OCTOBER 2014
Living Vintage: Old Motorcycles Rule At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
Photo Je Guciardo
The State Of The E15 Debate
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10/3/14 10:44 AM
AMA REWARDS
Watch this space for updates about your valuable benefits as an AMA member.
AMA Roadside Assistance
AMA Race Center
Available at no extra charge if you choose to automatically renew your AMA membership.
Your one-stop online source for all your motocross, Arenacross and ATV Motocross results from AMA-sanctioned events. Search by event, date, and even your name! http://results.americanmotorcyclist.com
You’re Among America’s Elite Racers Only AMA members chase national No. 1 plates.
• Coverage for bikes, cars, pickups, motorhomes and trailers (excluding utility trailers) registered to you, your spouse, and dependent children under the age of 24, living at home or away at college. • Coverage in all 50 states and Canada. • Towing up to 35 miles, with all dispatch and hook-up fees. • Flat tire, lockout, battery and minormechanical assistance. • Emergency fuel, oil, water, fluid delivery. • No exclusions for older motorcycles. • Toll-free assistance available 24/7/365. • AMA Roadside Assistance pays first. No need to pay and wait for reimbursement.
You’ll find everything you need— from races to rules to advice, at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Racing. And as an AMA Competition Member, you’ll receive the competition edition of American Motorcyclist magazine.
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STAYING INFORMED American Motorcyclist
Each month, you receive the best magazine covering the motorcycle lifestyle with two versions to choose from: street or dirt.
THE ESSENTIALS
PRODUCT DISCOUNTS
AMA Roadside Assistance
The Best Deal In Towing Get peace of mind with AMA Roadside Assistance, which covers all your vehicles, as well as those of your family members living with you. Best of all, you can get this coverage at no additional charge. For details, call (800) 262-5646.
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Arrive And Ride EagleRider offers a 15 percent discount on Harley-Davidson, Honda, BMW and Polaris rentals and tours. Call (888) 900-9901 or book at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Membership/EagleRider. aspx, using discount code AMA014.
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Save 10 percent on complete product line—plus bonus. Go to www.actionstation.com/ama/ and use coupon code AMAB4U at checkout. AMA Members also receive exclusive discounted pricing on the Bohn Bodyguard System at www.bohn-armor-pants.com/ama/.
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Buy AMA Stuff Online Find unique patches, pins, posters, T-shirts and books at AmericanMotorcyclist.com and at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio. Details at www. MotorcycleMuseum.org.
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All members of the AMA are eligible to purchase coverage. Benefits are paid when a covered member is injured. See http:// www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Membership/Members_Only/ DiscountCodes for details.
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AMA members receive a 10 percent discount off all jackets, chaps, vests, rain suits, race suits, and gloves. You can shop online at www.brooksleather. com or at any participating Brooks dealer. Just present the code AMABRO when ordering.
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RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazine offers a 20 percent subscription discount to AMA members. RoadRUNNER is the touring expert of North America, providing info on the best places to ride. AMA discount code is CRIAMA at www.roadrunner.travel/promo/ama.
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AMA members can place free ads in the AMA member classifieds at AMA.Sprocketlist.com or AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Shop > Classifieds.
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Ride Where You Want In the United States, call Federal Companies, an agent for Specialized Transportation, Inc., at (877) 518-7376 for at least $60 off standard rates. For international shipments, call Motorcycle Express at (800) 245-8726. To get your discount, be sure to have your AMA number handy. Motorcycle Express also offers temporary international insurance.
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STREET COVER Chris Carr (no, not that Chris Carr) poses with a clean custom café racer at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Indian Motorcycle.
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PAGE 26. THE THREE STATES OF 28
DIRT COVER Derek Devine takes a break from post-vintage motocross during the AMA Vintage Grand Championships.
NAVIGATION 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 2014. Printed in USA. Subscription rate: Magazine subscription fee of $19.95 covered in membership dues.
8. LETTERS
PAGE 26. AMA NAMES 2014 MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS TEAM
10. VIEWPOINT 12. RIGHTS 30. HALL OF FAME 42. EVENTS CALENDAR 50. GUEST COLUMN
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October 2014 Volume 68, Number 10 Published by the American Motorcyclist Association 13515 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) www.americanmotorcyclist.com
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Postmaster: Mail form 3579 to 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Periodical postage paid at Pickerington, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices.
PAGE 38. VINTAGE BIKES RACE AGAIN
To switch the version you receive, call (800) 262-5646, ask for membership services. Want to read both versions? Call the above number to get both delivered to your home for just $10 more a year. Members can read both versions online at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/magazine for free.
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
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AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
American Motorcyclist 13515 Yarmouth Drive Pickerington, OH 43147 (614) 856-1900 submissions@ama-cycle.org
Contact any member of the AMA Board of Directors at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/ about/board Maggie McNally-Bradshaw, Chair Schenectady, N.Y.
James Holter, Managing Editor Jim Witters, Government Affairs Editor Mark Lapid, Creative Director Jeff Guciardo, Production Manager/Designer Halley Miller, Graphic Designer Kaitlyn Sesco, Marketing/Communications Specialist
Russ Brenan, Vice Chair Irvine, Calif. Ken Ford, Assistant Treasurer Bartow, Fla.
Steve Gotoski, Advertising Director (Western States) (951) 566-5068, sgotoski@ama-cycle.org
Perry King, Executive Committee Member Northern California
Zach Stevens, National Sales Manager (626) 298-3854, zstevens@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. American Motorcyclist is the monthly publication of the American Motorcyclist Association, which represents motorcyclists nationwide. For information on AMA membership benefits, call (800) AMA-JOIN or visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com. Manuscripts, photos, drawings and other editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damage to unsolicited material. Copyright© American Motorcyclist Association, 2014.
John Ulrich, Executive Committee Member Lake Elsinore, Calif. Scott Miller, Milwaukee, Wis. Roger Pattison, Taos Ski Valley, N.M. Robert Pearce, Murrieta, Calif. Stan Simpson, Cibolo, Texas Jim Viverito, Chicago, Ill.
(800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) AmericanMotorcyclist.com
AMA STAFF EXECUTIVE
AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES (continued)
Rob Dingman, President/CEO Rhonda Hixon, Administrative Asst./Litigation Manager Bruce Moffat, Chief Financial Officer Sen. Wayne Allard, Vice President, Government Relations Bob Chaddock, Vice President, Administration Jeff Massey, Vice President, Operations Jim Williams, Vice President, Industry Relations & Business Member Programs Rob Rasor, Director of International Affairs
Alex Hunter, MX Operational Coordinator Tamra Jones, Racing Coordinator D’Andra Myers, Organizer Services Coordinator Ken Saillant, Track Racing Manager Cherie Schlatter, Organizer Services Manager Serena Van Dyke, Organizer Services Coordinator Chuck Weir, Off Road Racing Manager Conrad Young, Timing & Scoring Manager
ACCOUNTING
John Bricker, Mailroom Manager Heida Drake, Copy Center Operator Bill Frasch, Mailroom Clerk
Dawn Becker, Accounting Manager Melanie Hise, HR Assistant/Payroll Coordinator Ed Madden, System Support Specialist Peg Tuvell, Member Fulfillment Specialist ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Sean Maher, Director AMHF/MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME Jordan Cavallaro, Museum Admissions and Collections Assistant Connie Fleming, Manager of Events and AMHF Operations Beth Owen, Receptionist/Donor Relations Specialist Paula Schremser, Program Specialist Katy Wood, Collections Manager AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES Rob Baughman, Road Riding Coordinator Kip Bigelow, MX Manager Joe Bromley, District Relations Manager Jacki Burris, Organizer Services Coordinator Jane Caston, Racing Coordinator Kevin Crowther, Director SX & Pro Racing Relations Bill Cumbow, Director of Racing Chris Harrison, Road Riding Manager
DISTRIBUTION/FACILITIES SERVICES
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Danielle Fowles, Grassroots Coordinator Nick Haris, Western States Representative Sean Hutson, Legislative Assistant Sharon Long, Legislative Affairs Coordinator Rick Podliska, Deputy Director Steve Salisbury, Government Affairs Manager, Off-Highway Marie Wuelleh, Government Affairs Specialist INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Dave Coleman, Network Architect Amy Hyman, Senior Programmer/Analyst MARKETING Mark Christian, Director of Marketing MEMBER SERVICES/DATA ENTRY Lori Cavucci, Member Services Representative Deb D’Andrea, Member Services Representative Linda Hembroff, Member Services Representative Darcel Higgins, Member Services Manager Kimberly Jude, Member Services Representative Tiffany Pound, Member Services Representative Jessica Robinson, Member Services Representative
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MEMBER LETTERS
Letters to the editor are the opinions of the AMA members who write them. Inclusion here does not imply they reflect the positions of the AMA, its staff or board. Agree? Disagree? Let us know! Send your letters to submissions@ama-cycle.org; or mail to 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147.
Letter of the Month
GOOD GUYS, BAD GUYS I’ve been riding motorcycles for going on 50 years now, and I have to say, I’m tired of people, politicians and bureaucrats with the Each month, a lucky AMA member wins a attitude that motorcyclists who modify their BikeBandit.com gift card worth $100. Didn’t machines, and motorcyclists who ride offwin? No worries. You can still take advantage road, are bad guys. Bull! Pardon my French. of your 10 percent AMA member discount at BikeBandit.com. Individuals enjoying and personalizing their private possessions, expressing their individualism, and enjoying “carbon sports” are heroes in our society, and those who condemn them, or try to regulate them, or ban them, or ban them from using public land—to save those lands for “future generations” who won’t be allowed to use them either—are the bad guys, and I mean really bad guys. They are tyrants, and they are destructive to both our society and our economy. When Joe Biker buys his American V-Twin (paying a ton of taxes), and then replaces the stock exhaust, intake, cams, pistons, etc., and all the other cosmetic goodies that go along with personalizing his ride, he is supporting Americans jobs, and paying sales taxes, that Mr. Approved isn’t, and his weekends spent enjoying his lifestyle are a rolling re-distribution of wealth, and he’s also supporting charities when attending rides. Likewise, off-road motorcyclists, OHV-ers, boaters, RVers are non-stop purchasers of replacement parts, repairs, services, accessories and spenders in stores, restaurants, campgrounds, gas stations, etc., injecting their carbon sports dollars throughout the country. We support mechanics, machinists, manufacturers, engineers, painters, chromers, cashiers, waitresses, bartenders, delivery drivers, material producers, parts clerks, shop owners, office managers, distributors—the list is endless—and we do it voluntarily, and if you stop us from enjoying our lifestyles, you harm all those other people we support, and stop the tax revenue, and you harm those enthusiasts by depriving them of a healthy and productive form of recreation. The regulators and the banners are evil, destructive people, and that is quantifiable fact, because they impose their will on everyone using questionable, hypothetical benefits as justification, while freedom and individual expression, and the innovation and energy we inject into society are obvious, many and powerful. When you step into the polling booth next time, put Big Brother on the unemployment line, and the next time you see a fellow biker, or boater or hot rodder filling up at the gas station or checking out at the diner, give him a pat on the back, because we are the good guys, and it’s time we started celebrating it. Eric Robinson AMA Member, American
EVERYBODY RIDES [In response to the “Unlikely Riders?” article in the September issue] I guess librarians are somewhat under-represented in the motorcycling world! Here’s a photo of me reading a copy of American Marc David Horowitz
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Libraries, the journal of the American Library Association. Marc David Horowitz Library Director The North Babylon Public Library North Babylon, N.Y. MAKING CHOICES I joined the AMA, initially, in 1970. I raced motocross in AMA Districts 38 and 36, and after Vietnam, spent three years racing a Maico 250 GP in Germany. Since I was 15, the only period I did not own a motorcycle was my time in SEA. I was also the only Motorcycle Safety Instructor for the U.S. Air Forces Europe from 1974
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to 1977. After release from active duty to the San Diego area, I took a position with American Honda Dealer 1058, Valley M/C Sales in El Cajon, Calif. Over the years, I have had mostly dirt-oriented bikes, but always had one mid-size sport bike (a 1979 Honda CB650 for many years). As I have always ridden in the street, I have always known how important having an entire lane was to my safety. As such, I insisted on acting like a car in traffic—no lane splitting and sitting in traffic when traffic backed up, just as the cars were forced to wait—and this on air-cooled motorcycles! With [this] being the way I felt, I also felt that lane splitting was insane and indicative of an advanced case of suicidal tendencies. We often talk about what we as motorcyclists can do to better our image with America. We know that loud exhaust noise makes us no friends at all. However, from talking with those I work with (I am a federal officer) and those who I come in contact with, I find that lane splitting makes us even more enemies in middleAmerica. For instance, here in California where lane-splitting is ostensibly legal, it requires the cars to be moving no more than 30 miles per hour, and the motorcycle moving no more than 10 mph faster than the cars. Yet, how many times do you see cyclists splitting the lanes through 65 mph freeway traffic, while doing at least 75 mph themselves? Today, I have re-entered the competition world, and will be racing AMA district races on a 1973 Yamaha 250MX. My street bike is a “barely street legal” 1973 Yamaha RT-3, 360 Enduro. It gives me the warm fuzzies to know that the EPA and California Air Resources Board are just having conniption fits every time I fire up the 360 and hit the streets/trails. I have no doubt that many of those who read this will get upset by my thoughts. So be it. I have been known for my candor ever since I entered the military at 17. I have broad shoulders and I can handle it. You can’t ignore the truth, any more than pigs can fly.
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Mark O. Hamersly California Thanks for sharing your opinion Mark. As noted in the AMA position statement on lane splitting (http://americanmotorcyclist. com/Rights/PositionStatements/ LaneSplitting.aspx), those opposed to the practice should consider the desires
M Mark O. Hamersly
8/22/14 5:42 PM
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Sound Off! A roundup of recent comments on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/americanmotorcyclist of other motorcyclists who believe they benefit from it. Lane splitting should be a matter of choice. DEALER THAnKS I was on Day 3 of a trip to see some racing out west when I noticed a pool of antifreeze under my 2005 Suzuki Burgman, and they don’t carry that much anyway. This was at a fuel stop in Three Forks, Mont., which is a long way from Illinois. I asked the gal at the convenience store if there was a Suzuki dealer nearby and she sent me about 7 miles back east, where a guy at a car repair shop redirected me to a dealer in Bozeman. He was jam-packed and couldn’t get me in for a week, so he gave me phone numbers for dealers in Butte, which was in the direction I was going, and Billings, which I was not. So, I called Staacks Motorsports in Butte and talked to Jason. I told him my circumstance and he said he might be able to squeeze me in. After 95 worrisome miles, I pulled into their lot. This was on a Thursday Steve Gabbert afternoon. I had to be in Ephrata, Wash., on
Responding to a photo of a Cushman Eagle… “First motored thing with two wheels I ever rode. A teenager a block away got one around 1960 and gave all the younger kids a ride. I would say half of us were hooked for the rest of our lives.”—Monty Smith
“At 16, I took my dad’s CL175 from West Des Moines to Sturgis. Everyone wanted to know my story. I’ll never forget it. Summer of ‘79.”—Jim Collins On news that existing AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Willie G. Davidson will be celebrated as a Hall of Fame Legend at the 2014 induction ceremony…
In response to a photo of the new Indian Motorcycle display at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum…
“Congrats, Willie G. You have and continue to be a passionate ambassador for motorcycling, the AMA and our lifestyle. Thank you, sir.”—B.J. Keller
“Wow!”—Jeff Ritchie
Saturday night, over 400 miles away. After some diagnosing, we decided to replace the water pump, but due to it being later in the day, it wouldn’t be there until Saturday morning. That’s when Ed Staack said he could get me a good deal on a rental car, which was only a couple of blocks away. What a stroke of luck. Jason called me Saturday afternoon
Save on rentals with your AMA membership.
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Remembering a long road ride…
and told me I could pick my Burgman up on Monday morning. Even though they aren’t actually open on Mondays, Ed was there to help me get back on my scooter way. Staacks Motorsports—thanks for saving my bike and my trip. Steve Gabbert Port Byron, Ill.
Get more out of your American Motorcyclist Association membership. Book a rental with Budget and mention BCD # Z942000 to save up to 20% on every rental. Plus, use coupon # UUGZ039 and get a FREE single upgrade.
Terms and Conditions: Coupon # UUGZ036 is valid for a one-time, one-car-group upgrade on an intermediate (Group C) through full-size, four-door (group E) car. Maximum upgrade to premium (group G). Offer valid on daily, weekend, weekly, and monthly rates only. The upgraded car is subject to vehicle availability at the time of rental and may not be available on some rates at some times. Coupon valid at participating Budget locations in the U.S. and Canada. One coupon per rental. A 24-hour advance reservation with request for upgrade is required. May not be used in conjunction with any other coupon, promotion or offer. For reservations made on budget.com, upgrade will be applied at time of rental. Renter must meet Budget age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old. Fuel charges are extra. Rental 12/31/13. 12/31/14. must begin by 12/31/12. Budget features Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
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RACE WITH THE AMA AMA-Sanctioned: It Means Options
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International Six Days Enduro, the AMA East Coast Enduro Association Series and the Heartland Challenge. One of the AMA’s most popular racing disciplines is motocross. From hometown tracks to the annual AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., riders all over the country participate in this sport every weekend. In addition to the national, a number of Major Events and Featured Events/Series have emerged, achieving the highest standards of professionalism, competition and media exposure. Learn more about these events at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/racing/ motocross/motocrosschampionships.aspx But motocross is just a small piece of what we do. As you can see, there is a broad range of event types and disciplines on the AMA-sanctioned calendar. For a longer description of the competition sanctioned by the AMA, see our website at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/racing. Despite the diversity of motorcycle racing—and riding—in America, whether it’s off-road or on track, on motorcycles or ATVs, over jumps or firmly planted on terra firma, we’re all competitors in some form or another. We are bound together by our shared appreciation for fairness, freedom and the thrill of competition. As an AMA member, you support each of those pillars for not just today’s racers, but tomorrow’s future riders as well.
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Jeff Massey is the AMA vice president of operations. Yve Assad
Motorcycling has changed a number of AMA National considerably since the AMA Championship Series. These are was founded in 1924. What season-long, multi-event Pro-Am has not changed, however, is and amateur competition series. the AMA’s commitment to fair Although the top racers in competition and promoting these series often represent the sport. That year, the AMA the country’s fastest riders in sanctioned its first event—the that discipline, AMA National National Six-Days Trial—and Championship Series also By Jeff Massey your association has remained include classes for competitors committed to the sport of of all skill levels. motorcycle racing ever since. Examples of AMA National It’s safe to say that over the past Championship Series include the nine decades, the AMA has sanctioned AMA National Enduro Championship more motorsports events than any other Series, the AMA Hare & Hound National sanctioning body in history. From local Championship Series, the Grand amateur events that attract around 100 National Cross Country Series, the AMA riders to multi-day, national-caliber Arenacross National Championship championships featuring the country’s Series, the AMA EnduroCross National most-talented racers, our competition Championship Series, the AMA Vintage calendar has a wide range of opportunities Dirt Track National Championship to compete. Series, the AMA ATV Harescrambles Today, you can count yourself as part National Championship Series, the AMA of the largest amateur motorsportsSupermoto National Championship sanctioning body in the world. The Series and the AMA Speedway National AMA schedule includes thousands of Championship Series, among others. motocross, off-road and track-racing Then there are AMA Pro-Am events. events every year. Popular in motocross, these allow amateur Providing the foundation of AMAracers to collect the points they need for a sanctioned competition are local AMA professional racing license. These events District events. These are the grassroots also may include classes for non-expertevents that define amateur motorcycle level amateur racers. racing for most competitors in the The AMA also sanctions, supports and country. They are the venue of both helps organize various featured series and weekend warriors and future national events. These include both international champions. Held and promoted locally, and regional competition, including racers compete against other local talent world-championship-caliber off-road for trophies, season points and bragging events. Examples include qualifiers for the rights in their own backyard. Many of the same competitors who race in local events attend AMA Amateur National Championships and AMA Grand Championships. These are standalone events, often lasting several days. They crown the country’s best amateur racers on both motorcycles and ATVs. Examples include the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championship, the AMA Vintage Grand Championship, the AMA Hillclimb Grand Championship, the AMA Road Racing Grand Championship, the AMA Ice Race Grand Championship and the AMA Land Speed Grand Championship. The AMA also sanctions premier, title-winning events such as the AMA/ NATC East and West Youth MotoTrials Championships and the AMA Tennessee Knockout Enduro. In addition to these standalone events, the AMA and its partners provide
AM
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
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AM_2014ConventionAd
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Tra i l RV Every two years, the AMA Government Relations Department assembles a guide to help its members determine candidates for office who are motorcycle friendly in races across the country. The AMA is a nonpartisan organization that does not make political endorsements. The AMA Vote Like A Motorcyclist Guide is intended to provide AMA members with information they can use to make informed choices on Election Day. AMA staff members in Washington, D.C., are sending questionnaires to candidates in congressional and gubernatorial races in every state. The candidates’ responses will be compiled into an easy-to-navigate guide on the AMA website. Among the issues the candidates were asked to address: • Health-insurance discrimination; • Motorist education campaigns; • Motorcycle-only checkpoints; • Off-highway-vehicle access to federal lands; • Proper use of fees collected from motorcyclists; and • Privacy protections. When the guide is complete, it will be posted on the AMA website. You will need to sign in as an AMA member to access the guide.
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COUNTY ALLEGANY
COUNTY
GARRETT
Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
‘Vote Like A Motorcyclist’ Campaign Covers The Country
Red D og R oad
St. J oh n’s Ro c k
F ro s tb u r g Roa d
O
AMA VOTER GUIDE TARGETS MOTORCYCLE, ATV ISSUES
VER E RI AG FOREST V S A AT E ST
MARYLAND OFF-ROAD TRAILS PLANNED State Accepting Input On Savage River State Forest Plan
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources plans to develop 14 miles of off-road-vehicle trail in the St. John’s Rock area of the Savage River State Forest near Cumberland. DNR officials are consulting with the
Maryland Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance regarding the design, and they hope to open the new trail in the spring of 2015. The agency closed an 18-mile trail in the Green Ridge State Forest and another in the Savage River State Forest in 2011.
SURGEON’S DRIVER LICENSE SUSPENDED ONE YEAR IN RIDER DEATH
panel. Toledo, Ohio, Municipal Judge Timothy Kuhlman granted the doctor permission to drive to and from work during the suspension. After pulling his car into the path of Lawrence J. Hilton, 54, of Swanton, Ohio, in August 2013, Ebraheim—a prominent local surgeon—did not get out of his car to render aid to the fallen rider, according to witnesses. Ebraheim had six previous traffic citations, according to statements made in court.
Doctor Also Ordered To Pay Fine, Attend Classes
For causing a crash that killed a 54-year-old motorcyclist on his way to work, Dr. Nabil Ebraheim, of Ottawa Hills, Ohio, lost his driving privileges for a year and was ordered to pay a $750 fine, complete a defensive-driving course, and attend a victim-impact
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
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IDAHO RESIDENTS FIGHT FOR ACCESS IN BOULDERWHITE CLOUD AREA
Environmentalist groups urging President Barack Obama to create a new national monument in the Boulder-White Cloud Mountains area of central Idaho reached a deal with mountain bikers and hikers earlier this year, but left the question of motorized recreation unanswered until after the monument designation is made. Dirt bike trails already account for less than one in five routes in the area, and trail users fear losing access altogether, should the monument effort succeed. A group called Your Boulder-White Clouds opposes the creation of a Boulder-White Clouds National Monument. “We need to show President Obama that most Idahoans do not want him to act on his own, without congressional approval, to take 590,000 acres of Central Idaho mountains for a monument,” the group says on its website. Your Boulder-White Clouds is asking supporters to sign its petition at www.yourboulderwhiteclouds.org.
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Brent Thomas
Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Motorized Recreation Left Out Of Monument Discussion
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ARIZONA GROUP GETS $150,000 SAFETY GRANT Rider Training To Be Focus Of Efforts
The Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation used $150,000 it received from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Arizona Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council to provide scholarships for motorcycle rider training classes. “We are very excited to have this opportunity to give out scholarships,” says AMSAF Chairman Mick Degn. “This will be the largest thing we’ve been able to do to promote motorcycle safety and awareness and to reduce motorcycle accidents and fatalities.” A basic rider’s course can cost a motorcyclist in Arizona up to $300. However, the AMSAF scholarships enable riders to obtain necessary safety training with a minimal out-of-pocket investment: a $50 co-pay. Every Arizona motorcycle rider or potential rider is eligible.
The program’s 600 scholarships were snapped up quickly, and no funding is available at this time. Check the AMSAF online at www. AMSAF.org for information about future scholarship availability.
CALIFORNIA LANE-SPLITTING GUIDELINES UPDATES The AMA’s support of lane splitting in California and its disappointment in the state’s removal of safety guidelines, published in 2013, from the websites of state agencies has been the topic of discussions between the AMA and the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). CalSTA is the agency that oversees the California Highway Patrol, the Office of Traffic Safety and the Department of Motor Vehicles, all of which published lane-splitting safety guidelines to aid motorists and motorcyclists. The removal of the guidelines from state websites and publications – prompted by the complaint of a Sacramento resident opposed to lane splitting – created an uproar among California motorcyclists. Nick Haris, AMA’s western states representative, was quoted about the controversy in several California newspapers and appeared on six radio shows throughout the state. Shortly after the agencies removed these useful guidelines, an AMA petition calling for their restoration was circulated. At press time it had nearly 5,000 signatures. CalSTA responded to the outcry by inviting Haris to an August meeting to discuss the issue. The discussions are continuing and the AMA will keep its members apprised of the progress. The online petition can be found at http://cqrcengage.com/amacycle/app/ take-action?engagementId=55066. Meanwhile, all motorcyclists can still review the removed lane-splitting document at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/ Libraries/Rights_Documents_State/lanesplitting_guidelines. sflb.
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Kevin Wing
AMA In Talks With State Transportation Officials
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
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VERMILLION BASIN OFF PRESIDENT’S MONUMENT LIST Sen. Mark Udall Gets Confirmation From Administration
Bureau of Land Management/Bob Wick
U.S. Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), chairman of the Senate’s National Parks Subcommittee, reports that the Obama Administration is not considering an Antiquities Act designation for the Vermillion Basin in northwest Colorado. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell confirmed this fact during a meeting with Udall. “When exercised in close consultation with the local community, the Antiquities Act is an important tool that has been used throughout Colorado’s history to preserve and protect many of the iconic public lands that strengthen our special way of life and support our outdoor-recreation economy,” Udall says. “That said, I am glad Secretary Jewell has rebutted the rumors some lawmakers have used to create uncertainty for the residents of northwest Colorado.”
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NEW MEXICO OFF-ROADERS LOSE BID TO RETAIN TRAILS U.S. District Judge Rules In Favor Of Forest Service
The New Mexico Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance lost its bid in federal court to keep about 5,400 miles of federal trails open to motorized recreation in the Santa Fe National Forest. In a ruling issued in July, Judge William P. Johnson of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico upheld the U.S.
Forest Service Plan that includes reducing the trails available to off-highway vehicles from 7,832 miles to 2,463. NMOHVA’s board of directors is considering whether to appeal the ruling. Learn more about this issue, in addition to how you can help, at NMOHVA’s website at www.nmohva.org.
STAT E WAT CH ILLINOIS Senate Bill 3130, sponsored by Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), defines an autocycle as “a three-wheel motor vehicle that has a steering wheel and seating that does not require the Gov. Pat Quinn operator to straddle or sit astride it.” It also provides that the operation of an autocycle requires a Class D driver’s license – with no motorcycle endorsement—and makes certain provisions for titling vehicles with challenged titles. The bill was signed into law by the governor on July 21. Also, Senate Bill 2633 amends the Recreational Trails of Illinois Act, setting the fee for an off-highway vehicle usage stamp for a vehicle with an engine capacity of more than 75cc at $15 annually. The fee for an OHV usage stamp for a vehicle with an engine capacity of 75cc and lower is $10 annually. The bill was signed by Gov. Pat Quinn and is effective immediately. NEW HAMPSHIRE Senate Bill 232, adjusting the speed limits for off-highway recreational vehicles, was adopted by both bodies in the state’s General Court. The new law, introduced by Sen. Jeff Woodburn (D-Concord), sets the speed limit at 10 mph within 150 feet of
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any bob-house, fishing shanty or occupied fishing hole of another. The speed limit is raised from 10 mph to 20 mph on Class I through Class VI. At trail junctions or in parking lots, or when passing trail grooming equipment, or on town or city sidewalks, the limit is 10 mph. The speed limit is raised from 15 mph to 20 mph on plowed roads on department of resources and economic development property open to OHRV operation. And the speed limit is reduced from 45 mph to 35 miles per hour on all trail connectors and any approved OHRV trail, unless posted otherwise. RHODE ISLAND House Bill 7258, sponsored by Rep. Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Cranston) forbids the installation of an electronic tracking device on a motor vehicle for the purpose of tracking Rep. Nichoas Mattiello the operator or occupant of the vehicle. The bill allows specific exceptions for law enforcement for the purpose of criminal investigations and for parents or guardians using such devices for the purpose of monitoring minors. The Senate Committee on Judiciary has recommended passage of the bill, which now moves on to the upper chamber.
Courtesy of the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region
DOWN to Aaron Huntsman, a 19-year veteran Connecticut state trooper who pleaded guilty to stealing cash and jewelry from a dying motorcycle crash victim. The Connecticut Post reports Huntsman entered a guilty plea to charges of larceny and tampering with evidence. Huntsman was caught on video from his cruiser’s dashboard camera taking a gold chain and $3,700 from dying motorcyclist John Scalesse in September 2012. Sentencing is Oct. 3. Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin said he would impose a 16-year prison term and five years probation. UP to the Philadelphia Parking Authority for a pilot program for motorcycle and scooter parking in its Center City and University City districts. The July-through-October program permits motorcycle and scooter parking on sidewalks in front of the operators’ homes. On commercial streets, the PPA installed 47 corrals for 180 motorcycles or scooters. During the pilot period, there is no charge to park in the corrals. The PPA also revamped downtown AutoPark garages and lots to accommodate motorcycle and scooter parking. The AMA is sharing information with the the Philadelphia Motorcycle and Scooter Coalition — including AMA members Gary Lowe and Morgan Jones — as it works with PPA to develop a long-term program. DOWN to the Orlando, Fla., motorcyclists who shut down a section I-4 in June to perform stunts on their bikes and brag about it through social media. The AMA never condones illegal behavior or irresponsible riding. There are plenty of outlets for riders who want to test their skills responsibly, such as track days and AMA-sanctioned amateur racing.
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
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Courtesy of the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region
Celebrate the Season Holiday Cards Proceeds benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
www.motorcyclemuseum.org www.amahofcards.com
Beware of impostors! These are the ONLY Holiday Cards that benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
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Staying Safe When You’re Most At Risk By David Kinaan One of the most dangerous places for motorcycles is an intersection. “Clearing intersections” is a technique used by many law enforcement motorcycle operators to minimize that exposure. If you approach each intersection with attentiveness and follow a clearing procedure, you will greatly decrease your chances of having an incident. Think about when you played tag as a kid. You made sure you knew who was “it” and you did everything you could to avoid that person. You ran with bursts of speed, you dodged right and left, and you stopped and hid. That is the same mentality you can use to safely maneuver your motorcycle through traffic—only in traffic, everyone else is “it.” Hopefully, you move about in a little more controlled manner, but you are still trying to avoid getting tagged. Intersections pose a high risk of getting tagged. You have to be ready to swerve, brake or accelerate to avoid an errant vehicle. There are several preparations you can make that will help you avoid becoming another intersection statistic. First, as you approach an intersection, downshift. By selecting a lower gear, you have more power to accelerate quickly if needed. Prior to reaching the intersection, start looking side to side. Generally, you want to look to the left first, as a vehicle coming from that direction will cross your path first. Then look to your right and to the left
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By David Kinaan
again as you reach the intersection. Also, look to make sure that cross traffic has stopped. Pay close attention to any driver on your right who may be turning right on the red light. By checking the cross traffic prior to reaching the intersection, you have more opportunity to react to avoid a conflict. Often, you’ll encounter business driveways just prior to an intersection. These driveways can be a source of added danger as vehicles are pulling out into traffic. Some of these drivers will not thoroughly check for oncoming traffic (meaning you), focusing more on the signal light they are about to encounter. When you are approaching a controlled intersection where the light has been green for some time, watch the walk/ don’t walk signal. If the signal is flashing or displaying a solid “Don’t walk,” the end of the green-light cycle is approaching. Generally, this can be seen in advance of the intersection, and you can make the appropriate decision to proceed or prepare to stop. Coming to a stop at a red signal
can pose hazards too, but there are precautions you can take here, as well. • As you are slowing, glance in your mirrors and gauge whether the vehicle behind you is also slowing. • Stop in the left or right wheel path of the vehicle in front of you because the center of the lane may offer less traction from a buildup of vehicle fluids or debris. • Stop far enough back so you can still maneuver if an errant vehicle comes up behind you. A good rule is to make sure you can clearly see the tires on the ground of the vehicle in front of you. This generally ensures you have enough room to move your motorcycle out from behind the vehicle if you want to avoid a rear impact.
Kevin Wing
CLEARING INTERSECTIONS
When the red light turns green, don’t accelerate too quickly. There is always a chance that a driver in the cross-traffic flow will still enter the intersection after your light has turned green. When you get the green signal, use the same head check procedure—looking left, then right and left again—making sure that all traffic has come to a stop before you enter the intersection. Riding a motorcycle is at least as much fun as playing tag, just remember to do all you can to avoid becoming “it.” Sgt. David Kinaan retired in 2012 as the supervisor of the California Highway Patrol Academy Motorcycle Training Unit. Sgt. Kinaan was an active member of the CHP for nearly 20 years.
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
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Q: I need help understanding what happened during a recent accident. Near the end of an enjoyable street ride, I misread the rider’s body language ahead of me. The traffic signal turned yellow and I thought the other rider was going to go through it. I goosed the throttle to close the gap to make the light with him. He stopped. I had to stop hard to avoid hitting him. I was almost stopped and in control when, in an instant, the bike slid out from underneath me. I’ve revisited the site trying to figure out what could have caused this. There is a slight rise in the middle of the lane, but not enough to rock the bike. The lane is heavily traveled by commercial and industrial trucks and heavily spotted with fluids, although I didn’t see any that were wet. No pavement breaks, gravel, tar snakes, road paint or other obstacles that could have interfered with the stop. The only thing I can think of is that I had just had the front brakes worked on and hadn’t practiced any hard braking since the service, but there was nothing during my ride to alert me to the fact that the brakes were operating differently. The brakes caught a little sooner, but nothing significant. A: We’re sorry to hear about your crash. Thank you for sharing the details so that American Motorcyclist readers might benefit from this discussion. Most crashes result from an interaction of factors, and you have described a pool of factors that include potential decision-making errors, maneuvering errors, and unfavorable road conditions. Equally true for most crashes is that if one of the factors were removed from the equation, the crash may not have happened. The following statements are pure speculation and are intended not to assign blame or pinpoint the cause of the crash, but to analyze the situation from an educational standpoint: • You may have been following too closely, violating the 2-second rule. • You assumed your friend would proceed through the yellow light, so your mindset was biased against considering and quickly reacting to the possibility that he would stop. • Because of that, you may have been looking at the traffic light or the traffic flow in the intersection and did not observe your friend’s bike/brake light soon enough. • You accelerated as you approached the intersection to make sure you made the light, giving you less time and space to react to unforeseen hazards. • When you realized your friend was stopping, you may have had an opportunity to swerve around him
©iStockphoto.com/mitifo
Ask The MSF
and safely proceed through the light, but instead chose to brake. • Your brake system had been “worked on” and you hadn’t familiarized yourself with how it responded after the service. These next three are closely linked: • You may have applied too much front brake too quickly and skidded the tire ever-so-slightly. • At the last second, you may have turned the handlebars slightly (consciously or subconsciously), causing your bike to lean a little. • Your skidding front tire may have come in contact with some oil or other debris. That momentary loss of contact between rubber and pavement, combined with a slight lean of the bike, even with almost no forward motion, could have caused the front end to “wash out” and flop the bike over. Be thankful that you were able to walk away from the crash, and consider it a valuable learning experience. Remember to maintain three safety margins: 1) your and your bike’s capabilities and limitations; 2) tire and surface adhesion; 3) time-and-space cushion. Always be able to stop within your “urgent path,” which is the distance you would travel in four seconds at your current speed. Do not let the incident shake your confidence. As the adage goes, get back on the horse that threw you!
© 2014 K&N Engineering, Inc.
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Domonic Anderson
ARMED FORCES PARTICIPATE IN MOTORCYCLE SAFETY DAY Fourth Annual Event Draws About 250 Participants
An estimated 250 riders and non-riders attended the fourth Motorcycle Safety Day in June, sponsored by the Air Force Sergeants Association at Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews, also known as Andrews Air Force Base, the home of Air Force One. The event was organized “to rally up Department of Defense military and civilian riders of all experience levels, regardless of make or model, to receive briefings on safety, technique demonstrations, accident testimonials, exposure to a variety of vendors and local entertainment, and to participate in contests, a bike show as well as a policeescorted group ride,” says Paul Grugin, deputy director of government relations for the Air Force Sergeants Association. “All that was done with the intent of promoting motorcycle safety and general road awareness,” he explains. Participation was open to all branches of the military within the National Capital Region, including the Pentagon, Bolling Air Force Base, Fort Belvoir Army base, Fort
Meade Army installation and Patuxent River Naval Air Station, among others. Members of the civilian community were also invited. Eleven vendors set up displays for the day, and four police motorcycle units attended, as well. Air Force Master Sgt. Freddie Mims and Jamie Kesselring were the event co-coordinators assigned to Andrews. Sean Hutson, AMA legislative assistant, and AMA Grassroots Coordinator Danielle Fowles were on hand to talk about motorcyclists’ rights and the AMA position and actions on important issues. Domonic Anderson, who competed in the AMA Dragbike Series and now races for BMW, attended the event and offered his assessment. “The day included a police-escorted off-base ride, live entertainment, riding demonstrations, a bike show that awarded 11th Wing Safety Office, Wing Weapons Safety Manager Harry Waddle with the Best of Show award with his patriotic Stars and Stripes Victory Cross Country,” Anderson says. The audience received expert advice from professional road racer Jeremy Scott, Ride Like a Pro’s Dave Russell and Anderson. “I enjoy attending events like this,” Anderson says. “It gives me an opportunity to share my expertise and experience to help support and raise awareness for motorcycle safety. These men and women give their time and so much more to us. I’m
honored to lend my experience to support them.” Each year, Motorcycle Safety Day has grown in size and scope. “The event has steadily grown, both in attendance and reputation,” Grugin says. “In year one, we were observed by the USAF Safety office, and they shared our success as a ‘benchmark’ for other installations around the planet. “Each year, we make improvements and refine the menu of activities,” he continues. “One such evolution was inviting AMA to participate or observe. Now, we’re looking at the possibility of becoming an AMA-sanctioned event.”
October 2014
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AMA Member Tested
BIKER RAIN CHAPS
MSRP: $19.99 (25 percent discount for AMA members) Info: www.bikerrainchaps.com/ama
~ A JC Motors Company ~
Biker Rain Chaps are the brainstorm of Mitch Harris, a long-time motorcyclist, to fill a need to keep a rider’s pants or leathers dry. By Ted Pasche The chaps satisfy that need in an extremely cost-effective manner. For the small price of $19.99 (and 25 percent less for AMA members) your lower half can ride dry and comfortable, thanks to this handy, amazingly compact accessory gear. In fact, the product arrived in a package so small and light I wasn’t sure if they would work. The Biker Rain Chaps come ready to use, and included is a small 5.5-by-11inch stuff bag to keep the chaps easy to find and protect your other gear from the wet chaps after use. I was pleasantly surprised with the ease of donning the chaps. (There’s a handy tag inside that designates the left and right legs.) Simply open the heavy
hook and loop seam lower, pull the chaps over your pants, open the hookand-loop top strap, slip the end under your belt, and press the hook-and-loop fastener together at the top and bottom of the chaps.
AMA Member Tested
VSTREAM WINDSHIELD
MSRP: Varies ($199.95 as tested) Info: www.nationalcycle.com When the opportunity arose to test a VStream windshield for a Suzuki 650 Vstrom, the timing couldn’t have been better. My best riding buddy, Laurie, had just purchased this very machine. The screen comes in two versions: clear
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By Laurie Mack and Kimberly Harvey
and tinted. We chose the tinted screen over the clear since the pictures we viewed online made the bike look really sexy. We had our annual rally on the schedule and installed the windshield in time to head down to New York for the 38th Ramapo 500. Installation was easy, painless and took little time. The VStream came with all parts needed for proper installation.
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
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All this can be performed faster than you read the previous paragraph, even in a windy situation. As for durability, these chaps are constructed of the same material as most waterproof jackets, pants, etc. — a polyester exterior with a waterproof coating on the inside. This makes for a strong construction. However, they aren’t made to take excessive heat, such as what might be generated by a running exhaust pipe. The only nitpick is that these are indeed chaps. That means they leave your posterior exposed to the elements. However, that certainly isn’t a criticism specific to this product, simply an observation of chaps in general. In a long heavy rain your rear would probably get wet but, as intended, this inexpensive product will suffice for those times that full rain gear isn’t warranted, desired or available. For a small investment, pick up a pair and stuff them on your bike. They’re light, compact and won’t break the bank, especially for AMA members. See the website for a sizing chart and gift card options. options.—Ted Pasche
On our trip, we were handed beautiful weather for the majority of miles, but fortunately for the windshield test, we did run into a little rain on our ride home. Compared to the Vstrom’s stock windshield, the VStream provides more coverage from the elements of Mother Nature. We both felt that it allowed us to keep riding and stay dry longer, which in this case meant it wasn’t necessary to stop and put on rain gear. While the VStream’s width is greater, it is not significantly higher. Laurie experienced the same small amount of turbulence with both windshields and she has also experimented with two different type helmets. The amount of “bobblehead” effect would surely be based on the height of the rider and riding position. She did not feel a substantial difference in how the wind was buffeted around her head, but there is evidently more coverage for your torso with the VStream. The VStream is definitely recommended for the Suzuki Vstrom owner looking to increase protective coverage while getting a very cool, custom look.—Kimberly Harvey and Laurie Mack
HONORING EXCELLENCE Nominations Accepted For AMA Awards Program
The AMA Awards Program is looking for deserving individuals and organizations to be recognized in 2015. Bestowed by the AMA Board of Directors, these awards often begin with nominations from AMA members. Awards are as follows: • AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award: Acknowledges the highest level of service to the AMA. It was first presented in 1970. • AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award: Recognizes activities that generate good publicity for motorcycling. It was first presented in 1987. • AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award. Recognizes someone who has contributed to protecting onhighway motorcycling rights. • AMA Outstanding Off-Road Rider Award: Recognizes someone who has contributed to protecting offhighway motorcycling rights. • AMA Bessie Stringfield Award: Honors someone who has been instrumental in introducing motorcycling to emerging markets.
• Friend of the AMA Award: Presented to those in the motorcycling community who have strongly supported the AMA mission to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. Submissions should include the individual’s or organization’s name, contact information, and a summary of his or her accomplishments in 300 words or less. Send to submissions@amacycle.org. Mail: AMA Awards Program, American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Deadline: Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
AMA MEMBER MEETING Set For Oct. 17 In Orlando, Fla.
On Friday, Oct. 17, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., the AMA will hold a member meeting to ratify the appointment of Jeff Skeen to the AMA Board of Directors. Full AMA members in good standing
may attend the meeting, which will begin at 8 a.m. For more information, members may contact AMA Vice President of Administration Bob Chaddock at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1349.
October 2014
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Ethanol FuEls Facing toughEr road E15 Expansion Slowed By Congress, EPA
By Jim Witters
The ethanol industry’s push to expand the availability of E15 fuel across the country met with stiff opposition from the AMA and other groups, who convinced Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take a step back and reevaluate government policies. But corn growers, ethanol processors and their political allies continue their quest, publishing misinformation, skirting regulations and, at times, openly defying Congress. The federal government’s mandates for increased use of ethanol in vehicle fuels were intended as a bridge to cleaner air and renewable energy, reducing the nation’s reliance on foreign oil. But studies show that producing and burning ethanol provides no net environmental benefit and may increase the levels of some pollutants. The EPA has publicly acknowledged that ethanol in gasoline can damage internal combustion engines not designed for its use by increasing exhaust temperatures and indirectly causing component failures. E15 is a fuel that contains as much as 15 percent ethanol. The use of E15 fuel in motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles is illegal and may void manufacturers’ warranties. If the
ethanol lobby is successful in achieving widespread availability of E15 fuels, the likelihood of misfueling a motorcycle or ATV increases proportionally, a significant concern for AMA members. At the same time, if retailers are required to sell E15, motorcycle and ATV fuels, such as E0 and E10 could be crowded out of the market due to the limited number of available pumps at fueling stations. “Motorcyclists simply want safe fuels available at all fuel retailers and measures employed by retailers to ensure they cannot inadvertently put unsafe fuels in their tanks,” says Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations. During 2014, the AMA has remained at the forefront of the battle.
Local, national victories
In July, a faction of the Chicago City Council tried to pass an ordinance that would have required self-service gas stations in the city to carry E15. An AMA alert to local members generated more than 1,100 emails to the city council opposing the ordinance. At a meeting of the council’s finance
committee, AMA board member Jim Viverito, who represents individual members from the AMA North Central Region, joined the Illinois Retail Merchants Association in objecting to the proposal. The opposition also argued that it is unfair for the government to force a business to carry a specific product, especially when doing so would require an investment of thousands of dollars. The ethanol lobby trotted out former U.S. Gen. Wesley Clark, now board chairman for Growth Energy, who touted the wornout arguments in favor of ethanol. After five hours, the finance committee tabled the ordinance. But it may come up again this fall. Earlier this year, new regulations unveiled by the EPA included two key provisions that help protect motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle owners. The EPA adopted E10, not E15, as its standard test fuel, beginning in 2017. And the agency refused to grant a waiver for E15 for its vapor pressure limit for fuels. This decision means that E15 fuels will be available in fewer locales during the warmer months, reducing the likelihood that motorcyclists and ATV riders could fill their tanks with it. In February, President Barack Obama signed into law the Agricultural Act of 2014, which contains a provision that helps deter distribution of E15 fuels into the U.S. marketplace. The Farm Bill prohibits the use of Rural Energy for America Program grant money to buy and install ethanol blender pumps to dispense E15 at the retail level. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack had intended to use REAP funding to install 10,000 blender pumps by 2016.
Administrative challenges
Vilsack quickly countered, though.
“Motorcyclists simply want safe fuels available at all fuel retailers and measures employed by retailers to ensure they cannot inadvertently put unsafe fuels in their tanks.”
— Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations
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Addressing the annual Growth Energy leadership conference on Feb. 27, Vilsack said that, even though Congress has said he can’t use one USDA program to subsidize blender pumps, he would use a wide array of other programs to help the ethanol industry. Vilsack told those gathered that he has “a whole lot of programs” at his disposal, including business and industry grant programs that have a lot of flexibility. Vilsack said he intends to use those programs to encourage companies ranging from petroleum marketers to convenience stores to sell ethanol. “This is an invitation to you to come to me, and the USDA will help U.S. Secretary of you,” Vilsack said. Agriculture Tom Vilsack At the same time, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon ignored concerns of some of his state’s legislators and allowed gas stations to sell E15 beginning May 30. This expansion of Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon ethanol distribution in Missouri came about through a rule change by the Missouri Department of Agriculture instead of a new law. The Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association warned its members to proceed with caution when deciding whether to add the fuel. Among its top concerns is that retailers could potentially be involved in liability lawsuits brought by drivers whose use of E15 subsequently triggered engine trouble.
Some retailers move forward
Those concerns have not deterred some retail chains from adding E15 to their product mix. MAPCO Express Inc. announced in January that it would sell E15 at the pump in Tennessee this year. The fuel blend will be an option at newly built and select MAPCO mega store locations. Likewise, in Iowa, the Farm Service Cooperative and Murphy USA began selling E15 this year. Murphy USA plans to offer the higher-level ethanol blends to consumers at its retail stations throughout the country. Stations in Ohio and a few other states also offer E15 and higher ethanol blends. Motorcyclists and ATV owners must use caution when fueling their vehicles at stations that offer E15 blends.
The EPA requires retail stations selling E15 to provide a fuel pump with at least one dedicated hose and nozzle dispensing a blend of E10 or lower. The stations must also prominently affix a label to its blender pumps that says, “Passenger Vehicles Only. Use in Other Vehicles, Engines and Equipment May Violate Federal Law.” Motorcycles and ATVs are not considered passenger vehicles under this regulation. Stations also must post additional signs informing consumers of the availability and location of the E10 or lower pump.
Studies show true impact
Ethanol has taken several hits in 2014, as highly regarded independent studies debunked some of the lobbyists’ major claims. A $500,000 federally funded study that was released in April in Nature Climate Change states that biofuels made with corn residue release 7 percent more greenhouse gases in the short term, compared with conventional gasoline, disqualifying them for designation as a renewable fuel under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The U.S. Congressional Budget Office reports that if the ethanol mandates increase to the statutory volumes, the cost of petroleum diesel would increase by 30 cents to 51 cents a gallon, and the cost of E10 would increase by 13 cents to 26 cents a gallon. The Environmental Working Group reports that an EPA proposal to cut by 1.39 billion gallons the amount of corn ethanol that must be blended into gasoline in 2014 would lower U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 3 million tons of carbon dioxide—as much as taking 580,000 cars off the road for a year. And the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlights the risks posed by biofuels in a report issued in March. The panel questioned the ability of U.S. policy to slow climate change. Commenting on the report, Emily Cassidy, a biofuels research analyst with the Environmental Working Group says, “The U.N. panel’s findings should alert U.S. policymakers that mandating the production and use of corn ethanol threatens food security, intensifies competition for land and water and fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Change in approach
Ethanol’s leading proponent, the Renewable Fuels Association, lost a key member and funding source in July when Archer Daniels Midland Co. withdrew. “Yes, we are ending our membership
in the Renewable Fuels Association,” ADM spokeswoman Jackie Anderson said in a written statement. “As the U.S. ethanol industry has matured, the policy landscape has evolved. At the same time, the ways that we engage with others in the industry and in the public sector have also evolved.” Neither Anderson nor RFA spokeswoman Dawn Moore explained how ADM’s move would affect the RFA or the ethanol industry’s tactics. But industry newsletters and other reports show that ethanol producers and distributors are trying to appeal to retailers by couching E15 as a consumer choice. The pitch states that, by adding E15, station owners will attract more customers, who will spend more money inside convenience stations on things like bread, milk and soft drinks. But the pitch fails to note that most cars and trucks in use today cannot operate on E15 fuel, and 11 million motorcycles on the road can’t use the higher ethanol blend. The ethanol lobby also is calling on Corn Belt politicians. U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) wrote a letter “Don’t Let Big Oil Bully Biofuels,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) which blames the petroleum industry for ethanol’s failures in the marketplace. And, of course, there is the Growth Energy pressure on Chicago aldermen to force retailers to Sen. Amy Klobuchar carry higher ethanol (D-Minn.) blends.
Ethanol’s failures
With the EPA acknowledging that ethanol is harmful to internal combustion engines and authoritative studies concluding that ethanol is not the environmentally friendly solution to America’s fuel needs, it appears that this biofuel has failed to live up to its promises. The Smarter Fuel Future group, which includes AMA, says that the ethanol lobby’s “policy has become a roadblock” to a cleaner, greener, smarter future. “The ethanol lobby promised Americans a fuel that would work with their existing cars, and yet the policy they pushed for puts millions of engines at risk,” according to the group.
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SC28 near Mountain Rest, S.C.
THE THREE STATES OF 28
Southeastern Route Highlights Road Riding Hotspot By Phil Buonpastore
State Road 28 is a threestate highway designation that totals 238 miles, beginning in Beech Island, S.C., and ending near Deal’s Gap, By Phil Buonpastore at North Carolina’s border with Tennessee. It is the only state highway that keeps the same number as it traverses South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina. On this tour, I had the opportunity to ride a 2014 Indian Chief Vintage. It’s a beautiful bike, taking its styling cues from the classic Indians of yesteryear, with solid red paint and tan, distressed-leather seat and saddlebags. That I will be riding it through the traditional home of the Cherokee, Creek and Chickasaw is to pay homage to these proud Native American cultures. South Carolina 28 begins its 237-mile journey southeast of Augusta, Ga., just over the South Carolina state line in the town of Beech Island. The town’s tropical sounding name is a bit of a misnomer, as it is not island, nor is there any “beach” located nearby. One theory is that the area was originally named Beech Highland, due to its location on high bluff overlooking the Savannah River in an area where
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native Beech trees abound, and the “h” in highland was dropped over time, changing the pronunciation from “highland” to “island.” The road name changes from SC28 to Georgia 28 and back again within the first 20 miles, where the road passes through Augusta and back into South Carolina at the Savannah River. Up until that point, the road runs primarily through the city and its suburbs, so choosing to begin the ride at the Savannah River avoids a lot of stop-and-go traffic. Within a few miles the road crosses the southern boundary of the Sumter National Forest, and runs adjacent to a lake system formed by several dams along the Savannah River. These include Clarks Hill Lake, Richard B. Russell Lake and Lake Hartwell. For the next 100 miles to Clemson, it’s a relaxed ride of sedate curves and rolling hills. At Clemson, SC28 joins briefly with U.S. highways 123 and 76 before separating again on its northwestern route. Here things start to get more interesting, as the road begins its transition from the tranquil lowlands to mountain foothills and highlands. Secondary road names here include The Blue Ridge and Highlands Highway. North of Walhalla, SC28 enters its second and third national forests, the Chattahoochee and Nantahala, respectively, and for eight miles, SC28 becomes GA28 one more time when it
crosses the Chattooga River. Once over the Georgia state line, the number and intensity of the curves increase further still, but the pavement is less than ideal, with a rougher surface and low-traction tar snakes, so caution is the watchword here. This especially winding segment runs through pines and along mountain ridges as the road elevates toward Highlands, N.C., crossing the 4,100-foot elevation of the Eastern Continental Divide just south of town. Once over the North Carolina border, SC28 south of Anderson, S.C.
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Phil Buonpastore
GA28
One area that would probably be of special interest to riders is the 56-mile stretch from Franklin, N.C., to Deal’s Gap in Tennessee. For those riders coming from Georgia or South Carolina with plans to challenge “The Dragon,” the road is a winding and not heavily traveled direct route that’s a lengthy prelude to what’s ahead. Its almost continually winding personality gives the road the advantage of being one a motorcyclist would love, and an automobile driver would not.
GA28 becomes NC28 and sticks with that name for its duration, and the pavement improves markedly, allowing focus on picking a good line rather than avoiding road defects. Given the Chief Vintage engine’s prodigious torque, staying in third gear allows me to roll on and off the throttle through the curves, getting into a great rhythm with the road, and I rarely have to shift or use the brakes for most of the ride from the state line to Highlands. As the section of Highway 28 north
of Walhalla is especially challenging, a stop on Main Street in the Appalachian mountain town of Highlands, N.C., is just the thing for a lunch break, some java at Buck’s Coffee Shop, and a fill up for the bike. Also note that the left turn on Main Street joins NC28 with US64 West, but NC28 is not marked at the turn, so care must be taken not to miss the counterintuitive left to stay on the route. It appears to be an oversight by state road officials, as there is no sign posted for 28 until you have already made the left. Missing the turn could result in a long detour, as I found out when I continued straight on highway 64 east for many miles, caught up in the beauty of the area and the enjoyment of the ride, before realizing that I had gotten off the route. NC28/US64 from Highlands northwest to Franklin, N.C., is a beauty of a road, excellently paved and winding along a craggy outcropping of Appalachian mountains, and along the Cullasaja River, but the first 10-mile section allows little
margin for rider error, as it is both narrow and very twisty, with vertical rock on the right side and guardrail and river on the left. Auto and truck drivers also have a tendency to allow their wheels to drift over the centerline on the tight curves, so stay alert. One area that will be of special interest to riders is the 56-mile stretch from Franklin, N.C., to Deal’s Gap in Tennessee. For those riders coming from Georgia or South Carolina with plans to challenge “The Dragon,” NC28 is a winding and not heavily traveled direct route that’s a lengthy prelude to what’s ahead. Its almost continually winding personality gives the road the advantage of being one a motorcyclist will love and most automobile drivers will not. The first leg of NC28 from Franklin to U.S. Highway 74 carves through national forest in a twowheeled, winding ribbon of asphalt made for motorcyclists—the exception being when caught behind a slow moving car or truck, because passing opportunities are
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NC28 Highlands to Franklin, N.C.
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few and far between. At US74, NC28 joins with the highway for a quick three miles west before resuming its northwestern route. Here the road continues on for another 33 miles, bordering the southern edge of the Smoky Mountains National Park for much of its length, carrying the personality of the park with it all the way. Also called Bryson City Road, it continues with non-stop S-turns and switchbacks along rock faces and under the dense pine forest’s overhanging limbs. Though the serpentine nature of the road might inspire some to take these twisties at a spirited pace, hurrying through this area misses some of the best that NC28 has to offer. Settle in at a more leisurely rate and you’ll have an opportunity to appreciate both the stellar road and the awe-inspiring surroundings of the Smoky Mountains. The last 10 miles of this road showcase some of its best features. Here the road winds its way along the shores of Fontana Lake and over the bridge at Fontana Dam to neighboring Cheoah Lake. As you round the last curve before going over the dam, you are pointed toward an Appalachian Mountain ridge that juts vertically up out of the ground, rising a few hundred feet directly in front of you. The view is spectacular, and is reminiscent of the western United States for its stark natural beauty. NC28 ends at U.S. Highway 129,
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Demo Ride Ne
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less than a mile from the Tennessee state line. Deal’s Gap is just around the corner, but even eschewing riding “The Dragon’s” serpentine twists and turns, NC28 is plenty of great riding all by itself. While tackling a three-state, 238-mile ride on an amazingly scenic road would be enough for even the most dedicated of riders, the area encompassed by north Georgia, eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina and northwestern
South Carolina features so many great motorcycling roads that listing them all would be impossible here. If you enjoy the ample curves and fetching scenery of State Route 28, go ahead and stay a day or two. Overnight lodging is abundant and motorcycle friendly. Take the time to explore some of the many exhilarating roads that are everywhere in the forests and foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
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2003 HONDA CR250R The GOAT’s Weapon Few people in any endeavor have ever earned the title of The Greatest Of All Time. Ricky Carmichael has. Carmichael was, without question, the most dominant rider ever in AMA Motocross. Beginning in 1997, when he won the 125 Motocross Championship, he won at least one championship in every season he raced, and never failed to defend a title when he was able to ride the entire season. In total, Carmichael earned 15 National Championship titles in AMA Motocross and AMA Supercross and three team world championships in the FIM Motocross of Nations. He notched undefeated outdoor seasons three times—and two of those times he never lost a single moto. One of the most impressive aspects of Carmichael’s career is that his success straddled two distinct eras. Carmichael and his contemporaries grew up racing twostrokes, known for their explosive power and quick acceleration. But by the early 2000s, most racers had decided that fourstroke motocross bikes, with their greater displacement and horsepower and torquey delivery, were a big advantage over the two-stroke competition. Unless, however, Ricky Carmichael was the two-stroke competition. In 2003, Carmichael showed that two-
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strokes—specifically, this Honda CR250R—were still formidable. The first proof came in the 2003 AMA Supercross Championship, where he raced this Honda to seven overall victories to take the title over Chad Reed by 7 points. Those wins made this machine the last two-stroke to win an AMA Supercross Championship. When the action moved to the outdoor AMA Motocross Championship, Carmichael prevailed as well, riding this bike to win the series handily in nine of 11 rounds. This CR250R featured a number of special touches, including a start device on the front forks, a start mode for the ignition, heavy duty custom wheels and triple clamps, a rider-adjustable clutch, custom engine case guards and more to keep Carmichael at the front. This remarkable motorcycle is on loan from American Honda. You can see it, along with many of the other machines that have shaped the history of American motorcycling, at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio. Photos Rainer Ziehm
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The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, features the people and machines that have deďŹ ned the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling in America. The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-proďŹ t corporation that receives support from the AMA and from the motorcycling community. For info and directions, visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org, or call (614) 856-2222.
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AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Famer
Ben Campanale: 1938-39 Daytona 200 Winner One of the first AMA Class C racing stars, Ben Campanale was a top racer in New England during the mid-1930s. He made a name for himself nationally by becoming the first two-time winner of the Daytona 200, winning the classic event in 1938 and 1939. Born in Worcester, Mass., on Sept. 19, 1914, Campanale came into motorcycling in perhaps one of the most roundabout ways of any Hall of Famer. As a teenager, Campanale was a bicycle racer of some renown. Always looking for a thrill, he wanted to build an iceboat to speed along the frozen lakes near his home. He found a farmer who had on old HarleyDavidson sitting behind a barn out in the elements. Campanale paid five dollars for the abandoned bike, took the engine out and went to work rebuilding it. He finally got the motor running and, with the addition of an old propeller from a nearby airport, had the major ingredients to build his iceboat. “The first time I put it on the ice it ran great until I hit the higher speeds,” Campanale recalled. “The propeller wasn’t angled right and the boat tried to lift itself off the ice.” In the spring, Campanale fixed up the frame of the old 1924 Harley, installed the motor and learned to ride in the fields behind his house. He kept riding, and in 1934, Campanale entered his first race, the national championship TT in Keene, N.H. “I just went up, paid my one dollar AMA membership fee and was ready to race,” said Campanale, who was just 19 years old at the time. “Things were a lot simpler
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in those days. E.C. Smith looked at the old rig I had and just sort of grinned. I’m sure it was quite a picture with me, no racing experience, and riding this old worn-down street bike.” Campanale surprised everyone that day in Keene by not only finishing the race, but finishing in fifth place as well. A total unknown to his fellow racers, Campanale became somewhat of a local celebrity. From there, Campanale went on to establish quite a reputation by winning regional TT and hillclimbing championships in New England. In 1938, Campanale went to Daytona Beach, Fla., to take a shot at racing in the 200. Once again, he was relatively unknown, this time going against more than 100 of the best motorcycle racers in the country. His bike was a HarleyDavidson WLDR street bike with the lights taken off. As the race progressed, it became a battle between Campanale, Tommy Hays and Lester Hillbish. At one point, Hillbish forced Campanale off the course. This infuriated Campanale and he charged as hard as he could to catch Hillbish. After gaining on Hillbish, Campanale pulled alongside and began kicking at Hillbish’s front wheel. “I was going to let him know he’d better not mess with me again,” recalled Campanale. Perhaps thinking Campanale was a crazy man, Hillbish kept his distance. Campanale pulled away to win by about one minute over Hillbish, with Hayes a distant third. Afterward, Hillbish and some of his friends came over to protest Campy’s rough riding. Luckily for Campanale, AMA official and former racing great Jim Davis saw Hillbish run Campanale off the track and did not allow the protest. The next year Campanale returned, but was no longer the underdog. This time
he was given a factory Harley-Davidson. William Harley, one of the founders of Harley-Davidson, came up to Campanale just before the race and asked him how the motor was running. Campanale replied that it was just perfect. Campanale went on to win the race to become its first two-time winner. To make extra money during his racing days, Campanale did stunt riding. His best-known stunt was crashing through a wall of wooden boards. He gave up stunt riding when once he had to use fresh wood and the boards didn’t give way when he hit them. Campanale survived one of the worst motorcycle racing crashes of all time at Oakland, Calif., in 1941. When June McCall went down at a high rate of speed during the running of the Oakland 200, Campanale and several other riders crashed trying to avoid him. Campanale was forced to hit the outside fence in the incident. In all,
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five riders were involved in the crash. Tommy Hays and McCall were killed in the accident. Campanale said it looked as if a bomb had gone off over the racetrack with riders and bikes strewn all over. He and Jim Kelly were both hospitalized for months. Campanale said the doctors gave him less than a 50-50 chance to live after the crash and his wife, Anna, was so shaken by the incident she never attended another race. Because of his injuries, Campanale was never drafted during World War II. Campanale came back after the war and resumed his racing career, winning several AMA Pacific Coast titles. He also moved to California and opened a Harley-Davidson dealership in Pomona. One of his most famous regular customers was Clark Gable. The mayor of Laconia, N.H., declared June 9, 1997 as Ben Campanale Day. He also received a formal commendation from New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, recognizing Campanale as a national motorcycle racing hero and legend. Ben Campanale was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. He passed away in 2003.
AMA Motorcycle HAll of fAMer MArgAret Wilson pAsses Motorcycling Great Was Longtime Supporter Of Museum The AMA expresses its condolences to the friends and family of Margaret M. Wilson, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and longtime patron of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Mrs. Wilson passed away July 23 after a short illness. She was 98. “Margaret Wilson was not just a role model for women motorcyclists, but all motorcyclists, setting an immeasurable example of dedication, grace, humility and generosity,” says AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “On behalf of AMA staff, our members and the boards of directors of the AMA and American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, I express our deepest condolences to her family and friends, and particularly her husband, Mike Wilson, who along with Margaret has provided unequaled support to the Hall of Fame, where their contributions and accomplishments will live on in perpetuity.” Mrs. Wilson was among the first of a generation of female motorcyclists in post-World War II America who took up the sport and began changing the image of motorcycling as the exclusive domain of
Margaret and Mike Wilson, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers
men. Her many accomplishments include becoming a Golden Life Member of the Motor Maids, being voted America’s Most Popular and Typical Girl Rider for 1958, and logging more than half-a-million miles riding throughout the United States and Canada. Along with her husband Mike, Margaret ran Wilson’s Motorcycle Sales of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the couple was instrumental in helping establish the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
Put yourself in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is YOUR hall of fame—we couldn’t exist without the generous support of our donors. Now there’s a new way for you to show that support in a very visible way: My Hall of Fame. The idea is simple: A $20 charitable donation gets you a 3-inch-square space on the wall in the Hall of Fame entrance foyer that hangs during the campaign year. Want a bigger space? A 6-inch square is an $80 donation, and an 8-inch square is a $180 donation. You also get an official certificate noting that your picture is on display in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Hang your picture, your kid’s picture, your company logo, almost anything. It’s up to you! Get in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame today!
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ElEctric MotorcyclEs charging into MarkEtplacE Investments By Harley-Davidson, Polaris Spark Interest By Jim Witters
The Project LiveWire electric motorcycle national tour by the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. this past summer lit up the main-stream media, flooded the social networks and challenged motorcycling’s old guard to take a fresh look at cherished traditions. Harley’s involvement—coupled with Polaris Industries Inc.’s 2011 investment in electric-motorcycle builder Brammo Inc.—provides big-time corporate credibility to the fledgling industry. While one custom builder of electric bikes worries that the market may grow cold while people wait for an electric Harley, industry leaders Zero Motorcycles and Brammo say their web traffic, social media and consumer inquiries hit all-time highs after Harley’s tour announcement. “If Harley-Davidson is serious and they move fast to get a bike out there in the market, that’s fine,” says custom builder Chris Bell, owner of Brutus Electric Motorcycles. “Otherwise, people will wait to buy until Harley does something.” But Scot Harden, Zero’s vice president of global marketing, says the immediate affect has been positive. And Adrian G. Stewart, director of marketing at Brammo, says, “HarleyDavidson has done an excellent job of raising EV [electric vehicle] awareness and increasing consumer confidence both in the main stream media and in the
specialist press. “Since [the Harley launch], we have seen a steady stream of riders coming into our dealer network to take a more serious test ride on an Empulse, after having ridden the LiveWire,” Stewart explains. Zero’s experience was similar. “Our web traffic doubled when HarleyDavidson announced Project LiveWire,” Harden says. “They confirmed what we have been saying all along.” What Zero, Brammo and other manufacturers have been saying is that motorcycling’s future—at least a big chunk of it—will be in electric machines. Electric motorcycles generate no vibration or exhaust fumes, produce little noise and eliminate the need to shift gears. Maximum torque is available immediately. Electric motors require no oil changes or waiting in line at a gas station. “You get all of the fun without any of the
HarleyDavidson’s LiveWire electric motorcycle
drama,” says Harden, a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and winner of the 2014 AMA Bessie Stringfield Award for his work promoting motorcycling to emerging markets. “I’ve been riding all my life, and the feeling of electric motorcycles takes me back to when I first started. It’s all about the experience.”
Well Within Range
One of the knocks on electric vehicles, including motorcycles, has been the relatively limited range available before a recharge is needed. Early commercially available motorcycles were claiming a lessthan-40-mile range, severely limiting their usefulness among motorcyclists envisioning long country rides on the weekends. Recharging the batteries was not as quick and simple as stopping at a gas station along the road. But today’s electric motorcycles boast ranges of 70 miles to nearly 200 miles per charge. And some offer quick-charging options that make longer trips easier. At the same time, though, manufacturers and others say most motorcyclists overestimate the amount of ground they cover on their bikes. Only 600,000 Americans face a daily “megacommute” of 50 miles or more each way, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “The average commute is 50 miles in California,” Harden says. “We are well within that range.” Kelly Blue Book says a typical sportbike travels about 3,000 miles a year, while a touring bike may cover 5,000 miles. “A funny characteristic of nearly all motorcyclists is that they think they ride more miles than they actually do,” says Jim Williams, AMA vice president of industry relations and business member programs. “For a majority of riders, 50 to 75 miles is probably adequate, but they don’t think it is.” Dr. Richard M. Goff, associate professor at Virginia Tech’s Department of Engineering Education and co-director of its Center for e-Design, says he gets the “range” question quite often. “Many people ask me how far I can go on my Zero motorcycle and how long does it take to charge. Currently, it goes as far as I need it to go.”.”
Electric Advantage
Goff says the opportunity in electric motorcycles is limited only by the imagination of the designers— and, of course, the laws of physics. “The advantage electric power offers motorcyclists is a quiet, cool, no smell,
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no drip, no emissions, enjoyable ride,” he says. “The bikes are as fast and maneuverable as gas bikes, without the noise, heat, smell and emissions. “Motorcycle manufacturers have many more options for packaging than with gas bikes. If manufacturers get creative, they can reinvent the layout, seating position, shape and look of motorcycles, which hasn’t changed, other than cosmetically, since 1900.” The cost of operating an electric motorcycle also is much lower than a bike with a traditional internal-combustion engine, Harden says. “Depending on the cost of electricity where an individual lives, the cost of operating a Zero motorcycle can be about a penny a mile,” he says. “And depending on an owner’s circumstances, the savings can pay for the bike.” In addition, Goff says, electric motorcycles benefit the community by being quiet and by not polluting their immediate surroundings. “They give motorcycles a good image with the general public,” Goff says. “They promote a sustainable lifestyle.”
Battery Tech Advances
One key to expanding the range of electric motorcycles is the advancement of storage battery technology. Traditional lead-acid batteries, such as those used to start cars and trucks, are heavy and bulky. But electric-vehicle manufacturers use lithium ion batteries, which can pack more power into smaller, lighter packages. Reducing the weight, while retaining the power, extends the vehicle’s range. Johnson Controls, one of the largest automotive battery technology companies in the world, is expanding its role in the powersports market. In 2013, the company launched VARTA
“Depending on the cost of electricity where an individual lives, the cost of operating a Zero motorcycle can be about a penny a mile,” he says. “And depending on an owner’s circumstances, the savings can pay for the bike.” — Scot Harden, Zero Motorcycle’s vice president of global marketing
AGM factory-activated powersports batteries in the United States, featuring “precision-filled, non-spillable technology.” “As motorcycle technology evolves, we continuously evaluate ways to leverage our capabilities and expertise from the automotive energy storage space in the powersports market,” the company says. Stanford University researchers recently reported that they have taken a big step toward revolutionizing battery technology by designing a pure lithium anode— something they refer to as the “Holy Grail” of battery design. “What we have [today] are lithium-ion batteries,” says Yi Cui, a professor of materials science and engineering and leader of the research team. “The lithium is in the electrolyte but not in the anode. An anode of pure lithium would be a huge boost to battery efficiency.” While not specifically mentioning motorcycle applications, Cui says the new technology would benefit an array of applications. “In practical terms, if we can triple the energy density and simultaneously decrease the cost four-fold, that would be very exciting,” he says.
is why Harley’s entry is so significant: Its customer base is both affluent and large in number.” The price of an electric motorcycle can vary as much as the price of a traditional gasoline-powered bike. For example, Zero lists its 2014 S model at $12,995. Brammo lists its Empulse at $16,995. Bell says he can build a custom V9—a full-sized electric bike similar in purpose to the Harley Electra Glide—for $32,490.
Brammo’s Empulse R
Who Is Buying Them? “Initially, the customer base will be relatively affluent riders who wish to add another bike to their stable, not replace one,” Williams says. “This
ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE MANUfACTURERS (And Those Who Might Be Soon)
Companies with models available in the U.S. market:
Foreign companies currently in production:
Companies in the research and development or prototype phase:
Brammo Inc. Talent, Ore. www.brammo.com/ home
Agility Saietta London, England www.agilitymotors.com
Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Milwaukee, Wis. project.harley-davidson.com
Bultaco CEMOTO Barcelona, Spain www.bultaco.es/en/
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Tokyo, Japan world.honda.com/design/ designers-talk/TMS2011/rc-e/
Brutus Motorcycles (Bell Custom Cycles) Henderson, Nev. brutusmotorcycle.com Lightning Motorcycle San Carlos, Calif. www.lightning motorcycle.com
Mission Motorcycles Inc. San Francisco, Calif. https://www.missionmotorcycles.com Zero Motorcycles Inc. Scotts Valley, Calif. www.zeromotorcycles. com
Energica (CRP Group) Modena, Italy www.energicasuperbike. com LITO Green Motion Inc. Longueuil, Canada www.litogreenmotion.com
Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA Irvine, Calif. www.kawasaki-cp.khi.co.jp/ motorshow2013/index_e.html
KTM North America Murrieta, Calif. www.ktm.com/us/freeride/ freeride-e/highlights.html Suzuki Motor of America Inc. Brea, Calif. www.suzukicycles.com Yamaha Motor Corp., USA Cypress, Calif. www.yamaha-motor.com
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And then there is the Mission RS GP that lists for $74,999. Harlan Flagg, owner of electricmotorcycle retailer Hollywood Electrics, says his customer base has evolved from “early adopters to first-time riders and traditional motorcycle enthusiasts” since the store opened in 2009. “We’ve identified three main market segments,” Flagg says. “The longtime motorcycle enthusiast who has several bikes in the garage; urban riders looking to reduce their commute time and cost; and first-time and returning riders.” Williams says he will be closely watching the Harley loyalists. “The interesting aspect of this for me will be to see which segment of HarleyDavidson’s customer base represents the early adopters,” he says. “Will it be the younger demographic or the most senior of their customers? I can see potential motivations for each one.” Other major manufacturers are still surveying the market. KTM Sportmotorcycle AG has developed an electric dirt bike called the Freeride
E, but production was limited to 500 units that were used to test the European market. KTM also has considered developing an electric street bike. But Tom Moen, media relations manager for KTM North America Inc., says there is no current plan to import the Freeride E to the United States. The street bike has not moved beyond the concept phase. “We are still monitoring the marketplace for this type of bike,” he says.
Pockets Of Resistance
Williams says he believes the market for electric motorcycles is poised for rapid growth, with the major manufacturers— Harley, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha—eventually joining the mix. “At this point, it’s only cost and fear of the unknown that is stopping potential buyers,” he says. Internet forums, blog comments, and social media posts show a variety of reactions to the Harley-Davidson project. Many hard-core fans of The Motor Company flatly reject the idea of ever straddling any bike with an electric motor. But those commenters likely do not represent
Zero SR
the target audience for marketers of electric motorcycles. The Millenials—people who reached young adulthood around the year 2000— will be “the first and most enthusiastic to adopt the concept and the science behind e-bikes,” Williams says. Flagg says resistance to change is the “biggest impediment” in convincing someone to try an electric bike. Goff says “people exposed to more electric motorcycles and cars tend to consider them for their own vehicles of choice.”
Education Equals Marketing
The type of exposure Goff refers to includes Harley’s nationwide publicity and market-research campaign, as well as the media coverage and one-on-one interactions with potential consumers. “The electric motorcycle industry is still in its infancy, and most riders are just starting to learn about the technology and what are the important questions they need answers to before buying,” Stewart says. “At Brammo, we put a great deal of effort into explaining the technology and our approach to the technology. We do this via Tech Talks in the dealerships and via social media including YouTube.” Bell says expansion of the market for electric motorcycles also includes hiring and training a sales staff that believes in the product. “Hollywood Electrics does it right,” he says. “It’s not like some traditional dealerships, where they have one model of electric bike back in the corner, and the sales staff doesn’t know anything about it … or care.” Flagg says his outlet “is more than an electric motorcycle dealership.” “It is a classroom where one can learn about electric motorcycles and see which bikes will fit into your lifestyle and how
DO-IT-YOURSELF AN OPTION FOR SOME Ingenuity, Preparation Are Keys
Chad Dappert of Kenton, Ohio, says he “got disgusted with the short life” of the gasoline-powered engines he saw coming through his vehicle repair shop. So, he started tinkering. During the past eight years, Dappert’s All Seasons Electric Vehicles has converted dirt bikes, street bikes, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, trucks and a Massey Ferguson tractor to electric power. “We do conversions, instead of building custom bikes, and we use lead-acid batteries to try to make these vehicles affordable for everyone,” Dappert says. Dappert can convert a vehicle the customer owns or provide the bracket
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system and let the customer do the work. A Kawasaki Ninja 250 conversion, completed in 2012, used $2,200 in parts. A set of brackets for converting a motorcycle from gas to electric can cost as little at $250, Dappert says. The batteries, controllers, cables and motor are the more costly items. “The batteries we use in most applications are military grade,” he says. And, depending on the motor and other components chosen, there are some maintenance costs involved. “Wear parts will need to be replaced, such as brushes and bearings, at about 500 hours for higher performance units
and up to 4,000 hours for the general work units,” he says. “This equates to several years, in most cases.” Dappert posts videos of his homemade creations on his YouTube channel under the name “Dappman.” Other online sources for electric motorcycle conversions include: • Ben Nelson, Wisconsin, 2008-2014: http://300mpg.org/ projects/evcycle/ • Lennon Rodgers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012: https://
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they will improve your quality of life and meet your transportation needs,” he says. In addition to talking to people about the benefits of electric power, manufacturers and retailers will have to get more people on the bikes to see for themselves, Williams says.
ACADEMIC EFFORTS
Universities Field Electric Motorcycles With Different Goals
Two universities. Two electric-motorcycle projects. Two goals. At The Ohio State University, the Buckeye Current team is chasing racing championships, competing head-to-head with well-financed factory teams in the Isle of Man TT. At Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Dr. Richard M. Goff’s team is working on aerodynamics in an attempt to reduce fuel consumption to the absolute minimum needed to accomplish a task.
The Growth, So Far
Even though the electric-motorcycle market is growing, it remains small when compared to total U.S. motorcycle sales. Zero is the American market leader in electric motorcycles, with a goal of selling 2,400 units in 2014, Harden says. That figure compares to Harley-Davidson’s U.S. sales of 58,225 motorcycles in just the second quarter of 2014. Flagg says Hollywood Electric’s sales have increased 100 percent each year since the store opened in 2009. Hollywood Electrics announced in July that it would carry Brammo motorcycles in addition to its original Zero line. Stewart says he expects the growth to continue apace. “The vast majority of electric motorcycle innovation and production takes place here in the USA, and the rate of innovation and product development is breathtaking,” he says. “This tells me that there is a passion and interest here in the USA that will be reflected in the sales growth—not only from existing riders, but also those who are new to motorcycles and those who are returning to motorcycling. The future for electric is bright in our opinion.” Goff agrees: “The future of electric motorcycles in America is very bright. Once they become more widespread and the cost of batteries comes down, sales will take off.” And Flagg concludes: “Once you’ve had the opportunity to take one for a ride, it’s hard to look back. Everything else looks archaic in comparison.”
The Buckeye Current team has notched consecutive third-place finishes in the TT Zero, edging out Saroléa, a professional Belgian team, by 0.37 seconds this year, while setting the collegiate lap record at 24:12.23 averaging 93.531 mph. The bikes finishing ahead of Buckeye Current rider Rob Barber were with Honda’s race team, Myugen Shinden. Buckeye Current formed in 2010 to design, build and race electric motorcycles to promote innovation in electric-vehicle technology. The AMA helped get the program rolling by donating parts, including the MV Agusta frame on which the team’s first bike, the RW-1, was built. The RW-1 set the East Coast Timing Association record for electric motorcycles at 144 miles per hour. Brendan Kelly, founding member and business manager for the team, says “the team then switched its focus to testing its developments against the notorious Isle of Man TT.” In 2015, the team will tackle the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb. Kelly says racing “provides unique challenges and truly pushes the technology to the edge of performance.” “If we can design and build a bike that survives the Isle of Man or climbs Pikes Peak, we can design a commuter,” he says. “Racing requires the most power and speed on a bike
Chad Dappert’s CBR550 Conversion
Richard Goff
sites.google.com/site/lennonrodgers2/e_ moto • Toni Palmén, Vantaa, Finland, 2014: http://electricfinn.wordpress.com
Buckeye Current
Speed Racer
fully optimized for performance.” Among the innovations emerging from Buckeye Current are SIMba — a data-modeling tool that predicts the bike’s performance through the Isle of Man course — and a battery management system.
Economy, Efficiency
In July, Goff competed in the Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge at BikeBandit. com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Indian Motorcycle. The challenge requires riders to complete a road course in normal driving conditions at normal speeds in a vehicle that can carry four full grocery bags. The winner is the rider completing the course with the lowest cost per mile. Goff rode his 2012 Zero DS electric motorcycle outfitted with a Vetter aerodynamic nose. The streamlining netted him a 25 percent increase in range, but he failed to finish the course. Vetter says that if Goff had been able to complete the course, he would have won the 2014 event easily. “I chose electric power, because this is the fuel that will win this event eventually,” Goff says. “Once the battery is chosen and installed for the range required, there is no other fuel source that can run as inexpensively. “I also think that electric motorcycles, particularly commuter motorcycles, will be the bikes of choice in the near future,” Goff explains, “and I want to promote this form of sustainable transportation.”
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History’s Best on Display Annual Event Celebrates Vintage Motorcycles It’s early Friday, July 11, and Tom White—owner and curator of the Early Years of Motocross Museum, member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2014 and the founder of White Brothers Cycle Specialties—is settling in to present a seminar on vintage motocross at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Indian Motorcycle, when he takes some time to talk about the event itself. “There truly is nothing like AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days,” White says. “It is a time warp when you roll through the gates. You see the history of motorcycling right in front of your eyes. For a history and racing buff like me, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to watch vintage racing, not to mention rub elbows with all these motorcycling heroes.” Thousands of motorcyclists have joined White at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, to do just that:
enjoy vintage racing, see some amazing classic bikes, learn from motorcycling experts, shop North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, spend time with old friends, connect with new friends, and through it all contribute to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The 30th year of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days kicks off with great weather and top attractions thanks to event partners BikeBandit.com, Indian Motorcycle and more. White’s weekend begins with a special presentation titled “Motocross: The Early Years” in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame tent adjacent to the lower road race paddock. It’s history intertwined with White’s. His seminar is an example of what makes AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days so cool: It’s not just about celebrating the past, but celebrating it with those who didn’t just witness it, but made it.
SwAp MEEt trEASurES One of the biggest draws of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the swap meet, which Federal Motorcycle Transport, agent for STI, sponsors this year. Dick and Eric Hilderbrant traveled from the Chicago area to see what they could find. It doesn’t take them long to start exchanging cash for parts. “We build old bikes,” Dick says. “We’ve been to six meets already this year. And this is by far the best.” Eric chimes in: “We were told this is the best swap meeting in the country, and they were right.” The Hilderbrants operate E&D Vintage
Dennis and Colleen Kochever just got married and are celebrating their honeymoon at the event.
Roy Chapman
Motorcycles, specializing in 1968-1983 Japanese brands. Their prize finds before midday Friday: a Yamaha fuel tank with dual petcocks and gas cap that was only made for two years. “You can’t find these anywhere any more,” Eric says of the tank. “I’ve never seen one in this good of shape.”
riVAlriES liVEn pit row On Friday, road racers enjoy a practice session on the road-race course before national championship competition gets under way on Saturday. Don Drake, owner of Drake Cycle Shop in Decatur, Ind., says the track, the people and the facilities make AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days a must-attend event. “We really love the track,” agrees Drake
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Racing Drake motorcycles are Linda Mihalec and Chris Langford, a wife-and-husband crew from Lexington, Ky.
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days in recent years, embarks on a 154-mile ride through Central Ohio’s twisty backroads. The contest, run by AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Craig Vetter, challenges participants to extract the most fuel mileage possible from their motorcycles. This year, Alan Smith, from California, takes the overall victory, achieving 181.6 mpg at a cost of 1.57 cents per mile. Smith also wins the traditional fuels class. Fred Hayes wins the alternate fuels category with a diesel motorcycle. He gets 178 mpg at a cost of 1.85 cents a mile.
team member Jodie Hance. “The whole thing has been a treat.” A few spots down pit row, four racing buddies share a garage. Roy Chapman, from Adairsville, Ga., Dave Rutherford, of Talking Rock, Ga., Stu Carter, from Detroit, and Frances Ganache, from Cincinnati converge every year at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. This year, Chapman brought his 1949 Japan’s FinEst on thE Harley Davidson WR. Racing Drake motorcycles are Linda inFiEld “I just finished this bike last year, so Mihalec and Chris Langford, a wife-andThe Honda it hasn’t been raced in many events,” husband crew from Lexington, Ky.450, with its double Chapman says. “But when I heard Indian overhead cam, was a clear indicator that the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers was the featured marque this year, I knew those Indian riders would be out here. were going all-in on bigger-displacement bikes, says the Vintage Japanese So, I thought I should at least make it a Motorcycle Club’s Sean Carrigan. Harley-Indian war.” VJMC is one of the classic motorcycle clubs displaying vintage motorcycles on Economy challEngE the infield during the event. Also participating are the Bridgestone Early Friday, the Craig Vetter Fuel Motorcycle Club, the Louisville Vintage Economy Challenge, a staple event of Motorworks, Café Racer magazine, the Indian 4 Cylinder Club, the Kawasaki ZL Owners Association and the Cincinnati Life Member Bill Johnson Classic British Motorcycle Owners. from Acme, Pa. The Honda 450 being displayed by owner Bill Hovis of Cincinnati, Ohio, is just one of many market-changing motorcycles on display in the club’s tent. One of the rarer bikes is a 1975 Suzuki RE5M. An example, owned by Auburn, Ind., resident Todd Haifley, sits at the edge of the VJMC tent this year.
indian motorcyclEs arE Big draw
from Norwalk, Ohio, early Saturday just to try out the new Indian Motorcycle models. “This year I came because of the Indians,” says Leber, one of dozens lined up Saturday morning for a test ride. “The crowd has really embraced the Indians,” says Chris Vallie, Indian Motorcycle demo truck operator. The team brought four Indian Classics, six Indian Vintage and six Indian Chieftan models to the event this year. Noon on Saturday brings another treat. A crowd gathers in the Hall of Fame tent to witness Indian Motorcycle’s first reveal from the 2015 lineup. “Polaris bought Indian Motorcycles in April 2011, and 27 months later, we introduced three new motorcycles—the Classic, the Vintage and the Chieftan,” says Indian Motorcycle’s Robert Pandya. “When we started promoting these bikes, I said that we have to be at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.” The new Indians feature brilliant twotone paint schemes. “These are the paint schemes everyone has been asking for,” Pandya says. L-R: Vic Valdez, Alan Smith, Craig Vetter, Fred Hayes, Richard Goff
Indian Motorcycle, the marque of the year for 2014, is one of America’s most historic brands, but it’s the future that’s on many riders’ minds as they line up for Indian motorcycle demo rides. AMA member Mike Leber came down
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Jeff Fredette
GOOD TImes AT The WAll Of DeATh
Brett, Brooke and baby Vance Gatrell from Lexington, Ohio
The ORANGe BRIGADe John Stanley of Dayton, Ohio, kicks off his Saturday the best way he knows how: riding a KTM 690 Duke during the demo rides. “I have a Suzuki DR 650 and a Kawasaki ZRX 1200,” Stanley says. “I just want to see what the Duke will do.” Stanley took his place under the KTM awning waiting for his turn to ride. The KTMs have been very popular. Mark Hyde, KTM’s Ride Orange manager, says all but seven spots for Saturday’s rides are filled by 9:30 a.m. Justin Burr, of Blacksburg, Va., got signed up early. “I missed out on the demo rides last year,” he says. “My friends all said that the KTMs are great bikes, so I want to try them out and see for myself.”
Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show, but brought only two bikes—a 1947 BSA A7 and a 1939 Indian Scout. Peshoff, who loves to ride Ducatis on the street, said the vintage Indian motorcycles he owns provide a smooth ride and a sense of nostalgia. “The Indian is a bike with passion,” he says. His 1939 Indian Scout Four took Best of Show awards in American bikes, the Indian Award and best in class for American bikes through 1939. The 1947 BSA A7 took Best of Show in British bikes and the British Bikes class for 1940-1949.
Jake and Sara Sites make the trip to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days every year from their home near Pittsburgh, Pa., and the Wall of Death Motorcycle Thrill Show is on their must-do list. The Wall of Death Motorcycle Thrill Show is a traveling show in which motorcyclists ride the 14-foot-tall walls of a motordrome, thrilling as many as 150 spectators during each performance. The Sites’ 4-year-old son, Jack, hasn’t missed an AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. And, this year, little brother Wyatt— just 10 months old—also gets to see the show. “We have been bringing Jack since he was a baby, and I was pregnant with Wyatt last year,” Sara says. “It’s a family tradition.”
RARe & CUTTING eDGe The folks in the Bridgestone Motorcycle Club are keeping alive a little-known and oftenneglected Japanese marque that was sold in the United States from 1962 to 1971.
David Nuzum (left) and Todd Miller
ClAssIC BIkes shINe Carl Peshoff knows efficiency. The Canton, Ohio, resident wins five trophies Saturday afternoon at AMA
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On Saturday evening at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, they’re entertaining a steady flow of visitors through their tent on the infield. The curious are eager to learn more about these rare motorcycles. Bridgestone MC member Larry Young says the marque was well known in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, but few people in America are aware that the company known for its tires once built and sold cutting-edge motorcycles as well. “In its class, and in its day, this was a very advanced motorcycle,” Young says. Young, who lives near Syracuse, N.Y., owns more than 20 Bridgestones and a barn full of parts. “In the 1968 race at Daytona, Bridgestones took first, second, fourth and fifth in the 175 class,” he says.
OffROAD ChAlleNGe The woods surrounding Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of old motorcycles during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. On Friday, harescrambles racers have command of the forest, navigating a flowing track that many call the event’s “best ever.” On Sunday, trials riders get their turn, bouncing, sliding and turning their way through an expertly designed collection of sections across rocks, over logs and up steep creek banks. Sitting under a canopy of
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maple leaves, David Nuzum, from Shinnston, W.Va., and Todd Miller, from Grafton, W.Va., just finished a winding section that took them through a creek, over several logs and across a bed of loose rock. “It’s fantastic here,” says Nuzum, who is riding a 1974 Yamaha TY250 in the Vintage Factory Intermediate class. “I plan on coming here every year. There’s no pressure. If you do well, you do well. If you don’t, you don’t.” Miller’s 1974 Suzuki RL250 was a “basket case” before he started getting it ready for the trials at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. “I just put a new engine in it last week,” he says. Miller, who is competing in the Vintage Clubman class, says vintage competition reminds him of when he was younger. “I like getting to ride the old bikes that were around when I was a kid,” he says. “I had one of these RLs when I was 18.”
GRAND CHAMPIONS CROWNED The vintage racing at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days creates much of the event’s immersive experience, with competition in motocross, harescrambles, dirt track, road racing and trials. Although all disciplines are part of the AMA amateur national championship calendar, the event also
awards AMA Vintage Grand Champion honors to three riders who have the most impressive performances across disciplines. Todd Narduzzi, 48, of Wadsworth, Ohio, is the AMA Track Racing Vintage Grand Champion. Narduzzi also won the title in 2011. Quinn Wentzel, 20, of Canfield, Ohio, wins the AMA Off-Road Vintage Grand Championship. Jeff Fredette, 56, of Beecher, Ill., claims AMA Off-
“It’s always a challenge to put together a solid weekend,” Narduzzi says. In off-road, the trials program was the deciding discipline in each award. Wentzel, a nationally ranked trials rider in modern competition, was third in Vintage Grand Championship points behind Trevor Kline and John Frackelton following the motocross and harescrambles. “We had some issues in the harescrambles. I didn’t finish as well as I hoped because the
ripper. I was winning that class but derailed a chain. I then came back in the 250 race and finished second in each moto. My best finishes were a third and a second, and Trevor had two firsts, so I knew what I had to do for trials.” And that was ace it, which Wentzel did, finishing with no penalty points. Fredette was in a threeway tie with David Smeal and Elmar Kruza heading into the trials competition. Fredette won by edging both riders in his third and fourth loop. “[The close competition] makes it more fun,” says Fredette, an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer due to his long, successful off-road racing career in modern competition. “It’s kind of cool. It’s old bikes. You never know what’s going to happen with old stuff.”
THE WINNING TICKET On Sunday at the event, Bill Tuman, accompanied by his co-Grand Marshal Bobby Hill, pulls the winning ticket.
Road Senior Vintage Grand Champion honors. Both Wentzel and Fredette successfully defended the titles they won in 2013. Narduzzi won two road racing national championships and placed fourth in the dirttrack program held at Ashland County Fairgrounds.
bike broke,” Wentzel says. Quinn and his dad, Bob Wentzel, had to improvise. “So, I switched from Open A to 250 A in motocross and raced my dad’s 250, and then we bought a 125 a couple minutes before the race so I could do two classes,” Wentzel says. “The 125 was a
One of the highlights of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the drawing for the winner of the annual AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame raffle bike. On Sunday, co-Grand Marshal Bill Tuman pulls the winning ticket. Robert Hines of Piggot, Ark., wins the bike, a 1947 Indian Chief. The AMA bought the bike at the 2013 Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet. Hines is not in attendance, but will check his voicemail to find a message that will make his Sunday a very good day.
Left: The Wall of Death’s Charlie Ransom (far left) with the Sites family from Pittsburgh, Pa. Below: Bike show at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Tent
For additional coverage and photos from BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Indian Motorcycle, see www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com. October 2014
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If you’re looking for a good time on your dual-sport machine, then head over to the Shenandoah 500 dual sport event hosted by the Washington Area Trail Riders. Oct. 4-5 in Mount Solon, Va. This event is part of the AMA Husqvarna National Dual-Sport Series. Info: dualsport@watr.us.
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The Big Bike Weekend, Oct. 1012, in the Northern California town of Redding is a great destination for street riders looking for a fun time with numerous traditional rally activities. This year’s event benefits the American Red Cross, the Missing in America Project and a preThanksgiving Food Drive (Stuff The Truck) Info: www.bigbikeweekend.com.
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Photo Reid & Kathy Stangenberg, courtesy of Big Bike Weekend
A few of the hundreds of AMA-sanctioned events this month, detailed on the following pages.
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2014 AMA Championship Banquet, Jan. 17, 2015, at the Aladdin Event & Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio
5
The warriors of the dirt oval close out their season this month in AMA Pro Flat Track action on Oct. 11 at the Pomona Half-Mile in Pomona, Calif. For more info, see page 46.
2
If you’ll be in the Hicksville, N.Y., area on Oct. 19, then plan to take part in the 18th Annual Tombstone Tour, a recreational road ride poker run hosted by the American Spirit Motorcycle Club. Info: www.americanspiritmcinc.com.
COMING UP
4
3
The finale of the AMA Pro Hillclimb National Championship Series is set for Oct. 12 in Oregonia, Ohio, hosted by the Dayton Motorcycle Club. If you haven’t seen the pros in action lately, the Devils Staircase Pro Hillclimb is an event you won’t want to miss. Info: www.daytonmc.com.
Support a good cause and have some fun at the same time by taking part in the Tour of Honor, an AMA Grand Tour that ends Oct. 31. The Tour of Honor benefits the Wounded Warrior Project and involves self-directed rides to memorials and monuments. Visit as many sites as you want, along any route you choose. Info: www.tourofhonor.com.
Make your reservation now for one of the greatest motorcycling events of the year: the AMA National Convention in conjunction with the AIMExpo Oct. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla. The convention features the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reception among many other AMA activities. Get more info: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/events/ AMAConvention.aspx.
OCTOBER 16-19 2014
ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
ORLANDO/FL NATIONAL CONVENTION
2014
in conjunction with ®
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Photo Reid & Kathy Stangenberg, courtesy of Big Bike Weekend
OCTOBER EVENTS ARIZONA RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN OCT 19: GILBERT: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, (828) 665-6891, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG ROAD RALLY OCT 17: BENSON: 2 DAY EVENT, SOUTHERN ARIZONA HARLEY RIDERS MC, (520) 586-9983, SAHR.US COMPETITION GRAND PRIX OCT 4: (Includes ATVs) LITTLEFIELD: WILD BUNCH, (702) 521-1148, MRANRACING.COM OBSERVED TRIALS OCT 19: PRESCOTT: CENTRAL ARIZONA TRIALS INC., (602) 840-3640, CENTRALARIZONATRIALS.ORG CALIFORNIA RECREATIONAL BIKE SHOW OCT 10: SAN LUIS OBISPO: CENTRAL COAST CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE CLUB DUAL SPORT RIDE OCT 4: UKIAH: 2 DAY EVENT, NORTH BAY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (707) 824-8643, NORTHBAYMC.ORG OCT 10: BISHOP : VENTURA COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (805) 857-2522 POKER RUN OCT 4: SACRAMENTO: BLACK WIDOWS INC., (916) 649-2240 ROAD RUN OCT 4: CANYON COUNTRY: 2 DAY EVENT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOTORCYCLING ASSN, (562) 298-6236, SC-MA.COM OCT 5: FAIRFIELD: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, (828) 665-6891, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG OCT 25: BAKERSFIELD: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOTORCYCLING ASSN, (562) 298-6236, SC-MA.COM ROAD RALLY OCT 10: REDDING : BIG BIKE WEEKEND, (530) 276-5802, BIGBIKEWEEKEND.COM COMPETITION ENDURO OCT 19: OAKLAND: OAKLAND MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (510) 828-1494, OAKLANDMC.ORG
OCT 4: (Includes ATVs) RIDGECREST: 2 DAY EVENT, VIEWFINDERS MC INC., (661) 450-8150, VIEWFINDERSMC.COM HARE & HOUND OCT 25: (Includes ATVs) LUCERNE VALLEY: 2 DAY EVENT, 100’S MC, (714) 863-7170, 100SMC.ORG HARESCRAMBLES OCT 4: (Includes ATVs) RIDGECREST: 2 DAY EVENT, VIEWFINDERS MC INC., (661) 450-8150, VIEWFINDERSMC.COM OCT 11: SAN JOSE: 2 DAY EVENT, TIMEKEEPERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (408) 739-5762 MOTOCROSS OCT 1: RANCHO CORDOVA: A.M.P. RACING, LLC, (209) 656-9682, AMPGFIMOTOCROSS.COM
OCT 26: FORT WALTON: SAND DOLLAR MC, INC., (850) 244-0376 ROAD RUN OCT 12: UMATILLA: CENTRAL FLORIDA CRUISERS, INC., (352) 396-3239, CENTRALFLORIDACRUISERS.ORG OCT 16: ORLANDO: AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION, (614) 856-1920 OCT 18: ORLANDO: AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION, (614) 856-1920 COMPETITION MOTOCROSS OCT 5: OKEECHOBEE: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX INC, UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM
SPEEDWAY
OCT 12: NEWBERRY: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX INC, UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM
OCT 10: AUBURN: FAST FRIDAYS SPEEDWAY, (530) 878-7223, FASTFRIDAYS.COM
OCT 19: DADE CITY: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX INC, UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM
SHORT TRACK
OCT 26: JACKSONVILLE: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX INC,
OCT 4: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 3687182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM TTS OCT 11: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 3687182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM OCT 18: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 3687182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM OCT 25: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 3687182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM OCT 26: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 3687182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM COLORADO COMPETITION
ILLINOIS RECREATIONAL TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) OTTAWA: VARIETY RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC., (815) 434-3669, VARIETYRIDERS.COM OCT 19: (Includes ATVs) OTTAWA: VARIETY RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (815) 434-3669, VARIETYRIDERS.COM COMPETITION ENDURO OCT 19: WHITE CITY: CAHOKIA CREEK DIRT RIDERS, (618) 946-4316, CAHOKIACREEKDIRTRIDERS.COM HARESCRAMBLES
ENDUROCROSS OCT 4: DENVER: SOURCE INTERLINK MEDIA, (303) 299-5515, NATIONALWESTERNCOMPLEX.COM OBSERVED TRIALS OCT 11: COLORADO SPRINGS: 2 DAY EVENT, ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRIALS ASSN, (719) 395-8505, ROCKYMOUNTAINTRIALS.ORG CONNECTICUT COMPETITION OBSERVED TRIALS OCT 26: MERIDEN: MERIDEN MOTORCYCLE CLUB, NEWENGLANDTRIALS.COM FLORIDA
OCT 12: (Includes ATVs) PLAINVIEW: WFO PROMOTIONS, (309) 314-3343, WFOPROMOTIONS.COM OCT 18: (Includes ATVs) CASEY: MID AMERICA XC RACING, (317) 418-6084, THEMAXC.COM MOTOCROSS OCT 12: MASON: CROSSROADS MX AND OFF-ROAD PARK, LLC, (618) 686-2769, CROSSROADSMX.COM OCT 19: (Includes ATVs) WALNUT: 4P PROMOTIONS INC, (815) 379-9534, SUNSETRIDGEMX.COM OCT 25: CASEY: 2 DAY EVENT, LINCOLN TRAIL MOTOSPORTS, (217) 932-2041, LINCOLNTRAILMOTOSPORTS.COM
OCT 26: GRIZZLY FLATS: POLKA DOTS MOTORCYCLE CLUB,
RECREATIONAL
EUROPEAN SCRAMBLES
ADVENTURE RIDE
COMPETITION
OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) IMPERIAL : ROADRUNNER OFF-ROAD RACING CLUB, (760) 275-9852, AMAD38.COM
OCT 18: ORLANDO: DIXIE DUAL SPORT, INC., (727) 919-8299, DIXIEDUALSPORT.COM
CROSS COUNTRY
GRAND PRIX
POKER RUN
INDIANA
Supporting Sponsor Apparel Sponsorship By
www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com
OCT 25: (Includes ATVs) CRAWFORDSVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, RACER PRODUCTIONS INC, (304)
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OCTOBER EVENTS 284-0084, GNCCRACING.COM
COMPETITION
2582, BERMBENDERS.COM
COMPETITION
MOTOCROSS
MOTOCROSS
HARESCRAMBLES
OCT 4: (Includes ATVs) WABASH: WABASH CANNONBALL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (260) 571-6622, RIDEWABASH CANNONBALLMX.COM
OCT 11: MECHANICSVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, BUDDS CREEK MOTOCROSS PARK, (301) 4752000, BUDDSCREEK.COM
OCT 12: MILLVILLE: HIWINDERS, (507) 753-2779, SPRINGCREEKMX.COM
OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) WABASH: WABASH CANNONBALL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (260) 571-6622, RIDEWABASH CANNONBALLMX.COM
RECREATIONAL
OBSERVED TRIALS
COMPETITION
OCT 18: BLOOMINGTON: 2 DAY EVENT, TRIALS INC., (502) 515-6514, TRIALSINC.ORG IOWA COMPETITION ENDURO OCT 5: BARTLETT: C C RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC., (712) 313-0256, IERA22.COM HARESCRAMBLES OCT 12: ATALISSA: IOWA CITY COMPETITION RIDERS, (319) 530-1554 MOTOCROSS OCT 19: (Includes ATVs) MONTEZUMA: FV MOTO X, (641) 623-3456, FVMOTOX.COM KENTUCKY COMPETITION MOTOCROSS OCT 4: GREENSBURG: RUSSELL CREEK PROMOTIONS, RUSSELL CREEK OFFROAD CAMPGROUND- FACEBOOK MARYLAND RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN OCT 5: MECHANICSVILLE: MARCH OF DIMES-MARYLAND NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA CHAPTER, (571) 257-2310, BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG /MARYLAND
MICHIGAN POKER RUN OCT 5: CALEDONIA: PARA-DICE MC, (616) 363-1030 HARESCRAMBLES OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) PORTLAND: PORTLAND TRAIL RIDERS, (517) 647-7045, PORTLANDTRAILRIDERS.COM MOTOCROSS OCT 12: MILLINGTON: BULLDOG RIDERS M/C, (810) 241-7740, BULLDOGSMX.COM OBSERVED TRIALS OCT 12: FLUSHING: MICHIGAN ONTARIO TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (248) 583-1437, MOTATRIALS.COM MINNESOTA RECREATIONAL TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL OCT 18: AKELEY: 2 DAY EVENT, PAUL BUNYAN FOREST RIDER MC, (701) 219-5875, PAULBUNYAN FORESTRIDERS.COM COMPETITION HARESCRAMBLES OCT 12: MAZEPPA: GOLDEN EAGLES CYCLE CLUB, (507) 2737400, GOLDENEAGLES.ORG MOTOCROSS OCT 5: BROWERVILLE: MOTO CITY RACEWAY & RECREATION INC, (218) 894-2826, MOTOCITYRACEWAY.COM OCT 5: BROOK PARK: BERM BENDERS RACEWAY, (320) 679-
OBSERVED TRIALS OCT 11: THEILMAN: UPPER MIDWEST TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (507) 351-8879, UMTA.ORG OCT 12: THEILMAN: UPPER MIDWEST TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (507) 351-8879, UMTA.ORG
OCT 25: MILLVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, COMPETITION DIRT RIDERS, (609) 319-7496 NEW MEXICO RECREATIONAL DUAL SPORT-OFF ROAD
RECREATIONAL
OCT 24: TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES: NEW MEXICO OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE ALLIANCE (NMOHVA), NMOHVA.ORG
ROAD RUN
COMPETITION
OCT 26: RIDGELAND: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, (828) 665-6891, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG
OBSERVED TRIALS
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
OCT 4: ROSWELL: 2 DAY EVENT, NEW MEXICO TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (505) 780-2551, NEWMEXICOTRIALS.COM
RECREATIONAL
ROAD RACE
POKER RUN - OFF-ROAD
OCT 5: ALBUQUERQUE: SANDIA MOTORCYCLE ROADRACING, INC., (800) 647-5028, SMRI-RACING.ORG
OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) VIBURNUM: MIDWEST TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (314) 434-5095, RIDEMTRA.COM
NEW YORK
COMPETITION
RECREATIONAL
HARESCRAMBLES
POKER RUN
OCT 12: PARK HILLS : MISSOURI MUDDERS, (636) 639-6373, MHSCRACING.COM
OCT 5: AMITYVILLE: SOUTH SHORE MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (516) 579-5499
NEW JERSEY
OCT 5: NEW WINDSOR: BLUE KNIGHTS LAW ENFORCEMENT MC, INC., NY CHAPTER XIV, (845) 590-9877, BLUEKNIGHTSNYXIV.COM
RECREATIONAL DUAL SPORT RIDE OCT 25: EGG HARBOR CITY: 2 DAY EVENT, METEOR MC, (856) 287-2272, METEORMC.COM DUAL SPORT-OFF ROAD OCT 19: WARREN GROVE: MOTORCYCLE COMPETITION INCORPORATED, (609) 306-6675, MOTORCYCLECOMPETITIONINC .COM POKER RUN OCT 5: BRIDGEWATER: AMA DISTRICT II OF NEW JERSEY, (732) 603-8434
ROAD RUN OCT 12: SLOATSBURG: RAMAPO MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (845) 304-3454 OCT 19: BROOKLYN: ROLLING THUNDER, NEW YORK, CHAPTER 1, (212) 330-8094, ROLLINGTHUNDERNY1.COM
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OCT 26: (Includes ATVs) WALKILL: WALDEN MX, (845) 895-2537, WALDENMX.COM OBSERVED TRIALS OCT 5: CAYUTA: DISTRICT 4 TRIALS COMMITTEE, (607) 2276468, DISTRICT4TRIALS.COM NORTH CAROLINA RECREATIONAL SCHOOLS - ROAD OCT 6: PISGAH FOREST: 2 DAY EVENT, MOTOMARK1, LLC, (919) 637-0947, MOTOMARK1.COM OCT 8: STECOAH: 2 DAY EVENT, MOTOMARK1, LLC, (919) 6370947, MOTOMARK1.COM OCT 18: WILKESBORO: MOTOMARK1, LLC, (919) 6370947, MOTOMARK1.COM COMPETITION MOTOCROSS OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) IRON STATION: IRON STATION MOTORSPORTS, INC., (704) 732-8200, ALLANEMOTORSPORTS.COM OCT 11: (Includes ATVs) ELIZABETH CITY: 2 DAY EVENT, ELIZABETH CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (757) 754-8008, ECMX.COM OHIO RECREATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDE OCT 5: LOGAN: HOCKING VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 385-7695, HOCKINGVALLEYMC.COM
TURKEY RUN
DUAL SPORT RIDE OCT 11: MCARTHUR : 2 DAY EVENT, ENDURO RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (614) 582-7821, ENDURORIDERS.COM POKER RUN OCT 19: PORTSMOUTH: PORTSMOUTH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 353-0927, PORTSMOUTHMC.NET COMPETITION CROSS COUNTRY OCT 4: (Includes ATVs) ST. CLAIRSVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, RACER PRODUCTIONS INC, (304) 284-0084, GNCCRACING.COM
powered by
AmericanMotorcyclist.com AMA Classifieds patch.indd 1
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MOTOCROSS
OCT 11: MCARTHUR: 2 DAY EVENT, ENDURO RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (614) 871-3417, ENDURORIDERS.COM
• FREE basic ad posting • AMA Member badge on ads • $50 ad upgrade credit • 1000’s of listings
44
COMPETITION
OCT 26: BRONX: CELTIC MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (914) 9242170, CELTICMCC.COM
AMA CLASSIFIEDS: YOUR ONLINE Check Out the All-New AMA MARKETPLACE CLASSIFIEDS! YOUR ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR MOTORCYCLES, POWERSPORTS FOR MOTORCYCLES, POWERSPORTS & MORE.& MORE.
BUY. SELL. TRADE. BROWSE.
OCT 26: OAKDALE: IDONTKNOW MC, (631) 676-5159
HARESCRAMBLES OCT 19: LOGAN: HOCKING VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 385-7695,
4/25/14 3:25 PM
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OCTOBER EVENTS HOCKINGVALLEYMC.COM
3717, PAGODAMC.ORG
MOTOCROSS
OBSERVED TRIALS
OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) SUGAR GROVE: CENTRAL OHIO COMPETITION RIDERS INC., (740) 983-3937, COCR MX
OCT 5: FARRANDSVILLE: DURTY DABBERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (570) 748-9456
OBSERVED TRIALS OCT 4: WELLSVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, TRIALS INC, (502) 515-6514, TRIALSINC.ORG OREGON RECREATIONAL POKER RUN OCT 4: TIGARD: ROSE CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (503) 7063969, ROSE-CITY-MC.ORG PENNSYLVANIA DICE RUN OCT 4: ORWIGSBURG: DEER LAKE PA H.O.G. CHAPTER, (570) 3660143, SCHAEFFERSHD.COM DUAL SPORT RIDE OCT 12: PINE GROVE: READING OFF ROAD RIDERS, (610) 921-3592, RORR.ORG POKER RUN OCT 5: YORK: TWIN ROSE LADY RIDERS, (717) 697-3211 OCT 5: SCHUYLKILL HAVEN: SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (570) 3851460, SCHUYLKILLCOUNTY MOTORCYCLECLUB.COM OCT 12: COLUMBIA: THUNDERBIRD MOTORCYCLE CLUB, INC., (717) 898-0871 OCT 12: LEBANON: LEBANON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC., (717) 270-9797 OCT 18: SKIPPACK : BLUE COMET MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (267) 2613580, BLUECOMETMC.COM TURKEY RUN OCT 26: LEBANON: LEBANON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC., (717) 270-9797 COMPETITION HARESCRAMBLES OCT 25: SKIPPACK: BLUE COMET MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (610) 4891240, BLUECOMETMC.COM MOTOCROSS OCT 5: THREE SPRINGS: ROCKET RACEWAY, (717) 574-6590, ROCKETRACEWAYMX.COM OCT 12: MT. MORRIS: RACER PRODUCTIONS INC, (304) 2840084, RACERPRODUCTIONS.COM OCT 12: BIRDSBORO: PAGODA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (610) 5823717, PAGODAMC.ORG OCT 19: (ATV only) THREE SPRINGS: ROCKET RACEWAY, (717) 574-6590, ROCKETRACEWAY.COM OCT 26: BIRDSBORO: PAGODA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (610) 582-
INTERLINK MEDIA, (801) 325-2000, ENERGYSOLUTIONSARENA.COM
TTS OCT 5: PARKESBURG: E PA PISTON POPPERS MC INC., (484) 336-9160 RHODE ISLAND COMPETITION OBSERVED TRIALS OCT 5: EXETER: RHODE ISLAND TRAILS CLUB, (508) 285-6074, RITRIALSCLUB.COM SOUTH CAROLINA RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN OCT 12: LEXINGTON: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, (828) 665-6891, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG TENNESSEE COMPETITION MOTOCROSS OCT 18: (Includes ATVs) BLOUNTVILLE: VICTORY SPORTS INC., (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM OCT 19: (Includes ATVs) BLOUNTVILLE: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM TEXAS
VIRGINIA RECREATIONAL DUAL SPORT RIDE OCT 4: MT. SOLON : 2 DAY EVENT, WASHINGTON AREA TRAIL RIDERS, INC., (540) 379-5631, DUALSPORT@WATR.US OCT 10: FREDERICKSBURG: 2 DAY EVENT, MASON DIXON 20-20 RIDERS CLUB, RALLYTHEVOID.ORG
OCT 11: HOUSTON: RIDERS FOR THE CURE, (713) 563-9230, RIDERSFORTHECURE.ORG OCT 12: FORT WORTH: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, (828) 665-6891, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG OCT 26: SELMA: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, (828) 6656891, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG ROAD RALLY OCT 3: JEFFERSON: 2 DAY EVENT, NORTH TEXAS NORTON OWNERS ASSOCIATION, (903) 665-8582 OCT 25: SAN PATRICIO: GYPSY MC INTERNATIONAL, (361) 774-9165 COMPETITION MOTOCROSS OCT 5: AMARILLO: BOWERS MX, (806) 671-7010, BOWERSMX.COM OCT 12: ALVORD: RTW RACE PROMOTIONS, (940) 577-2225, OAKHILLMX.COM OCT 19: YANTIS: KINGDOM MOTORSPORTS LLC, (903) 217-7965, JOHNSONVILLEMXFARM.COM UTAH ENDUROCROSS OCT 11: SALT LAKE CITY: SOURCE
For more information visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Riding.
SWAP MEETS OCT 5: MANASSAS: VIRGINIA BRITISH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (703) 368-0173, PWCFAIR.COM COMPETITION GRAND PRIX OCT 12: RURAL RETREAT: VIRGINIA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLE SERVICES, (276) 620-0400, VCHSS.ORG OCT 19: ABINGDON: VIRGINIA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLE SERVICES, (276) 701-5142, VCHSS.ORG MOTOCROSS OCT 18: DILLWYN: 2 DAY EVENT, MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION, (434) 836-7629, ACTIONTOWNMX.COM ENDUROCROSS
ROAD RUN
The best routes, roads and twotrack, mapped by local experts. A great challenge with like-minded riders. A full weekend’s activities, with camping, campfires, food and prizes.
ROAD RALLY
WASHINGTON
RECREATIONAL
High Adventure. No Hassle.
OCT 18: EVERETT: SOURCE INTERLINK MEDIA, (425) 322-2600, COMCASTARENAEVERETT.COM
THE ADVENTURE is out there
comteit Ge
WEST VIRGINIA MOTOCROSS OCT 25: HEDGESVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION, TOMAHAWKMX.COM WISCONSIN RECREATIONAL DUAL SPORT RIDE OCT 19: WEST BEND: KETTLE MORAINE SPORT RIDERS, (262) 334-1743 OCT 25: CROSS PLAINS: MADISON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (608) 220-5564, MADISON MOTORCYCLECLUB.ORG COMPETITION MOTOCROSS OCT 4: WITTENBURG: FANTASY MOTO LLC, (920) 419-2863, FANTASYMOTO.COM OCT 5: WITTENBURG: FANTASY MOTO LLC, (920) 419-2863, FANTASYMOTO.COM OCT 12: LAKE MILLS : AZTALAN CYCLE CLUB INC, (414) 265-1582, AZTALANMX.COM
Sponsored by Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
www.yamaha-motor.com
Apparel Sponsorship by
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2014 EVENTS AMA MOTOrcycLE HALL OF FAME MotorcycleMuseuM.org
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Main Hall: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame: Recognizing those who have made significant contributions to all aspects of motorcycling. Bike craft: New-world craftmanship meets oldschool motorcycles. 2 Wheels + Motor, A Fine Art Exhibition: The spirit, excitement and adventure of motorcycling is expressed through fine art. Founder’s Hall: Honoring the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame’s generous contributors.
AMA PrO rAcINg MONSTEr ENErgy AMA SuPErcrOSS aMasupercross.coM
Oct. 18: Las Vegas, Nev.: Monster Energy Cup AMA PrO FLAT TrAck aMaproracing.coM
Sept. 27: calistoga, calif.: Calistoga Half-Mile Oct. 11: Pomona, calif.: Flat Track Season Finale AMA PrO HILLcLIMB aMaproracing.coM
Sept. 21: Spring grove, Pa.: White Rose MC Sept. 28: Freemansburg, Pa.: Bushkill Valley MC Oct. 12: Oregonia, OH: Dayton MC AMA PrO rOAD rAcINg aMaproracing.coM
Sept. 13-14: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey Motorsports Park
AMA PrO-AM cOMPETITION Sept. 13-14: reynolds, ga.: Silver Dollar MX, Vurb Classic; www. motocrossleagueofamerica. com Sept. 21: New castle, Del.: Blue DIamond MX, Delaware State Championship; www.bdmxpark.com Sept. 21: Tigerton, Wis.: Fantasy Moto, Midwest Mega Series; www. fantasymoto.com Sept. 20-21: garwin, Iowa: Oak Ridge MX, Motocross League of America;
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motocrossleague ofamerica.com Sept. 28: Dalton, ga.: Lazy River MX, Thor United States Mega Series; www.victorysports.com Oct. 1-5: rancho cordova, calif.: Prairie City S.V.R.A, Dodge California State Championship / Pro-Am; www.ampgfimotocross.com Oct. 5: Englishtown, N.J.: Raceway Park; www.racewaypark.com Oct. 12: Tallassee, Ala.: Monster Mountain MX Park; www.monstermx.com Oct. 11-12: Duquoin, Ill.: Indian Hills Motocross, Motocross League of America (MLA); motocrossleague ofamerica.com Oct. 19: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek, Thor United States Mega Series; www.victory-sports.com Oct. 26: Buckeye, Ariz.: Arizona Cycle Park, Western Pro-Am; www. arizonacyclepark.com Nov. 1-2: Pell city, Ala.: Mill Creek MX, Motocross League of America (MLA); motocross leagueofamerica.com Nov. 23-26: gainsville, Fla.: Gatorback Cycle Park, Mini Olympics-Supercross; www.unlimitedsportsmx. com Nov. 27-29: gainsville, Fla.: Gatorback Cycle Park, Mini Olympics-Motocross; www.unlimitedsportsmx. com Nov. 30: St. george, utah: St. George MX; www.stgeorgemxw.com
AMA NATIONAL cHAMPIONSHIP SErIES AMSOIL AMA grAND NATIONAL crOSS cOuNTry SErIES gnccracing.coM
Sept. 20-21: TBA, Pa.: CarMate TBA Oct. 4-5: St. clairsville, Ohio: ITP Powerline Park Oct. 25-26: crawfordsville, Ind.: AMSOIL Ironman gEIcO AMA ENDurOcrOSS cHAMPIONSHIP
endurocross.coM
kENDA AMA NATIONAL ENDurO cHAMPIONSHIP nationalenduro.coM
Sept. 14: Matthews, Ind.: Doug Spence, Muddobbers; (765) 998-2236, MuddobbersMC.com AMA EAST HArE ScrAMBLES cHAMPIONSHIP aMaracing.coM
Oct. 4: Plainview, Ill.: Ron Whipple, WFO Promotions; (309) 314-3343, WFOPromotions.com
Oct. 12, Amateur & youth: Plainview, Ill.: Ron Whipple, WFO Promotions; (309) 3143343, WFOPromotions.com
Sept. 20: york, Pa.: York Expo Center Randy Texter Memorial, Half Mile
AMA SuPErMOTO NATIONAL cHAMPIONSHIP SErIES
BIg 6 AMA WEST cOAST grAND PrIX SErIES
aMaracing.coM
Sept. 13-14: Sturgis, S.D.: Downtown street race
AMA FEATurED SErIES
Big6racing.coM
Oct. 4-5: ridgecrest, calif.: Ridgecrest Fairgrounds, Viewfinders GP
AMA WEST HArE ScrAMBLES cHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 1-2: goran, calif.: Quail Valley, Prospectors GP
Oct. 4, youth; Oct. 5, Amateur: ridgecrest, calif.: Chris Cory, Viewfinders MC/Big 6 GP; (661) 450-8150, ViewfindersMC.com
EAST cOAST ENDurO rIDErS ENDurO SErIES
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Sept. 20, youth; Sept. 21, Amateur: yerington, Nev.: Erek Kudla, Get-Xtr-Eme; (805) 2365866, Get-Xtr-Eme.com Oct. 25, youth; Oct. 26, Amateur: Lucerne Valley, calif.: Darren Moen, 100s MC; (714) 863-7170, www.100sMC.org AMA SPEEDWAy NATIONAL cHAMPIONSHIP aMaracing.coM
Sept. 19: Auburn, calif. AMA VINTAgE DIrT TrAck aMaracing.coM
Sept. 20: cuddebackville, N.y.: Short Track; Tri-State M/C Ltd.; (845) 2191193; TriStateClub.com Sept. 21: cuddebackville, N.y.: Short Track; Tri-Sate M/C Ltd.; (845) 219-1193; TriStateClub.com
Oct. 4: greensburg, ky.: Russell Creek Motocross
Nov. 22: Ontario, calif.: Citizen Business Bank Arena
Oct. 25-26: chatsworth, N.J.: Meteor Dual Sport, Meteor Motorcycle Club; (856) 889-7300, www.meteormc.com
stevenaceracing.coM
Sept. 14: coldwater, Mich.: Log Road Motocross, www.logroadmx.com
Nov. 15: Boise, Idaho.: Idaho Center
Sept. 20: Bartow, Fla.: Keith Finnerty, Central Florida Trail Riders; (407) 774-9090, CFTRiders.com
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ALL STAr NATIONAL FLAT TrAck SErIES
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Oct. 18: Everett, Wash.: Comcast Arena
Oct 12: Pine grove, Pa.: Rorr Dual Sport, Reading Off Road Riders; (610) 921-3592, rorr.org
Sept. 27, youth; Sept. 28, Amateur: Bartow, Fla.: Keith Finnerty, Central Florida Trail Riders; (407) 774-9090, CFTRiders.com
AMA VINTAgE MOTOcrOSS
Oct. 11: Salt Lake city, utah: Energy Solutions Arena
AMA ATV HArE ScrAMBLES cHAMPIONSHIP
Oct. 18: Paoli Peaks, Ind.: Mammoth East, www. podium1motoplex.com
Dec. 6-7: Pala, calif.: Pala Raceway, Vikings GP
ecea.org
Sept. 21: Brandonville, Pa.: Moonshine Enduro, Valley Forge Trail Riders; (484) 9485361, vftr.org
Nov. 1-2: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: TCSMC National Dual Sport, Tri-County Sportsmen MC; (888) 274-4469, teamhammer.org WOMEN’S MOTOcrOSS Mxsports.coM
Oct. 5: Englishtown, N.J.: KROC Raceway Park; (732) 446-7800 Oct. 19: Blountville, Tenn.: Top Gun Showdown; (423) 323-5497 Nov. 29: gainesville, Fla.: Winter Olympics; (312) 689-3461
INTErNATIONAL cOMPETITION FIM MOTOcrOSS OF NATIONS FiM-live.coM
Sept. 28: kegums, Latvia FIM INTErNATIONAL SIX DAyS OF ENDurO FiM-live.coM
Nov. 3-8: 2014 ISDE: San Juan, Argentina
Nov. 9: Warren grove, N.J.: Stump Jumper Enduro, Motorcycle Competition Inc.; (609) 575-7820, ride-mci. com
FIM TrIAL DES NATIONS
Nov. 23: New Lisbon, N.J.: Pine Hill Enduro, Central Jersey Competition Riders; (732) 558-6475, www.cjcrmc.org
FIM NOrTH AMErIcAN SuPErMOTO cHAMPIONSHIPS
EAST cOAST ENDurO rIDErS HArEScrAMBLES SErIES ecea.org
Sept. 13-14: MMc Harescrambles, Meteor Motorcycle Club; (856) 889-7300
AM
Sept. 13-14: St. Julia., Andorra
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Sept. 13: cuddebackville, N.y.: Oakland Valley Race Park
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Sept. 27: Alton, Va.: Virginia International Raceway
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AMA DuAL-SPOrT/ ADVENTurE SErIES
Sept. 27-28: ridge Harescrambles, Ridge Riders MC; (973) 919-4780 Oct. 4-5: Sahara Sands Harescrambles, Pine Barons Enduro Riders; (609) 654-6300 Oct. 25-26: Ormond Farms Harescrambles, Competition Dirt Riders; (609) 319-7496 Nov. 15-16: Delaware Harescrambles, Delaware Enduro Riders; (302) 834-4411 EAST cOAST ENDurO rIDErS DuAL SPOrT SErIES ecea.org
AMA HuSqVArNA NATIONAL DuAL-SPOrT SErIES
aMericanMotorcyclist.coM
Sept. 6-7: golden Pond, ky.: Land Between the Lakes 200, KT Riders, Jesse Thomas; (270) 522-3703; www.lbl200.com Sept. 13-14: columbus,
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
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HALL OF FAME EXHIBITS AND EVENTS
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2014 EVENTS Ind.: Buffaloe 500 D/S Adventure Ride, Stoney Lonesome MC, Nathan Gaskill; (812) 343-9772; stoneylonesomemc.com Sept. 13-15: Reno, Nev.: Ride Reno 200, Dust Devils MC, Gary Lambert; (775) 224-0361; www.dustdevilsmc.com Sept. 27-28: Buck Meadows, Calif.: Yosemite Dual Sport , Family Off Road Adventures, Lawrence Borgens; (209) 6493633; www.familyoffroad adventures.com Sep 27-28: Wabeno, Wis.: Big Woods 200, Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, John Newton; (920) 350-2030; widualsportriders.org Oct. 4-5: Mt. Solon, Va.: Shenandoah 500 Dual Sport, Washington Area Trail Riders, Andy Giordano; (540) 379 -5631; www.dualsport@watr.us Oct. 11-12: McArthur, Ohio: Baby Burr National Dual Sport, Enduro Riders Association, Steve Barber; (614) 582-7821; www.enduroriders.com Oct. 25-26: Tuckerton, N.J.: Meteor Ride in the Pines, Meteor MC, Jeff
Fitzpatrick; (609) 654-5015; www.meteormc.com
Gaskill; (812) 343-9772; stoneylonesomemc.com
Nov. 1-2: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, TriCounty Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (888) 274-4469 (856) 785-2754; www.teamhammer.org
Sept. 13-15: Reno, Nev.: Ride Reno 200, Dust Devils MC, Gary Lambert; (775) 224-0361; www.dustdevilsmc.com Sept. 20-21: Logan, Ohio: Nutcracker 200, Buckeye Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; www. kaeppnerswoods.com
Nov. 8-9: Wickenburg, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (623) 826-1092; www.arizonatrailriders.org Nov. 28-29: Palmdale, Calif.: LA-Barstow to Vegas, AMA D37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 446-7386; www.district37ama.org
AMA YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ NATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDING SERIES
Oct. 25-26: Chatsworth, N.J.: Meteor Ride in the Pines, Meteor MC, Jeff Fitzpatrick; (609) 654-5015; www.meteormc.com Nov. 1-2: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, TriCounty Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (888) 274-4469 (856) 785-2754; www.teamhammer.org
AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM
Sept. 13-14: Columbus, Ind.: Buffaloe 500 D/S Adventure Ride, Stoney Lonesome MC, Nathan
Oct. 11-12: McArthur, Ohio: Baby Burr, Enduro Riders Assn., Leslie Hamrichlutz, (614) 871-3471, leslie250@ columbus.rr.com, www. enduroriders.com
Nov. 8-9: Wickenburg, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (623) 826-1092; www.arizonatrailriders.org Nov. 14-16: Hammonton, N.J.: Pine Barrens 500, BMW
of Manhattan Motorcycles, Jack O’Connor; 732-7148874; pinebarrens500.org; info@pinebarrens500.org Nov. 28-29: Palmdale, Calif.: LA-Barstow to Vegas, AMA D37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 446-7386; www.district37ama.org
AMA PREMIER TOURING SERIES AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM
NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
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Sept. 17-21: Ruidoso, N.M.: Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally; MotorcycleRally.com NATIONAL TOURING RALLIES
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Aug. 29-Sept. 1: Hood River, Ore.: Rally in the Gorge; soundrider.com/rally NATIONAL GYPSY TOURS
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Aug. 28-31: Killington, Vt.: Killington Classic; killington classic.com AMA SIGNATURE EVENTS
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Jan. 1-May 24: Big Money Rally Grand Tour: bigmoneyrally.com; bigmoneyrally@hotmail.com April 1-Oct. 31: Tour of Honor Grand Tour: tourofhonor.com; regis@ tourofhonor.com March 1-Oct. 31: Team Strange Airheads 30th Anniversary Memory Lane Grand Tour: teamstrange.com/2014/ grandtours; bigmoneyrally@hotmail.com AMA NATIONAL EXTREME GRAND TOURS
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EmploymEnt opportunitiEs Ever think you might like to work for the AMA? This could be just the opportunity you have been waiting for as the AMA seeks to fill the following positions: Software Developer – The AMA is looking for a versatile .Net developer with the ability to project manage as well as develop technology solutions. Based at the Pickerington, Ohio, office, the .Net developer will participate in the development, testing and support of web- and mobile-based applications. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, experience with DotNetNuke’s Evoq Content CMS and Personify or similar association management software, five-plus years’ experience in product development in web and mobile, and database management and maintenance.
KINEKT GEAR RING
moving gears you can wear
Government Affairs Manager – The AMA is seeking an experienced government relations professional to focus on on-road issues. Excellent written and oral communication skills required. Legislative and/or regulatory experience strongly desired. This position is based in the AMA’s Government Relations Office in Washington, DC.
888-600-8494 watch the video www.kinektdesign.com
GET INVOLVED
Please email cover letter, resume and salary requirements to rchaddock@ ama-cycle.org. Equal Opportunity Employer.
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AMA Trademarks The following represent active, registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks of the AMA. Usage of any AMA trademark or registered trademark without our permission is prohibited. Please contact smaher@ama-cycle.org for more information or assistance. (800) AMA-JOIN® • AMA Dragbike™ • AMA Endurocross® • AMA Pro Grand National Championship™ • AMA Pro Racing® • AMA Race Center™ • AMA Racer® • AMA Racing® • AMA Supermoto® • AMA Supercross® • AMA SX Lites™ • AMA U.S. Drag Racing Championship® • AMA U.S. Flat Track Championship® • AMA U.S. Hillclimb Championship® • AMA U.S. Motocross Championship® • AMA U.S. Supercross Championship® • AMA U.S. Supersport Championship® • ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series™ • ATV Motocross National Championship Series™ • Amateur National Motocross Championships™ • American Motorcyclist Association® • Arenacross® • Dirt Track Grand Championships™ • Grand National Enduro Championship™ • Gypsy Tour® • Hare & Hound National Championship Series™ • Hare Scrambles Championship Series™ • Hare Scrambles National Championship Series™ • Kids Just Want To Ride® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum® • Motorcyclist of the Year™ • National Adventure Riding Series™ • National Dual-Sport Series™ • National Enduro Championship Series™ • Protect Your Right to Ride® • Protecting Your Right to Ride® • Ride Straight® • Rights. Riding. Racing.® • Road Race Grand Championships™ • Vintage Grand Championships™ • Vintage Motorcycle Days® • Vote Like A Motorcyclist®
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October 2014
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GUEST COLUMN
J
you
2013 Stills from “Why We Ride”
WHY WE RIDE … AS A FAMILY Film Reflects Personal Passions
When we set out to make the documentary film “Why We Ride,” we approached the family aspect of motorcycling very By Bryan H. Carroll, sincerely. Family is Director/Producer of Why We Ride important to me, and we wanted to make a film that was both family-friendly and showed how motorcycles bring families together. That approach has led to some of the most memorable reactions and comments from viewers. At the first screening of “Why We Ride,” we had mothers approach us to say they had never considered riding with their children, but the film made them realize it was a way to spend more time as a family. It’s important to continue to share motorcycling with the next generation as our parents did with us. One of the things we are most proud of is that The Quail Motorcycle Gathering allowed us to create the Why We Ride Award, in which kids 12 and under voted on the motorcycle that most inspired them to ride. Those kids selected a restored 1977 Honda XR75, which the builder had received when he was 5 years old – it was a gift from his father. Bridging a generational gap with motorcycles is nothing new. During Father’s Day weekend, many of our fans shared their experiences of riding with their dads as children. Motorcycling is something that people are very passionate about, and so “Why We Ride” is a film that affects people very personally. What we did not expect during the process was how motorcycles would affect our own lives. For me, it was about rediscovering a passion that I first fostered as a child. For Producer James Walker, it was an introduction to a whole new experience that has now become an integral part of his lifestyle.
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One thing I told our crew early on in production was that if this movie didn’t change us, then we did not accomplish what we set out to do as filmmakers. I’ve worked on over 50 films, commercials and TV shows and, of all of them, this project has had the biggest impact on me. The inspiration behind this film really started when we went to meet with the late AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ed Kretz Jr. He had this amazing garage filled with trophies and motorcycles belonging to his dad, also a Hall of Famer. After the conversation, we realized we weren’t just talking about bikes and racing, we were talking about families. That really got me thinking. I realized I wasn’t riding anymore, even though I grew up riding. There’s an 8mm film of me at 3 years old riding on the front of my dad’s ’71 Yamaha Scrambler. We’d ride up into the hills and pick wildflowers for my mom after dinner every day. Now I have a family, a wife and two kids, and we weren’t riding. Why? What happened? Why did I stop? I never made a decision to stop. I guess life just got busy. At that moment for me, it became a personal quest. I said, “My motto is, ‘Live your passion,’ so let’s go and do just that.” We started filming, and I started riding again. For Christmas, we gave our crew a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course so everyone could get his or her license. We all took the class together and started riding together. I then restored a PW80 for my son, who’s been begging me to learn to ride. I filmed it: my son receiving his first gas motorcycle is in the movie. I will never stop riding again. I feel
like I have 10 years, when I wasn’t riding, to make up for. I will. For James, “Why We Ride” was an introduction to a new world. “I knew nothing about motorcycling other than bikes passing me on the 405, splitting lanes,” he says. “I found myself at my first motorcycle event in 2012: Sturgis. I walked into the experience as a completely blank board. I let go of my preconceived notions and jumped in. It’s been transformative. “The movie is great,” James continues, “but what I got out of it personally is that I became a motorcyclist, and have an appreciation for this world and history I didn’t even know existed. It’s one of those few experiences that really changed me. “I have three motorcycles now. Some of the crew were already riding, but the ones who weren’t became motorcyclists. We weren’t a motorcycle group trying to tell our story. We’re a passionate and creative group of filmmakers that wanted to take a look at this unique world, and we came out of the process with an understanding and a feeling that is conveyed to audiences.” It was an amazing adventure because James learned to ride and bought bikes, and I got to rediscover riding and bring it back into the family. We grew with the film. We were very much living the film. It is our hope that other riders will feel the same way, and share the motorcycling experience with their own families. Life is short and every day counts, so you might as well spend them doing what you are passionate about. For me, I’ll be riding motorcycles, making films that inspire, and spending every possible moment I can with my family. I hope you all do the same.
As the Super Series, a new in the s
Bryan H. Carroll is the director/ producer of the acclaimed motorcycling documentary “Why We Ride.” For more information about the film, and to find a booking, see www.WhyWeRide.com.
AmericanMotorcyclist.com
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AMA_MembershipSwee
JOIN OR RENEW your AMA membership in 2014 and you could win!
Member #
Year Member
Expiration
2013 Yamaha Super Ténéré
As the proud sponsor of the AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré National Adventure Touring Series, Yamaha is awarding one lucky member a new 2013 Super Ténéré! Riders participating in the series will also be automatically entered.
Every month, everyone who joins or renews a membership in the AMA is automatically entered in a drawing for a
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The best part? You’re automatically entered when you join or renew between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2014.
www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com (800) AMA-JOIN No purchase necessary. For complete rules, terms and conditions visit http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Membership/RenewSweeps_Rules.aspx.
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Charlotte Gulezian, Los Angeles, puts down the remote and picks up the pace on her 1975 Honda CB400F ®.
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