC;&#x153;I struggled a lot at the Award, which is presented each beginning on the Mile, but toward year to the amateur dirt-tracker the middle of the week, on the poised for excellence at the pro short-track, it came together,â&#x20AC;? level: You never know how the said Avila, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backed by coveted honor is going to be Southland Racing Products, decided.

Sometimes the award, won at Micah Racing, AGV and Troy Lee Designs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I talked to some the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships every summer, people, took their advice, and is claimed with a dominant calmed down and had fun. It was Michael Avila my and my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream to win performance. In other years, the competition goes down to the wire. Twice [OPZ [OPUN ZV P[ÂťZ NYLH[ [V Ă&#x201E;UHSS` NL[ P[ š With the 2009 AMA Racing Dirt Track since the awardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1997 inception, the Horizon Award, Avila has joined an elite battle was too close to call, and two riders walked away with the honor. group of dirt-track racers. Past winners This year, it looked like it was going to include Nick Cummings, Jared Mees, IL HUV[OLY [V\NO JHSS \U[PS [OL Ă&#x201E;UHS OHSM Bryan Smith, Roger Lee Hayden and Nicky Hayden. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winner and current mile in Du Quoin, Ill., when Madera, Calif.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pro-sport racer Brad Baker was on hand Michael Avila dominated. His three wins that afternoon sealed up three titles, giving to present Avila with the award. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not only did Mike win three class OPT [OL 5V WSH[L PU [OL JJ 4VKPĂ&#x201E;LK grand championships, but he was the 4-Stroke, 251cc-500cc DTX and the 450cc 4VKPĂ&#x201E;LK JSHZZLZ only contender to make all of his mains,â&#x20AC;?

Avila came out on top in a week of said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. competition that pitted the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that type of consistency that wins titles. This young racer also has a stellar amateur dirt-track racers against each

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AmericanMotorcyclist.com

reputation in the pits. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just fast, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good kid and a good sport.â&#x20AC;?

Other special awards presented at the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships included the AMA Racing Youth Rider of the Year Award, the Fast Brain Award and the Vet Award.

It was close in the youth ranks, with the award being decided by a tie-breaker in the 85cc Mod (7-11) class where St. Louisville, Ohioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jeffery Lowery edged V\[ (UKYL^ 3\RLY I` OH]PUN [OL ILZ[ Ă&#x201E;UPZO in the pairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last race. In the July 3 TT, 3V^LY` Ă&#x201E;UPZOLK ZLJVUK [V 6^LUZIVYV 2` ÂťZ 5PJR 4J-HKKLU 3\RLY Ă&#x201E;UPZOLK Ă&#x201E;M[O â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel very good,â&#x20AC;? Lowery said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just so happy to be here. I never thought, not once, that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d win this.â&#x20AC;?

The Fast Brain Award was won by Warren, Ore.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Davis Fisher. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;fastâ&#x20AC;? part was handled by Fisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s championship in the 85cc DTX (9-13) class and a third overall in 85cc Mod (7-11). The â&#x20AC;&#x153;brainâ&#x20AC;? was credited to Fisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s school year-end grades, the worst of which was an A-. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I get below a B, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to race!â&#x20AC;?

Fisher said.

Longtime AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championship competitor Randy Blackwell brought home the Vet Award this year. Not only did Blackwell win the Super :LUPVY JSHZZ I\[ OL Ă&#x201E;UPZOLK [OPYK in the Senior (40+) class and performed a ZVSPK Ă&#x201E;M[O PU =PU[HNL 7YL :PUNSLZ For full results and photos, see â&#x20AC;&#x153;News & Eventsâ&#x20AC;? at AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Photos Jim Grant

The Life | Adrenaline

The Life | Adrenaline

Making The Scene Josh Grant Takes RedBud, But Reed Still Rules Points Chase

Win A Championship, Go To Vegas

Photos Vegas: Las Vegas News Bureau/LVCVA; Grant: Jeff Kardas

AMA Champs Will Throw Down At Hard Rock This December At the end of each racing season, the best amateur racers in the country are honored at the AMA Racing Champions Banquet. This Dec. 4, these standout AMA members will receive the well-earned respect of their peers, family, friends and fans at one of the event’s coolest locations ever, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.

Held on the eve of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame 2009 Induction Ceremony, also scheduled for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the event will provide a special opportunity for racers and fans to not only celebrate the accomplishments of racing’s present, but witness the elevation of individuals from all of motorcycling’s past.

“Amateur racing is a big part of both our heritage and our future, and we’re excited about giving our racers the recognition they’ve earned,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “Whether you race motocross, in the woods, the desert, on a dirt oval or asphalt, you most likely are chasing an AMA National No. 1 plate or a national championship. The AMA Racing Champions Banquet will honor those who achieved that goal during the 2009 season.

“We’re particularly thrilled about this year’s celebration, which leads us into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame 2009 Induction Ceremony,” Dingman continued. ¸;VKH`»Z JOHTWPVUZ ^PSS NL[ H ÄYZ[ OHUK look at what a career of dedication and effort can bring: a place in the revered AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.”

Racers who will be recognized at the AMA Racing Champions Banquet include those who’ve won AMA national championships by coming out on top in a season-long AMA Racing National

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship tour has been a showcase for parity this summer, and the traditional Fourth of July stop at RedBud was no L_JLW[PVU WYVK\JPUN HUV[OLY ÄYZ[ [PTL winner.

JGR/Toyota Yamaha’s Josh Grant RPJRLK VMM OPZ ÄYZ[ V]LYHSS WYLTPLY JSHZZ ^PU ^P[O H Z[LSSHY YPKL PU [OL ÄYZ[ TV[V VM the 450cc class, starting just inside the top 10 and working his way into the top three before the third lap.

Up front, Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short and Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed were dicing for the lead, but it wasn’t long before Grant reeled them in. Grant passed Short for second with only two laps to go, but couldn’t completely close the gap on Reed by the JOLJRLYLK ÅHN

Grant clearly carried his speed into the second moto, taking third from Reed on Lap 1, then catching Honda teammates Short and Ivan Tedesco over the next few SHWZ .YHU[ [OLU NHWWLK [OL ÄLSK HUK ^VU with a commanding lead.

Reed holds the premier class points lead with 240 to Short’s 219. Tedesco is 19 more points back in third.

In the 250cc class, coming off of his ÄYZ[ L]LY V\[KVVY ]PJ[VY` PU *VSVYHKV VUS` a week ago, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer took the overall with a 2-4 moto score over his teammate Christophe Pourcel, who logged an 8-1 on the day. Muscle Milk KTM’s Tommy Searle ÄUPZOLK [OPYK ^P[O H In the 250cc class points race, Pourcel leads with 255 to Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey with 246.

Josh Grant has shown he can run with Chad Reed outdoors this season.

Championship Series, such as the AMA/ Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series, or by winning their class at AMA Racing Amateur Championship events, such as the AMA/Air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships.

Competitors who’ve earned AMA National No. 1 plates will also receive their personalized hardware at the banquet.

Information about buying tickets to attend the 2009 AMA Racing Champions Banquet will be announced shortly.

Heats Quicker, Cools Faster!

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The Life | Adrenaline

Final Riders Come Together For Team USA Assault On ISDE

Nathan Redmann leads the Extreme class on the back of two wins.

Fastest To The Top Redmann And Libhart In Hillclimb >P[O [^V YV\UKZ VM [OL ZL]LU YV\UK season in the books, the AMA Pro Hillclimb Championship has seen a twotime winner in the Extreme class, while tighter competition in the Unlimited class has just 1 point between the top two riders.

Nathan Redmann has put his Dr. Bob’s Racing Yamaha on top of the box [^PJL PU ,_[YLTL HOLHK VM ;P]LY[VU R.I.’s Ryan Thibault and Muskegon, 4PJO »Z 4H[[ 3\UH ^OV OH]L MVSSV^LK Redmann up the hill twice, in that order,

this season.

In Unlimited, Phil Libhart, riding a ]PU[HNL ;YP\TWO OHZ Z^HWWLK ^PUZ with Rumney, N.H.’s Shawn Farnsworth. /V^L]LY -HYUZ^VY[O»Z ÄYZ[ YV\UK [O WSHJL ÄUPZO OHZ OPT KV^U PU [OL WVPU[Z race. Libhart leads the early competition for the No. 1 plate, with Thibault 1 point back and Niles, Mich.’s Alex Benner 5 more points back in third.

In the Pro Sport class, Bryan Rusnak won twice aboard his Kawasaki and holds the points lead.

The challenge is clear, the plan is in place, and the rosters are set for Team USA to take on the world at the 2009 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Figueria da Foz, Portugal, Oct. 12-17.

6U [OL ;YVWO` [LHT ÄYZ[ HUUV\UJLK PU March, Johnny Campbell Racing’s Timmy Weigand will replace the injured Nathan Woods, while Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Damon Huffman will replace an injured Jimmy Jarrett. The Trophy Team also includes Destry Abbott, Kurt Caselli, Ricky Dietrich and Nathan Kanney.

3LK I` Ä]L [PTL 0:+, ]L[LYHU +H]PK Kamo, the U.S. Junior Trophy Team also will include defending AMA National Enduro Champion Russell Bobbitt, Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) racer Cory Buttrick and World Off-Road Championship Series rider Jamie Lanza.

“Russell is super fast in the woods, 1HTPL ^PSS UL]LY NP]L \W HUK *VY` HZ well as he’s going in the GNCCs this year, OL KLZLY]LZ [V IL [OLYL /VULZ[S` 0 OVWL those guys ride so well that I’m our dropout rider,” said Kamo, who’s leading the points for the 2009 AMA Racing National Hare & Hound Championship. ;OL < : >VTLU»Z ;YVWO` ;LHT ÄUPZOLK second in Greece last year to the French team, a year after winning the Women’s World Cup in Chile. The team will include ]L[LYHUZ 4HYPH -VYZILYN 4HUKP 4HZ[PU and Lacy Jones.

“This will be the eighth ISDE that I OH]L JVTWL[LK PU HUK [OL [OPYK ZPUJL the Women’s World Team was created,” Mastin said. “I look forward to going to Portugal healthy and ready to bring home the trophy again this year.”

Dozens of club team riders will also represent the U.S. at the 2009 ISDE. They PUJS\KL! ;VI` ([RPUZ +H]PK )VV[O 1VYKHU Brandt, Joel Burkett, Billy Burns, Nick Fahringer, Jeff Fredette, Don Grahn, Nick Hamill, Fred Hoess, Zach Lipana, Brent Martell, Garrett Mayer, Shawn O’Leary, Ryan Powell, Ben Smith, Brian Sperle, 9VY` :\SSP]HU ;YV` :^L[[LUHT 3HYZ =HSPU and Chilly White.

Mandi Mastin wants her Trophy back.

Photos Redmann: Jeff Whitehead

Weigand, Huffman Join Trophy Team; Junior, Women’s Teams Set

Mike Lafferty isn’t letting Bobbitt get away.

Served Hot, No Waiting!

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Off-Road Round Up

Photos Lafferty: Mark Kariya; Smage: Bill Ibsen

WORCS, GNCCs, Trials And The AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Mike Lafferty is closing Bonds, Brown Battle In the points gap on his Shock WORCS Doctor/KTM teammate With half the season in and primary rival for the the books, the title race championship, Russell in the World Off-Road Bobbitt. The eight-time Championship Series champ won Rounds 7 and 8 (WORCS) is tight. Yamahaof the AMA/Rekluse National mounted Bobby Bonds won Enduro Championship the sixth round in Toutle, Series in Cascade, Mont., Wash., with a last-lap pass Paul Whibley: GNCC points leader. and Blain, Pa. The wins, on KTM’s Mike Brown for the Lafferty’s third and fourth of the season, win. The win put Bonds just 1 point behind cut Bobbitt’s lead to 1 point, 212 to 211.

Brown in the championship hunt.

“Rocky, slippery and hard,” was It looked like Brown was going to get Lafferty’s assessment of the Pennsylvania away easy, after pulling the holeshot and course. “I knew it would be tough, but I NHWWPUN [OL ÄLSK LHYS` I\[ H JYHZO ZSV^LK ^HZU»[ L_WLJ[PUN P[ [V IL HZ KPMÄJ\S[ HZ P[ down the former AMA 125cc National was. You had to be on your game today.

Motocross Champion. Brown dropped to 4HU` YPKLYZ ^LU[ KV^U OHYK PU [OL ÄYZ[ fourth, but he was able to pass his way to section, as some rocks were planted and back out front by the mid-way point of the others just moved out from under you.” two-hour race. Although Brown appeared Lafferty won every special test of the to have it locked up, another crash by the day in Blain.

KTM rider on the last lap handed the lead “This win is special to me because I to Bonds. consider this round a hometown race for In the AMA Western Hare Scrambles me, and I had many family members come Series, which also held a round at this out and support me,” said Lafferty, whose WORCS event, brothers Jack and Rich also raced.

Timmy Weigand The next round of the 10-round series continues to will roll through Marquette, Mich., where hold the points Lafferty will continue his run at a record lead with 66, 4 ninth AMA National Enduro Championship. points ahead of Lafferty’s eight titles currently tie him Kyle Summers. with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Dick Brenden Ritzman Burleson, who dominated the series from is third with 49 1974 through 1981. points.

Knight’s Back In GNCCs He may be too late to have a chance at reclaiming his No. 1 plate for next year, but defending Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Champion David Knight has plenty of time to reclaim the limelight.

The Isle of Man native returned to the series at the Snowshoe, W.Va., round on a Kawasaki to take a dominant win over JG Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Paul Whibley. ¸;OL ÄYZ[ [OPUN PZ [V OH]L M\U VU [OL IPRL again,” Knight said.

Knight battled with FMF Makita Suzuki’s Josh Strang for most of the race, until :[YHUN JYHZOLK PU[V H KLLY VU [OL ÄM[O SHW In the point standings, Whibley leads with 214 to Strang’s 201. Strang’s teammate Charlie Mullins is 4 more points back in third.

Smage Is Masterful In Tennessee After the relatively easy season kickoff, Rounds 3 and 4 of the AMA/NATC Observed Trials National Championship :LYPLZ HTWLK \W [OL KPMÄJ\S[` SL]LS [V The Trials Training Center in Sequatchie, Tenn., got some rain to go with its rocky terrain, making for some incredibly slick surfaces at the two-day event.

The conditions couldn’t stop two-time defending national champion Patrick Smage, however. Smage excelled in the slippery terrain, massive walls and giant gaps, turning in one of the best performances of his career.

Riding a Dunlop-shod Sherco 2.9, :THNL KYVWWLK Q\Z[ WVPU[Z VU [OL ÄYZ[ day in his eight shootout rides, compared [V WVPU[Z MVY ZLJVUK WSHJL ÄUPZOLY Cody Webb.

On Sunday, Smage kept dominating, ÄUPZOPUN [OL TVYUPUN»Z SHWZ ^P[O H [V[HS VM 26 points compared to 40 for Webb and 42 for Will Ibsen.

Smage banked Patrick Smage was amazing in Tennessee. his fourth-straight win of the series and stretched his championship points lead over Webb to 20, 120 to Webb’s 100.— Shan Moore

September 2009

35

First The Trophy, Then The Bike Arlen Ness Stunner Reversed The Usual Timeline

Photos Open Image Studio

In 1977, custom bike builder Arlen Ness ^HZ VU [OL YVHK [V NYLH[ULZZ I` Ă&#x201E;UKPUN his inspiration in unique placesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and this bike is a prime example of how a small connection can spark a show-stopper.

5LZZ OHK Q\Z[ ^VU H Ă&#x201E;YZ[ WSHJL [YVWO` in Daytona for a wild, two-engine custom called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Two Bad.â&#x20AC;? The award, presented personally by Harley-Davidson design guru Willie G. Davidson, was a Cartier-made ZPS]LY TVKLS VM [OL Ă&#x201E;YZ[ /HYSL` Davidson.

The impressive trophy stuck in Nessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mind. In fact, that award inspired him to build an antique-looking modern custom

36

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

the following year that he dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ness-tique.â&#x20AC;?

Ness aimed for something light and KPMMLYLU[ I\PSKPUN [OPZ IPRL HYV\UK H JJ Sportster motor. He made a frame out of 5/8-inch chrome-moly tubing, with the pullback bars rising barely above the gas tank.

He also gave it a light springer front end and stretched it out. Parts were cut to continue the light theme. For example, [OL Ă&#x201E;UZ MYVT [OL IV[[VT VM [OL IHYYLSZ HUK the kicker cover were rimmed. Plus, Danny Gray made as small a seat as possible.

The gas tank features paint and graphics

by George Waters, and the 21-inch wheels, front and rear, were engraved and anodized to complete the elegant look.

About a year after presenting the designer with the award that led to the creation of Ness-tique, Willie G. walked V\[ VM [OL 6SK 5V :HSVVU PU +LHK^VVK S.D., with Ness and sat on the bike that his trophy had inspired.

5LZZ [PX\L PZ Q\Z[ VUL VM ZPNUPĂ&#x201E;JHU[ Ness creations on display in an exhibit called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Awesome-Nessâ&#x20AC;? in the Hall of Legends gallery at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum at AMA headquarters in Pickerington, Ohio.

Heritage features the machines and people of the AMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. ;OL 4\ZL\T PZ H J UVU WYVĂ&#x201E;[ JVYWVYH[PVU [OH[ YLJLP]LZ Z\WWVY[ MYVT [OL (4( HUK MYVT TV[VYJ`JSPUN LU[O\ZPHZ[Z For info and directions, visit MotorcycleMuseum.org, or call (614) 856-2222.

Heritage

September 2009

37

R

R R E E K R K C R E C O L E RRO RROOLLL && s.

rcycle o t o rM

s Fo e v i L t ar eil Pe l Guy. N r e u m Drum Thoughtf h s u , Ed.D arlyle R ly s n b i i k d t e A C r ard J. hy by Holly ne Inc h c i O R o y s p l B otogra He’s A h P e r Featu

Neil Peart has clocked almost 300,000 miles on two wheels. And he still rides relentlessly.

Touring with the monumental group Rush, he’s spent his nights behind the drum kit, driving the complex beats of “Tom Sawyer,” “Sprirt of Radio,” “Fly By Night”—and delivering some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most iconic drum solos. He may even be, as some magazines have dubbed him, the world’s greatest living rock drummer.

But during those tour days, he’s on his motorcycle, riding between shows, Peart has covered 45,000 miles on two wheels in the past two years alone, traveling coast to coast, through Canada and Europe. And that’s only the start of a passion for motorcycles that has seen him chronicle some of his adventures in two books. Roadshow details his 2004 concert tour and the motorcycle journeys entertwined with it, while the more introspective Ghost Rider chronicles a wandering, 55,000-mile trip around North America for 14 months looking for a “way back to life” after family tragedies.

Of course, there is also his professional résumé, which could be the subject of endless KPZJ\ZZPVU 7LHY[ PZ HU VMÄ JLY VM [OL WYLZ[PNPV\Z 6YKLY VM *HUHKH HUK PZ [OL KY\TTLY HUK lyricist with Rush, responsible for releasing 34 albums and selling more than 40 million units worldwide since 1974. Peart has, in fact, received so many awards from Modern Drummer and Drum! magazines, that he’s ineligible for some of the award categories because he’s swept the readers’ polls too many times.

The real Peart is a true gentleman and a delightfully charming, generous, humble, humorous and erudite character. His life experiences, writing, music and motorcycling adventures are compellingly inspirational. Getting up close and personal is the perfect opportunity to explore his unique perspective on this shared gift of motorcycling.

Peart’s most impressive quality is his dedication to achieving his personal best in every aspect of life. There is a full enthusiasm for living, coupled with a careful consideration of precision in everything he does, and it’s contagious.

By knowing and riding with him, you start to hear yourself say things like, “Make that turn the best turn you could possibly make,” or “Ride that mountain road as though you’ll never ride another!” Whether it’s his lane position while riding, or his dedication to wearing complete riding gear for every ride no matter how short, Neil’s success derives from unyielding discipline. Realistically, how many average riders always wear full safety gear?

Then again, how many average drummers can play “Tom Sawyer”?

Don Argento (marketing director of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum) and I met with Neil to award him an Honorary Life Membership in the American Motorcyclist Association. Part of that get-together included a discussion about riding…

September 2009

39

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^HZ ZV T\JO H[ Z[HRL ^P[O H ZOV^·`V\ RUV^ WLVWSL ^HP[PUN MVY TL [V ZOV^ \W MVY ^VYR·0 KPKU»[ L]LY ^HU[ [V IL PU [OH[ ZP[\H[PVU ZV 0 OH]L ZVTLVUL ^P[O TL 0M 0 OH]L H WYVISLT [OH[ TPNO[ JH\ZL H KLSH` 0»SS OH]L [V [HRL T` YPKPUN WHY[ULY»Z IPRL HUK ZH` ¸:VYY` `V\ KLHS ^P[O [OPZ ¹ ;OV\NO 0»T NSHK [V ZH` [OH[»Z UL]LY OHWWLULK 0 [OPUR V\Y H]LYHNL KH`»Z YPKL PZ HIV\[

TPSLZ HUK VU KH`Z VMM VM[LU T\JO MHY[OLY 0 WPJR [OL TVZ[ PU[LYLZ[PUN SVJH[PVU [OH[ 0 JHU NL[ [V IL[^LLU [OVZL WSHJLZ ^OLYL 0 OH]L [V IL 0»]L VM[LU ZHPK [OH[ L]LY` Z[H[L OHZ NVVK YVHKZ >L NV V\[ HUK ZLHYJO MVY [OLT On His Daily Riding 4V[VYJ`JSPUN PZ H IPN WHY[ VM T` SPML H[ OVTL OLYL PU *HSPMVYUPH 4` IPN 1LZZL JHZLZ LHJO OVSK H M\SS IHN VM NYVJLYPLZ HUK 0 HS^H`Z SLH]L [OLT VU T` IPRL ;OPZ PZ H NVVK PKLH MVY YPKLYZ [V JVUZPKLY·ILJH\ZL [OL` JHU NV NYVJLY` ZOVWWPUN HUK [HRL [OL SVUN ^H` OVTL 0 ZWLUK H SV[ VM [PTL [OLZL KH`Z ^YP[PUN PU MYVU[ VM [OL JVTW\[LY ZV K\YPUN [OL HM[LYUVVU 0 Q\Z[ ^HU[ [V NL[ V\[ VM [OL OV\ZL 0U H JV\WSL VM OV\YZ [PTL 0 JHU OH]L [OL TVZ[ NSVYPV\Z YPKL PU [OL ^VYSK PU [OL :HU[H 4VUPJH 4V\U[HPUZ ISV^ [OL JVI^LIZ V\[ VM T` IYHPU [OLU NV KV T` LYYHUKZ 3HZ[ ^LLR MVY L_HTWSL 0 OHK ZVTL I\ZPULZZ \W PU [OL )H` (YLH HIV\[ TPSLZ H^H` :V 0 YVKL \W VU T` IPRL KPK T` I\ZPULZZ HUK YVKL IHJR [OL UL_[ KH`

0 NV[ H NYLH[ YVHK [YPW V\[ VM [HRPUN JHYL VM I\ZPULZZ 4V[VYJ`JSPUN JHU TP_ ^P[O WYHJ[PJHS SPML PU H SV[ VM ^H`Z SPRL [OH[ PM `V\ [OPUR H SP[[SL IP[ HOLHK 0M `V\ OH]L [V NV IHJR HUK MVY[O [V ^VYR TH`IL [HRL HU L_[YH OHSM OV\Y HUK NV [OL SVUN ^H` 0M `V\Y YV\[L OVTL PZ TPSLZ THRL P[ H TPSL NYLH[ YPKL 0 SLHYULK [OH[ MYVT T` MYPLUK )Y\[\Z `LHYZ HNV ^OLU ^L OHK [V YPKL HJYVZZ 6U[HYPV MYVT 8\LILJ [V ;VYVU[V )Y\[\Z THWWLK ZVTL YPKPJ\SV\ZS` JVTWSPJH[LK YV\[L VU HSS [OL SP[[SL JV\U[` YVHKZ HUK ^OLU ^L NV[ [OLYL 0 ZHPK ¸>V^ ;OH[ [VVR UPUL OV\YZ ¹ /L ZHPK ¸@LHO ^V\SK `V\ YH[OLY OH]L M\U MVY UPUL OV\YZ VY IL IVYLK MVY ZP_&¹ 0[ ^HZ H ]LY` NVVK HUK VI]PV\Z SLZZVU On Balancing The Physical And Mental Demands Of Performing At Night, Then Getting Out And Riding The Next Day ;OL` HYL H NVVK JV\U[LYWVPU[ [V LHJO V[OLY +Y\TTPUN YLX\PYLZ [OYLL OV\YZ VM WLYMVYTPUN H[ [OL SPTP[ VM T` WO`ZPJHS HUK TLU[HS JHWHIPSP[PLZ HUK TV[VYJ`JSPUN PZ ]LY` KLTHUKPUN WO`ZPJHSS` HUK LZWLJPHSS` TLU[HSS` ;OL JVUJLU[YH[PVU ULJLZZHY` [V KV P[ JVYYLJ[S` ZHMLS` SPML WYLZLY]PUNS` PZ LUVYTV\Z 0[ MLLSZ SPRL [OL ]PIYH[PVU VM YPKPUN HJ[\HSS` SVVZLUZ \W T` ZVYL T\ZJSLZ ZV P[»Z [OLYHWL\[PJ PU [OH[ ^H` HUK HM[LY ZV THU` `LHYZ VM JVUJLY[ [V\YZ ^OPJO JHU IL [LKPV\Z TV[VYJ`JSPUN RLLWZ TL L_JP[LK HUK JOHSSLUNLK :VTL WLVWSL [OPUR 0»T H SP[[SL U\[Z [V RLLW \W Z\JO H WHJL L]LY` KH`·SPRL T` ^PML·I\[ P[ ZLLTZ ^VY[O P[ H MHPY L_JOHUNL 0M T` KH` JHU IL L_JLSSLU[ PU YL[\YU MVY H SP[[SL TVYL L_LY[PVU [OLU [OH[ PZ H O\NLS` ^VY[O^OPSL [YHKL MVY TL 0 ^PSS NSHKS` ZHJYPÄJL H SP[[SL ZSLLW MVY H OVWLK MVY HK]LU[\YL 4` KH` WLHRZ H[ H[ UPNO[ HUK P[ [HRLZ ZVTL [PTL [V ^PUK KV^U 0»T UV[ HZSLLW \U[PS H T I\[ 0 ^HU[ [V TH_PTPaL [OL UL_[ YPKPUN KH` ^OPJO TLHUZ NL[[PUN \W LHYS` 0»]L SLHYULK [V ZX\LLaL PU SP[[SL UHWZ K\YPUN

[OL ZOV^ KH` /LYL»Z H TV[VYJ`JSPUN HUK KY\TTPUN HUHSVN`·P[ RPSSZ TL TL[HWOVYPJHSS` [V THRL H TPZ[HRL VU Z[HNL 0[»Z [OL ^VYZ[ MLLSPUN LZWLJPHSS` ILJH\ZL P[»Z \Z\HSS` H SVZZ VM JVUJLU[YH[PVU·T` [OV\NO[Z OH]L KYPM[LK ^OLU [OL` ZOV\SKU»[ OH]L 4H`IL 0»]L WSH`LK ZVTL[OPUN SP[LYHSS` H [OV\ZHUK [PTLZ HUK 0»SS ZSPW PU[V [OH[ H\[VWPSV[ NYVV]L :\KKLUS` 0»T HZRPUN T`ZLSM ¸(T 0 WSH`PUN [OL YPNO[ ]LYZL&¹ (Z ZVVU HZ 0 HZR T`ZLSM [OH[ X\LZ[PVU 0»T SVZ[ )\[ [OL JVUZLX\LUJLZ HYL VUS` O\TPSPH[PVU·0 Q\Z[ MLLS SPRL 0»]L THKL H UHRLK MVVS VM T`ZLSM PU MYVU[ VM H SHYNL U\TILY VM WLVWSL 6U [OL YVHK [OL MLHY VM TPZ[HRLZ·HUK [OLPY JVUZLX\LUJLZ·PZ [OL YLHZVU 0»T ZV Z[YPJ[ ^P[O T`ZLSM 0 JVUJLU[YH[L THRL Z\YL 0»T PU [OL ILZ[ WSHJL VU [OL YVHK HUK [Y` [V KV [OL YPNO[ [OPUN HSS [OL [PTL 0 KVU»[ ^HU[ [V IL MYPNO[LULK VY Z\YWYPZLK HUK 0 ISHTL P[ VU T`ZLSM ^OLU 0 HT On The Techniques And Riding Style He’s Working On Now, And Always (UV[OLY ]LY` NVVK HUHSVN` IL[^LLU KY\TTPUN HUK TV[VYJ`JSPUN PZ [OH[ `V\ UL]LY Z[VW SLHYUPUN 0»]L ILLU WSH`PUN KY\TZ MVY `LHYZ `L[ SHZ[ `LHY 0 Z[\KPLK ^P[O H [LHJOLY [V ^VYR VU IPN IHUK KY\TTPUN +\YPUN H JVUJLY[ [V\Y 0 OH]L IYLHR[OYV\NOZ HSS [OL [PTL·IL[[LY JVU[YVS VM [PTL IL[[LY ZTVV[OULZZ PU [YHUZP[PVUZ ;HSR HIV\[ H TL[HWOVY MVY TV[VYJ`JSPZ[Z· ZTVV[OULZZ HUK [YHUZP[PVUZ 6U [OL IPRL 0 ^VYR VU ZTVV[OULZZ HSS [OL [PTL·^P[O L]LY` HZWLJ[ VM IPRL OHUKSPUN 0 MLLS T`ZLSM WYVNYLZZ V]LY [PTL HUK Q\Z[ [OPZ `LHY 0»]L MLS[ HU PTWYV]LTLU[ PU [OL ZLHTSLZZULZZ VM T` \WZOPM[Z MVY L_HTWSL· [OH[ WLYMLJ[ JOHUNL PU WP[JO `V\ OLHY HZ YHJL[YHJR WYVZ JOHUNL NLHYZ :TVV[OULZZ [OYV\NO JVYULYZ JHU NL[ IL[[LY HSS [OL [PTL +LHSPUN ^P[O [YHMÄJ PZ H JVUZ[HU[ Z[\K` :TVV[OULZZ [OYV\NO H JVYULY PZ JVU[YVS

/L»Z ]LY` WYVÄJPLU[·OL»Z NV[ H SV[ VM TPSLZ \UKLY “OPZ ILS[ 0»]L YPKKLU ^P[O OPT VU [V\Y HUK HSZV SVJHSS` HUK OL»Z H [V[HSS` KPMMLYLU[ YPKLY >OLU OL»Z VU [V\Y OL»Z ]LY` JVUZJPV\Z VM·^L»YL HSS ]LY` JVUZJPV\Z VM·[OL ZJOLK\SL 4PJOHLS HUK 0 QVRL! º>L T\Z[ KLSP]LY )YV[OLY 5LPS \U[V [OL ZOV^ \UOHYTLK »

”

Brian Catterson PZ [OL LKP[VY PU JOPLM VM Motorcyclist THNHaPUL HUK YPKLZ Q\Z[ HIV\[ L]LY`[OPUN ZWLUKPUN H SV[ VM [PTL [OLZL KH`Z VU H +\JH[P /`WLYTV[HYK

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thing I learned from Neil is how to “rideAnother long distances. Before I met Neil, I would not have had the guts to load up my Ducati and head from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas and back with my girl on the back. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

”

Chris Stankee is an artist relations manager for Sabian Cymbals and rides a Ducati Multistrada or ’68 Triumph Daytona.

Your smoothness will allow you to cut in a little sharper or go wider around a patch of gravel—you’re equipped, because you’re poised.

That’s what it is, poise in motion. “Poise” doesn’t sound like a kinetic word that would apply to motorcycling and being in motion, but if you feel that way, you’re always ready for any obstacle or unexpected move from someone else.

On Lane Positioning The way I place myself on the road is for visibility—for my visibility, to be able to

see as well as I can—or for my conspicuity, for drivers to see me as soon as they can.

Lawrence Grodsky (1950-2006), formerly with Rider magazine, and 2009 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee David Hough, with the BMW club magazine, have written a lot about safe riding. These people give guidelines for lane position, and in [YHMÄ J P[»Z YLHSS` Q\Z[ ISVJRPUN WLVWSL MYVT taking your territory, and staying visible.

On a two-lane road, I’ll stay close to the middle for the ultimate visibility and the most options. If a deer comes at you, which has happened to me, if you’re in the middle, you

have the most places to go. When there’s VUJVTPUN [YHMÄ J 0 SPRL [V TV]L YPNO[ ZV [OL JHYZ ILOPUK [OL Ä YZ[ VUJVTPUN ]LOPJSL JHU see me. If somebody behind that one pulls out to pass, if you’re in the middle, they won’t see you until it may be too late. But if you’re over to the far right, then they have more chance. I’ve seen it many times: a car coming toward me will ease out, see me, and go back. That’s the ideal situation.

On Riding Smart Another thing I’ve been learning lately is how to think for other people. If you look ahead and see that a lane is ending, and the driver beside you is going to need to move over, or there’s a slow truck ahead in the inside lane and the driver beside you is going to pull out to pass—you have to think, “OK, they don’t know yet what they have to do, but I do.” This is you looking ahead and predicting what others are going to need to do. You can’t predict random idiocy, but in the territory that you “own,” if you see that a car is going to have to cut in front of you, then you move back and protect your space, so they can’t surprise or hurt you.

They can’t cause another problem—yours!

Reading the road is an art form That’s another thing that gives you poise in TV[PVU·UV[ Q\Z[ SVVRPUN HOLHK VM [OL

“WE RIDE AS HARD AS WE CAN WE CAN”

“WE RIDE AS HARD AS WE CAN LONG FOR ASFOR LONGAS AS WE CAN” AS Catching Up With Peart’s Wingman Michael Mosbach is the security director for Rush, and he plans trips and rides with Neil Peart while Rush is on tour.

Author Rich Atkins got his take on their adventures: WHAT IT’S LIKE TO RIDE WITH NEIL PEART EVERY DAY Neil and I have ridden together for nearly 100,000 miles, if not more, and I’ve learned just a plethora: from motorcycle ergonomics to wearing the right gear at the right time. Also, I’ve learned not to be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s not just limited to lane placement, but also road, altitude, conditions, behavior and that sort of thing.

WHAT’S IT LIKE, BEING ON TOUR AND RIDING WITH NEIL? For the most part, we ride as hard as we can for as long as we can. The tour for us is more of a motorcycle tour than it is a concert tour. We try to cover as many back roads of the country as we can, seeing as much as possible, and avoid riding on the same road twice.

A concert, to us, is just stopping so that

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we can make money to pay the bills, and then we continue along on the motorcycle tour. That is spelled out in his book, Roadshow. Neil likes to say that, basically, the concerts are him stopping for gas money.

We like to get as much contrast as is possible during the day, and include some mountain and desert roads, wooded areas, off road, and certainly some back roads.

Maybe once a month, we’ll stay in a nice hotel just so we can catch up on our e-mails and phone calls. A Best Western next to a diner is a treat for us!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT AN AVERAGE DAY’S RIDE? It is very hard work. Even though it’s physically taxing, it’s a great way to think. When you’re riding for six or seven hours, you can think about things that you haven’t thought about for years. Things come to mind that you haven’t thought about since you were very young, or that you wouldn’t think of during a normal day in life.

HOW DO YOU LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER ON THE ROAD? We’ve learned to create a very simple formation that complements each of us safely on the road. It’s a microcosmic circling of the wagons, protecting us from anything that could harm us, whether it’s other vehicles or ourselves.

We ride in the basic tandem, but that HS^H`Z JOHUNLZ IHZLK VU YVHK HUK [YHMÄ J conditions. He’ll stay more to the left, and I’ll stay more to the right to protect our lane, to make sure that people see that there are motorcycles there.

If we’re in the center lane, then it’s the opposite—he goes to the right, and I am to the left, protecting the lane from being rolled in on. Our tandem pattern is relative HUK OPNOS` K`UHTPJ IHZLK VU [YHMÄ J HUK road conditions, as well as weather and speed.

Sometimes, when we’re in a “hot zone” (a place where people know it’s him), I take a half bike length ahead off his right. It’s just a more secure pattern to prevent any possible interactions we don’t want.

bike, but looking as far as you can possibly see, at every inch of pavement as it appears around a corner. I’ve noticed that I’ve become so used to that mode of perception. Even in a car, if the road is J\Y]PUN 0»SS Ä UK T`ZLSM SVVRPUN [OYV\NO [OL side windows at what’s coming up.

This is another perfect drumming analogy.

If I’m playing a verse, if I’m not thinking of the next part, I’m going to be in trouble. It’s the same on the motorcycle. If you’re not thinking far ahead of yourself, things will surprise and upset you. Your concentration gets shaken. When I’m drumming, I’m thinking of the next part always—getting my transition set up, and that next part is being mapped out in my mind already, just like looking through a corner on a road.

If it’s a great backroad in North America, there’s a good chance that Neil Peart has rdden it—or plans to someday.

On Enjoyment Riding is a vehicle of exploration. It’s for a road that I want to explore. I want to see what’s around that corner, what’s over that hill, explore a trail that I haven’t been on before. So, for me, the vehicle is just part of all that.

On tour with the motorcycle, I might cover 800 miles between shows. You know, back roads and beautiful scenery. I go to Monument Valley, Taos, New Mexico, Mount Rushmore, over the Cascades, over the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada, or even the Great Plains—I really like riding through Kansas and Oklahoma on back roads.

Then on the East Coast, you’ve got the Appalachians. All the way from Georgia to Maine, there’s good riding.

Sometimes I want to go see a national park, so that’s an excuse for a beautiful road trip—an adventure. If I’m going out for groceries, the simplest errand, somehow going on the bike is an adventure. I dress for it as if I was going to ride all day, put on all my gear. As soon as I put a leg over that saddle, I am in “motorcycling mode”—100 percent committed and engaged with what I am about to do.

On Mitigating Risk Safe riding gear is something I’m a bit of a missionary about, because I believe in it so much. Armored suit, boots, gloves and full-face helmet—that’s my basic wardrobe on the bike. Fortunately, in my case, it’s not so much from experience, but observation.

One November my friend, Brutus, went around a corner, and he hit a patch of ice and went down, going about 50 mph, sliding down the road on his back. He was wearing full armored gear, and the worst injury he suffered was when the luggage case landed on his foot.

I always liked the old saying that there are two kinds of riders: those who have fallen, and those who are going to fall. One old guy in a magazine interview said, “Look, it goes like this: if you love riding enough, and if you

I think that Neil’s approach to riding, and looking “progressively further ahead, may correlate to the approach he has developed in playing Rush’s music—in the present moment, but keenly aware of what is going on ‘up ahead.’

”

Greg Russell is the owner and creative director of Tandem Digital, and rides a KTM Supermoto 950.

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waiting for the moment when “I’mI keep going to be able to help him pick his

the way I try to ride, and write about riding, so that it will be of value to other riders. In my stories, I try to pass on that knowledge, ^OPJO 0 JHSS ¸YVHKJYHM[ ¹ My No.1 rule of roadcraft is: Don’t let it be my fault. I ride, strategize and negotiate [YHMÄ J ZV [OH[ PM ZVTL[OPUN KVLZ OHWWLU it won’t be my fault. You know those old JHY[VVUZ ^OLYL [OL HUNLS PZ Å VH[PUN \W MYVT the dead guy? Well, I want to be swearing down at the person who did that to me, not Z^LHYPUN H[ T`ZLSM ZH`PUN ¸`V\ PKPV[ ¹

bike up somewhere. It hasn’t happened yet. When you think about a guy that’s ridden half-a-million kilometers, it’s simply amazing that he’s been able to maintain his discipline, attention and survival skills.

”

Brutus rides a BMW GS and builds future roads for him and Neil to ride in Alberta, Canada.

do it enough, chances are you’ll die doing it.

The trick is to put that time off long enough \U[PS `V\ KPL MYVT ZVTL[OPUN LSZL Ä YZ[ ¹ To me it’s simple: I don’t like pain. That might sound self-evident, but to me, it’s the No. 1 evil in the world; the second is fear; and the third is worry. I try to avoid all of those as much as I can—especially pain.

Everyone grants that motorcycling is inherently risky, so when you’re riding, minimize that risk as much as you can by riding smart: using strategy and technique to keep yourself always in poise, in control, in balance, with the machine and with [OL Z\YYV\UKPUN ^VYSK HUK [YHMÄ J 7YV[LJ[ yourself if that sudden thing happens.

On His Favorite Type Of Riding I hardly know where to begin. It’s all a certain state of mind. I love technical riding, mountainous areas, of course. But riding HJYVZZ [OL 7SHPUZ HSVUN H ^PUKPUN YP]LY or over the mountains are all enjoyable.

I like looking at farmland, or feeling that long stream-of-consciousness through the KLZLY[ VY [OL .YLH[ 7SHPUZ 0[ PZ [OL YVHK 0

love. Highways through landscapes are the ultimate attraction for me.

On His Motorcycling Heroes It’s the people who write about motorcycling that I look up to—those who set a good example of the spirit of motorcycling, or teach others strategy and techniques.

4LSPZZH /VSIYVVR 7PLYZVU ^YV[L The Perfect Vehicle: What It is about Motorcycles, which is a great voice for all of \Z VU ^O` ^L SV]L TV[VYJ`JSPUN 7LVWSL SPRL ;LK :PTVU +HUU` 3PZRH HUK 9VILY[ 7PYZPN have contributed to that philosophical level, too.

Journalists like Lawrence Grodsky, who ^YV[L [OL ¸:[H`PU» :HML¹ JVS\TU MVY Rider magazine; Cycle World’s 7L[LY ,NHU·0 really like his writing and attitude toward motorcycling; Clement Salvadori is another one. My friend Brian Catterson, and Bruce Reeve, the former editor at Cycle Canada, a lot of people like that. I’m grateful for their wisdom and knowledge, and that’s the melding of it—being a good example. That’s

On Riding Alone, And With Others Both have their pleasures. I have a small circle of riders I enjoy riding with, but no more than four at a time—usually two.

There’s a mutual trust with good riding partners, a shared respect for the rules of lane position and pace, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to at lunch.

I’ve traveled alone a lot, too. The whole Ghost Rider book involves 55,000 miles of solo riding. If I’m traveling alone, I have my notebook, bring something to read, and I’m happy with my own company.

On responsibility and motorcycling 0 MLLS H YLZWVUZPIPSP[` [V [YHMÄ J HYV\UK TL One of my rules is not to be surprised on the road, and I don’t want to surprise anyone else, either—do anything unpredictable or make any sudden move that is going to cause worry or fear for anyone else.

The best I can do is set a good example, dress and ride properly. Signal every maneuver, position myself in the right place in the lane, and consider other drivers—not make a nuisance of myself. But I’m only one guy. I hope that, through forums like this, and when I write about motorcycling, the word is spread about the good way to do things. That’s all you can do.

“

I once read an interview with my fellow drummer Nick 4HZVU MYVT 7PUR -SV`K HUK OL YLTHYRLK [OH[ VM HSS [OL gold records and awards he had received for his musical success, he was most proud of his election to the British Racing Drivers Club. That’s how I feel about receiving this honorary Life Membership to the AMA—both proud and humble at being so honored by the motorcycling community. My gratitude and pride are tremendous and sincere. Thank you.

”

Neil Peart

44

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Get covered. Visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Upgrade, choose automatic renewal of your membership and get FREE AMA Roadside Assistance.

OFFER EXTENDED! The next 25,000 people who sign up for automatic renewal will also receive a $10 BikeBandit.com gift card.

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RAD

SOUND MANAGEMENT MA ANAG AGEMENT A Breakthrough Streetbike Sound Test Standard Sets The Stage For Curbing Loud Pipes The line between motorcycle sound and motorcycle noise has always been controversial.

Cities around the nation have come up with some complicated laws over the years to try to deal with the issue.

Problem is, their solutions, though sometimes well intentioned, have been scattershot at best and

entirely subjective and unfair at worst.

But now, a new way of measuring the sound of street motorcycles could change all that. In the process, it could help curb two of the worst problems that motorcyclists face today: Excessive sound, and the anti-motorcycling laws that come when motorcycles are perceived to be the source of it.

Photo Open Image Studio

by Bill Kresnak

46

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

>OH[ÂťZ UV^ UL^ PZ [OH[ [OL :VJPL[` VM (\[VTV[P]L ,UNPULLYZ :(, 0U[LYUH[PVUHS has produced a simple, consistent, LJVUVTPJHS HUK LUMVYJLHISL ZV\UK [LZ[ WYVJLK\YL [OH[ JHU IL \ZLK [V KL[LYTPUL whether an on-highway motorcycle exhaust system emits excessive sound.

If municipalities adopt the procedure, JHSSLK ¸:(, 1 š HZ WHY[ VM [OLPY V]LYHSS sound-control strategies, it could eliminate SH^Z [OH[ HSSV^ [OL Z\IQLJ[P]L JHSS VM HU VMĂ&#x201E; JLY VY H KLJPILS SL]LS YLHKPUN [OH[ JHUÂť[ IL TLHZ\YLK YLWLH[LKS` [V IL [OL IHZPZ for enforcement.

That means the new practice is good UL^Z MVY TV[VYJ`JSPZ[Z¡PM P[ PZUÂť[ \ZLK to unfairly target motorcyclists, and, hopefully, for cities nationwide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The motorcycling community and law enforcement have long sought a practical Ă&#x201E; LSK [LZ[ MVY TLHZ\YPUN Z[YLL[ TV[VYJ`JSL exhaust sound,â&#x20AC;? says Ed Moreland,

Excessive Motorcycle Sound Targeted Around The Nation Before now, there was no simple sound test procedure to measure whether an on-highway motorcycle exhaust system emitted excessive sound. So jurisdictions around the nation have grappled with the issue in various ways, with sometimes severe penalties. Consider these recent examples: 5L^ @VYR *P[` 5@* HUK )L]LYS` Mass., considered proposals to allow WVSPJL [V JVUĂ&#x201E; ZJH[L UVPZ` TV[VYJ`JSLZ 0U [OL 5@* JHZL PM H IPRL KPKUÂť[ OH]L HU L_OH\Z[ Z`Z[LT SHILSLK I` [OL MLKLYHS Environmental Protection Agency as TLL[PUN MLKLYHS ZV\UK SPTP[Z [OL IPRL JV\SK IL ZLPaLK VU [OL ZLJVUK UVPZL violation. In Beverly, if noise from the IPRL JV\SK IL OLHYK MYVT MLL[ H^H` [OLU [OL IPRL JV\SK IL PTWV\UKLK )VZ[VU HZ ^LSS HZ (Y]HKH *VSV passed noise laws requiring all TV[VYJ`JSLZ I\PS[ HM[LY +LJLTILY [V OH]L L_OH\Z[ Z`Z[LTZ SHILSLK I` [OL EPA as meeting federal sound limits. *P[PaLUZ PU /PUNOHT 4HZZ WL[P[PVULK [OLPY KLJPZPVU THRLYZ [V JVUZPKLY adopting a sound law requiring all TV[VYJ`JSLZ [V OH]L ,7( SHILSLK exhaust systems. ( *VUULJ[PJ\[ Z[H[L SH^THRLY PU[YVK\JLK H IPSS YLX\PYPUN TV[VY ]LOPJSLZ [V IL VWLYH[LK [V WYL]LU[ â&#x20AC;&#x153;unnecessary and unusualâ&#x20AC;? noise. If a rider got two or more written warnings for excessive sound within a six-month period, the motorcycle registration ^V\SK IL Z\ZWLUKLK 0U )LUPJPH *HSPM [OL JP[` JV\UJPS KLIH[LK TV[VYJ`JSL UVPZL HUK ultimately passed a resolution in favor

AMA vice president for government YLSH[PVUZ ¸;OHURZ [V [OL OHYK ^VYR VM [OL 4V[VYJ`JSL 0UK\Z[Y` *V\UJPS 40* HUK [OL SAE engineers involved in the project, a ZPTWSL Ă&#x201E; LSK [LZ[ PZ UV^ H]HPSHISL â&#x20AC;&#x153;The AMA maintains that few factors JVU[YPI\[L TVYL [V TPZ\UKLYZ[HUKPUN and prejudice against street riders than excessively noisy motorcycles,â&#x20AC;? Moreland adds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the new procedure, street motorcyclists can now determine how X\PL[ VY SV\K [OLPY IPRLZ YLHSS` HYL ¸;OL 1 WYHJ[PJL HSSV^Z Q\YPZKPJ[PVUZ around the nation, struggling with JVTWSHPU[Z HIV\[ L_JLZZP]L TV[VYJ`JSL ZV\UK [V ZL[ YLHZVUHISL SPTP[Z PU accordance with the procedure,â&#x20AC;? he says. ;OL RL` [OV\NO PZ \ZPUN [OL UL^ practice intelligently, and not unfairly targeting motorcycles alone when it comes to sound issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While the AMA supports the

of a state law that would require EPA stamps on motorcycle exhausts.

LZ[HISPZOTLU[ VM [OL :(, 1 WYVJLK\YL PU (TLYPJHÂťZ JP[PLZ [V^UZ HUK JVTT\UP[PLZ ^L ^PSS JVU[PU\L [V Ă&#x201E; NO[ efforts that single out motorcycles while still permitting excessive sound from other ZV\YJLZ Z\JO HZ SV\K JHYZ HUK [Y\JRZ IVVTPUN JHY Z[LYLVZ WVVYS` THPU[HPULK NLULYH[VYZ ^OPUPUN SLHM ISV^LYZ HUK [OL SPRL š 4VYLSHUK ZH`Z Tim Buche, president of the MIC, the trade group that underwrote the development of the procedure, also sees the new test as good news. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The new SAE standard provides a much-needed alternative to outright IHUZ YLZ[YPJ[PVUZ HUK ZV\UK [LZ[ standards that vary state to state and city to city, frustrating riders, exhaust system manufacturers, and municipal NV]LYUTLU[Z HSPRL >P[O 1 ^L JHU now have uniform standards and testing [OH[ÂťZ LHZ` [V HKTPUPZ[LY š OL ZH`Z

0U HKKP[PVU P[ÂťZ \UMHPY HUK W\UP[P]L ILJH\ZL Z\JO H Y\SL KVLZ UV[ HWWS` [V cars.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile, across the nation loud TV[VYJ`JSLZ OH]L ILLU [HYNL[LK ^P[O periodic police enforcement campaigns in many communities, including San Francisco, Falmouth, Mass., and Indian 9VJRZ )LHJO -SH The AMA was aware even 60 years ago that excessive motorcycle sound created WYVISLTZ ;OL (4( SH\UJOLK P[Z WVW\SHY ¸4\MĂ&#x2026; LY 4PRLš JHTWHPNU MVY X\PL[LY YPKPUN PU PU HU LMMVY[ [V NL[ TV[VYJ`JSPZ[Z [V respect others.

Since that time, the AMA has HS^H`Z [YPLK [V Ă&#x201E; UK H TPKKSL NYV\UK IL[^LLU V]LYS` YLZ[YPJ[P]L SH^Z [OH[ W\UPZO YLZWVUZPISL riders and a wide-open, anything-goes attitude that YLZ\S[Z PU H IHJRSHZO MYVT [OL NLULYHS W\ISPJ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only a practical and consistent sound test can determine if the exhaust system is out of compliance with the law,â&#x20AC;? says Imre :aH\[LY (4( NV]LYUTLU[ HMMHPYZ THUHNLY /L UV[LZ that the AMA opposes laws that rely on an exhaust system having HU ,7( Z[HTW ILJH\ZL â&#x20AC;&#x153;the EPA stamp is not YLHKPS` YLHKHISL VU ZVTL TV[VYJ`JSLZ /LH[ ZOPLSKZ ZHKKSLIHNZ HUK V[OLY JVTWVULU[Z TH` VIZ[Y\J[ [OL stamp, or its physical location prevents HU VIZLY]LY MYVT LHZPS` SVJH[PUN P[ (SZV [OL Z[HTW KVLZUÂť[ N\HYHU[LL JVTWSPHUJL and in many cases, a replacement original LX\PWTLU[ L_OH\Z[ Z`Z[LT PZ \UH]HPSHISL VY JVZ[ WYVOPIP[P]L

September 2009

47

Motorcycle Industry Council Spearheaded The New Test Effort The creation of a new street motorcycle sound measurement procedure was a top recommendation of the 2003 Tim Buche national Summit on Motorcycle Sound, organized by the AMA. The Summit pulled together riders and user organizations, representatives of the motorcycle manufacturers, the aftermarket industry, racing promoters, government agencies, and others to develop proposals regarding the issue of excessive motorcycle sound.

The MIC initiated the $250,000 motorcycle sound test project three years HNV JVUK\J[PUN Ă&#x201E;LSK [LZ[PUN HUHS`aPUN the data, and providing the initial draft practice. A representative sample of 25 motorcycles and more than 50 aftermarket exhaust systems were tested. ;OL NVHS ^HZ [V KL]LSVW HU LHZ` [V HKTPUPZ[LY Ă&#x201E;LSK [LZ[ HZ HU HS[LYUH[P]L [V [OL JVTWSL_ KYP]L I` [LZ[ YLX\PYLK MVY ,7( JLY[PĂ&#x201E;JH[PVU Collaborating with the MIC throughout, [OL :(, 4V[VYJ`JSL ;LJOUPJHS :[LLYPUN Committee validated the scope of work HUK JV ^YV[L [OL Ă&#x201E;UHS WYVJLK\YL â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thanks to the determined efforts of the 40* 6, ;LJOUPJHS *VTTP[[LL [OL :(, Motorcycle Technical Steering Committee, [OL 40* (TLYPJHU = ;^PU *VTTP[[LL MIC member aftermarket exhaust system companies, MIC consultant Tom Austin VM :PLYYH 9LZLHYJO 40* =PJL 7YLZPKLU[ 7HTLSH (TL[[L 40* TLTILY 6, manufacturers and distributors, plus Z\WWSLTLU[HS M\UKPUN MYVT UVU TLTILYZ /HYSL` +H]PKZVU HUK [OL 4V[VYJ`JSL & Moped Industry Council of Canada, ^L Ă&#x201E;UHSS` OH]L H Z[H[PVUHY` ZV\UK [LZ[ WYVJLK\YL MVY VU OPNO^H` TV[VYJ`JSLZ that works very well and should be adopted across the country,â&#x20AC;? Buche says.

The new streetbike test procedure YLX\PYLZ OVSKPUN H JHSPIYH[LK ZV\UK TL[LY H[ H KLNYLL HUNSL PUJOLZ MYVT [OL exhaust pipe of a running engine. The procedure spells out how to do the test with the bike at idle, at a predetermined LUNPUL ZWLLK ¸:L[ 974 ;LZ[š VY I` slowly increasing the engine speed of the IPRL JHSSLK [OL ¸:^LW[ 974 ;LZ[ š ;OL :(, 1 Z[HUKHYK WYLWHYLK I` [OL :(, 4V[VYJ`JSL ;LJOUPJHS :[LLYPUN committee, recommends: ( SPTP[ VM K)( H[ PKSL MVY HSS machines; <ZPUN [OL :L[ 974 VY :^LW[ 974 [LZ[¡ K)( MVY [OYLL VY MV\Y J`SPUKLY THJOPULZ H[ YWT VY percent of maximum engine speed, whichever is less; and ( SPTP[ VM K)( MVY IPRLZ ^P[O ML^LY than three or more than four cylinders at YWT VY WLYJLU[ VM TH_PT\T engine speed, whichever is less. ;OL [LZ[ HSZV Z\NNLZ[Z [OH[ K)( be added to these sound limits for motorcycle exhaust systems that have ,7( ZV\UK SPTP[ JLY[PĂ&#x201E;JH[PVU SHILSZ HUK OH]LUÂť[ ILLU TVKPĂ&#x201E;LK ;OL JVTWSL[L :(, 1 Z[HUKHYK

JHU IL KV^USVHKLK MVY MYVT [OL :(, website at sae.org/technical/standards/ 1 F *OYPZ 9LHS H TLTILY VM [OL :(, committee that put together the new street motorcycle sound procedure, says the sound limits of the new test are high enough so that motorcycles that fail the test are extremely loud. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about a race pipe on a ZWVY[IPRL VY ZOVY[` OLHKLYZ VU H = [^PU š Real says. ( /HYSL` +H]PKZVU ,SLJ[YH .SPKL ^P[O IHMĂ&#x2026;LK HM[LYTHYRL[ L_OH\Z[ Z`Z[LT ^V\SK WHZZ [OL [LZ[ I\[ PM [OL IHMĂ&#x2026;LZ HYL YLTV]LK VY [OL IPRL OHZ ZH` PUJO slash cut pipes, it would fail, he says.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the open pipes, he notes, that are the problem. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those are the guys making the communities crazy,â&#x20AC;? Real says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The thing we motorcyclists need to be aware of is that there are more of us [OLZL KH`Z HUK ^L OH]L [V Ă&#x201E;[ PU[V [OL communities,â&#x20AC;? Real continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some cities have designated truck routes, and it would just take a stroke of a pen to have designated motorcycle routes because of excessive sound.â&#x20AC;?

New Streetbike Sound Test is Easy To Administer

48

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

45Âş

20"

;OL 1 WYHJ[PJL VMĂ&#x201E;JPHSS` [P[SLK ¸4LHZ\YLTLU[ VM ,_OH\Z[ :V\UK 7YLZZ\YL 3L]LSZ VM :[H[PVUHY` 6U /PNO^H` Motorcycles,â&#x20AC;? establishes several procedures to measure motorcycle sound ^P[O ZWLJPĂ&#x201E;J PUZ[Y\TLU[H[PVU [LZ[ ZP[LZ test conditions, measurements and ZV\UK SL]LS SPTP[Z The new procedure follows the general :(, WYVJLK\YLZ LZ[HISPZOLK `LHYZ HNV MVY VMM OPNO^H` TV[VYJ`JSLZ ;OL (4( YLJVTTLUKZ [OH[ WYVJLK\YL :(, 1 ^OLYL]LY VMM OPNO^H` TV[VYJ`JSLZ HUK HSS terrain vehicles (ATVs) are operated.

THE J2825 STANDARD ¸4LHZ\YLTLU[ VM ,_OH\Z[ :V\UK 7YLZZ\YL 3L]LSZ VM :[H[PVUHY` 6U /PNO^H` 4V[VYJ`JSLZš

What Exhaust System Makers Say Tim Calhoun, executive vice president for LeoVince USA, calls the new standard a “positive and proactive move by the Motorcycle Industry Council to protect the rights of riders.”

“We believe the MIC has developed a test that is liberal enough to allow a responsibly built and engineered aftermarket exhaust system to pass these tests, while still being stringent enough to quickly weed out gross offenders,” Calhoun says. “These usually JVUZPZ[ VM ZOV[N\U L_OH\Z[Z \U T\MÅLK Z[YHPNO[ WPWLZ T\MÅLYZ ^P[O SP[[SL VY UV WHJRPUN VY Z`Z[LTZ ^P[O [OL T\MÅLYZ removed.

EPA Ride-By Test Doesn’t Work In The Real World The new standard is a practical alternative to an existing standard that is so complicated that it just doesn’t work in the real world.

In 1972, Congress passed the federal Noise Control Act, which required the EPA to set noise standards for a variety of products. The EPA set sound standards for motorcycles beginning in 1983.

The EPA rule set the sound limit at 83 dBA, with the limit going to a stricter 80 dBA beginning in 1986. The test ZWLJPÄLK I` [OL ,7( PZ H WHZZ I` [LZ[ Under that test, a motorcycle is ridden with the throttle wide open and the bike accelerating past a sound meter that is 50 feet away.

To be able to sell their bikes in the United States, motorcycle manufacturers must certify their products meet the federal standard and stamp a compliance notice on the pipe.

The onerous part of the standard, though, is the fact that it requires that T\MÅLYZ IL JLY[PÄLK MVY L]LY` `LHY THRL and model of bike the exhaust is designed [V Ä[ ;OH[ TLHUZ PM HU L_OH\Z[ Z`Z[LT company wants to sell an exhaust for a ZWVY[IPRL P[ OHZ [V YLU[ HU ,7( JLY[PÄLK [LZ[ MHJPSP[` OPYL H JLY[PÄLK [LJOUPJPHU [OLU show up with one of every year, make and TVKLS IPRL [OL T\MÅLY PZ KLZPNULK [V Ä[ ZV it can run tests on dozens of machines, which could take several days—a horribly expensive proposition.

For a company that’s trying to eke out a WYVÄ[ MYVT H ZTHSS UPJOL PU [OL TV[VYJ`JSL industry, that would be cost prohibitive.

As a result, very few of the aftermarket Z[YLL[ WPWLZ HUK T\MÅLYZ ZVSK PU [OL <UP[LK States meet EPA labeling requirements.

So regardless of whether they’re straight pipes or quiet replacements, they’re technically illegal.

¸0[ HSZV PZ WYVHJ[P]L PU [OH[ P[ ÄUHSS` gives the authorities a true roadside sound test that is valid and repeatable,” he says.

“All LeoVince exhausts will pass the new standard, and even our race cans will pass with a sound insert, which [`WPJHSS` VUS` YVIZ OVYZLWV^LY ¹ OL adds.

Kenny Price at Samson Motorcycle Products notes that most Samson L_OH\Z[Z ^P[O IHMÅLZ WHZZ [OL [LZ[ ^P[O H 92 or lower decibel level. ¸(SS PU HSS 0 MLLS ^L OH]L ÄUHSS` JVTL [V a fair set of rules we can abide by. This will also keep us aftermarket companies alive, and help the rider as well. This is a home run for everyone,” he says.

POLICING OURSELVES 6MM /PNO^H` 9PKLYZ *VUMYVU[LK ;OL :V\UK 0ZZ\L @LHYZ (NV The streetbike community is not alone in feeling the pressure for responsible sound limits. In fact, off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders have taken the sound issue seriously for years, knowing that noisy motorcycles (and ATVs) translate into closed riding areas.

Just like streetbikes, OHVs designed for use in public riding areas—as opposed to closed-course competition—are governed by rules put [VNL[OLY I` [OL ,7( ;OL Y\SL ZWLJPÄLZ the same ride-by test used for street machines, with off-highway bikes built since 1985 being limited to 80 decibels if they have engines smaller than 170cc and 82 decibels if they are larger.

The EPA pass-by procedure is no easier to reproduce on a trail than it is on a street. But many park rangers, riding clubs and promoters found they could get consistent results from a test developed by the SAE. Unlike the EPA test, which requires a large, controlled environment plus a test rider who will follow the procedures precisely, the SAE J1287 test is relatively simple. A calibrated sound meter is placed 20 inches from the exhaust outlet at a 45-degree angle. ;OLU [OL LUNPUL PZ YL]]LK [V H ZWLJPÄLK rpm (generally about halfway to redline) with the bike stationary. ;OL YLZ\S[PUN KLJPILS ÄN\YLZ HYLU»[ comparable to the numbers from the EPA pass-by test, but they result in uniform readings that can be used to develop independent standards. @LHYZ HNV 4PJOPNHU»Z ^LSS VYNHUPaLK Cycle Conservation Club used the

J1287 procedure to develop a 94 dBA limit for motorcycles ridden on the Z[H[L»Z LUVYTV\Z [YHPS Z`Z[LT In 2002, representatives from rider groups, exhaust companies, government agencies and even ZVTL LU]PYVUTLU[HS VYNHUPaH[PVUZ PU California came together to work on a similar standard for that state. The result, after extensive testing, was a 96 dBA limit for bikes that can be ridden on public trails.

That standard is now the rule for recreational riding throughout California and AMA-sanctioned public-trails competition events, including enduros, hare scrambles and desert races nationwide (although if a state has a lower sound limit, then the AMA requires an event there to conform to that limit). It has also resulted in a whole new line of performance parts designed to meet the 96 dBA limit.

September 2009

49

Go Ride [

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

5

6 2

] 7

3

7

4 7 6

7

3 1

1

Join tens of thousands of your newest best friends at the Golden Aspen Rally, set for Sept.

16-20 in Ruidoso, N.M. The Golden Aspen Rally is a national convention in the AMA Premier Touring Series that features great people, a great time and scenic roads. Info: Ron Andrews (800) 452-8045, MotorcycleRally.com.

2

;OL Ä M[O (4( 0U[LYUH[PVUHS >VTLU & Motorcycling Conference, presented

by Harley-Davidson and Buell, will take place at the Keystone Resort & Conference Center in Keystone, Colo., on Aug 19-22. State-of-the-art amenities and world-class riding will greet everyone who signs up, in addition to great seminars, great camaraderie and great experiences that will last a lifetime. Info: >VTLUHUK4V[VYJ`JSPUN JVT

3

Kenny Coolbeth and Jared Mees take their pitched battle for the 2009 No. 1 plate in the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship series to the famed :WYPUNÄ LSK 4PSL :LW[ )\[ *OYPZ *HYY

50

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

and Sammy Halbert hope to grab the title for their own. Catch all the action at the 0SSPUVPZ :[H[L -HPYNYV\UKZ PU :WYPUNÄ LSK Ill. You can see the stars in action at the ZLHZVU Ä UHSL PU OHSM TPSL JVTWL[P[PVU at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif., Oct. 23-24. Info: AMAProRacing.com.

4

The AMA Racing Road Race Grand Championships will be held on neutral ground Sept. 10-13 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Not only will the top amateurs from around the nation be vying for No. 1 plates, but they will be chasing the prestigious AMA Road Racing Horizon Award, given to the one amateur racer who shows the most promise for a successful pro career. Info: (614) 856-1900.

5

The vertical drag race that is the AMA Racing Hillclimb Grand Championships is set for Aug. 15-16 in New Ulm, Minn. Info: (507) 354-2306.

6

There’s a full slate of rides scheduled for August and September in the AMA KTM National Dual-Sport Trail Riding Series ranging from an event in McCloud, Calif., Aug. 22-23 to one in Columbus, Ind., Sept.

26-27. For the compete schedule, see page 56.

7

Chad Reed is looking for another win in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Aug. 15 at Unadilla in New Berlin, N.Y. The competitors then go to Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Md., Aug. 22, Moto-X 338 in Southwick, Mass., Aug. 29 and Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Penn., Sept. 5.

COMING UP The Run to the Heartland Rally, a national convention in the AMA Premier Touring Series, is set for Oct. 2-4 in Sebring, Fla. The theme is: “A Salute to Law Enforcement.” Info: Lora Todd (863) 414-2851, HRA-riders.com.

The Grand National Cross Country Series will wrap up its season Oct. 2425 in Crawfordsville, Ind. Info: Racer Productions, (304) 284-0084, info@ gnccracing.com.

THE

GUIDE TO EVENTS

The following pages list AMAsanctioned events for this month, up to date at press time. Current listings are in the Riding and Racing sections of www.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

The biggest events—pro races, national-championship amateur competition, and major rides and rallies—are highlighted in color boxes.

For these series, we list all of the remaining events for the entire year.

Then there are the local events, the backbone of the AMA’s riding and racing calendar. These events are listed by state and are broken down by type, so `V\ JHU X\PJRS` ÄUK [OL VULZ ULHY `V\ /LYL»Z H N\PKL [V ^OH[ `V\»SS ÄUK PU these local listings:

AMA PRO RACING AMA Superbike Championship Daytona Motorsports Group AMASuperbike.com

Oct. 16-18: Daytona Beach, Fla.: 8 Hours at Daytona; Daytona Int’l Speedway

* Sept. 4-6: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey

* Pending rider safety committee evaluation

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship

Aug. 22: Mechanicsville, Md.: Budds Creek Motocross Park; buddscreek.com

MXNationals.com Type of Event Date

Event Class (Competition events only) S - Standard (Amateur classes) Y - Youth Classes T - ATV classes G - Progressive M - Pro-Am classes Location/City

Aug. 15: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla Valley Sports Center; unadillamx.com

Event Promoter

MOTOCROSS

SEP 6 (S,T,Y): REYNOLDS (D-9): SILVER DOLLAR MX, C/O STEVE JONES; 6 AM; HWY 96 W/JST W OF TWN; (478) 555-4673 Sign-in Time Directions

Motorsports Park; (866) 550-NJMP; njmotorsportspark.com

AMA Pro Flat Track Championship AMAProRacing.com Aug. 23: Peoria, Ill.: Peoria Race Park; TT.

Aug. 29: Southwick, Mass.: Moto-X 338; moto338.com Sept. 5: Delmont, Penn.: Steel City Raceway; steelcitymx.com

Fairgrounds: Mile. :LW[ ! :WYPUNÄLSK 0SS ! Illinois State Fairgrounds: Short track, Mile.

Oct. 24: Pomona, Calif.: L.A. County Fairgrounds: Half-mile.

Aug. 29: Indianapolis, Ind.: Indiana State

Contact Phone Number

AMA Pro XTRM Supermoto Championship

Sept 6: Salt Lake City, Utah: Miller Motorsports; (866) 367-9289

AMASupermoto.com

Sept 20: Mammoth Lakes, Calif.: Mammoth Mountain; (866) 367-9289

SEP 20 (S,T,Y): LAKEWOOD: COLORADO MOTORSPORTS PROM, DAVID CLABAUGH; 5:30 AM; 701 S ROONEY RD /SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS; (303) 988-3889; MXTHUNDERVALLEY. COM

AMA Pro Hillclimb Champioinship

Motorcycle Club.

CONNECTICUT

Sept. 13: Steel City, Pa.: Bushkill Valley

ALABAMA

COLORADO

ROAD RUN

MOTOCROSS

SEP 13 (R): LEEDS: CHARITY: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOU, KYLE CLACK; 8 AM; BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK /6040 BARBER MOTORSPORTS PKWY; (800) 253-6530; RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

SEP 13 (S,Y): DACONO: IMI MOTORSPORTS INC, BRAD LINKUS; 8:10 AM; 5074 SUMMIT BLVD; (303) 833-4949; IMIMOTORSPORTS.COM

ARKANSAS ROAD RUN SEP 19 (R): LITTLE ROCK: MARCH OF DIMESAR LITTLE, WENDY THOMPSON; 11 AM; 1200 PRESIDENT CLINTON AVE; (501) 663-3100; MARCHOFDIMES.COM

CALIFORNIA ROAD RUN

HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 9 (V,Y): CHAPLIN: NATIONAL; NEW ENGLAND CROSS COUNTRY, STEVEN POPLASKY; 4 PM; 115 FEDERAL RD /ARROWED FROM RT 6; (860) 617-8371; NECCRACING.NET

SEP 4 (R): CALEXICO: 4 DAY EVENT: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOTOR, BLAKE ANDERSON; 3 AM; ‘3 FLAGS CLASSIC’; (310) 387-3974; SC-MA.COM

DELAWARE

POKER RUN

SEP 9 (R): DOVER: 4 DAY EVENT: HARLEY DRESSERS, JOSEPH TRAVIS; 8 AM; MAIN STAY SUITES /201 STOVER BLVD; (302) 678-8383; HARLEYDRESSERS.COM

SEP 19 (R): POINT RICHMOND: RICHMOND RAMBLERS MC, BRAD BELLAH; 9 AM; CLUBHOUSE /818 DORNAN DR; (570) 245-1513; RRMC.CC DISTRICT RALLY SEP 5 (R): GROVELAND: 3 DAY EVENT: AMA-DIST 36 ROAD DIVISION, BOB HANSEL; 8 AM; 11401 CHERRY LAKE RD/FAMILY CP/16 MI E OF TOWN/ LEFT ON CHERRY LAKE RD; (707) 793-0251; AMA-D36.COM DUAL SPORT RIDE SEP 12 (R): REDDING: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: REDDING DIRT RIDERS, KARL HANKINS; 8 AM; REDDING AREA /CHECK WEB SITE; (530) 9537272; REDDINGDIRTRIDERS.COM SEP 19 (R): WOFFORD HEIGHTS: 2 DAY EVENT: CHAPARRALS MC, MIKE ADAMS; 7 AM; GO EAST HWY178 FROM HWY99 NEAR BAKERSFIELD; (562) 627-9693; SEP 26 (R): BUCK MEADOWS: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: FAMILY OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE, LAWRENCE BORGENS; 9 AM; 7589 STATE HWY 120 /11 MI E OF GROVELAND ON HWY 120; (209) 649-3633; FAMILYOFFROADADVENTURES.COM SHORT TRACK SEP 12 (S,T,Y): SEP 19 (S,T,Y): SEP 26 (S,T,Y): LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, JEFF G TAYLOR; 2 PM; 5801 E MORSE RD; (209) 368-7182; LODICYCLEBOWL.COM SCRAMBLES SEP 5 (S,T,Y): LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, JEFF G TAYLOR; 2 PM; 5801 E MORSE RD; (209) 368-7182; LODICYCLEBOWL.COM SEP 12 (S,T,Y): RIDGECREST: 2 DAY EVENT: SUNLAND SHAMROCKS, RONALD G MAAS; 6 AM; CHARLIE’S PLACE; (818) 767-4594; SEP 28 (S,T): LUCERNE VALLEY: HILLTOPPERS MC, ROBERT MATHIS; JOHNSON VALLEY SVRA; HILLTOPPERSMC.COM ENDURO SEP 20 (S): LUCERNE VALLEY: DESERT DAISIES MOTORCYCLE, GORDON GODEL; 6 AM; JOHNSON VALLEY; (626) 483-5164 SEP 27 (S): GEORGETOWN: CALIFORNIA ENDURO RIDERS, MIGUEL ANAYA; EL DORADO NAT’L FOREST/MACE MILL; (925) 260-0315; CERA.ORG SPEEDWAY SEP 11 (S,Y): AUBURN: NATIONAL; FAST FRIDAYS SPEEDWAY, DAVID A JOINER; 6:30 PM; FAST FRIDAYS MC SPEEDWAY STAD /MC SPEEDWAY STADIUM-SACRAMENTO ST; (530) 878-7223; FASTFRIDAYS.COM

AMAProRacing.com

ROAD RALLY

Sept. 27: Jefferson (York Co.), Pa.: White Rose Motorcycle Club.

Oct. 11: Oregonia, Ohio: Dayton Motorcycle Club.

MUSEUM EXHIBITS AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Museum MotorcycleMuseum.org

MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles: Priceless machines, exclusive memorabilia and tales from celebrities’ favorite adventures. On display through February 2010.

Awesome-Ness: The life and art of Arlen Ness: King of Choppers.

MOTOCROSS

The Museum is located on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week year-round except for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

SEP 12 (S,Y): NEW CASTLE: BLUE DIAMOND MX, ALAN J DECARLO; 6 AM; BLUE DIAMOND PARK /765 HAMBURG RD/RT 13 & HAMBURG RD; (302) 834-5867; BDMXPARK.COM

Sept 12: Pickerington, Ohio: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Open House; (614) 856-2222.

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame: Bikes and memorabilia recognizing those who have THKL ZPNUPÄJHU[ JVU[YPI\[PVUZ [V HSS HZWLJ[Z VM motorcycling.

SEP 19 (S,Y): SEAFORD: 2 DAY EVENT: MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS, RUTH ANN BENSON; DELMARVA MX; (410) 375-1059; MAMAMX.COM

Dec 5: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; (614) 856-2222.

Red Bikes: Large-format photographic prints by HY[PZ[ HUK TV[VYJ`JSL HÄJPVUHKV +H^U +LWWP

Founder’s Hall: Honoring the Museum’s generous contributors.

FLORIDA MOTOCROSS SEP 13 (S,Y): GAINESVILLE: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX, WYNDELL T KERN; 6 AM; GATORBACK CYCLE PARK; (813) 470-7498; UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM SEP 20 (S,Y): DADE CITY: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX, WYNDELL T KERN; 6 AM; DADE CITY RACEWAY; (813) 470-7498; UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM SEP 27 (S,Y): LAKE CITY: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX, WYNDELL T KERN; 6 AM; ; (813) 470-7498; UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM

ILLINOIS REC TRAIL RIDE SEP 6 (R): OTTAWA: VARIETY RIDERS MOTORCYCLE, STEVEN CHURCHILL; 8 AM; ROUTE 6 WEST /1 MI W ON RT 6; (815) 434-3669; VARIETYRIDERS.COM SEP 13 (R): OTTAWA: VARIETY RIDERS MOTORCYCLE, STEVE CHURCHILL; 8 AM; ROUTE 6 WEST /1 MI W ON RT 6; (815) 434-3669; VARIETYRIDERS.COM ADVENTURE RIDE SEP 19 (R): STERLING: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: BRUSHPOPPERS M.C., JACK SUMPTION; 8 AM; 21590 LINCOLN RD /12 MI E OF MORRISON/ ON RT 30; (815) 622-4099; GEOCITIES.COM/ BRUSHPOPPERS DUAL SPORT RIDE SEP 19 (R): STERLING: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: BRUSHPOPPERS M.C., JACK SUMPTION; 8 AM; 21590 LINCOLN RD /12 MI E OF MORRISON/ ON RT 30; (815) 622-4099; GEOCITIES.COM/ BRUSHPOPPERS 1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK SEP 6 (S,T,Y): NEOGA: CENTRAL ILLINOIS M/C, JB STORM; 11 MI SOUTH OF MATTOON; (217) 2342505; CENTRALILLINOISMOTORCYCLECLUB. ORG

AMA RACING AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS AMA Racing Hillclimb Grand Championships

AMA Racing Road Race Grand Championships

Aug. 15-16: New Ulm, Minn.; (507) 354-2306.

Sept. 10-13: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio; (800) 8561900.

SEP 7 (S,T,Y): NEOGA: CENTRAL ILLINOIS M/C, JB STORM; 9 AM; 11 MI SOUTH OF MATTOON; (217) 234-2505; CENTRALILLINOISMOTORCYCLECLUB. ORG SEP 19 (S,T,Y): NEOGA: CENTRAL ILLINOIS M/C, JB STORM; 8 AM; 11 MI SOUTH OF MATTOON; (217) 234-2505; CENTRALILLINOISMOTORCYCLECLUB.ORG SEP 20 (S,T,Y): NEOGA: CENTRAL ILLINOIS M/C, JB STORM; 11 MI SOUTH OF MATTOON; (217) 234-2505; CENTRALILLINOISMOTORCYCLECLUB. ORG SHORT TRACK SEP 12 (S,T,Y): MACOMB: LAMOINE RAMBLERS MC CLUB, RANDY L ALLISON; 2 PM; CLUBGRNDS /RT 134 W TO BALL FOUR/2.0 MI S; (309) 837-9436 SCRAMBLES SEP 12 (S,T,Y): SEP 26 (S,T,Y): BELLEVILLE: BELLEVILLE ENDURO TEAM IN, EDWARD M HOEFFKEN; 10:30 AM; 3000 CENTERVILLE AVE /2 MI S OF TOWN ON RT 158; (618) 233-1318; BETDIRT.COM HILLCLIMB SEP 5 (S,T,Y): NEOGA: CENTRAL ILLINOIS M/C, JB STORM; 6 PM; 11 MI SOUTH OF MATTOON; (217) 234-2505; CENTRALILLINOISMOTORCYCLECLUB. ORG SEP 6 (S,T,Y): NEOGA: CENTRAL ILLINOIS M/C, JB STORM; 11 MI SOUTH OF MATTOON; (217) 234-

2505; CENTRALILLINOISMOTORCYCLECLUB. ORG SEP 12 (S,T,Y): WESTVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT: PLEASURE RIDERS MC, MARK SCHROEDER; IL-IN BORDER S OF DANVILLE /FRM DANVILLE: S ON IL RT 1/E ON MAIN; (217) 477-3191; PLEASURERIDERS.NET SEP 19 (S,T,Y): NEOGA: CENTRAL ILLINOIS M/C, JB STORM; 8 AM; 11 MI SOUTH OF MATTOON; (217) 234-2505; CENTRALILLINOISMOTORCYCLECLUB.ORG MOTOCROSS SEP 5 (S,T): SEP 6 (S,T): SEP 7 (S,T): CASEY: LINCOLN TRAIL MOTOSPORTS, TIM JACKSON; 649 CR2150E /5 MI W OF TOWN ON RT 40; (217) 932-2041; LINCOLNTRAILMOTOSPORTS.COM SEP 6 (S,T,Y): SEP 20 (S,Y): BYRON: MOTOSPORTS ENTERPRISES LT, AARON J VINCER; 6 AM; 2525 E ASH ROAD; (815) 234-2271; MOTOBYRON.COM SEP 7 (S,T,Y): DU QUOIN: PARADISE MOTO-PARK INC, DOUG COCHRAN; 6 AM; 7598 GREENS MKT RD /1.7 MI W OF JCT HWYS 14 & 51; (618) 5426203; PARADISEMOTOCROSS.COM SEP 13 (S,Y): WASHINGTON PARK: ARCHVIEW MX PARK LLC, TODD M RUHL; 6 AM; 5100 ST CLAIRE AVE; (618) 781-0505; ARCHVIEWMXPARK.COM SEP 13 (S,T,Y): WALNUT: 4P PROMOTIONS INC, JANICE PISTOLE; 6 AM; 24558 1100 E ST /4 MI S OF NORMANDY/GPS N4130 W8938; (815) 379-

September 2009

51

ROAD RIDING AMA Premier Touring Series and Dunlop Road Riding Challenge AMADirectlink.com/RoadRide/ Touring

NATIONAL CONVENTIONS Sep 16-20: Ruidoso, N.M.: Golden Aspen Rally: Golden Aspen Motorcycle Assn; Ron Andrews; (800) 452-8045; motorcyclerally.com Oct 2-4: Sebring, Fla.: Run to the Heartland Rally: Heartland Riders Assn; Lora Todd; (863) 414-2851; hra-riders. com Oct 29-Nov 1: Galveston, Texas: Lone Star Rally: Ron Limbock; (832) 437-2318; lonestarrally.com

SIGNATURE EVENTS Aug 16: New Oxford, Mass.: Ride For Kids: Registration 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m..

Wal-Mart 742 Main St., North Oxford, MA 01537; pbtfus.org/rideforkids Aug 22: Salt Lake City, Utah: Ride For Kids: Registration 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m..

This Is the Place Heritage Park 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave. Salt Lake City, UT; pbtfus.org/rideforkids Aug 23: Ann Arbor, Mich.: Ride For

9534; SUNSETRIDGEMX.COM SEP 20 (S,T,Y): GALESBURG: GALESBURG MOTORCYCLE CLUB, ROBERT D FELL; 6 AM; 7 MI N OF GALESBURG RT US 150; (309) 344-1714; GALESBURGMC.COM

Kids: Registration 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Mich.; pbtfus.org/rideforkids Aug 30: Asheville, N.C.: Ride For Kids: Registration 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., Biltmore Square Mall, Asheville, N.C.; pbtfus.org/ rideforkids Aug 27-Sep 2: Stevenson, Wash.: Sportbike Northwest: Sound Rider!; Tom Mehren; (206) 329-7808; soundrider. com/rally/ Sep 13: Puget Sound, Wash.: Ride For Kids: Registration 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m..

Remlinger Farms, Carnation, Wash.; pbtfus.org/rideforkids Sep 13: Birmingham, Ala.: Ride For Kids: Registration 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m..

Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, Ala.; pbtfus.org/rideforkids Sep 20: St. Louis, Mo.: Ride For Kids: Registration 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.. St. Charles Comm College, Cottleville, Mo.; pbtfus.org/rideforkids Sep 20: Philadelphia, Penn.: Ride For Kids: Registration 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m..

King of Prussia Mall IMAX Theater, King of Prussia, Penn.; pbtfus.org/rideforkids

Apr 1- Nov 30: USA 4 Corners Tour: So. CA Motorcycling Assoc; David L. Johnson; (909) 796-2277; usa4corners. org Apr 1- Nov 30: Color the World with KOA Grand Tour: Midnight Riders; Charles Kirkman; (765) 566-3807; midnightriders-mc.com Apr 1- Nov 30: Grand Tour of Ireland: Irish Riders Motorcycle Club; Maggie McNally; (518) 209-2464; irishridersmc. com Apr 1- Nov 30: Ride with the AMA 85th Ann. Classic Grand Tour: Dayton Motorcycle Club; Kevin Looney; (937) 263-9321; daytonmc.com Apr 1- Nov 30: Roadside Attractions Grand Tour: Road Winders M/C; Joe Sloan; (215) 322-4436; hogman19053@ yahoo.com

STATE RALLIES Oct 9-11: Big Bike Weekend: Redding Calif.; Connie Grinols; (530) 245-7185; bigbikeweekend.com

Sep 27: Baltimore/Washington, D.C.: Ride For Kids: Registration 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.. The Mall in Columbia, Columbia, Md.; pbtfus.org/rideforkids

Oct 23-25: New Orleans Bikefest: Westwego, La.; Barry Lee & Kay Miller; (504) 274-0226; neworleansbikefest.com

CORNER SR17 & SR8 /11 MI S OF PLYMOUTH; (574) 259-0103

ROAD RUN

SEP 20 (S,Y): FREEMAN: HOOSIER TRAIL RIDERS, RANDY A SICHTING; 8 AM; S TO 675S, RT 2 MI; (765) 516-0214; HOOSIERTRAILRIDERS.COM

SEP 27 (R): COLUMBIA: CHARITY: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOU, KYLE CLACK; 7:30 AM; THE MALL /10300 LITTLE PATUXENT PKWY/RT 29 N OF RT 32; (800) 253-6530; RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

SEP 20 (S,T,Y): SALEM: SOUTH CENTRAL MOTOCROSS, TERRY WALSH; 6 AM; 5800 CHARLESTON RD /3 MI N OF TOWN ON RT 37/FOLLOW SIGNS; (618) 548-5259; SOUTHCENTRALMX.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

MOTOCROSS

SEP 19 (S,Y): COLUMBUS: 2 DAY EVENT: STONEY LONESOME MOTORCYCLE CLUB, JIM ZUROSKE; 8 AM; 6 MILES W I-65 ON ST ROAD 46; (317) 7848459; STONEYLONESOMEMC.COM

SEP 5 (U): MECHANICSVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT: MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS, RUTH ANN BENSON; 27963 BUDDS CREEK RD; (410) 3751059; MAMAMX.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

GRAND PRIX

SEP 6 (S,T): CASEY: LINCOLN TRAIL MOTOSPORTS, TIM JACKSON; 649 CR2150E /5 MI W OF TOWN ON RT 40; (217) 932-2041; LINCOLNTRAILMOTOSPORTS.COM

SEP 27 (S,T): LAOTTO: G & S RACING, DONNA GRIFFIS; 6485 MERCHANTS DR /SW CNR SR 205 & 3; (260) 637-5416; GANDSRACINGS.COM

SEP 12 (S,T,Y): BUDDS CREEK: 2 DAY EVENT: BUDDS CREEK MOTOCROSS PAR, JONATHAN E BEASLEY; BUDDS CREEK MX PARK /RT 301 S TO RT 234; (301) 475-2000; BUDDSCREEK.COM

SEP 20 (S,Y): WHITE CITY: CAHOKIA CREEK DIRT RIDERS, BOBBY G BROWN; 8 AM; I-55 EXIT 44 HWY 138 WEST 2MIL; CCDIRT.COM

IOWA

MASSACHUSETTS

HILLCLIMB

ROAD RUN

SEP 13 (S): ANAMOSA: MIDWEST HILLCLIMBERS ASSO, DENNIS L SCHULTZ; 8 AM; 1 MI S OF TOWN ON HWY 151; (319) 489-2361; GEOCITIES. COM/ANAMOSAHILLCLIMB

SEP 20 (R): PLYMPTON: CHARITY: PILGRIM SANDS TRAIL RIDER, GORDON B COYLE; 8:30 AM; UPLAND CLUB-UPLAND RD /AROWED FROM RTE 44 & 58; (781) 294-8355; PSTR.ORG

MOTOCROSS

DUAL SPORT RIDE

SEP 5 (S,T,Y): MONTEZUMA: 2 DAY EVENT: FV MOTOX, CHIP BRYAN; 7 AM; FUN VALLEY SKI AREA /1066 500TH AVE/ 2.5 MI SW OF TOWN; (641) 623-3456; FVMOTOX.COM

SEP 12 (R): SANDISFIELD: 2 DAY EVENT: BERKSHIRE TRAIL RIDERS AS, JASON MYERS; 9 AM; SANDISFIELD FIRE DEPT RT 57 /5 MILES W OF RT 8 AND RT 57; (860) 916-7905; MUDSLINGER.ORG

OBSERVED TRIALS SEP 20 (S,Y): BYRON: NORTHERN ILLINOIS TRIALS, JENNIFER A MAUPIN; 9 AM; BYRON MOTORSPORTS PARK /3 MI S OF TOWN ON GERMAN CHURCH RD; (630) 690-1625; NITROTRIALS.COM

INDIANA ROAD RUN SEP 20 (R): KOKOMO: MIDNIGHT RIDERS, JACK D MCKINNEY; 12 M; MILLERS TAVERN 110 W ELM ST /EAST OF WASHINGTON ST ON ELM ST; (765) 452-7654; MIDNIGHT-RIDERS-MC.COM SEP 27 (R): COLUMBIA CITY: OLD FORT MOTORCYCLE CLUB, DAVID O DEWITT; 12 PM; CLUBHOUSE/4863 E LINCOLN WAY /E OF TOWN; (260) 489-3707

SEP 12 (S,T,Y): CEDAR RAPIDS: CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS, CURT HEJDA; 1 PM; HAWKEYE DOWNS /4400 6TH ST SW; (319) 363-7800; CVTR. ORG SEP 19 (S,Y): NEW HARTFORD: 2 DAY EVENT: NEW HARTFORD RACING, CARRIE ETTEN; 7:30 AM; 5 MI N OF TOWN ON BLACKTOP T55; (319) 885-6469; NEWHARTFORDRACING.COM

M BOULIS; LENAWEE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS; (810) 686-7083; SHORT TRACK SEP 12 (S,T): ADRIAN: BOULIS RACING, ETHEL M BOULIS; LENAWEE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS; (810) 686-7083; SCRAMBLES SEP 13 (S,T): ADRIAN: BOULIS RACING, ETHEL M BOULIS; LENAWEE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS; (810) 686-7083; HILLCLIMB SEP 12 (S,Y): SEP 13 (S,Y): BRIDGETON: MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, RUSTY HANSON; 8 AM; DAN RAYMOND PK /112TH ST & GREEN AVE; (231) 726-6937; MUSKEGONMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM SEP 20 (S,Y): WEST BRANCH: PORT HURON MOTORCYCLE CLU, PATRICIA J WISNIEWSKI; 8 AM; 3247 COOK RD; PHMC-USA.ORG MOTOCROSS SEP 5 (S,Y): MILLINGTON: BAJA MX INC, PATRICK J GRZEBINSKI; 7 AM; 8683 BIRCH RUN RD /I-75 EX 136E/6.5 MI E TO TRACK; (989) 871-3356; WWW.BAJAMX.COM SEP 5 (S,T,Y): SEP 6 (S,T,Y): SEP 7 (S,T,Y): BRONSON: JB MX MOTORSPORTS, JEFF A BEERBOWER; 7 AM; LOG ROAD MX PARK /I-69 EX 13/W 10 MI TO LOG RD/S 1.5 MI; (419) 6365430; LOGROADMX.COM SEP 6 (S,T,Y): CADILLAC: CADILLAC MOTORCYCLE CLUB, RICK AUGUSTON; 7 AM; CLBGRNDS/3747 S 39 RD /.25 MI N OF 34 RD ON 39 RD; (231) 884-3727; CADILLACMC.COM SEP 6 (M,Y): MILLINGTON: 2 DAY EVENT: BAJA MX INC, ROSEANNA M GRZEBINSKI; 7 AM; 8683 BIRCH RUN RD /I-75 EX 136E/6.5 MI E TO TRACK; (989) 871-3356; BAJAMX.COM SEP 12 (S,T,Y): PORTLAND: 2 DAY EVENT: PORTLAND TRAIL RIDERS M/C, LUKE T ADAMS; 11999 SANDBORN RD /4 MI S OF TOWN ON CHARLOTTE HWY; (517) 647-2686; PORTLANDTRAILRIDERS.COM SEP 12 (S,T,Y): SEP 26 (S,T,Y): NEWAYGO: 2 DAY EVENTS:BIG AIR MOTOCROSS, MATT POWERS; 4 PM; 1262 SPRING DRIVE; (231) 652-5225; BIGAIRMOTOCROSS.COM SEP 19 (S,Y): SEP 20 (S,Y): BELDING: GRATTAN RACEWAY, HUGH FAASEN; 7201 LESSITER; (616) 691-7221; GRATTANRACEWAYMX.COM SEP 20 (S,Y): MILLINGTON: BULLDOG RIDERS M/C, DOUG W EVANS; 7 AM; 9113 BELSAY RD /I-75 BIRCH RUN RD/E TO BELSEY RD; (248) 2845570; BULLDOGMX.COM HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 19 (S,T,Y): BATTLE CREEK: BATTLE CREEK MOTORCYCLE C, JOSEPH D WATHEN; 6 AM; CLBGRNDS/21758 WAUBASCON RD /HELMER N TO MORGAN/E TO WAUBESCON/N 3 MI; (269) 729-9691; BATTLECREEKMOTORCYCLECLUB. COM SEP 20 (M): BATTLE CREEK: NATIONAL;:BATTLE CREEK MOTORCYCLE C, BYRON KIBBY; CLBGRNDS/21758 WAUBASCON RD /HELMER N TO MORGAN/E TO WAUBESCON/N 3 MI; BATTLECREEKMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM ENDURO SEP 20 (S): SHERIDAN: MICHIGAN OFF ROAD EVENTS, THOMAS M DUNN; 7 AM; ; D14ENDURO. ORG

HILLCLIMB

OBSERVED TRIALS

SEP 13 (S,T,Y): MONSON: QUABOAG RIDERS INC, JAMES H OCONNELL; 8 AM; CLUBGROUNDS / RT 32 TO KING AVE/SEE WEBSITE; (413) 267-4414; QUABOAGRIDERSMC.COM

SEP 13 (S,Y): METAMORA: MICHIGAN ONTARIO TRIALS A, BRIAN AHERNE; 9 AM; ; (248) 634-2184; MOTATRIALS.ORG

MICHIGAN

SEP 27 (S,Y): FLUSHING: MICHIGAN ONTARIO TRIALS A, JEFF POLLACK; 9 AM; ; (248) 583-1437; MOTATRIALS.ORG

ENDURO

ROAD RUN

DRAG RACES

SEP 13 (S): EARLHAM: DES MOINES ENDURO RIDERS, KEVIN L HANSEN; (515) 314-7420

SEP 27 (R): CADILLAC: CADILLAC MOTORCYCLE CLUB, DENNIS CARPENTER; 10:30 AM; CLBGRNDS/3747 S 39 RD /.25 MI N OF 34 RD ON 39 RD; (231) 884-3729; CADILLACMC.COM

SEP 12 (S,T,Y): BRIDGETON: MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, RUSS HANSON; 8 AM; DAN RAYMOND PK /112TH ST & GREEN AVE; (231) 7266937; MUSKEGONMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

ROAD RUN

POKER RUN

MINNESOTA

SEP 20 (R): KANSAS CITY: MARCH OF DIMESKS, ASHLEY SUMMERS; 8 AM; KANSAS SPEEDWAY /I-70 EX 110TH ST; (913) 469-3611; BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG

SEP 27 (R): CRUMP: TRI-CITY TRAVELERS MC, JOSEPH K SCHULTZ; CRUMP FOX CLUB / LINWOOD RD W/7 MI N/PREVO RD W;

REC TRAIL RIDE

MOTOCROSS

KENTUCKY

SEP 5 (S,T,Y): WABASH: 2 DAY EVENT: WABASH CANNONBALL MOTORCY, STEVE HENSEN; 6 AM; 500 W 250 S; (260) 578-2245; WABASHCANNONBALLMX.COM

ROAD RUN

SEP 26 (R): BOYNE FALLS: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: GREAT LAKES DUAL SPORTERS, JERAMEY VALLEY; 8 AM; 2380 MAGEE RD /SEE WEBSITE; (989) 751-6863; GLDSMC.ORG

ADVENTURE RIDE SEP 26 (R): COLUMBUS :NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: STONEY LONESOME MOTORCYCL, NATHAN GASKILL; 8 AM; SR 46 W FROM I65/6 MI ON L; (812) 343-9772; STONEYLONESOMEMC.COM DUAL SPORT RIDE SEP 26 (R): COLUMBUS: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: STONEY LONESOME MOTORCYCL, NATHAN GASKILL; 8 AM; SR 46 W FROM I65/6 MI ON L; (812) 343-9772; STONEYLONESOMEMC.COM

SEP 12 (S,T,Y): ROSSVILLE: WILDCAT CREEK MX, DEMETRIUS KNOP; 6 AM; 6390 S WILDWOOD /I-65 TO LAFAYETTE/SR26E TO TOWN; (765) 3792482; WILDCATCREEKMX.COM SEP 20 (S,Y): SEYMOUR: HOOSIER HILLTOPPERS, DANNY K GARNER; 6 AM; 7 MILES E OF TOWN/ SR 250 TO CR 385W/1.5 MI; (812) 873-1178;

KANSAS

SEP 11 (R): FRANKFORT: 3 DAY EVENT: BLUEGRASS BEEMERS, ROY ROWLETT; STROHMEYERS STILLWATER CMPGRND / US 127/8 MI N OF TOWN; (859) 223-5459; BLUEGRASSBEEMERS.ORG SWAP MEETS SEP 26 (R): BURLINGTON: 2 DAY EVENT: CLASSIC BRITISH MOTORCYCL, RICK RICHARDSON; 9 AM; 5819 IDLEWILD RD /I75 TO TOWN EX, FOLLOW SIGNS; (513) 734-2548; CINCYBRITISHBIKES.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 13 (S,T,Y): CULVER: PLYMOUTH BLACKHAWKS MC IN, CLIFFORD R BEAN; 8 AM;

52

AMA GRAND TOURS With KOA Along The Way

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

MARYLAND

DUAL SPORT RIDE

BIKE SHOW SEP 13 (R): ORCHARD LAKE: METRO TRIUMPH RIDERS, PETER GAREFFA; 3535 INDIAN TRAVEL / CORNER OF ORCHARD LAKE RD & COMMERCE RD; METROTRIUMPHRIDERS.COM 1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK SEP 5 (S,T): SEP 6 (S,T): MIDLAND: BOULIS RACING, ETHEL M BOULIS; MIDLAND CO FAIRGROUNDS /1-75 TO EASTMAN RD EXIT; (000) 000-0000; SEP 12 (S,T): ADRIAN: BOULIS RACING, ETHEL

SEP 12 (R,T,Y): THEILMAN: 2 DAY EVENT: GOLDEN EAGLES C.C., THOMAS A EARLY; 8 AM; ZUMBRO BOTTOMS /SEE WEBSITE; (715) 307-0936; GOLDENEAGLESMC.ORG SEP 26 (R): HUNTERSVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT: TWIN CITIES TRAIL RIDERS, TOM STRONCZER; 9 AM; SEE WEBSITE; (952) 896-6886; TCTRAILRIDERS. ORG SHORT TRACK SEP 19 (S,T,Y): CAMBRIDGE: ON TRACK PROMOTIONS INC, DARCY ANDERSON; 12 M; ISANTI CO FRGRNDS /HWY 95 E OF CAMBRIDGE; (612) 328-4410; SCRAMBLES SEP 13 (S,T,Y): CAMBRIDGE: NORSEMEN MOTORCYCLE CLUB, KURT BOEHLKE; 9 AM; 9 MI W OF TOWN ON HWY 95/N ON HWY47/1 MI N; (763) 413-7253; NORSEMENMC.ORG

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AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AMA Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series presented by Moose Racing

Oct. 4: Upland Lions Club, Upland, Ind.: Brent Floyd, Muddobbers MC; ILÅ V`K'Z^L`aLL JVT T\KKVIILYZ VYN

NationalEnduro.com

AMA Racing National Hare & Hound

Christman, Sageriders MC; (435) 650-0411; dezchik111@yahoo.com, sageriders.com

Sept. 26: Wendover, Nev.: Steve Rij, Utah Desert Foxes; (801) 964-8773; steve.bmp@att.net, utahdesertfoxes.com

Oct. 25: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Tommy Russell, 100s MC; (760) 578-7943; 100smc.org

Oct. 3: Jericho, Utah: Karl

TOWN COMMONS; (413) 498-4433; RACEUSCRA.COM

SEP 20 (S,Y): MILLVILLE: HI WINDERS, JOHN C MARTIN; SPRING CREEK MX PARK /63633 298TH AVE/9 MI E OF ZUMBRO FALLS/HWY60; (507) 753-2779; SPRINGCREEKMX.COM

SEP 7 (S): LOUDON: VINTAGE; UNITED STATES CLASSIC RAC, ROBERT S COY; 7 AM; NH INT’L SPEEDWAY /RT 106/N OF CONCORD; (413) 4984433; RACE-USCRA.COM

SEP 20 (S,Y): BROOKSTON: ECHO VALLEY MOTOCROSS PAR, TERI LUND; 6 AM; 4650 LAVOY RD /10 MI W OF HWY 33 ON HWY2/MILE MARKER 235; (218) 348-4754; ECHOVALLEYMOTOCROSS.COM SEP 27 (S,Y): ELKO: MOTOKAZIE INC, LEE M THEIS; 6:30 AM; ELKO MX/26350 FRANCE AVE / GPS/N44,34.20528/W093,19.73688; (952) 6011169; MOTOKAZIE.COM HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 20 (S,Y): CROSBY: NORTHERN LITES MC, BRETT HARDY; 7 AM; 6 MI N OF TOWN ON HWY 6/EAST SIDE; (218) 829-7985; NORTHERNLITESMC.ORG OBSERVED TRIALS

AMADragbike.com

Norwalk, Ohio, AMA Dragbike; (513) 943-9700

SEP 13 (S,Y): GOOD THUNDER: UPPER MIDWEST TRIALS ASSO, GORDON BOGGIE; 9 AM; HOPPA FARM /57329 166 LANE ST HWY 22S TO CO RD 16; (952) 881-9427; UMTA.ORG

Sept. 12-13: Atco Raceway, Atco, N.J., AMA Dragbike; (513) 943-9700

Nov. 13-15: South Georgia Motorsports Park, Valdosta, Ga., AMA Dragbike; (513) 943-9700

MISSISSIPPI

AMA Dragbike

Oct. 10-11: Summit Motorsports Park,

Grand National Cross Country Series

Productions; (304) 284-0084; info@ gnccracing.com

GNCCRacing.com

Oct 3-4: St. Clairsville, Ohio, Racer Productions; (304) 284-0084; info@ gnccracing.com

Sep 12-13: New Berlin, N.Y., Racer Productions; (304) 284-0084; info@ gnccracing.com Sep 26-27: Yadkinville, N.C., Racer

Oct 24-25: Crawfordsville, Ind., Racer Productions; (304) 284-0084; info@ gnccracing.com

World Off-Road Championship Series

Sept. 18-20: Devore, Calif., (435) 6351597; info@worcsracing.com,

WORCSRacing.com

Oct. 23-25: Mesquite, Nev., (435) 6351597; info@worcsracing.com

AMA EnduroCross Championship

Media Motorsports; endurocross@ sourceinterlink.com

Endurocross.com

Oct. 24: National Western Complex, Denver, Source Interlink Media Motorsports; endurocross@ sourceinterlink.com

Sept. 12: Florence Civic Center, Florence, S.C., Source Interlink Media Motorsports; endurocross@ sourceinterlink.com Oct. 3: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio, Source Interlink

AMA Racing East Hare Scrambles Sept. 20: Battle Creek, Mich.: Byron Kibby, Battle Creek MC; (296)

AMA Racing West Hare Scrambles

Nov. 21: The Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nev., Source Interlink Media Motorsports; endurocross@ sourceinterlink.com

660-1613; snydergws@comcast.net, battlecreekmotorcycleclub.com Sept. 27: Yadkinville, N.C., Racer Productions; (304) 284-0084; info@ gnccracing.com, gnccracing.com

westernharescrambles.com

WesternHareScrambles.com

Sept. 18-20: Glen Helen, Devore, Calif., Sean Reddish, Off Road Sports, info@westernharescrambles.com

Aug. 29-30: Bull Hollow Raceway, Monticello, Utah, Sean Reddish, Off Road Sports, info@

Oct. 23-25: Mesquite, Mesquite, Nev., Sean Reddish, Off Road Sports, info@ westernharescrambles.com

INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS ENDURO Oct. 12-17: Figueira da Foz, Portugal: Federação Nacional de Motociclismo; fnm-geral@netcabo.pt; www.fnm.pt

HILLCLIMB SEP 12 (S,T,Y): RED WING: 2 DAY EVENT: INDIANHEAD CYCLE CLUB, DAN PREBE; 8 AM; 400 CHERRY STREET; (651) 764-1220; KINGOFTHEHILL.ORG MOTOCROSS SEP 6 (V,Y): MAZEPPA: 2 DAY EVENT: HURRICANE HILLS MX PARK I, JEFFERY GRAY; 6:30 AM; 43560 232ND AVE /6 MI E OF ZUMBROTA ON CR10 TO 232ND AVE; (507) 843-5154; HURRICANEHILLS. COM SEP 6 (S,Y): SEP 7 (S,Y): KELLOGG: MOTOKAZIE

54

PARK I, JEFFERY GRAY; 6:30 AM; 43560 232ND AVE /6 MI E OF ZUMBROTA ON CR10 TO 232ND AVE; (507) 843-5154; HURRICANEHILLS.COM

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

MOTOCROSS SEP 27 (M,Y): PRENTISS: GOLDEN PINE RACEWAY, RANDY R RECTOR; 6 AM; 103 GOLDEN PINE RD; (601) 506-8669; GOLDENPINERACEWAY.COM

MISSOURI ROAD RUN SEP 19 (R): JEFFERSON CITY: MARCH OF DIMES-MO ST LOUI, MICHELLE HUNOLT; ABB POWER T&D COMP; (573) 635-5350; BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG SEP 19 (R): LAKE OZARK: MARCH OF DIMESMO ST LOUI, MICHELLE HUNOLT; 9:30 AM; 2107 BAGNELL DAM RD; (573) 635-5350; BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG SEP 19 (R): SIDALIA: MARCH OF DIMES-MO ST LOUIS, MICHELLE HUNOLT; 9:30 AM; 2503 W. 16TH /SIDALIA STATE FAIRGROUNDS; (573) 6355350; BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG SEP 19 (R): COLUMBIA: MARCH OF DIMESMO ST LOUIS, MICHELLE HUNOLT; 9:30 AM; 5704 FREEDOM DR; (573) 635-5350; BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG SEP 20 (R): COTTLEVILLE: CHARITY: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOU, KYLE CLACK; 8 AM; ST CHARLES COMM COLLEGE /4601 MID RIVERS MALL DR; (800) 253-6530; RIDEFORKIDS.ORG SEP 26 (R): ST JOSEPH: MARCH OF DIMES-MO ST LOUIS, RANDI BAKER; 10 AM; TERRIBLE’S ST. JO FRONTIER CAS /777 WINNER CIRCLE; (816) 238-8707; BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG ROAD RALLY SEP 9 (R): CHEROKEE PASS: 5 DAY EVENT: ROAD RIDERS FOR JESUS, CARL CRACKEL; 12 PM; PINECREST CAMP /67S FROM STL; (636) 2859005; ROADRIDERSFORJESUS.ORG SEP 12 (R): SPRINGFIELD: MARCH OF DIMES-MO ST LOUI, COURTNEY SWAN; 9 AM; 3225 N FARM RD 123; (417) 889-9397; BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG MOTOCROSS

SEP 13 (S,Y): BROOK PARK: BERM BENDERS RACEWAY, KURT CASWELL; 6:30 AM; HWY 23E 8 MI TO SHERWOOD ST CR 68N; (320) 679-2582; BERMBENDERS.COM SEP 13 (S): MAZEPPA: HURRICANE HILLS MX

DUAL SPORT RIDE SEP 27 (R): NEW LISBON: CENTRAL JERSEY COMPETITIO, BOB AGONIS; 10 AM; MILE MARKER #3 ROUTE 72 /ROUTE 70 & 72/ BRENDAN T BYRNE STATE FOREST; (732) 9859016; CJCR.COM ROAD RALLY SEP 6 (R): BRIDGEWATER: DAWN PATROL MOTORCYCLE CL, PATRICIA GORGI; ROBERT ST /OLD YORK RD/BRADLEY GARDENS SECTION; (908) 722-4357; DAWNPATROLMC.ORG MOTOCROSS SEP 5 (S,T,Y): SEP 6 (S,Y): ENGLISHTOWN: RACEWAY PARK, RICHARD SCHMIDT; 7 AM; 230 PENSION RD; (732) 446-7800; RACEWAYPARK. COM SEP 11 (S): ATCO: 3 DAY EVENT: AMA DRAGBIKE, BRANDI NEITHAMER; 9 AM; ATCO RACEWAY; (513) 943-9700; AMADRAGBIKE.COM

NEW MEXICO CONVENTIONS SEP 16 (R): RUIDOSO DOWNS: 5 DAY EVENT: GOLDEN ASPEN RALLY ASSN I, PATRIC PEARSON; 8 AM; SPORTS THEATRE /304 N JOE WELCH; (800) 452-8045; MOTORCYCLERALLY. COM

NEW YORK ROAD RUN SEP 13 (R,T,Y): SPRING VALLEY: CHAI RIDERS MC, LAUREN M SECULAR; 9 AM; 17 S MADISON AVE /EX 14 OFF 87 OR OFF PALISADES PKWY; (212) 689-0063; HOLOCAUSTSTUDIES.ORG/ SEP 20 (R): MT VERNON: BLUE KNIGHTS-NY CHAPTER 1, PHILIP O’HAGAN; 9 AM; 88 W LINCOLN AVE; (914) 588-5531; SEP 27 (R): ALBANY: IRISH RIDERS MC, MAGGIE MCNALLY; 10 AM; SHEEHY PALMER VFW; (518) 209-2464; IRISHRIDERSMC.COM POKER RUN SEP 12 (R): ALBANY: BLUE KNIGHTS-NY CHAPTER V, LARRY MOYER; 9 AM; 1970 CENTRAL AVE (RT 5) /1.5 MI W OF RT 155/T’S MEMORIAL RIDE SEP 13 (R): FISHKILL: LOST WHEELS MOTORCYCLE CL, EDWARD G BUSSE; 9 AM; DUTCHESS STADIUM /RT 9D/N OF EX 11 I-84; (845) 297-6205; LOSTWHEELS.COM DICE RUN SEP 20 (R): GENSEO: CONESUS LAKE RIDERS MOTOR, MICHAEL BACKUS; 12 PM; 21 HIGHLAND RD /SEE WEBSITE FOR DIRECTIONS; (585) 335-5322; CLR-MC.COM ROAD RALLY SEP 13 (R): CLARENCE: REGENT RIDERS; 10295 MAIN ST; (716) 937-9524; REGENTRIDERS.COM

SEP 6 (S,T,Y): COLUMBIA: MOTOCROSS PARENTS, KELLY VEST; FINGER LAKES STATE PK /I-70 EX 63/N 9 MI; (660) 621-0299; MXPRACING.COM

1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK

HARE SCRAMBLES

MOTOCROSS

SEP 5 (V,Y): TRENTON: OZARKS CROSS COUNTRY RACI, TIM MILLER; 6 PM; N OF TRENTON ON HWY 65 TO RT A /RIGHT ON CR NW 130TH STRAIGHT 2 M. THEN LEFT; (417) 252-0198

SEP 6 (S,T,Y): SOUTH EDMESTON: 2 DAY EVENT: THUNDER RIDGE SPORTS/JK R, JAMES L SIMMONS; 6 AM; 224 MICHAEL LANE /1 MI S OF TOWN/HWY 18; (607) 847-6520; THUNDERRIDGE. BIZ

MONTANA

SEP 13 (S,T,Y): AUBURN: FROZEN OCEAN MOTOCROSS IN, BILL M DENMAN; 7 AM; 4415 VANDERSTOUW RD /NYS THRUWAY EX 40 TO 34S; (315) 784-5466; FROZEN-OCEAN.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 19 (S,Y): BIG SKY: 2 DAY EVENT: LONE PEAK RACING LLC, JAMES KABISCH; 7 AM; BIG SKY RESORT; (406) 223-0478; BIGSKYXC.COM

DUAL SPORT RIDE

SEP 6 (S,Y): SEP 7 (S,Y): SEP 27 (S,Y): BROWERVILLE: MOTO CITY RACEWAY & RECRE, DALE KADLEC; 7 AM; 41279 CR 7 / HWY 10/W ON TODD CO RD 7; (218) 894-2826; MOTOCITYRACEWAY.COM

NEW JERSEY

DRAG RACES

NEVADA

INC, LEE M THEIS; 6:30 AM; MIDWAY MX /58374 HWY 42; (952) 601-1169; MOTOKAZIE.COM

ROAD RACE

SEP 26 (R): LAS VEGAS: LAS VEGAS DUAL SPORT, STEVE J MAKAR; 7 AM; 32100 LAS VEGAS BLVD S /PRINM, NV AT THE STATE LINE; (702) 641-5555; LASVEGASDUALSPORT.COM HARE & HOUND SEP 26 (S,T): WENDOVER: NATIONAL: UTAH DESERT FOXES, STEVE RIJ 15 MI S OF TOWN ON HWY 93A; (801) 964-8773; UTAHDESERTFOXES. COM

NEW HAMPSHIRE ROAD RUN SEP 6 (R): HILLSBOROUGH CT: VINTAGE: UNITED STATES CLASSIC RAC, ROBERT S COY; 9 AM;

SEP 19 (S,T,Y): HARPURSVILLE: SQUARE DEAL RIDERS M/C, CRAIG ESTELLE; 2 PM; ALLEN RD; (607) 206-5494; SQUAREDEALRIDERS.COM

SEP 20 (S,T,Y): MEXICO: SMX ASSOCIATES LLC, AL MORGAN; 7 AM; 3098 SR11; (315) 668-7195; MOTOMASTERS.COM SEP 26 (S,T,Y): RICHFORD: 2 DAY EVENT: BROOME TIOGA SPORTS CENTE, TOM HURD; 6 AM; 50 SHAFFER RD /I-81 EX 8/RT 79W 8 MI; (607) 849-4438; BROOME-TIOGA.COM HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 6 (S): MEXICO: SMX ASSOCIATES LLC, AL MORGAN; 7 AM; 3098 SR11; (315) 668-7195; MOTOMASTERS.COM SEP 12 (V,Y): SEP 13 (S,Y): NEW BERLIN: RACER PRODUCTIONS INC, RITA COOMBS; UNADILLA VALLEY SPORTS CENTER; (304) 284-0084; GNCCRACING.COM SEP 20 (S,T,Y): CAYUTA: MOUNTAIN VIEW TRAIL RIDER, DAVID M REED; 6 AM; (607) 796-9558; WNYOA.NET ENDURO

SEP 27 (S): NEWARK: WAYNE COUNTY MOTORCYCLE C, TOM J HORNSBY; FAIRVILLE FIRE DEPT /RT 88 N; (315) 5733383; WAYNECO.MC.COM

MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATTHEW D EASTMAN; 4 PM; RICHWOOD INDEPEDENT FAIR /OFF OF SR 37/L ON GILL ST; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

SEP 5 (S,T): NELSONVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT: FAST TRAXX PROMOTIONS LLC, SHAWNA BICKLEY; 8 AM; 5999 WARREN DR /BTWN ATHENS & TOWN ON RT 33; (740) 767-3740; FASTTRAXXRACING.COM

SEP 11 (R): MUMBAUERSVILLE: 3 DAY EVENT: FREEDOM RIDERS MOTORCYCLE, WAYNE H STUMP; 5 PM; MUMBAUERSVILLE GUN CLUB /RT 663 & KLEINS MILL RD 1.5 MILE S PA TURNPKE; (215) 679-4766; FREEDOMRIDERS.COM

SEP 7 (S,T,Y): BROADWAY: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATTHEW D EASTMAN; 7 AM; AMS MX TRACK /SR33 TO SR31N TO 347W R ON YEARSLEY RD; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM

SEP 12 (R): OIL CITY: OIL REGION ALLIANCE OF BU, TONI KRESINSKI; 10 AM; 545 OLD BANKSON ROAD /OIL CITY-VOWINKELMARIANNE-FOXBURG-BARKEYVILE; (800) 483-6264; OILREGION.ORG

SEP 12 (S,Y): BLANCHESTER: DIRT COUNTRY, CINDY KING; 5 AM; 6901 RT 133 /3.5 MI S OF TOWN ON RT 133; (513) 6257350; DIRTCOUNTRYMX.COM

SEP 19 (R): REAMSTOWN: GARDEN SPOT MC, JOHN SNYDER; 8 AM; 1840 N READING RD /272 N READING RD; (717) 336-0092; GARDENSPOTMC.COM

SEP 13 (S,Y): BLANCHESTER: DIRT COUNTRY, CYNTHIA KING; 5 AM; 6901 RT 133 /3.5 MI S OF TOWN ON RT 133; (513) 625-7350; DIRTCOUNTRYMX.COM

SEP 20 (R): POTTSTOWN: FRIENDS OF THE FORGOTTEN, WILLIAM GILLESPIE; 8 AM; 300 ARMAND HAMMER BLVD / CALL FOR DIRECTIONS; (215) 362-7989; FRIENDSOFTHEFORGOTTEN.ORG

GRAND PRIX SEP 5 (S,T,Y): SOUTH EDMESTON: THUNDER RIDGE SPORTS/JK R, JAMES L SIMMONS; 6 AM; 224 MICHAEL LANE /1 MI S OF TOWN/HWY 18; (607) 847-6520; THUNDERRIDGE.BIZ

NORTH CAROLINA ADVENTURE RIDE SEP 19 (R): MORGANTON: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: JB SAKI PROMOTIONS, RON MILLER; 9 AM; STEELE CREEK PARK /6622 181 N/I40 EX 105/HWY181 N 11 MI; (704) 483-6833 HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 26 (V,Y): YADKINVILLE: RACER PRODUCTIONS INC, RITA COOMBS; (304) 284-0084; GNCCRACING.COM SEP 27 (S,Y): YADKINVILLE :NATIONAL; RACER PRODUCTIONS INC, RITA COOMBS; (304) 284-0084; GNCCRACING.COM

OHIO ROAD RUN SEP 13 (R): ORIENT :CHARITY: CAPITAL CITY MOTORCYCLE C, MARY HAMILTON; 11 AM; 9700 BORROR /3 MI S OF SR665/1 MI W OF SR104; (614) 877-1777 SEP 19 (R): PERRYSBURG: CHARITY: MARCH OF DIMES-OH DAYTON, RUTH GRIFFIN; 11 AM; 1176 PROFESSIONAL DR /CONTACT OFFICE; (419) 534-3600; MARCHOFDIMES.COM/OHIO SEP 19 (R): DAYTON: CHARITY: MARCH OF DIMES-OH DAYTON, LORI HENTRICH; 11 AM; 6024 RIP RAP ROAD /CONTACT OFFICE; (937) 294-3330; MARCHOFDIMES. COM/OHIO POKER RUN SEP 27 (R): GREENVILLE: TREATY CITY MOTORCYCLE CL, DAN R KNECHT; 12 PM; 7270 MOTORCYCLE DR /3.5 MI W OF TOWN OFF ST RT 571; (937) 548-7197; TREATYCITYMC.COM ADVENTURE RIDE SEP 26 (R): LOGAN: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: BUCKEYE DUAL SPORTERS, BILL KAEPPNER; 7 AM; 34070 SUTTON RD / RT 93 1.25 MI N OF RT 33; (740) 380-3050; KAEPPNERSWOODS.COM DUAL SPORT RIDE SEP 5 (R): NEW STRAITSVILLE: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: NEW STRAITSVILLE ENDURO R, STEVE W WHEELER; 9 AM; BEGLEYS ATV CAMPGROUND /12 MI N OF LOGAN ON SR93; (740) 394-2220; NSENDURO.COM SEP 26 (R): LOGAN: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: BUCKEYE DUAL SPORTERS, BILL KAEPPNER; 7 AM; 34070 SUTTON RD / RT 93 1.25 MI N OF RT 33; (740) 380-3050; KAEPPNERSWOODS.COM ROAD RALLY SEP 11 (R): POMEROY: 4 DAY EVENT: FUR PEACE MOTORCYCLE CLUB, BEN HOCHBERG; 9 AM; 39495 ST CLAIRE RD / SR 33 TO MEIGS CTY, 20 E ST CLAIRE RD NORTH; (740) 992-2575; FURPEACERANCH. COM OPEN HOUSE SEP 12 (R): PICKERINGTON: AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSN, TONI SHOAP; 10 AM; 13515 YARMOUTH DR; (614) 856-2222; MOTORCYCLEMUSEUM.ORG 1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK SEP 12 (S,T,Y): RICHWOOD: 2 DAY EVENT: TRIANGLE M.C. OF MARION, LARRY DOUGLAS; 9 AM; 6 GILL STREET; (740) 3960350; OHIOFLATTRACKSPORTCENTER. COM HILLCLIMB SEP 26 (S,T,Y): SEP 27 (S,T,Y): WATERFORD: PIONEER MOTORCYCLE CLUB I, RUTH HUGHES; 7 AM; FAIRGROUNDS / SR339/FOLLOW SIGNS; (740) 373-9566; PIONEERMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM MOTOCROSS SEP 2 (S,T,Y): MT GILEAD: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATTHEW D EASTMAN; 4 PM; MORROW CO FAIR /SR42; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM SEP 4 (S,T,Y): RICHWOOD: AMERICAN

SEP 16 (S,T,Y): LOGAN: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATTHEW D EASTMAN; 4 PM; HOCKING COUNTY FAIR /SR 33 TO SR 93N; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM SEP 19 (S,T,Y): NELSONVILLE: FAST TRAXX PROMOTIONS LLC, SHAWNA BICKLEY; 6:30 AM; 5999 WARREN DR /BTWN ATHENS & TOWN ON RT 33; (740) 767-3740; FASTTRAXXRACING.COM SEP 19 (S,T,Y): OLD WASHINGTON: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATT EASTMAN; 4 PM; GUERNSEY COUNTY FAIR /I-70 TO SR 285; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM SEP 20 (S,Y): GREENVILLE: TREATY CITY MOTORCYCLE CL, DAN R KNECHT; 6:30 AM; 7270 MOTORCYCLE DR /3.5 MI W OF TOWN OFF ST RT 571; (937) 548-7197; TREATYCITYMC.COM SEP 21 (S,T,Y): DOVER: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATTHEW D EASTMAN; 4 PM; TUSCARAWAS COUNTY FAIR /OFF OF I 77; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM SEP 23 (S,T,Y): DELAWARE: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATTHEW D EASTMAN; 4 PM; DELAWARE CO FAIR/ SR 23 TO DELAWARE; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM SEP 27 (S,T,Y): SUGAR GROVE: CENTRAL OHIO COMPETITION, REX PIERCE; 6 AM; 9171 BUCKEYE RD/6 MI E OF LANCASTER/ LEFT AT LIGHT; (614) 871-3406; HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 6 (S,T): LITTLE HOCKING: WILDWOOD LAKE RACEWAY, BRENT WINDLAND; 7 AM; 2392 WILDWOOD LAKE RD /SR50/7 TO SR555 TO WELCH RD TO WILDWOOD LAKE; (740) 989-2866; WILDWOODLAKERACEWAY. COM SEP 13 (S,T): LOGAN: HOCKING VALLEY MOTORCYCLE, TOM SCHOLL; 8 AM; US 33 TO RTE 328/FLLW SIGNS; (740) 385-7695; HOCKINGVALLEYMC.ORG ENDURO SEP 20 (S): ATHENS: ATHENS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, KEVIN BROWN; 7 AM; ATHENS CO FAIRGROUNDS /SR682/ FOLLOW SIGNS; (740) 593-7459; ACESRACES.COM

GRAND PRIX SEP 5 (S,T,Y): LOGAN: VINTAGE: FIVE BROTHERS RACEWAY, CONRAD WESSELHOEFT; 5207 SR312 /SR33 TO SR 93/N TO SUTTON RD/TURN RIGHT; (740) 385-1002; FIVEBROTHERSRACE.COM SEP 19 (S,T,Y): SEP 20 (S,T,Y): NELSONVILLE: FAST TRAXX PROMOTIONS LLC, SHAWNA BICKLEY; 8 AM; 5999 WARREN DR /BTWN ATHENS & TOWN ON RT 33; (740) 767-3740; FASTTRAXXRACING. COM SEP 27 (S,T,Y): ATHENS: ACTION SPORTS PROMOTIONS, DREW WOLFE; 8 AM; ACTION SPORTS MOTO PARK; (740) 5946686; ACTIONSPORTSRACING.COM

OREGON POKER RUN SEP 13 (R): BEAVERTON: H.O.G.-OR SUNSET CHAPTER, KEN EBY; PO BOX 2078; (503) 577-2151; DUAL SPORT RIDE SEP 13 (R): DETROIT: NORTHWEST TOUR & TRAIL, DAN HATCHER; 7 AM; FOX CR CAMPGROUND /6 MI N OF TOWN; (503) 554-8360; BLACKDOGDUALSPORT.COM SEP 19 (R): DIAMOND LAKE: 2 DAY EVENT: MOTORCYCLE RIDERS ASSOCIA, JEFF MOFFET; DIAMOND LAKE RESORT /N ON HWY 62 FROM MEDFORD; (800) 733-7593; MOTORCYCLERIDERSASSOCIATION.ORG

SEP 20 (R): KING OF PRUSSIA: CHARITY; PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOU, KYLE CLACK; 7:30 AM; IMAX/KING OF PRUSSIA MALL /MALL ENTRANCE/160 N GULPH RD; (800) 253-6530; RIDEFORKIDS.ORG POKER RUN SEP 7 (R): SCHUYLKILL HAVE: CHARITY; SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MOTORCY, GERALD V PAWLOWSKI; 9 AM; 958 SCHUYLKILL MTN RD /E OFF 183; (570) 385-1460; ILLCOUNTYMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM SEP 13 (R): BIRDSBORO: PAGODA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, RANDY KASTLE; 10 AM; 441 RED LANE /422 TO 82 TO LINCOLN RD TO RED LANE; (610) 582-3717; PAGODAMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM SEP 13 (R): YORK SPRINGS: SPRINGFIELD INDIAN MOTORC, BOB MARKEY; 10 AM; LATIMORE VALLEY FAIRGROUNDS /RT 15 6 MI S OF DILLSBURG/FALL POKER RUN; EMMR.ORG SEP 20 (R): KRESGEVILLE: ZINC CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, PHYLLIS KRESGE; 11 AM; STAR ROUTE BOX 31 /ROUTE 209 CLUBGROUNDS 1 MI S OF TOWN; (610) 681-9903; ZINCCITYMC.ORG SEP 27 (R): LEBANON: LEBANON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE, HENRIETTA STEINER; 9 AM; 11 S 22ND ST; (717) 270-9797 CARNIVAL RUN SEP 20 (R): YORK: YORK MOTORCYCLE CLUB, JERRY MYERS; 9 AM; CLUBGROUNDS /2333 WHITEFORD RD; (717) 755-1311; YORKMOTORCYCLE.COM BIKE SHOW SEP 12 (R): LANSDALE: BLUE COMET MOTORCYCLE CLU, RUSSELL B SMITH; 2 PM; MAIN ST /W OF INT OF RT 309 & BROAD ST; (215) 362-7989; BLUECOMETMC.COM SEP 19 (R): KRESGEVILLE: ZINC CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, PHYLLIS KRESGE; 10 AM; STAR ROUTE BOX 31 /ROUTE 209 CLUBGROUNDS 1 MI S OF TOWN; (610) 681-9903; ZINCCITYMC.ORG CRUISE-IN SEP 20 (R): LINE LEXINGTON: MOTORCYCLISTS FOR JESUS M, FREDERICK MCCLINCY; 10 AM; 80 HILLTOWN RD; (215) 234-8611; BIKERSUNDAY.COM 1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK SEP 26 (S,T,Y): YORK: SHIPPENSBURG MC, DARRYL L BAER; 8 AM; YORK FAIRGROUNDS; (717) 796-0294

SHORT TRACK SEP 5 (S,T): SPRING RUN: TWO WHEEL PROMOTIONS, VICKI L FLOWERS; 3 PM; 17911 DRY RUN RD WEST /PA TURNPIKE TO RT 75N/RT 641N/1 MI DRY RUN W; PATHVALLEY.COM

FOR MORE DETAILS , VISIT THE RIDING SE CTION OF AMERICANMOTO RCYCLIST.COM

SEP 27 (S,Y): LOCKE: AMA-DIST 4 TRIALS COMMITT, MIKE KOMER; 10 AM; ERRON HILL RD; (315) 497-3268;

ROAD RUN

April 18-19, 2009 Byb ee, TN 4H` Buck Meadows, CA 4H` Waben 4H` Za o, WI 4H` leski, OH Mill Hall, PA 1\UL 1\UL Logan Hood River, , OH (\N\Z[ OR

North Cascades, WA :LW[ Mo rganton, NC :LW[ :LW[ Ca Sterling, IL diz, KY :LW[ Co :LW[ Lo lumbus, IN :LW[ gan, OH Wabeno, WI 6J[ Hamm 6J[ onton, NJ 6J[ TBA, KY Delta, AL 6 6J[ 5V] J[ Payso Port Elizabeth, NJ 5 n, AZ V] Jenkins , NJ 5V] Los Angeles, CA

SEP 6 (S,Y): CAYUTA: AMA-DIST 4 TRIALS COMMITT, BENN WILLIAMSON; 10 AM; 6371 MORRELL RD; (607) 796-9043;

PENNSYLVANIA

SEP 6 (S,T,Y): SHIPPENSBURG: SHIPPENSBURG MC, DARRYL L BAER; 3 PM; SPEEDWAY; (717) 796-0294 SEP 19 (S,T,Y): HANOVER: TRAIL-WAY SPEEDWAY, BRAD J HOSTETTER; 100 SPEEDWAY LANE /5 MI W OF TOWN OFF PA RT 116; (717) 359-4310; TRAILWAYSPEEDWAY.COM

SCRAMBLES SEP 13 (S,Y): PARKESBURG: E PA PISTON POPPERS MC IN, DONNA KONKEL; 8 AM; RT 30 W END COATESVILLE/DOWNINGTON BYPASS; (484) 336-9160; MYSPACE.COM/ PISTONPOPPERSMC

MOTOCROSS SEP 5 (S,T): SEP 6 (M,T,Y): DELMONT: BELLCO INC, RITA COOMBS; STEEL CITY RACEWAY /JCT COUNTY RD & THORN RUN RD; (304) 284-0084; RACERPRODUCTIONS. COM

Heat Goes Hi-Tech!

800.646.5916 www.gerbing.com

SEP 5 (S,T,Y): ELKLAND: 2 DAY EVENT: MILES MOUNTAIN MX, PHILLIP EGLESTON; 6 AM; 10 MI OFF RT 15 ON RT 49; (814) 258-5593; MILESMOUNTAINMX.COM

JACINTO HIGH ROLLERS, WAYNE BRISCOE; 12 PM; MOUNTAIN BREEZE CAMPGROUND /SEE WEBSITE; (830) 534-3988; SOUTHCENTRALSJHR. ORG

SEP 6 (V,Y): SEP 13 (S,T,Y): CLIFFORD: HURRICANE HILLS MOTORSPOR, JOSEPH C FRITZ RT81, EX 206, 374E TO RT 106 E TRACK 3 MI; (570) 222-9290; HHMOTOCROSS.COM

VERMONT

SEP 7 (S,Y): SEP 27 (S,T,Y): FREDERICKSBURG: SLEEPY HOLLOW MOTO CROSS, ERIC E SWARR; 2 MI E OF TOWN US RT 22; (717) 653-4830; SLEEPYMX.COM SEP 13 (S,Y): JOHNSTOWN: PLEASURE VALLEY RACEWAY, JEFF M CERNIC; 6 AM; 500 COOPER AVE; (814) 695-2453; PVRMX.COM SEP 19 (S,Y): THREE SPRINGS: ROCKET RACEWAY, MARK CARLTON; 7 AM; 22404 STARR RD; (814) 448-2701; ROCKETRACEWAY.COM SEP 19 (S,T,Y): SEP 20 (S,T,Y): MT MORRIS: RACER PRODUCTIONS INC, RITA COOMBS; HIGH POINT; (304) 284-0084; RACERPRODUCTIONS.COM

SEP 4 (R): CHITTENDEN COUN: 4 DAY EVENT: AMERICADE, CHRISTIAN DUTCHER; (518) 7987888; ROLINGTHROUGHVERMONT.COM SEP 18 (R): WEST DOVER: VINTAGE; 3 DAY EVENT: UNITED STATES CLASSIC RAC, ROBERT S COY; 9 AM; MT SNOW /RT 100; (413) 498-4433; RACEUSCRA.COM

VIRGINIA ROAD RUN SEP 26 (R): PORTSMOUTH: MARCH OF DIMESVA, MARILYN S EATON; 9 AM; BAYSIDE HARLEYDAVIDSON /2211 FREDERICK BLVD/I-64 EX 5; (757) 361-0000; BAYSIDEHD.COM

MOTOCROSS

SEP 20 (S,Y): BIRDSBORO: PAGODA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, RANDY KASTLE; 7 AM; 441 RED LANE /422 TO 82 TO LINCOLN RD TO RED LANE; (610) 582-3717; PAGODAMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

SEP 5 (S,T,Y): DISPUTANTA: 2 DAY EVENT: SOUTH FORK MX CLUB; 6 AM; 6148 BAXTER RD /20 MIN FROM PETERSBURG OFF I-95; (804) 221-3689; SOUTHFORKMX.COM

SEP 20 (S,Y): HANOVER: HAPPY RAMBLERS, SHARON L FISHER; 6 AM; 4340 HANOVER RD / RT 116/5 MI W OF TOWN/SEE WEBSITE; (717) 6337708; HAPPYRAMBLERS.COM

SEP 19 (S,T,Y): AXTON: 2 DAY EVENT: LAKE SUGAR TREE, APRIL COLLIER; LAKE SUGAR TREE MX PARK /400 MOVIE MOVERS EAST; (276) 650-1158; LAKESUGARTREE.COM

SEP 20 (S,T,Y): LAWTON: VINTAGE: TWIN CREEKS VINTAGE RIDER, JAMES ALLEN; 7 AM; ALLEN’S FARM /.50 MI E OF JUNCT RTS 267 & 706;

OBSERVED TRIALS

SEP 27 (S,Y): SHIPPENSBURG: DOUBLIN GAP MX PARK INC, RODNEY YENTZER; 7 AM; 100 REASNOR LANE /RT 81 EXIT 24 TO RT 696N/6 MI N OF TOWN; (717) 249-6036; DOUBLINGAP.COM SEP 27 (S,T,Y): ELKLAND: MILES MOUNTAIN MX, PHILLIP EGLESTON; 6 AM; 10 MI OFF RT 15 ON RT 49; (814) 258-5593; MILESMOUNTAINMX.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 5 (V,Y): BERWICK: NATIONAL: EVANSVILLE MOTOCROSS PARK, DUANE W FISHER; 8 AM; 468 EVANSVILLE RD /I-81 EX 145/W HAZELTON TO RT 93; (570) 759-2841; EVANSVILLEMXPARK.COM SEP 13 (S,T,Y): PLYMOUTH: BACK MOUNTAIN ENDURO RIDE, MARTY NOON; 7 AM; PLYMOUTH RIVER FLATS /RT 11; (570) 675-1814; BMER.ORG SEP 20 (S,T,Y): GOOD SPRING: STATE CHAMP: RAUSCH CREEK POWERSPORTS, TIFFANY H TOBIAS; 6:30 AM; I-81 EX 107/R ON RT 209S/FOLLOW SIGNS; (570) 682-4600; RAUSCHCREEKRACING.COM SEP 27 (S,Y): CROSS FORK: BRANDYWINE ENDURO RIDERS, ROBERT T STUART; 6 AM; STEWART HILL RD; (610) 914-5530; BER.US

ENDURO SEP 13 (S): SHIPPENSBURG: SOUTH PENN ENDURO RIDERS, GERALD L STAKE; 6 AM; MICHAUX STATE FOREST /RT 81 OLD EXIT #10; (717) 245-0353; SOUTHPENNENDURORIDERS. COM SEP 20 (S): BRANDONVILLE: VALLEY FORGE TRAIL RIDERS, JAMIE THEURKAUF; 6 AM; MOONSHINE ENDURO /RT 924 & 339; (484) 8885574; VFTR.ORG

OBSERVED TRIALS SEP 13 (S): JERSEY SHORE: XTREME TRIALS RIDERS ASSO, CHARLES L CLEMENTS; 8 AM; MAIN ST EX OF 220 NORTH; (570) 748-6534; SEP 27 (S): COGAN STATION: OLD SCHOOL VINTAGE MOTORC, RICHARD BUSSLER; (000) 000-0000;

GR A ND PRIX SEP 27 (S,T,Y): MARKLEYSBURG: DBL SPORTS PROMOTIONS, KIM LITTLE; 6 AM; ROARING KNOB MOTORSPORTS CMPX /RT 40 20 MI E OF UNIONTOWN; (724) 929-5396; DBLSPORTS.COM

SEP 20 (S,Y): MAURERTOWN: NORTHERN VIRGINIA TRAIL R, D KIRKPATRICK; 8 AM; WETZEL HOLLOW LN /TOMS BROOK EX OF I-85; (540) 371-3034; NVTR.ORG

GRAND PRIX SEP 6 (S,Y): ROCKY MOUNT: VIRGINIA CHAMPIONSHIP HAR, JEFF WOODY; WILD WOODY; (540) 483-8868; VCHSS.ORG SEP 20 (S,Y): SURRY: VIRGINIA CHAMPIONSHIP HAR, TJ GREER; PENINSULA 100; (757) 851-6120; VCHSS.ORG SEP 13 (S,T,Y): CHATHAM: LONE RIDER PRODUCTIONS, TIMOTHY L NORRIS; 6:30 AM; RIVERS EDGE OUTDOORS /300 CROSS BOW DR; (804) 966-7595; VXCS.ORG

WASHINGTON ROAD RUN SEP 13 (R): CARNATION: CHARITY: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOU, KYLE CLACK; 8 AM; REMLINGER FARMS /32610 NE 32ND ST; (800) 253-6530; RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

DUAL SPORT RIDE SEP 20 (R): EASTON: AURORA SUZUKI INC, RANDY R MCALLISTER; 7 AM; RV TOWN/’TURTLE TOWN’ /I-90 EXIT 70; (206) 783-2323; AURORASUZUKI.COM

MOTOCROSS SEP 13 (S,Y): RAYMOND: WARD CREEK MX, LISA KLEMP; 6:30 AM; 41 WARD CREEK RD /SR6 FROM CHEHALIS/SR8 FROM OLYMPIA; (360) 942-4674; WARDCREEKMX.COM SEP 13 (S,Y): SEP 27 (S,Y): WASHOUGAL: WASHOUGAL MX PARK LLC, CAROLYN A HUFFMAN; 6 AM; 40205 NE BORIN RD; (541) 6731671; WASHOUGALMXPK.COM SEP 20 (S,T,Y): PORT ANGELES: OLYMPIC PENINSULA MOTORCY, MELISSA BAAR; 7 AM; 1306 DEER PARK RD /HWY 101W/S ON DEER PK RD; (360) 565-0303; OPMC.ORG SEP 26 (S): MC CLEARY: 2 DAY EVENT: GREATER SEATTLE MOTORCYCL, ANGIE CRATER; 7 AM; STRADDLELINE ORV PARK /I-5 EX 104 OLYMPIA/16 MI W; GEOCITIES.COM/ SEATTLEMXCLUB

WISCONSIN

INDOOR ENDURO

ADVENTURE RIDE

SEP 12 (S): FLORENCE: INDOOR: SOURCE INTERLINK MEDIA, BECKY J KOONS; 10 AM; FLORENCE CIVIC CENTER /3300 W RADIO DR; (817) 246-6751; ENDUROCROSS.COM

SEP 26 (R): WABENO: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: WISCONSIN DUAL SPORT RIDE, BRAD EGGUM; 8:30 AM; FAIRGROUNDS /1 BLOCK OFF HWY 32 ON FAIRVIEW RD; WIDUALSPORTRIDERS.ORG

1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK SEP 19 (V,Y): GREENEVILLE: NATIONAL; VICTORY SPORTS INC, SAM R GAMMON; I-81 MOTORSPORTS PARK /EXIT 44 OFF I-81/FOLLOW SIGNS; (423) 323-5497; VICTORYSPORTSRACING. COM

MOTOCROSS SEP 13 (S,T,Y): BLOUTVILLE: VICTORY SPORTS INC, SAM R GAMMON; MUDDY CREEK RACEWAY /450 RIDGEWAY DR; (423) 323-5497; VICTORYSPORTSRACING.COM

DUAL SPORT RIDE SEP 26 (R): WABENO: NATIONAL: 2 DAY EVENT: WISCONSIN DUAL SPORT RIDE, BRAD EGGUM; 8:30 AM; FAIRGROUNDS /1 BLOCK OFF HWY 32 ON FAIRVIEW RD; WIDUALSPORTRIDERS.ORG

SHORT TRACK SEP 19 (S,T,Y): BURNETT: BEAVER CYCLE CLUB INC, MICHAEL L SCHWARZENBACHER; N9898 CO RD I,1/4 MI S OF RD C; (920) 887-1469; BEAVERCYCLECLUB.COM

TEXAS

SEP 26 (S,T,Y): LAKE MILLS: 2 DAY EVENT: AZTALAN CYCLE CLUB INC, HARVEY SCHAVE; 2 PM; CLUBGROUNDS-GOMOL RD /I-94 TO 26/S TO B/W TO GOMOL; (414) 297-9367; AZTALANCYCLE.COM

FUN RUN

SCRAMBLES

SEP 11 (R): NEW BRAUNFELS: 3 DAY EVENT: SAN

SEP 13 (S,T,Y): MERRILLAN: BUNK HOUSE, STEVE

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

AMA KTM National DualSport Trail Riding Series AMADirectLink.com/RoadRide/DS/ Sept. 19-20: Medford, Ore.: Motorcycle Riders Assoc., Jeff Moffet, (541) 7737433; jeff@omatours.com.

Sept. 19-20: Sterling, lll.: Brushpoppers MC, Jack Suption, (815) 622-4099; geocities.com/brushpoppers.

Sept. 26-27: Boyne Falls, Mich.: Great Lakes Dual Sporters, Jeramey Valley, (989) 751-6863; gldsmc.org.

Sept. 26-27: Logan, Ohio: Buckeye Dualsporters, Bill Kaeppner, (740) 3803050; kaeppnerswoods.com.

Sept. 26-27: Wabeno, Wis.: Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, Brad Eggum, widualsportriders.org.

Sept. 26-27: Groveland, Calif.: Family Off-Road Adventures, Lawrence Borgens, (209) 649-3633; familyoffroadadventures.com.

Oct. 3-4: Mt. Solon, Va.: Northern Virginia Trail Riders, Dave Bludgett, (703) 791-4240; nvtr.org.

Oct. 17-18: McArthur, Ohio: Enduro Riders Assoc., Steve Barber; (614) 8911369; enduroriders.com.

Oct. 24-25: Delta, Ala.: Dixie Dual Sport, Robert Frey, dixiedualsport.com.

Oct. 24-25: Payson, Ariz.: Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood, (602) 692-9382; arizonatrailriders.org.

Oct. 24-25: Study Butte, Texas: Trail Riders of Houston, Jack Jennings; (713) 248-7222; trh-cycle.org.

Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Tri-County Sportsmen, E. Polhaumus; (856) 785-2754; teamhammer.org.

Nov. 7-8: Jenkins, N.J.: Meteor MC, Mike Reign; (856) 287-8170; meteormc. com.

Nov. 27-28: Los Angeles, Calif.: AMA District 37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders, (626) 792-7384; district37ama.org.

Sept. 26-27: Columbus, Ind.; StoneyLonesome MC, Nathan Gaskill; (812) 343-9772; stoneylonesomemc. com.

ADVENTURE SERIES

CROSS COUNTRY

SOUTH CAROLINA

TENNESSEE

56

ROAD RUN

DUAL-SPORT

AMA BMW National Adventure Riding Series AMADirectLink.com/RoadRide/ADV/

Sept. 19-20: Morganton, N.C.; J.D.S.A.K.I, Ron Miller; (704) 483-6833; millerron@bellsouth.net.

Sept. 19-20: Sterling, lll.; Brushpoppers MC, Jack Suption; (815) 622-4099; geocities.com/ brushpoppers.

Sept. 26-27: Logan, Ohio; Buckeye Dualsporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; kaeppnerswoods.com; kaeppners@verizon.net.

Sept. 26-27: Wabeno, Wis.; Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, Brad Eggum; widualsportriders.org; bigwoods200@ hotmail.com.

Sept. 26-27: Columbus, Ind.; StoneyLonesome MC, Nathan Gaskill; (812) 343-9772; stoneylonesomemc. com.

N.J.; Jack OConnor, Ocean Country Competition Riders, 732-714-8874 info@ pinebarrens500.org, pinebarrens500. org Oct. 24-25: Delta, la.L; Dixie Dual Sport, Robert Frey, dixiedualsport.com.

Oct. 24-25: Payson, Ariz.; Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (602) 692-9382; arizonatrailriders.org.

Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Port Elizabeth, N.J.; TriCounty Sportsmen, E. Polhaumus (856) 785-2754, teamhammer.org.

Nov. 7-8: Port Elizabeth, N.J.; TriCounty Sportsmen, E. Polhaumus; (856) 785-2754; teamhammer.org.

Nov. 7-8: Jenkins, N.J.; Meteor MC, Mike Reign; (856) 287-8170; meteormc. com.

Nov. 27-28: Los Angeles, Calif.; AMA District 37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 792-7384; district37ama.org.

Oct. 3-4: Renfro Valley, Ky.; 4-Fun Trail Riders, Vicky Stephenson, (513) 5536662, 4funtrailriders.com.

Oct. 10-11, 2009: Hammonton,

CASPER; N 11702 ELKEN RD; (715) 964-2000; BUNKHOUSERETREAT.COM SEP 20 (S,T,Y): BURNETT: BEAVER CYCLE CLUB INC, MICHAEL L SCHWARZENBACHER; N9898 CO RD I,1/4 MI S OF RD C; (920) 887-1469; BEAVERCYCLECLUB.COM

MOTOCROSS SEP 6 (S,T,Y): SEP 26 (S,T,Y): ATHELSTANE: PINE RIDGE RACEWAY LLC, CONNIE WALLACE; 6 AM; W11359 N LOST LAKE TRL /HWY 41N TO CRIVITZ/W ON A TO CTY C/L DEER LK; (715) 8566612; PINERIDGERACEWAY.COM SEP 6 (S,T): HIXTON: CMJ RACEWAY LLC, CHRIS HALVERSON; 6 AM; 6 MI W OF TOWN ON P .25 MI PAST CMJ RACEWAY; (608) 220-6853; CMJRACEWAY.COM SEP 12 (S,Y): LAKE MILLS: AZTALAN CYCLE CLUB INC, HARVEY SCHAVE; 6 AM; CLUBGROUNDS-GOMOL RD /I-94 TO 26/S TO B/W TO GOMOL; (414) 297-9367; AZTALANCYCLE.COM SEP 13 (M,Y): LAKE MILLS: AZTALAN CYCLE CLUB INC, HARVEY SCHAVE; 6 AM; N 66434 GOMOL RD; (414) 297-9367; AZTALANCYCLE. COM

SEP 20 (S,T,Y): TIGERTON: FANTASY MOTO LLC, SCOTT J BIESE; 6:30 AM; 8 MI S OF HWY 29/45; (920) 419-2863; FANTASYMOTO.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES SEP 6 (S,T): HIXTON: CMJ RACEWAY LLC, CHRIS HALVERSON; 6 AM; 6 MI W OF TOWN ON P .25 MI PAST CMJ RACEWAY; (608) 220-6953; CMJRACEWAY.COM SEP 12 (S): VALDERS: MANITOWOC AREA OFF HIGHWA, JOSH NEUHAUS; 6 AM; 13431 RUSCH RD; (920) 893-3114; SEP 20 (S,Y): DRESSER: NORSEMEN MOTORCYCLE CLUB, STEVE DONELIUS; 7 AM; TROLLHAUGEN SKI & SUMMER REC AREA/FOLL SIGNS; (612) 201-8125; NORSEMENMC.ORG SEP 27 (S): NEKOOSA: RAPID ANGELS MOTORCYCLE C, TODD ELLINGSON; 7 AM; DYRACUSE MOTORCYCLE PARK; (715) 712-0068; RAPIDANGELS.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS SEP 12 (S,Y): BARABOO: 2 DAY EVENT: WISCONSIN OBSERVED TRIALS, MARK J DOLL; S 6426 US HWY 12 /4.5 MI S OF TOWN; (608) 8755645; WISCONSINTRIALS.ORG

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AMA Roadside Assistance Maximize your ride time and minimize the inconvenience of a breakdown with AMA Roadside Assistance, offering peace of mind and coverage for all your vehicles and your family’s vehicles, from motorcycles to cars to RVs and trailers.

Better yet, AMA Roadside Assistance is available FREE to AMA members who sign up online and choose the convenience of yearly automatic renewal.

Allied Special Products Get your bike where you need it with Federal Companies, which offers AMA members a discount on shipping within the United States. Whether you’re shopping one-way or round-trip, Federal’s got you covered at FunTransport.com or (877) 518-7376.

Bank of America <ZL `V\Y (4( =PZH JHYK H[ H X\HSPÄ LK TV[VYJ`JSL retailer and get a 3 percent rebate on your credit card bill. Apply online or call (800) 523-7666 and mention code FAAOLW.

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Char-Broil Get a 10 percent discount on Char-Broil grills, some of the highest quality grills on the market, with stainless steel JVUZ[Y\J[PVU THU` JVUÄ N\YH[PVUZ HUK PUMYHYLK OLH[PUN technology. You even get free shipping on orders over $100 at CharBroil.com with code AMACB9.

Schampa Fight back against the elements, with quality gear from Schampa, including balaclavas, facemasks, neck gaiters and undershirts. AMA members get a 15 percent discount by entering the code SCHAMA at Schampa.com.

58

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

SPOT Wherever you roam, a SPOT Satellite Messenger can keep friends and family informed, and get you help when you need it. Save $20 on the SPOT Satellite Messenger and get a free service upgrade when you use promotional code AMA23 at FindMeSpot.com.

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59

60

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Learn the Snell Story at

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Then Decide Yourself

+INCIHJLI =IG

Tel: 650.594.9600 Fax: 650.594.9610 Š2009

ADVERTISER INDEX Adaptiv Technologies ..................... 61 Adventure New Zealand ................. 61 Aero Design .................................... 59 AMA BMW Adventure Series ......... 55 AMA Hall of Fame Weekend........... 57 AMA KTM DS Series ...................... 24 AMA Roadside Assistance ............. 45 (4( 4\ZL\T )PRL 9HMĂ&#x2026;L............... 30 AMA Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conference ............ 53 Americade ........................................ 8 American M/C Specialties .............. 59 AMSOIL .......................................... 63 Best Rest Products ........................ 59 Bike Bandit ...................................... 9 Bike Log ........................................ 59 Black Book ..................................... 60 BLACK+GRAY ................................ 60 BMW............................................... 64 Bohn Body Armor ........................... 60 BrandEra (F2P Technologies) ........... 8

Clarke Manufacturing ..................... 61 Cycoactive...................................... 59 Daytona Beach ............................... 25 Deltran Battery Tender.................... 21 Disabled Motorcycle Riders ........... 60 Dragginâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Jeans ............................... 60 Federal Company ........................... 27 Foremost Insurance........................ 29 Geico .............................................. 31 18, 22, 24, 28 Gerbing ......................... 30, 33, 35, 55 Harley-Davidson ............................... 3 JC Motors ......................................... 8 Klempfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.......................................... 59 Kriega ............................................. 34 Leader Accessories ........................ 59 Manic Salamander.......................... 60 McGraw Insurance ........................... 5 Motel 6 ............................................. 8 Motion Pro ...................................... 61

Motorcycle Tour Conversions......... 60 MotoQuest Tours ............................ 61 MotorcycleRoads.US ..................... 60 Nationwide Insurance ..................... 23 Ogemaw Sport & Trail Center ......... 61 Parts Unlimited (Z1R) ....................... 2 Port-A-Chopper.............................. 61 Powerlet ......................................... 61 Progressive Insurance .................... 13 Ronnieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mail Order ........................ 19 S100 Cycle Care Products ............. 19 Snell Memorial Foundation............. 61 Sportreaders................................... 59 Touratech ........................................ 59 Turtle Hull Trailers ........................... 60 Undertaker...................................... 60 Victory............................................. 11 Wish Upon a Star ........................... 59

September 2009

61

Guest Column

An AMA Member’s View It’s rare that I attend an open house at a bike shop or other informal biker gathering without being approached about what’s going on today at the AMA. Most people know I’m a long-time AMA member and HK]VJH[L HUK VUL VM [OL Ä YZ[ [OPUNZ 0 sometimes hear from them is concern that Rob Dingman may be “screwing up” the AMA—which raises my hackles.

I will almost always take the time, not only to offer my personal opinion of Rob’s “New Vision for the AMA,” but also to opine from my own experience, observation and insight into what was going on at the AMA before Rob took V]LY ;OPZ PUJS\KLZ WVPU[PUN V\[ ILULÄ [Z that have already improved from my standpoint.

The greatest improvements I’ve seen are the new AMA Roadside Assistance Program, the great change in direction and coverage of the magazine, and the rededication to government relations efforts. There are other good changes, and there are more coming.

I’ve also taken particular note of Rob’s thankless job of cleaning up the inappropriate use of funds that apparently

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existed in varying degrees within some of the higher ranks.

0[ ^HZU»[ OHYK [V Ä N\YL V\[ [OH[ TVZ[ VM the membership money received for dues, one of the primary sources of revenue for the AMA, was being poured into the bottomless pit of promoting professional YHJPUN ^OPSL V\Y TLTILY ILULÄ [Z dwindled. Meanwhile, most of the riders I meet every day have rarely been to a professional race, nor do they care about having their money go to support and/or promote a multimillion-dollar industry that should be able to stand alone.

It also seemed obvious to me that there were issues with a board member’s questionable expense account, while those responsible for overseeing those expenditures were apparently turning a blind eye to it all. I see that one former board member has recently been indicted by the state of Ohio and is currently facing charges concerning his unsubstantiated expenses at the AMA. It’s good that the AMA has been repaid for those expenses.

I joined the AMA in 1948 at a Gypsy Tour in Laconia, N.H. That single Gypsy

by Piet Boonstra Tour is still thriving after almost 70 years, while more than 200 other Gypsy Tours that started in the mid-1920s have been discontinued for one reason or another. E.C. Smith headed the AMA when I joined, and I think my original dues were a dollar. As I look back, I think it’s possible that the membership was getting more for that dollar 60 years ago than new members were getting for their considerably higher dues just two years ago. Thankfully, that has changed, and membership is now a real value.

This was all driven home to me when I saw Rob Dingman’s presentation at Americade in June, where he outlined his assessment of the AMA and where it’s heading. The changes make me feel better about where my AMA is going. And from this member’s perspective, we’re going the right way. Thanks, Rob. Piet Boonstra, the AMA’s 2002 Road Rider of the Year, has logged about a million miles touring by motorcycle.

An in-depth interview with Rob Dingman on this subject will appear in the next issue of American Motorcyclist.

Photo Gabrielsen Photography

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