Editorial Director Mitch Boehm on sportbikes in disguise
Contributing Editor Aaron Frank on the loss of a fellow racer and friend
Re-running Rob Dingman’s production-plagued September-issue column
Membership feedback on recent issues 16 BACK IN THE DAY
Where the photos are blurry but the memories are clear!
18 AMA FLAT TRACK GRANDS
AMA award winners headline the AMA Flat Track Grand Championship in Du Quoin, Ill.
AMA RIGHTS ROUNDUP
The latest issues and updates in the world of government relations
26 COVER STORY: THE BIG SHOW
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2024…the biggest and baddest VMD of them all
58 EVENT CALENDAR
AMA-sanctioned rides, races and events you just can’t miss
64 AMA GARAGE
Tips, tweaks, fixes and facts: The motorcycle ownership experience, explained
66 LAST PAGE
2024 AMA VMD, by the numbers
ON THE COVER:
AMA Motorcycle HOFer, six-time AMA National MX Champion, allaround industry enthusiast and longtime friend of the AMA Broc Glover was Grand Marshal for this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, and took full advantage. Broc not only signed a billion autographs, he raced a very trick 125 Elsinore during Saturday’s MX events. Photo by Willie Browning.
AMA NATIONAL GYPSY TOURS
EDITORIAL
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Aaron Frank Contributing Editor
Contact the Editorial Team at: submissions@ama-cycle.org
Michael Kula Business Development Manager (949) 466-7833, mkula@ama-cycle.org
Alex Boehm Sales and Events Specialist (614) 729-7949, aboehm@ama-cycle.org
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32nd Annual biketoberfest
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MONTHLY DRAWINGS
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QUARTERLY DRAWINGS
It happens pretty much every evening, and has for the last few months…a mental health-altering blast into the mountains surrounding my hometown of Salt Lake City.
The other night was a good example…a brisk ride up Big Cottonwood Canyon, over Guardsman Pass to Pine Canyon Road into Midway, and back again. Pretty epic.
What allows 90-minute-long cobweb-clearing treks like this during the work week? Primary are my weird sleep habits, which have me up and working, espresso nearby, by 4 a.m. (It’s 4:23 a.m. as I type these words.) All of which means that by three or four in the afternoon I’ve put in 11 or 12 hours, and given this line of work
PERSPECTIVES A SPORTBIKE IN DISGUISE
BY MITCH BOEHM
of my rides, and when you have the Wasatch Front’s amazing mountain scenery unfolding before you, there’s plenty to marvel at.
I often tell people that the rise of the Adventure bike is in large part about getting back to one’s roots...
(writing, editing, researching, planning, correspondence, etc.), my smallbut-active brain is positively wiped by that point.
I’m also sick of my home office and the hotter-than-Hades valley weather (at least from June through August) by that point, so the need to rip up into the mountains where it’s 20-25 degrees cooler is pretty strong.
Of course, great roads and a competent motorcycle help. I’m pretty handled on the great roads part, as Utah — one of the most geographically-gifted places on Earth — has worldclass curviness, and I’ve got plenty of it within a mile or two of my home.
And then there’s the motorcycle element, which has lately been my Yamaha Ténéré 700 long-termer. Yamaha’s best-selling T7 adventure bike isn’t particularly powerful (like the 150-horsepower open-class ADV
bikes I’d ridden on our Alps Challenge tours over the last three years, or my Ducati 1200S Multistrada), and it’s not packed with all the high-end e-goodies those bikes have (heated grips being a fave of mine), but I’ve come to love the thing due to its all-around capability.
Given the area’s serpentine roads, you might think a more dedicated sportbike would be the key to happiness, but I’m finding the tall, wide-bar T7 to be nearly perfect…and that’s a change for the old roadracer in me.
I often tell people that the rise of the adventure bike is in large part about getting back to one’s roots…that today’s ADV bikes are simply modern (and bigger) versions of the minibikes and small off-road bikes — most of which had wide handlebars — we baby boomers (and Gen-Xers) grew up on. And getting back to one’s roots seems a powerful thing, especially where motorcycles are concerned.
For me personally there’s a lot to that, and on these nightly treks on this particular motorcycle, it all works. Going slow is now a satisfying part
The cool thing, though, is that when I want to go fast and blow off some of the sit-at-the-computer cobwebs, I’m finding I’m perfectly happy doing so on the T7. As I said, it’s not super powerful or equipped with high-dollar aftermarket suspension, but at medium speeds and aggression levels (or above) you feel like a total hero riding it quickly, especially on a curvy road.
Maybe it’s because the bike is moving around a little beneath you, or that the wide handlebar and sit-up riding position has you hanging out in the breeze, and you’re getting blown around a little. But the T7’s competent suspension, brakes, steering, traction feedback, cornering clearance and overall balance will keep you smiling.
A sportbike in disguise? Absolutely.
We feature ADV bikes quite a bit, and while a lot of that is due to the fact that our freelancers and members — the folks who go out and actually do these treks and trips, and then write about them for us (think Aaron and Micah Stevenson, Jack Snider, Rick Wheaton, and others) — choose to ride them, they are arguably the most allaround capable machines available.
Yamaha’s T7 just happens to be the latest great example.
Mitch Boehm is the Editorial Director of the AMA and a long-time member.
A brief stop for our highly capable T7 testbike along Pine Canyon Road on the way to Midway, Utah.
Charlotte Kainz, in 2016, at the Santa Rosa Mile. Alec Muth, in 2018, at Black Hills Speedway. And now, in late July at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis., Parker Lange. All three lost their lives in racing incidents. (And of course the flat track community lost Ryan Varnes in 2022.) The death of any motorcycle racer is a singular tragedy, but the past eight years have been particularly hard on members of the AMA’s District 16 (Wisconsin and Upper Michigan) flat track racing community, who have seen three of their best and brightest taken far too soon.
Flat track racing is dangerous, even for the most skilled, and none of the above were novices. All three were accomplished pros with significant experience on the national circuit. Shortly before her death at age 20, Kainz won a GNC2 semifinal and had just moved up to the premier GNC1 category on a Harley-Davidson XR750. Muth and Lange were both top-10 finishers in AFT Singles events, and Lange won the 450 main earlier on the night he died. Still, all the riding skill in the world is no match for fate, or bad luck, or whatever else you call it when gravity, speed and immovable objects catastrophically collide.
You don’t rise to the upper echelons of flat track racing alone, or casually. Each of these racers were raised by families absolutely central to the D16 flat track community. Charlotte’s father, Jack, remains a fixture at Aztalan Cycle Club and mentor to countless racers young and old. The Muth family owns Al Muth Harley-Davidson in Black River Falls, Wis., and has sponsored and supported countless racers — and racing events — for more than 50 years. The Lange family are pillars
Race in Peace
BY AARON FRANK MEGAPHONE
in the AMA-sanctioned Kettle Moraine Sport Riders club, and it’s rare to go to any event in southern Wisconsin — flat track, supermoto, dual-sport, hillclimb, or especially an ice race in the winter — and not see Parker’s parents, Roger and Joanne, or his equally fast siblings, Hannah and Brady, participating in or, more often than not, running the show. That these tragedies disproportionately affect the very people who give the most to the sport seems especially cruel and unfair.
Racing is life for these families, and how they carry on after such a tragedy is something I can’t even pretend to understand. There’s just an unwavering belief in the passion and devotion of the tight-knit flat track community that never fails to show up for one another — especially in times of need.
Parker’s memorial service — a marathon, six-hour visitation, followed by a mass — was a striking reminder of the strength of that flat track community. The line of visitors stretched out the front door of Shepherd of the Hills chapel for the entire duration, with many hundreds — if not thousands — of fellow riders, racers, fans and supporters who traveled from as far away as Florida to show their respect not only for Parker, but for the entire Lange family and the larger D16 flat
track community. I don’t have any easy answers. The more I remember super-humble Parker, with his absurd handlebar mustache and elbows-up riding style, and the more I think about how much I admire his entire family who must be missing him terribly, the stupider it all seems. The more I think about Charlotte and remember how much I miss her easy smile after being absolutely schooled by her at an ice race, and the more I think about my own two daughters who also ride, the more I wonder what we are even doing here…
This is the only solace I find: racing is what builds such strong bonds. The Lange, Kainz and Muth (and Varnes) families have been riding and racing since the moment the kids could balance on two wheels. So many thousands of hours spent together. So many long drives late at night, so many endless hours waiting out red flags and rain delays, so many evenings wrenching and worrying and just killing time — just getting to know one another and enjoying each other’s love and company. Even if their lives were cut tragically short, they lived more and spent more and better time together all because of racing. Maybe that’s why we don’t quit.
Race in peace, all of you.
Wisconsin-based Aaron Frank is a longtime motojournalist, author, racer and AMA member.
The late Parker Lange, cruising a dirt track paddock with girlfriend Maisie Osuski. RIP.
MATT MILANOWSKI
For decades, enthusiasts bemoaned the lack of true 400cc street-supersport offerings Stateside. Europe and Japan got — and enjoyed — them, but we were left out in the cold.
But forget all that, because with the release of Kawasaki’s all-new, limited-edition 16,000-rpm Anniversary Edition ZX-4RR, which celebrates the introduction of the legendary and ground-breaking 900 Ninja of 1984, everything’s changed.
And you can win it via the AMA’s 100th Anniversary Raffle Bike!
Get your tickets — $5 per, or 5 for $20.
From the President and CEO THE 1990s: CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON
BY ROB DINGMAN
EDITOR’S NOTE: This column from AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman ran in last month’s edition but with a pretty serious layout/production error, so we’re re-running it here in its correct form. Coverage of the 2000s will appear in the November issue of American Motorcyclist
As we have been chronicling the history of the AMA (and some of the high points of motorcycling) decade by decade over the last handful of months, I have learned a great deal about the history of our organization. We have now reached the decade to which I can most relate, the 1990s, as it is during that decade that I first became involved with the AMA.
I first became aware of the AMA when I joined the government relations staff of the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) in 1990. It was during my initial year on that job that I first traveled from the Washington, D.C., area to the AMA’s headquarters, then in Wester-
I WOULD RETURN
TO THE AMA STAFF IN
increased funding for it.
Rasor noticed the job I did on behalf of the off-highway vehicle community in this effort, and as part of a departmental restructuring in 1994, he asked me to join the AMA’s government relations staff as Washington representative. And so it was 30 years ago, shortly before I came to work for the AMA, that I first joined the Association as a member in 1994.
THE FALL OF 2006 AS AMA
PRESIDENT, AND WOULD BECOME PRESIDENT AND CEO IN THE SPRING OF 2007. WHAT I FOUND UPON MY RETURN WAS AN ORGANIZATION IN A BIT OF CRISIS ON THE PRO-RACING SIDE...
ville, Ohio, to meet the AMA’s government relations staff.
This was the first time that I met 2024 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Inductee Rob Rasor, who was then serving as the AMA’s vice president for government relations. Over the next nearly five years I would have the opportunity to work closely with Rasor and his staff on a range of issues for the benefit of motorcyclists.
In my role with the MIC, my focus was on land use issues. I ultimately became involved in and played a key role in the effort to enact what was then called the National Recreational Trails Fund Act, now known as the Recreational Trails Program. I also co-founded the Coalition for Recreational Trails, which still exists today, to advocate for the Recreational Trails Program and
I thoroughly enjoyed representing the AMA in our nation’s capital. It was during that time that I came to understand the power of the AMA as a grassroots organization, and how critically important the organization is to protecting the future of motorcycling.
I must confess that since I worked out of the AMA’s Washington, D.C., office and would only travel periodically to the home office in Ohio, I was only tangentially aware of the many and varied facets of the AMA. My work for the AMA then was primarily in the area of rights and advocacy, and I consequently had limited exposure to racing and therefore the many racing controversies whose origins can be traced back to the decade of the 1990s.
Although I left the AMA staff in 1998 to return to my home state of
New York for an opportunity in state government, I continued to maintain my AMA membership, as I was still an avid motorcyclist and continued to firmly believe in the need for a strong AMA.
For the rest of the 1990s and into the next decade (which we’ll cover in these pages in next month’s edition), I continued to advocate for motorcyclists in my position with New York State. I oversaw the implementation of the then-newly-legislated state motorcycle safety program, and facilitated the issuance of custom picture license plates for motorcycles, including an AMA-themed license plate featuring the AMA logo that’s still available today. Prior to my involvement, custom picture plates were only available for cars — and not for motorcycles.
I would return to the AMA staff in the fall of 2006 as AMA president, and would become president and CEO in the spring of 2007. What I found upon my return was an organization in a bit of crisis, one borne of good intentions but also a mix of misguided planning and over-confident execution on the Pro Racing side of things during the 1990s, which you can read more about in our September edition on pages 46-47.
As for the story behind the first decade of the new millenium, we’ll cover that in our November issue.
Rob Dingman is the President and CEO of the AMA, and a Charter Life Member.
Introduced in 1969, Kawasaki’s 500cc two-stroke H1 Mach III spun the big-streetbike world on its axis. It was a straight shot of raw, unadulterated performance — a light, loud, smoky and fast two-wheeled hot rod, and the undisputed dragstrip and stoplight-to-stoplight king of its day.
The H1 established its legend status almost instantly, and remains one of the most coveted and collectable Japanese motorcycles in history.
And you can own it by participating in the AMA’s 100th Anniversary Raffle!
Get your tickets — $10 per, or 5 for $40.
BACKFIRES
THE BETTER HALF
The June 2024 issue of American Motorcyclist inspired me to tell you my story. In 2006 I was riding home from a Gold Wing rally in Tok, Alaska (about 500 miles), and had about 100 miles to go when I spotted a group of Dall sheep in the rocks above the road. I looked back down the road just in time to see the guy in the car ahead screech to a full stop 50 feet in front of me snapping pictures of the sheep. I locked up the brakes (no ABS) and went down. My wife Sue (of 44 years at the time) had been riding in a pickup truck about 10 car lengths behind and ran up to find me prostrate on the Seward Highway with a broken collarbone plus road rash and a totaled bike. The EMTs got me to the ER at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, and I was face up on the exam table in the ER when the doc said, “Here comes your wife!”…and it was then I knew my riding days were over. Sue hovered over me with a wicked grin and said, “Guess what?” I didn’t need to guess…I knew! Then the grin turned into a beautiful smile and she said this: “You need a new motorcycle!” Ha! All I could think of then was that she was definitely a keeper! I am truly blessed. Please keep the stories and articles coming, Mitch and Co.! I read ’em all!
Dennis Bible Blairsville, Ga.
Thanks for the tale, Dennis! And hey, we missed you on this year’s AMA Alps Challenge Tour. [Dennis attended a couple years back.] Hope to see you again soon. – Ed.
LETTER OF THE MONTH
Iretired weeks before this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days event, loaded up my Honda Africa Twin, and set off on a two-month retirement bike trip with VMD as a prime stop, as I’ve always wanted to go. I stopped in Memphis, Nashville, did Tail of the Dragon, Dragon Slayer in Kentucky, historic Ohio River Road, the Triple Nickle…and then VMD! The moment I hit the ground there the smiles never stopped. I went by the AMA tent and met the Editor himself, and he graciously took a photo with my bike and talked motorcycles. Later I came back by and saw road racing phenom Kayla Yaakov about to hop on her pit bike; she also let me take a photo with her. The next day I signed up for the dinner ride to Ashland to watch the vintage dirt track races
after a beautiful ride through the Ohio backroads. A pit pass came with it, so I walked into the pits looking at the vintage race bikes and immediately saw AMA Hall of Famer Dave Aldana, who let me get a photo with him, too. I sat down to eat and AMA HOFer Steve Baker sat down next to me and started talking motorcycles, and asked how I liked my Africa Twin. I’ll never forget that weekend! I’m off to Niagara Falls, Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks, Quebec City, and then I’ll do the Mid-Atlantic BDR and eventually head home. Thank you to the AMA! I’m a grateful Life Member!
Jeff Castro Dallas
Can’t do much better than that, Jeff! Glad you had fun at VMD, and it was nice meeting you. – Ed.
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 letters to submissions@ama-cycle.org or mail to American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity.
Jeff Castro (right) and AMA HOFer David Aldana at Mid-Ohio
SPLIT DECISION
Regarding the Letter of the Month in the August 2024 edition: I lane split down the dreaded 405 from Van Nuys to Santa Monica, Calif., from 1991 to 2014. Most of that time was on my way home, as my start time at work was 6 a.m. when there wasn’t quite as much traffic. I didn’t have many negative episodes. For the last 10 years I’ve done very little lane splitting, as I’m retired, but when I do have to lane split on the freeway I’ve noticed more motorists moving over so I can get past them. When it’s safe for me I give them a wave, thanking them for letting me by, and I think more motorcyclists should convey their appreciation when appropriate to the general public in such ways. Goodwill and waves go a long way toward slowly changing the public’s negative attitude toward us. Of course, a lot of cars and trucks are illegally tinting their windshields and front side windows, so we have no idea if they’re looking at us or even paying attention. Really scary. Mike Becker, Life Member Van Nuys, Calif.
Snider. I’m certain many dads, like me, fondly recall memories of offroad riding experiences with their sons or daughters. The 1980s-decade piece was pretty comprehensive, as well, and reminded me what an important decade it was in the history of motorcycle evolution. If I could add one additional milestone it would be the legendary Yamaha V-Max, Cycle Guide’s 1985 “Bike of the Year” and the original two-wheeled hot rod. Mr. Max created the modern muscle-bike category and developed a hugely popular ownership cult that’s still pretty strong 40 years later, and in my honest opinion deserves honorable mention in any discussion of the decade’s motorcycle achievements. Charlie Hamberg
I was fortunate enough to join Motorcyclist magazine in 1985, Charlie, and have much appreciation for (and even more miles on) the original V-Max. I’ll probably write about some of those Mr. Max stories in an upcoming issue, as there are plenty, but yes, it was a 1980s highlight, for sure. – Ed.
WHOOPSIE!
I noticed some sort of a text screwup in Rob Dingman’s September-issue column, and wondered if we missed anything because of it.
Marc Johnson Ravenna, Ohio
There was indeed a layout/production snafu in Rob’s September column right as we went to press, so we’re re-running his column in its correct form in this issue on page 12. Please note that coverage of the decade of the 2000s will appear in our November issue. – Ed.
I was on the 405 a lot during those years, Mike, so I’m sure we passed each other pretty often. But yes, showing appreciation does help with the general public despite all the weirdness going on during each day’s commute; just gotta be vigilant and keep things reasonable while lane sharing. As for the illegal window tinting (as well as all the also-illegal loud exhausts), it would be nice if those laws were enforced. Too bad law enforcement has its hands full in a lot of other areas these days. – Ed.
AUGUST AND THE V-MAX
I thoroughly enjoyed the August 2024 issue, especially the Agony and Ecstasy BDR story by Jack
BACK IN THE DAY
Where the photos are blurry but the memories are clear!
When I was 15 and growing up in a motorcycle family in the small town of Washington, N.J., the only thing I could think of was having my own motorcycle. My dad took me to watch motorcycle races,
and from then on I was hooked. For my 16th birthday I had the surprise of my life when my dad bought me a brand-new 1962 Harley-Davidson 175cc Scat. Over the winter I rode it in the fields, the woods, and up and
down the railroad tracks; sometimes I took it as far as 20 miles away. Come spring, it was stripped down for racing. I raced in the TT Scrambler class for four years and did well. Then the Scat was put into the garage for 45 years. In my early to mid-60s, I still knew where all the original parts were that had been taken off the motorcycle for racing, and I realized it was time to restore it to the original Scat it once was. It took some time, but it was well worth it. As you can see, winning the Spirit of Riding award in 2018 meant a lot to me, and I still ride motorcycles and the Scat from time to time.
Terry Warnkin
3This is a photo of me at my first hare scrambles race, which took place in the hills behind the Richmond Ramblers clubhouse around 1972. That’s me (302B) out front, although the real leaders are long gone. Unfortunately, I was a DNF because my 1970 Yamaha AT125 quit running due to a bad condenser. That was the start of a racing career that didn’t really get started until a few years later.
Dave Wolden
5This is a mid-1990s picture of me with my 1985 VF700F, which was known as a tariff-buster at the time. I also owned a VTR250 twin and a later-generation VFR…all great bikes. I remember riding aimlessly around New Hampshire on that VF700F and suddenly realizing it was time to head back to my home in Massachusetts because I was starting to see signs that I was approaching Canada. It was so easy to put touring miles on that thing! The VF was stolen from my garage in 1998, but great memories nonetheless. Gary Lowe
5My riding started on a Rupp Roadster minibike at the ripe age of 7. My next bike was this beauty, a ’79 Yamaha DT100. I was 15 years old in this photo, which was taken in January of 1980, after my friend Dan Oleski wanted to practice taking action shots for photography class. Dan contacted me recently and told me he was home in Lancaster, Pa., after a successful career as a commercial photographer in California, and asked if I wanted the original photos. I received them in a few days with the date on the back, including the one shown. I kept motorcycling through my life, and after a long career in law enforcement, I sold Harley-Davidsons in Lancaster and Myrtle Beach, S.C. Now, I’m back in the dirt, riding a Royal Enfield Himalayan and a Honda CT125. Life comes full circle.
Jeff Jones
5I bought my Honda Interceptor in 1983, and the following year rode it to North Africa with my girlfriend Eve (now my wife). We’re in Morocco in this picture, heavy clothing dumped and just about to unload after riding from Algeria. Our black panniers are difficult to see, but spot the “dirty” left front box for spare fuel, cooking stove, etc., and the extra-tall homemade screen to include a safety-first riding light. The VFR was solid at speed, a comfortable commuter, and handled like a dream even two-up and loaded with all our camping gear. The consummate all-rounder. Rick Wheaton
6I started riding in 1978 when I was about 14 years old. I had an old Kawasaki two-stroke and remember fixing and riding that thing all over the neighborhood. At 16, my first licensed vehicle was a 1974 Yamaha 175 enduro, and that thing was a blast. After that came a Honda 450 Nighthawk, then the 1981 Gold Wing you see in the picture. All this time my dad had no interest in motorcycles…until one day he showed up at my house on a Honda CB350 he’d bought. We rode around the neighborhood a while and then we came across an almost duplicate Gold Wing to mine. Dad had enough of the little 350 and bought the Gold Wing. From there we went on camping tours together and trips to each of our homes (we lived 350 miles apart). A few years later he upgraded to a 1982 Gold Wing, which my brother still has. Dad has long passed on and those memories will never be forgotten, but my brothers and I still have bikes. Although we now live 1,000 miles from each other, we talk about the day we’ll just show up on the doorstep and be ready to ride. Gord Gravelle
up to speed
News, notes, insight and more from the motorcycling universe
FLAT TRACK GRANDS
Bar bangin’ action and the presentation of AMA awards at amateur flat track’s grandest weekend — the Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship
BY JACK EMERSON PHOTOS BY TIM LESTER AND ADDIE COSTAN
The 2024 AMA Flat Track Grand Championship went off June 30 to July 5 at the legendary Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in Du Quoin, Ill., and in terms of bar-bangin’ on-track action, the weeklong amateur flat track-fest did not disappoint.
Races were won and lost, Grand Championships were earned, and special AMA awards were presented, the most special of which was the 2024 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award, won by Alabama native Walker Porter.
THE ’BAMA SLAMMA
The Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award reflects the pinnacle of amateur flat track racing, with a long
line of winners going on to have outstanding professional careers.
Each year at the AMA Flat Track Grands, one racer sets themself apart as the most promising up-and-comer based on his or her professionalism, discipline and prowess on the track.
During the weeklong event in Du Quoin, Walker Porter — dubbed the “Alabama Slamma” by renowned race announcer and commentator Scottie Deubler — brought home the prestigious award, completing a longtime goal.
“I was really excited because I’ve been dreaming about it forever,” Porter said of winning the Nicky Hayden Horizon Award.
After a slow start on the Half-Mile and TT tracks, in which he still registered five podium finishes out of eight races, Porter left little to chance on the Short Track. At the indoor track at the Southern Illinois Center, Porter secured three victories and a third-place finish, and parlayed that momentum into a pair of wins on the Half-Mile on the final day of racing — after rain caused the Mile track to be unfit for competition.
“We kind of had a struggle the first two days,” Porter said. “Then [I] brought it together in the Short Track. I really like the Short Track here. Then, today, they switched up the Half-Mile a little bit, and I just felt really good on it.”
To AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant, Porter’s perseverance and ability to overcome a difficult start to the week stood out as defining traits for the up-and-coming flat-track star.
“Although he got off to a slow start to the week, Walker Porter’s resilience and racing ability made him an excellent choice for this year’s Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award,” Saillant said. “Walker separated himself with a terrific showing on the Short Track, and his racing ability combined with his professional demeanor will serve him well at the professional level.”
After a strong week of racing, Walker Porter dashed his way to the 2024 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award — which recognizes the racer that shows the skill, demeanor and dedication necessary to excel at the professional level. His family and crew obviously agree!
up to speed Racing ROUNDUP
As for Porter’s next steps, he will accomplish a lifelong ambition when he transitions into the professional ranks next season.
“I can’t wait to start riding with the pros,” Porter said, “and going to all of the [professional rounds] during the year. It sounds fun!”
MARVELOUS MS. MEGHAN
Just four years ago, Meghan Greimel entered the world of motorcycle competition. And in the short time since her introduction to racing, Greimel has emerged as a force on the flat-track scene.
This year she brought her talents to the AMA Flat Track Grand Championship and did not disappoint. Greimel swept the Bromley Motorsports Women’s Class — winning the main events on the Half-Mile, Short Track and TT — en route to an AMA National No. 1 plate.
Her accomplishments went far beyond the track, however, as she also brought home the AMA Bill Werner Fast Brain Award, which honors the racer that excels both on the dirt track and in the classroom.
Left: Bill Werner AMA Fast Brain Award winner and Bromley Motorsports Women’s Class Champion Meghan Greimel enjoyed a dominant week in Du Quoin. Right: Australian rider Sam Drane (7) shook off jet lag to earn a pair of AMA National No. 1 plates at the AMA Flat Track Grand Championship.
“We came out here with the expectation to just learn to get better on the bike and have the experience of coming out to Amateur Nationals,” Greimel said. “It just worked out that we were fast and made it work.”
A native of Havre de Grace, Md., Greimel’s acclimation to the highest levels of amateur flat track racing was quick. In the lead up to the 2024 AMA Flat Track Grands, Greimel trained with former professional racer Cory Texter, as well as Australian riders Bodie and Jake Paige, to hone her craft ahead of the weeklong competition.
While Greimel dedicated plenty of time to tearing it up on the dirt track, she remained focused on her studies.
Entering her junior year of high school, and with decisions regarding her future approaching quickly, Greimel has worked tirelessly to strike the balance between racing and learning.
“I have to prioritize my education right now because I’m going into my junior year and getting closer to college,” Greimel said. “Being able to ride whenever I can, whenever I have a free moment and just after school especially, is good because I can study later at night.”
“I have to prioritize my education right now because I’m getting closer to college. Being able to ride whenever I can, whenever I have a free moment and just after school especially, is good because I can study later at night.”
MEGHAN GREIMEL
MEGHAN GREIMEL
Greimel’s hard work on the track and as a student not only culminated in her securing the AMA Fast Brain Award, she became the first woman to win it.
“It was definitely cool,” Greimel said. “I don’t think I truly understood the history behind the award. So after some research it means a lot more to me and to the people that helped me.”
Greimel’s ascension in flat track further represents a growth among women competitors in the sport.
The Bromley Motorsports Women’s Class at the 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship had a record-breaking eight competitors, growing from just one racer in 2023.
With this recent emergence, Greimel aims to be a driving force in flat track’s continued growth with women racers.
“I love it. I wish we had more women in the sport,” Greimel said. “I always make a point to go over and
SAM DRANE
up to speed Racing ROUNDUP
say “hi” and introduce myself and ask girls if they need any help with anything because I love our sport and I love racing with women who love it as much as I do.”
AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE
In recent years, the sport of flat track has grown immensely in the Land Down Under. And as the sport has enjoyed a renaissance throughout Australia, budding amateurs have crossed the Pacific Ocean seeking competition and glory. At the 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship, Australia was well-represented, with several Aussies earning AMA National No. 1 plates.
With Bodie Paige, Sam Drane and Jed Fyffe each bringing home multiple AMA National titles, Drane noted that the rise of professional flat track within Australia has been key to the growth of its amateur racing base.
tionals] in Australia, and they’re trying to make it more like America, where we have to run the same tires,” Drane said.
“A lot more people have been turning up to those.”
“We have a new series called [Aussie Flat Track Na-
Although several Australian riders emerged as top competitors during the event, they battled various challenges that their American counterparts did not face — most notably jet lag and a long travel process.
“The start was really hard on the body with the jet lag,” Drane said. “I’ve adapted and the week’s gone pretty well.”
Despite this added challenge, the Australian riders handled all the challenges that faced them during the weeklong event in Du Quoin, Ill. — with a little help from some mentors.
The Paige brothers, along with Bromley Motorsports Women’s Class Champion and Bill Werner AMA Fast Brain Award winner Meghan Greimel, worked closely with former professional racer Cory Texter, while Drane was brought under the wing of professional star
BODIE PAIGE
Dallas Daniels.
Left: Australian rider Jed Fyffe captured a pair of AMA National No. 1 plates. Near Right: AMA Youth Racer of the Year Drew Eldred of Trout Run, Pa. Far Right: AMA Vet/Senior Racer of the Year Dave Tyo of Prescott, Mich.
“It’s helped me a lot, not just for my racing side, but my physical and mental side, as well,” Bodie Paige’s brother, Jake Paige, said. “You can see it in my riding here. I wasn’t expecting much, not very high expectations, but through the two weeks living with [Cory], it changed my life.”
VET/SENIOR AND YOUTH RACERS OF THE YEAR
While Walker Porter and Meghan Greimel staked their claims as two of the most notable riders of the recent
AMA Flat Track Grand Championship, a pair of other racers brought home special honors.
Drew Eldred of Trout Run, Pa., was named the AMA Youth Racer of the Year. The young racer paced himself to a victory in the 65cc Modified (7-11) class, separating himself from the rest of the field in contention for the special honors.
Bringing home the Vet/Senior Racer of the Year honors was none other than Dave Tyo of Prescott, Mich., who also secured the award last year. Tyo raced himself to back-to-back honors by securing AMA No. 1 plates in the Super Senior (50+) and Masters (60+) classes.
CAPITOL CELEBRATION up to speed RIGHTS ROUNDUP
United States Congress recognizes AMA’s 100th anniversary
The AMA has been plenty busy celebrating its 100th year, starting with recognitions at the city and state levels before working its way up to the United States Capitol.
The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus, Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), and Derrick Van Orden (RWI) — in addition to Reps. Tracey Mann (R-KS), Carol Miller (R-WV) and Warren Davidson (R-OH) — introduced H. Res. 1391 in the House of Representatives in July to honor the anniversary.
“As a Charter Life Member of the AMA, it was my honor to introduce this resolution to recognize the historic achievement AMA has reached, marking its 100th anniversary,” Rep. Walberg said. “I am proud to have been a part of this fine organization, and consider it a privilege to be counted as one of its many members.”
Over the last 100 years, the AMA has served as the foremost motorcycle rights advocacy organization at the federal and state levels. The AMA has operated with a permanent government relations staff presence in Washington, D.C., since the 1990s. Throughout the AMA’s his-
tory, the organization has worked closely with members of Congress to fight discriminatory healthcare legislation, recreational trails inaccessibility, ethanol concerns and other issues facing motorcyclists.
“We are honored Congress recognizes the AMA’s effort to protect the rights of motorcyclists,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said. “The AMA is pleased to serve as the leading resource for our elected officials on issues facing motorcycle riders, racers, and enthusiasts.”
In addition to the AMA’s recognition at the federal level, the AMA was also honored during an Ohio Senate session at the Ohio Statehouse on June 12, in which Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-20) presented Dingman — who attended the event with AMA staffers and volunteers — with a resolution celebrating the AMA’s centennial anniversary.
In May, the AMA was recognized at the local level.
During the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Spring Bike Night and 100th anniversary celebration in Pickerington, Ohio, Mayor Lee A. Gray stopped by the AMA’s campus to deliver a proclamation declaring May 18 as American Motorcyclist Association Day in the city of Pickerington.
DERBY CITY CONNECTIONS
AMA’s GRD staff strengthens connections at NCSL event
The AMA’s Government Relations Department hit the road and manned a booth at the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit in Louisville, Ky.
The event, running Aug. 5–7, was attended by three GRD staffers: Grassroots Manager Bob Davis (right), Eastern States Representative Max Colchin (left) and Central States Representative Nick Sands (middle). The trio represented the AMA and motorcyclists across the country as they used the three-day event to network and build relationships that will help the AMA pursue its mission to protect the future of motorcycling.
“The NCSL Legislative Summit was a great opportunity to network with state legislators, legislative staff, special interest groups, and federal, state and local government agencies,” Davis said. “It was also good to spend some time with my GRD colleagues from Colorado and Washington, D.C.”
The GRD staff will return to the annual event in 2025 when it heads to Boston.
Record crowds and more motorcycle fun than ever made AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE
DAYS 2024 the highlight of the summer
THE BIG SHOW! VMD 2024
One hundred years ago, the AMA was founded by an industry trade association to give people things to do with their motorcycles. And the best evidence that the AMA has done exactly that was on full display at the 2024 edition of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.
From what is likely the world’s largest motorcycle swap meet to road racing, motocross, trials, hare scrambles and pit bike races, to a dinner ride to the flat track races, to parade laps on the road race circuit, to a bike show, to demo rides, to motorcycle industry vendors, to the Wall of Death, to Hall of Famer autograph and interview sessions, and three full days of camping and bench racing, there is something for everyone at VMD.
It was great to see so many families participating in VMD. It’s hard to imagine anywhere else on the planet where there could be more kids riding pit bikes and vintage minis anywhere and everywhere. There is no doubt in my mind that the memories made this year at VMD by families enjoying the event together ensured the passage of a lifelong passion for motorcycling on to the next generation of motorcyclists.
This year’s VMD — proceeds from which support the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame — was by far the biggest and best yet, with estimates of 70,000-plus for the weekend, and therefore provided the perfect setting in which to celebrate the AMA’s 100th year. Enjoy our coverage, and hope to see you next year!
– Rob Dingman, AMA President and CEO
BY BROC GLOVER
I’ve been trying to attend AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days for years, and was even asked to be Grand Marshal once or twice several years ago, but I could never work it into my schedule.
Happily, it all worked out this year, and the fact it happened to be the year of the AMA’s 100th anniversary was just icing on the cake.
Entering the gates of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the first time and seeing the mass of two-wheeled humanity spread before me, I was reminded of a lyric of a Jimmy
Buffett song called Mañana: Don’t try to describe the ocean if you’ve never seen it…you just may wind up being wrong. I’d heard all the VMD stories, but until you see it with your own eyes, there’s literally no way to describe it.
There were people riding motorcycles everywhere (some would be better described as two-wheel contraptions), a sort of anarchy but not in a negative way. I didn’t see any onerous policing, overzealous staff or excessive regulations…just two-wheel enthusiasts from single-digit ages to
what I’m guessing were octogenarians, and everyone enjoying themselves while not being treated with a heavy hand. Amazing.
I saw so many bikes that I rode throughout my lifetime, all of which brought back waves of fond memories. And I suspect I wasn’t alone in that way. Once committed to attending, I contacted my friend and vintage racing partner Dallas Nyblod, a two-time VMD veteran who hadn’t attended since 2007. Fortunately, Dallas was up for the nearly 5,000-mile roundtrip from his Seattle-area home. I’ve been racing with Dallas for nearly 10 years, and he and I started building the J18 Honda Elsinore back in 2018.
I say started because I still view it as a work in progress, the bike needing a few more tweaks that have yet to be applied.
GRAND MARSHAL
Aside from the Elsie, Dallas also has a top-notch 1974 Yamaha YZ250A that I’ve raced many times. Originally, my plan was to race both the Elsinore and the strap-tank YZ at VMD, but my Grand Marshal commitments kept me pretty busy, and after dropping the gate for the initial motos on Saturday, I wasn’t able to get back to the MX track until mid-afternoon, well into the second round of motos. Having hauled my riding gear across the country, and having a couple of sweet vintage machines available, I was itching to spin a few laps on the vintage-friendly MX track.
After gearing up, it dawned on me that I’d not yet ridden the track! The day’s program was well into the second motos, and the two classes I originally planned on racing were quickly approaching. So after clearing it with the race officials, I planned on jumping out on the track behind race No. 9 to get in
For this VMD first-timer AND Multi-time National Champ, attending this year’s vintage celebration was definitely worth the wait
Main image: Having not ridden for nine months, I felt a bit rusty at VMD, especially on starts. But it was fun and challenging racing a 125 against 250s and Open bikes, and the rust came off pretty quickly…and our 125 Elsinore proved capable enough to run out front.
a quick practice lap before racing the Vintage 60+ Expert class in Race 11 on the YZ250.
The only problem was that Dallas needed to ride the YZ because his vintage Jawa 500 had some mechanical issues. Since we race in the same class, my option was to fire up the 125cc Elsinore and race it in the open displacement class. After my sighting lap, I had just enough time to head back to the pits for a quick sip of water…and then it was on to the gate.
I hadn’t been on an MX bike or track since last November, so I was feeling a little rusty. It didn’t help that I was riding a 1974 vintage machine, but the kid in me quickly came out as I jumped on and warmed up the same model bike — complete with my original J18 CMC number — I first rode as a 14-year-old.
The one thing I did not want to do was interfere or play into the official scoring, since the other competitors were competing for actual AMA Vintage National championships…so I raced without officially racing.
I had a great time riding with friends and contemporaries (AMA pros Tom Benolkin and Denny Swartz in particular), and wrapped up my riding with Race 16, the open-aged 125cc Vintage, the final moto of the day on
In my second race against only 125s I felt confident I could grab the holeshot…right until I seemed to have forgotten how to shift a dirtbike into second gear! Announcer Kevin Kelly and I during trophy presentation.
Saturday. After a rookie mistake of missing a shift blasting off the gate, I gathered myself to get in some fun laps, while also keeping an eye on the battle behind me to see who would be crowned 125cc Vintage National Champion.
In the end, 14-year-old Mason Grove made a last-lap pass over 63-year-old Mike Boggia on his Mugen-look-alike Elsinore.
Where else can teenagers battle fellow racers old enough to be their grandparents?
I also got to spend much of Saturday with my good friend — and four-time Grammy award winner — Lyle Lovett. Lyle is a hardcore motorcyclist and has been since well before becoming a well-known musician. He and both of his parents rode dirt bikes together from the time Lyle was in his youth, and he still follows the sport religiously. Lyle happened to be touring in the Ohio area during the VMD weekend and was able to convince his tour bus driver to make a stopover at Mid-Ohio before heading to his evening show in Akron, Ohio. I want to thank him for joining us, and for being his usual gracious self to the many VMD attendees. I cannot believe how much fun — and how personally inspiring — VMD was for me. Heck, I’m already making plans for the 2025 edition. Better late than never, right?
“I hadn’t been on an MX bike or track since last November, so I was feeling a little rusty. It didn’t help that I was riding a 1974 vintage machine, but the kid in me quickly came out as I jumped on and warmed up the same model bike I first rode as a 14-year-old.”
BROC GLOVER
Reliving the glory days of moto and creating new memories across two days of hard-fought, vintage competition
irst-turn action in motocross is an experience like no other, and there was plenty of it during two days of vintage and post-vintage MX action at VMD. Fans watched from minibikes, golf carts and the hillsides as hundreds upon hundreds of riders negotiated the turn/point/ shoot action in Turn 1 that transported everyone present to the sport’s heyday in the ’70s and ’80s. Even Grand Marshal and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Broc Glover couldn’t resist the fun, racing in two motos himself.
FMOTOCROSS
Ohio’s Hand family — Dave Sr. (left), Michael (middle) and Dave Jr. — had never raced against each other until VMD 2024, but the boys beat dear ol’ Dad in that moto. That’s Dave Sr. and Michael with their No. 1 plates.
PIT BIKE
The art of being politically correct while racing your bosses on pit bikes at VMD
BY ALEX BOEHM
While pit bike racing has been a staple at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days for years, I’ve never done any of it myself. But this year was different. It was the first time the AMA gave away National No. 1 plates in the discipline, and there were some special exhibition classes running — including the Industry Class that I raced in — in celebration of the AMA’s 100th anniversary.
When my boss J.B. asked if I wanted to take a break from event operations to go race pit bikes Friday evening, it seemed like a no brainer…although by the time I got done working and made it to the motocross area to meet up with AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier, I’d missed practice.
In the rush I didn’t have time to at least put on a pair of jeans (they were back at the hotel), so once I jumped aboard our SSR 125 pit bike — on loan to the AMA — and made it to the MX starting area for moto No. 1, I was still in shorts. Not smart, I know, and something my dad would definitely have screamed about.
off.
Legendary rock guitarist
Billy Morris wowed the crowd with the Star Spangled Banner to kick things
He’s good at that.
What surprised me when I crested the hill by the big VMD billboard by Turn 2 of the road race course was the giant mass of people surrounding the motocross track for the pit bike race. What a turnout! And once I got down to the starting gate it was a scene of happy chaos. People were walking around, seeing old friends, making new ones and just enjoying all the fun. There’s something about pit bikes that just brings out pure joy in both young and old,
and everyone in between.
The racing that night was easily one of the most fun things I’ve ever done on a dirt bike, and that’s saying a lot. The Industry Class — made up of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer
Terry Cunningham, AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman, AMA COO James Holter, Pelletier and a handful of others — was politically stacked for me in a big way. How hard did I want to work to beat the bosses?
In Moto 1, I was humbled by Mr. Holter in the second corner when I got absolutely taken advantage of with a swift outside pass that made me stand the bike up and lose a couple places. But Moto 2 was yet to come.
And that’s when it all came together, as I was able to get Holter back in the opening corner and didn’t let him experience the exhilaration of passing me the remainder of the race. In finer terms…he ate my dust. I guess
Main image, left to right: Holter (811), Pelletier, the author and Terry Cunningham get ready to launch. Top, left to right: The crowds were thick. The author risking skin grafts. Back straight action. Boehm, Holter and Pelletier, post race.
I’ll enjoy that while I can, as I’m sure there will be repercussions later for my pit bike excellence.
Mr. Pelletier gave me a serious run for my money, staying just far enough in front of me to take complete advantage of my almost complete lack of fitness. If I only had one more lap… It was AMA Hall of Famer Cunningham who beat us all, but taking third felt pretty amazing, especially since I’d put SSR
Motorsports — the title pit bike sponsor — on the podium. All’s well that ends well.
I do have to take a moment to thank SSR Motorsports and Motozilli Powersports, the two sponsors of the race, as well as Rob Buydos and the AMA-chartered co-promoter of the race, Bagger Racing League. I already can’t wait for next year, so watch out Pelletier, I’m coming for you!
Mud, rocks, roots, trees, premix, two strokes, spectators and plenty of sweat get off-road racing at VMD off to a great start
SCRAMBLES HARE
Serving as the unofficial alarm clock for all things off-road at VMD for fans and racers alike is the venerable hare scrambles event, which takes place adjacent to the motocross track and dives headlong into the dark and often wet woods, where all manner of surprises and challenges await. The discipline is the first component that contributes to the crowning of the AMA Vintage Grand Champion and the AMA Senior Vintage Grand Champion. (See page 49 for who took home the honors this year.)
The AMA’s Lap for History event each day is quickly becoming a weekend highlight at VMD, with Saturday’s Lap recording an all-time peak in participation of around 250 riders. The two-wheeled mass followed Grand Marshal Broc Glover, MotoAmerica road racing phenom Kayla Yaakov, and country/rock superstar Lyle Lovett around Mid-Ohio’s road course for three laps each day, with proceeds directly supporting the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The range of biketypes? Amazing!
A record number of riders cemented their on-track memories on Mid-Ohio’s legendary road course
LAP FOR HISTORY
Far left: Grand Marshal Broc Glover (yellow jersey), country/rock superstar Lyle Lovett (orange T-shirt) and road racing phenom Kayla Yaakov led the way on record-breaking Saturday.
Couple celebrates seventh anniversary at AMA VMD
BY KEATON MAISANO
s around 150 motorcyclists celebrated the AMA’s 100th anniversary during Friday’s Lap for History at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, John and Georgia Trautmann had a different anniversary on their minds as they followed AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Broc Glover and racing-phenom Kayla Yaakov around the MidOhio Sports Car Course.
Seven years prior to VMD 2024, John and Georgia also participated in Lap for History, but they did so as newlyweds, married the night before in the shadow of the scoring tower.
“The racing world is [John’s] livelihood; he just loves it and has been in it for 28 years,” Georgia said. “We’ve both been married before and we wanted something different and memorable, and that’s where all our friends are…at the racetrack.”
Searching for a laid-back, personal touch to their wedding, the pair landed on Mid-Ohio as it already had sentimental value to John, who remembered the track as the place he first touched his knee to the ground while road racing in 1997 and the location of his first AMA pro race in 2000.
Two decades after John’s racing milestones, he and Georgia celebrated their life milestone in front of a small group of family and friends on July 7, 2017, at AMA VMD. The pair were married by Chaplain Mark Merical three years after John and Georgia met as neighbors in Holland, Mich.
A WEDDING day
While some were unable to attend the night of the wedding, Georgia said all the elements to make the night special were there: “We both looked at each other and said, ‘Hey, as long as you, me and Mark are there, that’s all that matters.’”
Seven years after the Trautmanns were wed, their positive memories brought them back to Mid-Ohio and to VMD 2024. The couple celebrated their anniversary by taking to the track, just as they had their first full day as a married couple.
“It was really cool doing [Lap for History] again,” John said. “It definitely brought back memories of doing it the first time and showing her around the track.”
John and Georgia during their wedding ceremony.
Right: The couple during Lap for History in 2024.
Aside from our Grand Marshal, multi-time AMA national champ and AMA Hall of Famer Broc Glover, the Yamaha folks — presenting sponsor of VMD 2024 — brought a handful of motorcycle racing greats to VMD to rub elbows with — and sign autographs for — the fans and talk about their illustrious careers on the AMA Soundstage. They included Formula 750 champ (and HOFer) Steve Baker, motocross legends Damon Bradshaw, Doug Dubach and HOFer Gary Jones, and road racing greats Thomas Stevens and Rich Oliver. Naturally, HOFer David Aldana showed up, too! The lineup was stupendous, as was the line to get autographs, and attendees had a ball all weekend long.
champions
Left to right: Gary Jones, Steve Baker, David Aldana
Left to right: Doug Dubach, Thomas Stevens
DAMON BRADSHAW
GARY JONES BROC GLOVER
From vintage to modern, and from two strokes to four, here’s where the rubber meets the road at VMD
ROAD RACING
Across Mid-Ohio’s 330-acre complex, VMD has so much going on at once that it’s not at all difficult to become disconnected from what’s happening at the opposite corner of the event. But hearing the consistent, high-rpm shrieks of the road race machines that glide across the venue’s 2.4-mile road course is plenty to let you know there’s a lot of exciting knee-dragging action — and more! — going on in Mid-Ohio’s 15 corners.
From vintage Superbikes to sidecars and everything in between, road race fans had a lot to enjoy during the VMD weekend.
In the annual installment of “you have to see it to believe it” that is the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet, the 2024 rendition did not disappoint. Across a sea of more than 800 vendor spots — which were filled quicker than you could pick your jaw up off the floor — everything a vintage enthusiast could want was on display and for sale. If you missed out this year, make it a must-see in 2025!
A literal city of swap meet vendors and booths; if you can’t find it here, it probably doesn’t exist
SWAP MEET
On the final day of VMD, riders headed into the woods again for a vintage trials competition that was a change of pace from the up-tempo racing that dominated much of the weekend. What it lacks in speed, trials makes up with calculated maneuvers that leave spectators in awe. As the final off-road discipline, the event often determines who will take home the AMA’s Vintage Grand Championship titles.
trials
A showcase of balance and riding technique that’s simply hard to believe is on display all day Sunday
BY JACK EMERSON
When the dust settled on three intense days of racing, two racers stood above the rest of the field.
Compiling points from the AMA Vintage Grand Championship, which consists of motocross, hare scrambles and trials competition, Quinn Wentzel of Canfield, Ohio, collected his second-consecutive AMA Vintage Grand Championship — his sixth overall — while Mark Murphy from Geneseo, N.Y., claimed the AMA Vintage Senior Grand Champion title.
Capturing second-place finishes in the Vintage Vet 250cc A class in hare scrambles and Vintage Open A class in motocross, in addition to a class win in Vintage Old School trials, Wentzel ran away with the overall title.
“It’s always good when the bikes make it through and we have a good finish,” Wentzel said. “It means a lot and it’s nice to have my family and friends out here. It’s a fun weekend for us all.”
While Wentzel dominated the field, Murphy eked out the AMA Vintage Senior Grand Championship by just one point.
“It’s self-preservation, dumb luck and charging as hard as you can while having a good attitude,” Murphy said. “You have to have grit.”
VMD GRAND CHAMPS
QUINN WENTZEL
MARK MURPHY
BIKE SHOW WINNERS
From era-specific awards to the 100th-anniversary-inspired AMA Centennial Award, there was a wide array of honors to be had at this year’s bike show, and the following entrants went home with hardware: Mark Alexsandrowicz, Keith Clouston, Jim Goodwyn, Scott Huvler, Billy Lumadue, Toby Lyons, William Newkirk, Jeff and Tiffany Nicol, David Rowe, and Rob Wilhelm. Congrats, everyone!
BIKE SHOW
lthough riding around VMD offers up plenty of “bike show” moments as thousands of vintage bikes move about at any one time, Saturday is the chance to admire the best of the best. Bikes from every decade provided attendees with a stroll down memory lane, while custom-made marvels required serious double takes. Like every year, the 2024 AMA VMD Bike Show did not disappoint.
AWhile only a few left with awards, everyone left with a smile and memories of some outstanding vintage motorcycles
Leaving VMD in the early afternoon on Saturday, participants in the Ashland Dinner Ride were treated to a scenic ride through Ohio’s countryside. And waiting for the group at the ride’s destination was a delicious dinner at the Ashland County Fairgrounds, home of the weekend’s vintage flat track action. Add in a pit pass, a special-edition AMA 100th Anniversary Ashland Dinner Ride T-shirt and plenty of racing action, and it was certainly a day to remember.
dinner ride ashland
A scenic ride, tasty dinner, pit pass, free shirt and great seats for a night of racing…what more could you want?
Saturday night during VMD was once again highlighted by flat
track racing — part of the AMA Vintage Flat Track National Championship Series — at the Ashland County Fairgrounds. A beautiful night of vintage competition under a setting sun featured many memorable moments, one of which included the attendance of flat track legend and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer David Aldana. Make sure to add the event to your itinerary for next year!
FLAT TRACK
A 30-minute trip north was made well worth it, with a beautiful night of fullthrottle, barbangin’ action
Father and son bond over volunteer opportunity at VMD
BY TOM DEAN
or years I’ve attended and volunteered at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, but to change things up a bit this year, I took my new family along with me — and I’m glad I did.
On the way to Mid-Ohio, my 9-year-old stepson Gabriel told me he really wanted to volunteer with me at the AMA Hall of Fame tent in the infield on Saturday. At first I wasn’t sure if children were allowed to volunteer, but the AMA staff and fellow volunteers were very welcoming to both Gabriel and me.
F VOL UNTEERS
Gabriel and I had a blast as we sorted, located and distributed a variety of VMD T-shirts and souvenirs to fellow AMA members throughout our four-hour shift. For his efforts, Gabriel was gifted a one-year membership AMA pin and a Yamaha Weekend of Champions poster. I renewed my soon-to-expire AMA membership, and Gabriel went home with a free 2024 AMA VMD Broc Glover T-shirt, too.
Volunteering at VMD was a great way for Gabriel — who is looking forward to doing it next year — and I to connect as a father-son team. If you’re thinking about volunteering at VMD, I’d say go for it. (Get involved by emailing volunteer@ama-cycle.org.) Fellow AMA staff and volunteers are very welcoming, and you’re bound to have good time as you talk and connect with other AMA members and enthusiasts. It’s often said motorcycling people are the best people, and volunteering at VMD puts the stamp on that statement!
The Dean family — Tom (left), Deborah and Gabriel — with their new-to-them (and swap meet-sourced) Kawasaki Concours.
THANK YOU!
Every year the AMA takes great pride in organizing AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, and this year was even more special as the AMA celebrated its 100th anniversary. The weekend gives motorcyclists a chance to celebrate vintage bikes while spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the freedom of two wheels with like-minded enthusiasts. This event wouldn’t be possible without a long list of partners, supporters and volunteers. We appreciate them all, as well as everyone who attended the record-breaking event, which enables us to raise money for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
– AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman
Sponsors
Permco
Yamaha
State Farm
B’laster
Royal Enfield
Biltwell
SSR Motorsports
Kenda Tire
Motozilli Powersports
Photography
Willie Browning, David Funk, Mariah Lacy, Jack Snider, Todd Westover
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Scot Harden, checking out his 660cc KTM Paris-Dakar bike in the AMA tent.
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Take advantage of discounts from our quality partners and save loads of money – and pay for your AMA membership – in just a few keystrokes! From gear, event tickets and rentals to accessories, hotels and performance parts, it really is that simple.
Up to 10% off at Motel 6.
Use code: M64AMA
20% discount off available rates, call (800)RED-ROOF and use the code VP+ 503343. To make reservations online use code: VP+ 503343 in the field labeled “VP+/ID#”
ADVMoto 20% discount. Use code AMADV20
Aerostar.Life
Save 50% on Thunderbird Medical ID Necklaces. Visit Aerostar.life.
AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Free admission to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio.
AMA Supercross Tickets
Save $5 on up to 8 tickets at supercrosslive.com Use code AMA51X
Anthony’s Leatherworks 10% discount on repair order Use code AMADISCOUNT
ASV Inventions
Get 20% off on all ASV products on asvinventions.com. Use code AMA20
Blendzall
AMA members can save 20% at blendzall.com. Use code AMA20 at checkout.
Bohn Body Armor 10% AMA Member Exclusive Discount. Visit bohnarmor.com and use code AMAD22 at checkout.
Car Rentals Up to 25% off at any Avis or Budget. Avis Code: D388100 Budget Code: Z942000
Dowco Powersports 20% discount.Use code AMA20
EagleRider For Club EagleRider AMA members receive 2 free rental credits. Use code AMACLUBER
Edelweiss
Evans Cooling System 25% discount on Evans Coolants and Prep Fluid. Use code AMAFUN at evanscoolant.com.
EVS Sports 10% discount and free shipping on all orders. Use code AMA100RIDING.
Gryphon Moto
AMA members receive a 15% discount on Gryphon Moto orders at gryphonmoto.com. Use code AMA at checkout.
an additional 15% on all Haynes & Clymer print and online repair manuals. Use code AMA15
Matrix Concepts AMA members receive a 25% discount on most products for shop, garage & track necessities at matrixracingproducts.com Use code AMA25
Medjet
Butler Maps
AMA members receive a 10% discount at butlermaps.com. Use code AMAMEMBER Bugslide
AMA members enjoy 15% off all BugSlide® cleaning products. Use code AMA2023
California Dual Sport Riders
Members save 50% Use code AMA. Visit cdsr.us to learn more.
Cardo Systems
20% discount online with valid AMA membership card. Use code AMA20
Colorado Motorcycle Adventures
10% discount with valid AMA membership card.
The Dirt Bike Academy 10% exclusive discount on instruction. Learn more at thedirtbikeacademy.com Use code TDBAAMA10
Heli Bars Use code AMAM2020 for a 10% AMA Member Exclusive Discount at helibars.com.
Helix Racing Products
AMA members save 20% on all products at helixracingproducts.com. Use code AMA20 at checkout.
HertzRide
AMA members save 10% on rentals in all locations globally at hertzride.com/us/ promo/American-motorcyclistassociation-1065 or use code AMA10
INNOVV
Save 15% on all products (except accessories) at innovv.com
Legacy Track Dayz 15% discount on Legacy Track Dayz events. Use code AMARideLTD
Liberty Sport Eyewear 30% discount on all “motorcycle collection” frames. Discount code AMA30.
AMA members save on standard bike tour. Use code 21AMA-EBT03 at checkout. MAD Maps
Air medical transport and travel security protection – visit Medjet.com/AMACycle or call 1.800.527.7478, referring to American Motorcyclist Association. Annual rates reduced by 20% and start at $235.
MotoAmerica 20% off 2-day and 3-day passes at select MotoAmerica events. Use discount code AMA20
Slacker
AMA members can save 10% at motool.co. Use code AMASAVE20 at checkout.
MX Boot Repair 10% discount. Use code AMADISCOUNT
MX Mounts 10% off on our mounts Use AMADiscount at checkout
MYLAPS 20% discount off MSRP or current sales price on web-orders or orders coordinated by the AMA. Use code AMA-789HJK
National Cycle
AMA members save 10% on all products featured on the National Cycle website, to in stock items only. Does not apply to special price promotional items.
Nationwide Pet Insurance AMA members save on pet insurance at benefits.petinsurance.com/americanmotorcyclist
Nelson Rigg 25% AMA Member Exclusive Discount on all products! Use promo code AMA-NR20
Parts Giant Call TJ at 888-575-6570 x 817 or email tj@partsgiant.com and save 10 percent on every purchase at PartsGiant.com with code AMA10.
Eye Design 10% discount on inView, a wireless brake and signal light. Use code AMA at thirdeyedesigninc.com
Get a quote and receive a $10 gift card at voominsureance.com/ama
Road Race Oct. 17 - 20. Daytona Beach. AMA Road Race Grand Championship, American Superbike Racing Association LLC, 725-755-7550, support@ asraracing.com, daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Grand Prix Oct. 20. Bartonville. D17 Grand Prix, Peoria Motorcycle Club Inc., 309-697-4981, peoriamotorcycleclub1931@gmail.com, www.peoriamotorcycleclub.com
Trail Ride Oct. 20. Ottawa. Off Road Poker Run/ Trail Ride, Variety Riders Motorcycle Club Inc, 815434-3669, varietyriders@yahoo.com, varietyriders. com
Motocross Oct. 6. Brookston. Motocross / North Star Series, Echo Valley Motopark, LLC, 218-391-8422, echovalleymotopark@gmail.com, echovalleymotocross.com
Motocross Oct. 13. Millville. FXR Super Series Rd 1 of 2025 Halloween Bash sponsored by EX Camper Rental, Hi-Winders, 507-753-2779, springcreekmxoffice@gmail.com, www.springcreekmotocross.com
for Kids, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, 470-9892098, akaras@curethekids.org, rideforkids.org/lasvegas
AMA NEW JERSEY
Motocross Oct. 4 - 6. Englishtown. Raceway Park 48th Annual Race of Champions Presented by Kawasaki, Raceway Park, 732-446-7800, racewaypark1965@ gmail.com, www.Etownracewaypark.com
Motocross Oct. 26 - 27. Wortham. Tony Miller Memorial / Best of Texas Fall Series Rd 4, Freestone County Raceway LLC, 832-896-6770, freestonemx@gmail.com, www.freestonemx.com
Motocross Oct. 26. Alvord. Texas State Super Douper, MX Racer, LLC dba Oak Hill Raceway, 940-577-2225, admin@oakhillmx.net, www. oakhillmx.com
Hare Scrambles/Cross Country Oct. 26 - 27. Arrington. Don Wise Memorial - Jester’s Halloween, Virginia Competition Hare Scramble Services, 757375-5665, aprilfools62@verizon.net, vchss.org
Motocross Oct. 19 - 20. Hedgesville. Civil War “WV State Championship”, Tomahawk MX, LLC, info@ tomahawkmx.com, www.tomahawkmx.com
AMA WISCONSIN
Flat Track - Short Track Oct. 5. New Richmond. Cedar Lake Arena Flat Track, Cedar Lake Arena, info@cedarlakespeedway.com, cedarlakespeedway.com
Flat Track - Short Track Oct. 6. New Richmond. Cedar Lake Arena Flat Track, Cedar Lake Arena, info@ cedarlakespeedway.com, cedarlakespeedway.com
Motocross Oct. 6. Hillpoint. Sugar Maple MX, Sugar Maple MX Park LLC, 608-425-8643, sugarmaplemxpark@gmail.com, www.sugarmaplemx.com
Road Ride/Run Oct. 12. Dodgeville. Hunt for Red October, Concours Owners Group, 979-320-7516, dmcclurg@wi.rr.com
Hare Scrambles/Cross Country Oct. 12. Oconto Falls. Oconto Falls, Four Wheeler Dirtbike Cross Country (FDXC), 920-360-4405, info@rendlux.com, FDXCr.com
Oct. 26-27. Ray’s Ride. Morgan Hill, Calif. P&D Promotions. (408)249-4336. www.pdpromotionsinc.com
Oct. 26-27.LA-Barstow to Vegas. Palmdale, Calif. AMA District 37 Dual Sport. (626) 684-2336. labarstowvegas.com
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The following represents active, registered trademarks, trade-marks and service marks of American Motorcyclist Association, Inc. (AMA). Usage of any AMA trademark or registered trade- mark without our permission is prohibited. Please contact jholter@ama-cycle.org for more information or assistance, (800) AMA-JOIN® • AMA Dragbike® • AMA Endurocross® • AMA Motorhead® • AMA Pro Grand National Championship®
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2024 Beta AMA National Dual Sport Series americanmotorcyclist.com/ national-dual-sport
Oct. 5-6. Shenandoah 500. Mount Solon, Va. Washington Area Trail Riders. (619) 244-9630. watr.us
Oct. 26-27. Ray’s Ride. Morgan Hill, Calif. P&D Promotions. (408)249-4336.
Nov. 2-3. Howlin at the Moon. Payson, Ariz. Arizona Trail Riders. (602) 692-9382. arizonatrailriders.com
Nov. 2-3. Hammer Run. Port Elizabeth, N.J. Tri-County Sportsmen MC Inc. 856-785-2754. hammerhead@teamhammer.org. www.teamhammer.org Nov. 29-30. LA-Barstow to Vegas. Palmdale, Calif. AMA District 37 Dual Sport. (626) 684-2336. paulflanders37@gmail.com. labarstowvegas.com
American Motorcyclist Association® Arenacross® • ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series®
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Tips,Tweaks, Fixes and Facts: The two-wheeled ownership experience, explained Garage
A TIGER IN THE ALPS
Acouple years ago I rode a then-new Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro on our annual AMA Alps Challenge Tour, and loved pretty much every minute of it. It was comfortable, ungodly fast and torquey, refined in a way only certain higher-end motorcycles are, and probably most importantly had out-of-box suspension
SAMPLED
that was positively world-class even for XXL-sized me… which is a rare thing.
I’d been reading about Triumph’s semi-all-new Tiger 900 over the last year or so, and figuring it’d be basically a four-fifths-scale version of the big 1200 (and the 1200 is big), I wanted to try one out for a week or so on what I consider pretty demanding duty — our annual Alps
Challenge Tour.
The folks at Triumph were able to secure me a Tiger 900 GT Pro testbike, and after picking it up at Team Edelweiss’ base hotel near Munich and riding it for a few days with our group, I can report that it is, like the 1200, pretty dang good.
Climb aboard and lever the thing off its sidestand and you immediately notice the size and heft difference between the 1200 and 900. The 900 feels narrower, lower and more compact, though ergonomically it’s pretty roomy, even two-up, as tour participants Curtis and Gail will attest, as they two-upped aboard a T900.
It’s more powerful than the old 900, too (106.5 bhp, according to Triumph), thanks to hotter cams, higher-compression pistons and a redesigned cylinder head. Midrange is satisfyingly strong, and when you let it rev it flat out rips. And then there’s the triple’s trademark sound and feel; the way it throbs like a twin — and screams like a four — is positively addicting, though it’s quite smooth, too. Fueling is spot on. Honestly, this is one of the very best engines in all of motorcycling.
to be an effort by the manufacturers to lower and soften them, presumably to make them more attractive to older and more affluent buyers. (The GT Pro retails at $16,895, after all.)
But in doing so the Triumph R&D folks have made their top-of-the-line almost-open-classer a little looser when ridden aggressively on curvy roads, especially with a larger rider or two-up with luggage. Even with the pre-programmed settings bumped up to firm, the T900 was a little soft when ridden at serious speeds on the fast and most demanding Alpine routes.
The 900 feels narrower, lower and more compact, though ergonomically it’s plenty roomy, even two-up, as tour participants Curtis and Gail will attest, as they two-upped aboard a T900.
On one particular run (while following a crazy Italian in a new Corvette, admittedly) I had the T900 moving around quite a bit, although it never did anything untoward…a good sign.
Great brakes helped keep things in check, and of course the bike’s ABS will help keep you out of trouble in those situations – and in the wet, too.
Where the 1200 outshines the 900 (aside from pure power and torque) is suspension refinement and performance. As with a lot of today’s 800/900-class ADV bikes, there seems
I’ll have more to say on all this in our Alps Challenge IV writeup, but so far Triumph’s thoroughly revised Tiger is proving to be great fun and up to the task.
OK, off to Passo di Gavia. Ciao! – Mitch Boehm
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By the Numbers… Vintage Motorcycle Days
• Total Attendance – 70,000+
• Vintage Hare Scrambles Entries – 468
• Broc Glover Autographs Signed* – 2,734
• Vintage Motocross Entries – 786
• AMA Memberships Sold – 420+
• Vintage Trials Entries – 90
• Lap for History Participants – 586
• Infield Vendors – 30+
• Pit Bike Racing Entries – 105
• Tires Shredded* – 8,432
• Road Racing Entries – 922
• Swap Meet Spaces – 825+
• Gallons of Sunscreen Applied* – 727
• Bike Show Entries – 70+
• Silly Grins* – 500,000+
• Questions about 2025’s Date*… Endless!
* It’s entirely possible that some numbers have been exaggerated or completely made up
