ATVA News March/April 2013

Volume 13, Issue 2

The Faces of AMA ATV Racing PAGE 5 PAGE 5

A PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR ATVA MEMBERS

INSIDE The All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA) protects ATVers’ right to ride. It also serves as a source of authoritative information about where and how to ride, products and events.

The ATVA is part of the American Motorcyclist Association, the world’s most powerful voice for motorcyclists.

ATVA membership is $49 a year. For more information call toll free (866) 288-2564 or check us out online at www.atvaonline.com.

THE ATVA NEWS TEAM Bill Kresnak Editor Jeffrey Guciardo Designer/Production Coordinator ATVA News is published bimonthly by the All-Terrain Vehicle Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Copyright by the ATVA. Printed in USA. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damage to unsolicited materials. Send story ideas and high-resolution photos to editor@atvaonline.com. You may see them in ATVA News. Be sure to include your name and phone number.

FEATURES 05 THE FACES OF AMA ATV RACING Cover photo by Rick Osentoski

DEPARTMENTS 03 ON TRACK 04 STATE OF MICHIGAN AND CLUB JOIN TOGETHER FOR TRAIL 04 ATV ENTHUSIASTS SUPPORT SHRINERS HOSPITAL 13 CAN-AM ATV TEAM WINS BAJA 1000 15 MARKETPLACE 15 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SNAPSHOT

JOIN THE ATVA If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of the ATVA, log on to ATVAonline.com. Already a member? Send your stories or ideas to editor@atvaonline.com.

2 March/April 2013

In this undated photo, Eddie Sanders (89) leads in 250cc racing action at Saddleback Park in California. This was the fifth round of the Baja Cross Series, probably in 1982.

Want to share a photo? Send it with your name to editor@atvaonline. com.

The Best ATV Racers On The Planet If you like your ATV racing action on a dirt oval, then the AMA ATV Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series is the place to be. And if you follow ATV racing, then you probably recognize some of the household names that battle in this exciting competition, including Harold Goodman, Brad Riley and Paula Shank.

The eight-round AMA ATV Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series gets under way May 4 at the Lenoir County Fairgrounds in Kinston, N.C. Besides the ATV national championship competitions, there’s also heart-pounding action in AMA/ATVA featured series and events.

Those include the AMA IATVHSS (Iowa ATV Hare Scrambles) and The Heartland Challenge.

The AMA IATVHSS is a multi-round competition featuring racers including Michael Burrows, Luke Upah, Jerry Costello and Chad Hutchinson.

The Fifth Annual Heartland Challenge Endurance Race is set for Aug. 15-17 in Carlisle, Iowa. This 10-hour battle royale features teams competing for top honors.

The AMA and ATVA work closely with several groups to promote and build these series and events. These partnerships are vital in pulling together the many clubs and organizers involved.

Without these partners, the various national series and events would not be possible. So the next time you’re at the races, thank the promoters for all they do to promote and support the competitions we all love.

In this issue of ATVA News we are highlighting some of the racers, and their family members, who make AMA/ATVA ATV racing so special. I hope you enjoy their stories, beginning on page 5.

This year promises to be one of the most exciting ever.

Now, if we could just figure out how to get more weekends in the year for racing!

ON TRACK NEWS ATVA Offers Benefits And Services For Clubs There are a lot of advantages for ATV clubs that charter with the ATVA, including increasing membership, obtaining affordable event liability insurance and prestige.

Growing your ATV club can be

tough, often because it’s hard to find and reach other ATVers. For individual riders, finding a club nearby can be equally difficult. The ATVA helps bring enthusiasts together. By chartering your club with the ATVA or the American Motorcyclist Association, the club status is acknowledged on the ATVA and AMA websites (www.atvaonline.com and www.americanmotorcyclist.com), and stories about your club can appear in ATVA News, which can lead to increased membership.

And if your club sponsors events, being chartered with the ATVA means

your club can get affordable event liability insurance and free publicity.

When a chartered club sanctions an ATVA event such as a trail ride, for example, the event information gets listed in both ATVA News and in the monthly American Motorcyclist magazine, giving ATVers across the country information about the event. This allows clubs to boost attendance and potentially brings in new club members.

After all, ATVA- and AMA-chartered clubs are the gold standard. The best clubs in the nation are chartered with the ATVA and AMA. Riders and others know

March/April 2013 3

A PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR ATVA MEMBERS

AMA and ATVA organizers and clubs have well-earned reputations for running some of the best events in the nation.

AMA Nationals represent decades of racing achievements and prestige for many organizers and racers. They are considered the “crown jewels” in the racing community, since the titles awarded attract the fastest and most talented racers.

For example, AMA National Enduros trace their beginnings back to 1920

By Chuck Weir, AMA/ (and perhaps even earlier) as one ATVA off-road racing of the oldest forms of organized manager motorsports. So the traditions of AMA Nationals run deep and are a significant part of our motorcycling history—and future.

While ATV racing has a more recent history, it still involves intense competition featuring the best racers in the nation. In fact, the best ATV racing on the planet can be found in ATVA- and AMA-sanctioned events. And it’s a great opportunity for amateurs to compete on the same tracks and courses as the pros.

One of the most exciting series is the AMA ITP/Moose Racing ATV Motocross National Championship Series, presented by Parts Unlimited. The high-flying action kicks off at Aonia Pass in Washington, Ga., March 23-24 and will feature top racers including defending champion Chad Wienen, John “Ironman” Natalie, Joel Hetrick, Josh Upperman, Thomas Brown and Adrienne Cooper.

Another national championship series that features the best-ofthe-best is the AMA ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series—the premier ATV hare scrambles series in the nation.

That series gets under way March 24 in Berwick, Pa. Some of the big-name competitors include Scott Samuel, Adam McGill, Landon Wolfe and Ryan Lane.

NEWS that an ATVA- or AMA-chartered club is well organized, family-friendly and an asset to the community. There is prestige in being chartered with the ATVA or AMA and in being part of a greater community of ATV riders and motorcyclists: ATVA and AMA members nationwide.

The combined AMA and ATVA remains the only national organization devoted to providing a full range of services. More than 225,000 motorcycle and ATV enthusiasts support ATVA and AMA activities through their annual membership dues. This allows clubs to tap into a full range of services.

By far the biggest advantage of a club chartering with the ATVA is that it helps protect ATV riders’ right to ride and race, both now and in the future. The ATVA and AMA have dedicated government relations staff hard at work every day fighting threats to ATV riding. Also, clubs are an integral part of social activity that provides the foundation for the political and community activities that will help ensure the future of ATV riding.

The cost to charter as a social club is just $35. The cost to charter as a promoting recreational club that hosts trail rides, off-road poker runs or field meets is $75. And the cost to charter as a race-promoting club or promoter is $75.

For more info, go to www.atvaonline. com/ClubApplication.aspx or call (614) 856-1900 and ask for Organizer Services.

ATVA Offers Money-Saving Discounts

to stop people from riding in their own back yards. They want to shut down ATV racetracks and other private riding areas.

The ATVA government relations team is fighting back, and more members mean more clout to fight these foes.

To join the ATVA, go to www. atvaonline.com or call (866) 288-2564.

State Of Michigan And ATV Club Partner To Manage ATV Trail Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources has teamed up with the Keweenaw ATV Club to manage 54 miles of new ATV trail in the western Upper Peninsula.

The trail, which runs through parts of Houghton and Keweenaw counties, is primarily on private land. The club will provide trail maintenance as well as develop a trail management plan.

The state will create a trail map and promote the trail.

ATV Enthusiasts Turn Out

ATVA members get many discounts In Force To Support Shriners and benefits that keep money in their Hospital pockets and easily pay for their $49 memberships many times over.

High Lifter Products and Applebee’s Those include discounts at BikeBandit Neighborhood Grill & Bar teamed up and many other places. to host a benefit mud ride for Shriners Beyond that, ATVA members are Hospital for Children at High Lifter Offeligible for AMA Roadside Assistance, Road Park in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 2, which covers all the member’s vehicles raising more than $25,000. and most trailers, as well as those of The benefit had the largest attendance family members. ATVA members get to date for the event, now in its fifth this valuable coverage at no additional year, with almost 900 ATV enthusiasts charge when they enroll for auto-renewal attending the day-long trail and mud ride of their membership. to raise money and collect Another advantage of being an toys for hospitalized ATVA member is that members stay children. informed with ATVA News and American The event set a new Motorcyclist magazine. American record in money Motorcyclist features a monthly calendar and of events so ATVA members can find ATV races, rallies and other events in their area, state or region.

There are enemies of ATVing at the local, state and even national level with one goal in mind—to stop riders from riding ATVs. They want to close off 2013 millions of acres of public land. They want FourTrax Recon

toys raised for the hospital. More than $25,000 was raised from gate admissions, raffle ticket sales, monetary donations, and food sales from an all-you-can eat pancake breakfast at area Applebee’s and the Applebee’s concession stand at the park.

Raffle prizes included a 2013 Polaris Ranger 900 XP donated by Polaris Industries, a year’s worth of coupons for Applebee’s valued at $7,300, a Teryx Windshield and Mule Windshield donated by MTA, an LSU Tailgating Pack donated by Risk & Benefit Solutions of Shreveport/Carthage, a WARN winch donated by WARN Industries, and a set of HD Wheels donated by Performance ATV.

2.5 Millionth ATV Built At Honda South Carolina Plant In October, Honda of South Carolina Mfg. Inc. built its 2.5 millionth ATV at its Timmonsville, S.C., plant.

“Reaching the milestone of 2.5 million units is a testament to the commitment of our associates and the entire Honda team to produce products that exceed our customer’s expectations,” says HSC plant manager Scott McKenzie.

The ATV production milestone occurred just 14 years after Honda began ATV production in the Timmonsville plant. HSC has manufactured many different models of ATVs since its inception in 1998, including the FourTrax and SporTrax series, which the plant continues to produce today.

With the flexibility to produce many powersports product models, associates at the Timmonsville plant currently manufacture all Honda ATVs for the North American market and the vast majority for global sales. HSC is also the exclusive North American production site for all utility models.

In addition to manufacturing, Honda has established research and development, and engineering, as well as the company’s export handling operations in South Carolina, along with a parts distribution center and other operations that support product development, manufacturing and sales in North America.

Faces

The of AMA

ATV

Racing F

Adrienne Cooper

> MOTOCROSS Motocross races are run over natural and man-made terrain courses with hills, jumps and tight turns, typically with two races—or motos—in each class. A combined score from each moto is calculated to determine the overall placing. It’s recognized as one of the most strenuous sports in the world.

Adrienne Cooper: 2012 AMA ATV WOMEN’S MX CHAMPION

Adrienne Cooper had a spectacular 2012 season in the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series, presented by Parts Unlimited.

The 22-year-old racer, who lives in Union City, Tenn., earned five overall wins and three second-place finishes to clinch the Women’s championship title after just eight rounds of the 10-round series.

“The championship feels great! My team and family and I have been working for this for a long time so it’s nice to have all the hard work pay off,” Cooper says.

But the championship didn’t come easy.

The Women’s class is full of talent. Cooper says that Chloe Buerster and Katie Mette, in particular, were tough competition.

“Both girls are such strong starters and they are both very smooth but fast,” Cooper says. “They are both all-around great racers.”

The 2012 season was relatively smooth for Cooper, who stayed healthy all season.

There was one weekend, though, that was particularly memorable. That was in Ohio.

“A huge storm came in and severely damaged our rig,” she remembers. “It was devastating. But I ended up winning the overall that weekend and coming within four points of clinching the title, so it helped take my mind off the rig a little bit. And most important, nobody was injured during the storm so we are all really thankful for that.”

Cooper loves the tracks on the AMA ATV MX series circuit, and she’s looking forward to defending her title in 2013.

But before the green flag drops on the first race of the 2013 season, Cooper plans to do a lot of traveling.

“Joe Byrd and I will be going to Europe for one month to compete in a couple races and do schools,” she says. “We will also be going to South America for a few weeks to race as well. But when I’m in the States, the off-season is a chance for me to spend time with my

family and regroup for the next race season.

We spend a lot of time out on the West Coast where I’m from, so that’s important to me.”

Cooper has been racing MX for a decade, with her first race in August 2003 at Glen Helen Raceway in Southern California.

“I was terrified,” she says.

She’s done a few endurance races in Europe, but says her heart is in motocross.

When she isn’t racing, what does Cooper enjoy doing?

“I’m a real adrenaline junkie so I like to do a lot of extreme things,” she says. “We go skydiving a lot and I love going to Glamis and drive our sand car. Anything that gives me a good rush is fun to me.”

She’s a hard-core racer, which may give some people the wrong impression of her.

Cooper says people would probably be surprised to find out that she’s “a ‘girly girl.’

I love getting my nails and hair done, and getting dressed up to go out. I love my girls’ days with my mom and sister.”

Cooper credits her race team and others for her success, noting “they gave me all the tools I needed to win and always kept me up and running, whether it was at a race or training at home.

“Joe Byrd Quad Riding School has been Continued on page 7

March/April 2013 5

A PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR ATVA MEMBERS

rom young kids to wily veterans, AMA ATV racing attracts the most talented ATV racers in the nation. Here’s a look at some of the stars of AMA/ATV racing today. The AMA/ ATVA No. 1 plate represents an incredible accomplishment because the competition is so keen. But even just competing in AMA/ATVAsanctioned events is something to be proud of.

The Faces of AMA ATV Racing

A Race Mom’s Story

By Heather Thatcher I am the proud mom of the 2012 AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series 70 CVT national champion, 10-year-old Trevor Thatcher. Trevor has won a lot of local and district championships, as well as two national AMA ATV EDT Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series titles, and now one national MX championship.

Out of all of those wins, 2012 was the hardest. There were a lot of really fast kids in the 70 CVT class. Heck, there were five different winners in the first five rounds!

Before the season started, I felt like we were at a disadvantage. Living in northern Ohio, there aren’t many chances to practice in the off-season.

It’s usually too cold, too wet, or too frozen. So, thanks to an invitation from Dee and Michelle Manshak of Rage ATV Racing to come down to Texas to practice, about two weeks before the opening round in Georgia we packed up and headed to Splendora, Texas.

Trevor was able to practice just a few days because it was too wet when we got there, and it rained a few days before we left. Once we got to Aonia Pass Motocross Park in Washington, Ga., we were struck with a bit of bad luck. Trevor was charging at the start in the first moto heat when someone t-boned him just before getting to the first turn. He and his quad went flying through the air and the quad landed on him.

But that didn’t stop him!

He jumped up, got his quad flipped over, jumped back on it and charged up to fifth place. However, with quad problems in the second moto leaving him unable to finish the race, he got a 20th overall.

Things turned around at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tenn., where Trevor finished second overall and then at Budd’s Creek in Mechanicsville, Md., he won his very first National MX race! From that point on, Trevor didn’t finish out of the top three spots—including a second win on Father’s Day at Highpoint Raceway in Mt. Morris, Pa.— until we went to Unadilla in New Berlin, N.Y. Going into the Unadilla race, we didn’t realize it at the time but Trevor could have locked up the championship had his motor not failed him.

He finished second in the first moto. In the second moto he was running strong in second place when the first-place racer pulled off the track.

I was so excited! He was going to win!

And then in the second half of the second lap, Trevor pulled off. His motor had blown up. He was absolutely devastated. That was the first time in six years of racing that my heart truly broke for him. There was absolutely nothing he could do but sit there and wait to be towed off the track. Trevor went into Unadilla with a huge points lead, and left leading by only a few points.

Trevor knew going into the last race at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., that if Peyton Zimmerman won, he would have to be in second place or he would lose the championship.

At Loretta’s, Trevor fought hard in both motos.

In the first moto, Trevor got the holeshot and then led the pack for three laps before Bryce Ford passed him. In the second moto, Trevor got the holeshot and was leading for three and a half laps. Then the racers came out of the whoops. Peyton bumped him and almost pushed him off the track, but Trevor didn’t let that stop him even for a second. He charged after Peyton, but knowing he was not going to be able to pass

“10 minutes of near panic, fear, anxiousness and excitement is all worth it when I see how happy Trevor is when he is at the gate...”

6 March/April 2013

Corey, Heather and Trevor Thatcher him back he settled into the second position, where he knew he had to be. Trevor finished in second place, giving him second overall.

That made him the 70 CVT National MX champion for 2012 by only one point. With only two overall wins in the 70 CVT class, Trevor showed that consistency really pays off.

It was a long season, with a lot of ups and downs. There are a lot of different emotions that come along with being a racing mom. You can be extremely happy one moment and literally seconds later feel completely somber. But 10 minutes of near panic, fear, anxiousness and excitement is all worth it when I see how happy Trevor is when he is at the gate, on the track, or even just sitting on his quad.

Trevor has learned more from racing and his experiences than anyone could ever teach him. At 10 years old, Trevor has more respect for others than most adults do. Five years ago, Trevor was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and racing has shown him that it will never hold him back from anything he wants to do. Racing has taught him that you can’t always be the best and that’s OK. It has taught him to face his fears, and has made him a very confident boy.

There are a few people that I would like to say thanks to. Not his sponsors, just people who I personally appreciate for helping keep him safe when he is on the track and who have helped him get to the level he’s at. Harold Goodman for sure, because without him spending hours upon hours rebuilding and adjusting Trevor’s shocks Trevor wouldn’t have the confidence to fly through the whoops like he does—not to mention how many times Harold has practiced with him.

Also, Joey Scarrow and Melissa Kufel, who let Trevor come to their house and practice on their track any time he wants to. They give him a lot of confidence not only with the physical training but also with their encouraging words, and you guys could never imagine how much I truly appreciate that. Cole Sepesi and David Collard because you guys help push him on the track when you are all practicing.

And last, but not least, Corey Thatcher, because he is the best dad/ mechanic Trevor could ever ask for and without him, Trevor wouldn’t have the confidence he needs in his machine.

You guys are awesome! We are truly blessed to know such wonderful people.

Trevor would like to thank his sponsors from this year as well.

Fierce Powersports, Goodman Racing, Melissa and Joey, ATV Outlaws, Maximum RPM, Hagerty Racing, Rage ATV Racing and Elka Suspension.

Racing is a lifestyle and for us, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Continued from page 5

my main sponsor this year and supplied me with an awesome team and a great bike,” she says. “I would like to thank all of our sponsors that supported us for this season: Dasa, Walsh, PEP, Pro Armor, SSI Decals, Maxxis Tires, DWT, Fly Racing, Lonestar, Quad Tech, Hinson, Renthal, Tsubaki Chains, Precision, FPS, UNI, Scott Goggles, Web Cams, Sidewinder, Works Connection, Powermadd, Hardkor, Streamline, Golden Motorsports and my family.

“I would also like to thank the Women’s class,” she says. “The girls and their families have all been so awesome this season and I couldn’t have picked a better group of girls to race with. Thank you everybody.”

Trevor Thatcher:

Heather Thatcher provided her take on her son Trevor’s 2012 AMA ATV Motocross National Championship season in an article titled “A Race Mom’s Story.”We decided to find out what Trevor had to say.

ATVA News: Congratulations on winning the 2012 title in the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship Series, presented by Parts Unlimited in the 70 CVT class. How do you feel about that?

Trevor Thatcher: Very happy and excited. I worked harder for this championship than any of my others!

AN: Who were some of your toughest competitors and why?

TT: The entire 70 CVT class! That class was so competitive this year and everyone was really fast, but the last half of the season I’d have to say that Peyton Zimmerman and Bryce Ford were the toughest for sure.

AN: How long have you been racing? Have you won any other championships?

TT: I’ve been racing for six years.Yes, I’ve won two Extreme Dirt Track National Championships along with 13 local and state championships.

AN: Why do you like motocross racing?

TT: I love jumping big jumps and flying through the whoops, and the intense competition, it’s what makes me happy.

There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.

AN: What are your racing plans for the 2013 season?

TT: In 2013 I plan on racing the entire ATV MX National Championship Series. I’ll be racing in 90 Mod Junior and 90 Production and I plan to push harder than I ever have.

Trevor Thatcher

AN: How long do you plan to continue racing the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series?

TT: As long as I am able to and I hope that is for a long, long time.

AN: What do you do in your free time unrelated to ATVs? TT: I wrestle for my school (Pike-DeltaYork in Fulton County, Ohio), play video games, hang out with my friends and ride my bike and scooter.

AN: Who are your sponsors? Who would you like to thank?

TT: I would like to thank Fierce Powersports for building my quads, they always perform perfectly and look amazing.

Harold Goodman, I can’t thank him enough.

His advice is priceless and he is the best at setting up my shocks. Melissa Kufel and Joey Scarrow, they are so awesome! They give me great advice and confidence when I think I can’t do something. ATV Outlaws for helping me train and practicing with me.

Sebastian at Elka Shocks for always making sure I get what I need and fast. Dee and Michele at Rage ATV, they are always there with encouraging words and allow me to come to their track in Texas to practice whenever I want. Haggerty Racing for supplying me with the nastiest 70 motors I’ve ridden.

Justin at Maximum RPM, he always makes sure I have the hard-to-find parts no matter what. My mom, my grandma and my dad. A huge thanks to my dad. He spends a lot of time getting my quads ready and keeping them running great. He is the best at clutching CVTs and without him I could never

have won this championship.

I love you dad, you are the best!

AN: Is there anything else you would like to add?

TT: To all my sponsors for 2013—Fierce Powersports, Elka Suspension, Boysen, 488 Web Design, Harold Goodman, Rage ATV, ATV Outlaws, Makson Construction, Liquid Performance, Leatt, Hot Rods, Go Pro, Osiris, Eks Brand Goggles, ODI Grips, and any future sponsors—I will do my best to finish on top with all of your help.

Nick Gennusa:

TRIPLE THREAT ON THE ATV MOTOCROSS CIRCUIT

Nick Gennusa, a 17-yearold racer from Wall Township, N.J., was a force to be reckoned with in the 2012 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series, presented by Parts Unlimited.

Gennusa took home three national titles in the 450 A, 4-Stroke A and Production A classes. He knew he had a chance to win all three titles, but he also knew it wouldn’t be easy.

“I knew from the beginning of the year that all three classes were going to come down to Loretta’s [the last race of the season] and they did,” he says.

Racing three classes can be tough physically and mentally. Gennusa says what kept him going was an inner drive to win

March/April 2013 7

A PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR ATVA MEMBERS

10-YEAR- OLD ATV MOTOCROSS CHAMP

The Faces of AMA ATV Racing

Planning For Racing Success

By Carole Gennusa If we had to sum up the past nine years of our lives as a super-busy family, we will tell you that they have been the best and most memorable family times ever.

Although organized, yet hectic, our household of four kids, a St. Bernard and us parents could hardly wait to leave for the next ATV motocross National.

Did I mention the dynamics that go into trying to prepare and pack up before you can even pull out of the driveway, and typically not ever on schedule?

But one thing, for sure, we have always loved about this sport was removing our children from their area—or should I say their “world”—then having the privilege of exposing them, and us, to an entire realm of great people from all different backgrounds from their respective states. This is what we call “our extended race family,” and it consists of plumbers, landscapers, pharmacists, entrepreneurs, union workers, builders, executives and people like us: restaurateurs from New Jersey.

Regardless of what we all do, it doesn’t scratch the surface of who we really are, and that is “die-hard” racers and fans.

Being the survivors that we are, we will figure out how to make it to the next race even if it entails sharing our motor homes and trailers, and, of course, the food.

So before we, Nick Gennusa’s parents, became “pro” at these neat little tricks, Nick asked us when he was 8 years old if he could try racing. We thought it was cute, so yeah, sure.

But little did we know what it would turn into after he came off the track that very first time, looked at us and said: “I can do this.”

Well, one thing for sure about Nick was that he was always very “tuned in.” Moreover, he found himself in racing at a very young age, embraced who he really was, and charged forward with what he wanted to do.

He went on just a couple of years later to win two local AMA District 6 (Eastern Pennsylvania) championships in 2006 and then said to us:“I want more. I want to race with kids better than me.”

Although 2008 and ’09 weren’t banner years with a host of issues like motor problems, Nick rebounded to win the 2010 ATVA Supermini National Championship— which is what he declared he was going to do that year at the starting gate of round one in Alabama.

Still on fire in 2011, Nick, unfortunately, suffered a pretty severe break to his collarbone after only the first round, quickly ending any hope of a championship for that season.

When he felt strong enough, he asked if we would take him to Unadilla in New Berlin, N.Y., so he could try a few of the “A” classes to help him make his decision for the coming 2012 season. After leaving with a few respectable top-five finishes, his decision was made, with him saying: “If I’m racing three ‘A’ divisions, then I’m winning ‘A’ divisions.”

Although we knew how difficult that would be for Nick or any racer who had just come from the youth ranks of Supermini, we never once discouraged him from what he wanted to accomplish.

We are so very proud to say that despite a fractured wrist at the second round in Tennessee, and a few more significant hiccups along the way, Nick did, indeed, win all three “A” class championships by never once taking his eyes off of his goal.

He turned 17 years old towards the end of the season.

With all that said, guess what? Nick wants more.

“More” meaning he will be moving into the Pro-Am ranks for the 2013 season with, surely, some kind of game plan that he typically brews up at this time of year.

His ultimate goal?

To become a Pro ATV racer one day.

But at the end of the day, Nick and his three lovely sisters and biggest “cheerleaders” have been raised with the same discipline, focus and determination to “plan your work and work your plan,” because it takes as much energy and effort to wish as it does to plan.

“Being the survivors that we are, we will figure out how to make it to the next race even if it entails sharing our motor homes and trailers, and, of course, the food.”

against tough competition. What kept it interesting was keeping track of who he had to beat at each race.

“I have to say, probably the toughest competition in the ‘A’ classes for me [in 2012] were definitely Travis Spader and Merrill Crose,” he says. “The thing with Travis is that he was fast on every track.

And if he got a good start and I didn’t, it was not going to be easy to catch him.

“With Merrill, he’s a tank on the track—definitely the fiercest rider I’ve ever raced,” Gennusa says.

“Between Merrill and I, whoever got the better start would most likely win. Both of these guys helped me to develop into a much better rider.”

A racer since the age of 8, Gennusa won the AMA MX Supermini Championship in 2010 and now has three more titles.

“I love racing, the sport never gets old for me,” Gennusa says. “It’s my favorite thing to do. I’m more relaxed on a quad then I am on anything else. I’m more comfortable on a quad then I am walking.

Riding, to me, comes as easy as breathing.”

Looking ahead to the 2013 season, Gennusa plans to step up and race the Pro-Am Unlimited and Pro-Am Production classes.

Gennusa is sponsored by, and thanks, Fly Racing, Sidi boots, FTR Powersports, Odi grips, Maxxis Tires, Ocean County Powersports, Nac’s Racing, Rath Racing, JB Racing, “and most importantly, my family, because racing would not happen without them at all.”

> HARE AND HOUND Hare and hound races are often referred to as desert races because of their popularity in the Southwest. Riders race over a natural terrain course at least 40 miles long and pass through a series of checkpoints. But unlike an enduro, hare and hound races are similar to hare scrambles events in that they are an all-out race featuring a mass start.

Andris Lagzdins:

EAST COAST TRANSPLANT MAKES HIS MARK IN THE WESTERN DESERT

Andris Lagzdins, a 44-year-old racer who lives in Burbank, Calif., was on a mission in 2012 in the AMA Hare and Hound National Championship Series—to win his second national ATV title in a row.

He did it, winning the ATV 100-Open A class.

“It’s great to back up last year’s title with another championship, and ending this season with a hardfought win is the best way to go into the off-season,” Langzdins said after earning the title. “For me, the biggest accomplishment in racing has always been the AMA No. 1 plate, and to attain that is very satisfying.”

But the title didn’t come easy. The AMA Hare and Hound National Championship Series features

Jim Evans:

FIRST TIME IS THE CHARM FOR THIS DESERT RACER

Andris Lagzdins

some of the fastest desert racers in America.

His main competition for the series title came from Bill Markel, the 2012 AMA District 37 (Southern California) Overall ATV champion.

“Bill does an unbelievable amount of races in the California desert, and he knows every nook and cranny out there!” Lagzdins says.

“The two Utah rounds were won by Utah riders Chris Brigman and Colt Brinkerhoff, so there is something to be said for having the home field advantage.”

During his 2012 championship-winning season, Lagzdins raced a Honda TRX450R prepared by DirtFirst Racing. He says he’s had great results in various disciplines with the machine, including racing Baja.

“My longtime engine tuner, Loren Duncan, puts together a motor package that is perfectly suited for the Hare and Hound events,” Lagzdins says.

Lagzdins spent more than a decade racing enduros and other events on the East Coast before moving to Southern California, where he felt he would fit in.

“Not being able to ride the course before the event, having to negotiate very technical and rocky terrain, and doing dead engine starts are all facets of racing in which I was able to carry my skills over,” he says.

His very first race, in 1988, was the Blackwater 100, which he tackled with a Honda ATC 250R three-wheeler. He then raced at the AMA District level in the 1990s, earning state championships in District 5 (Western Virginia, Western Pennsylvania) and District 7 (Maryland, Delaware).

“I moved from Maryland to California

in 2009 to concentrate on the Score Baja Series, riding for the Christy’s Racing Team,” Lagzdins says. “Everything came together there in 2009 and we won a championship in the Best in the Desert Series as well as the SCORE Overall ATV title.

“In 2010 I discovered the Hare and Hound Series while looking for other races to participate in to stay sharp for Baja,” he says.

“I won the last Hare and Hound in 2010, and came back in 2011 and won the series, then backed that up with the [2012] title.”

Following the end of the 2012 season and before the beginning of the 2013 season, Lagzdins planned to focus on the Baja 1000 and then spend some time in Maryland, where he hoped to do a little “muddy, tight woods, enduro-style riding because I just can’t get that here in SoCal.” His plans for the future?

“I am always looking to travel to new areas to race, and I had a blast racing in some 12-hour events in France a few years ago,” he says. “I would like to get a ride for a couple of the European Quad Championship races and check out more of Europe.

“Another goal is the DAKAR Rally, which is probably every desert racer’s dream,” he says. “I also have an Isle of Man trip in the works for 2014, but just to spectate, for now!”

Lagzdins is a rider. You can find him riding quads, dirtbikes and even streetbikes.

“Whether it’s carving canyons on my Honda RC51 streetbike, or doing laps on the MX track on my CRF450R, I like it all,” he says. “A good, relaxing Sunday is me and my girlfriend taking the dirtbikes up in the

Jim Evans, 44, of Corona, Calif., didn’t set out to win a national championship in the 2012 AMA Hare and Hound National Championship Series. He just went racing to “see how it goes.”

He went home at the end of the season with the ATV 100-Open B title.

“This was my first year racing in this amateur class, so I knew I had to step it up a bit to do well in this class,” Evans says. “It wasn’t easy.”

His toughest competition came from Christopher Peatross, who he battled the year before as well.

“Towards the end of the year there were some other really fast guys coming out to the races so it’s going to be very challenging [2013],” Evans says.

Evans ran most of the season aboard a Yamaha YFZ450R outfitted with a full set of PRM skid plates, a DynoJet programmer, GYTR full exhaust and larger tires.

“The power and handling of the YFZ450R is one of the main reasons I was able to be more competitive this year,” he says. “The Yamaha was very reliable and I had no mechanical issues all year. It’s a rock-solid quad.”

Evans says he really likes racing the AMA ATV Hare and Hound National Championship Series because the races are challenging and really test your riding ability. You are able to push yourself a little farther at each race, he says, which makes him a better rider.

The Nationals “also bring out more quad riders to compete with,” he says.

Evans raced motorcycles and did a lot of trail riding starting in the late 1980s but switched to quads after seriously injuring

March/April 2013 9

A PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR ATVA MEMBERS

mountains north of L.A. and exploring. I can honestly say that I have dedicated my life to motorcycling, and everything revolves around that.”

Lanzdins knows that a racer can’t be successful without strong support, and he has many people he wants to thank.

“Most importantly, I have to thank my family for helping me keep pushing myself to succeed,” he says. “The guys at DirtFirst Racing who made my whole program escalate to where it is now, including my mechanics Tony Kwiatkowski and Jim Quesinberry, and racing coordinator Tom Nalepa.

“Christy’s Racing, Duncan Racing, Elka Suspension, Rolldesign, IMS Products, ITP Tires, TireBalls, Rpm Axles, GPR, ATVRiders. com, Moose Racing, Alpinestars, and 100% Goggles all contributed to make my program a success,” he says.

The Faces of AMA ATV Racing

> HARE SCRAMBLES Hare scrambles are woods races. Unlike an enduro, all riders in a single class start on the same row, and the event is an all-out race to the finish. They are conducted on long, marked-loop courses through woods or desert and over rugged natural terrain.

The racers keep doing laps on the course until the leader either completes a predetermined number of laps or has raced for a pre-determined amount of time, usually two hours. Competitive riders not only need to be fast, but also physically fit enough to maintain a race pace for hours. Hare scrambles can include tight woods, big hills and field sections. Although similar, in general they are more open than a typical enduro.

Scott Samuel:

STILL RACING AND WINNING AFTER 25 YEARS

Jim Evans

his leg in 2005. He first began racing ATVs in 2011 and decided to make a full-on effort in 2012.

“This is my first championship and I am really proud of that,” Evans says. “I’ve come a long way since my accident.”

Now that he has a title under his belt, Evans hopes to capture another one in the 2013 AMA Hare and Hound National Championship Series. He also plans to run some AMA District 37 (Southern California) races, and might even try racing Baja.

“Anything that allows me to put miles on my quad--I’ll be there,” he says. “That’s what I enjoy most.”

10 March/April 2013

When he’s not racing ATVs, Evans enjoys riding his mountain bike and hiking with his wife, Wendy, who has been supportive throughout the years.

“We went through a couple tough years with my leg injury,” Evans says. “She is a really special lady and the love of my life.”

Evans would like to thank everyone involved with the NHHA series, District 37 clubs, Rescue 3 and all the volunteers who devote so much time and effort to put on desert races.

He also thanks all the District 37 quad racers who “make it a fun, family atmosphere at the races.”

Scott Samuel, a 39-year-old racer from Medway, Mass., near Boston, began competing aboard ATVs in 1988, riding fluorescent machines that combined a pink-green-yellow-orange color scheme. He earned his first AMA national title—in the AMA 200 Modified ATV Motocross National Championship Series—in 1992. In 2012, he was crowned the Overall class champion in the AMA ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series.

Samuel says he’s “super excited” about winning the championship against a talented field of riders some 20 years after his first AMA crown.

“The old guy pulls one out!” he says.

His major competition?

“Landon Wolfe for most of the year,” Samuel says. “He is young and talented. Towards the end of the year, Adam McGill became a factor.”

Samuel earned his title aboard a Honda TRX450R but has switched to a Yamaha YZF450 for the 2013 season. He also bought a YZ250 dirtbike to race.

“Yamaha really supports ATV racing and riding more than any other manufacturer and I applaud them for all their efforts,” Samuel says.

“I plan on racing for life but will only chase after championships as long as I am competitive,” he adds. “For 2013, I think I will race my dirtbike at all the events as well as the ATV. My fitness level is not really an issue as I train year-round, but I am not that fast when I take my training wheels off so I will just run the Vet B bike class.”

Nick Howarth:

HARE SCRAMBLES CHAMPION FROM NEW YORK

Nick Howarth is a 17-year-old ATV racer who lives in Cortland, N.Y., and has been racing for five years. In 2012, Howarth captured the 15-20 B national title in the AMA ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series. We caught up with Howarth to find out more.

ATVA News: Who was your toughest competition?

Nick Howarth: A.J. Conners, I would say, as we were competing for the national championship.

AN: What kind of quad were you riding?

NH: A Suzuki LTR 450. It is an awesomeperforming quad!

Scott Samuel

AN: Have you won any other AMA championships?

NH: I raced in the Western New York Offroad Association (AMA District 4: Western New York) College B class and won the class.

oval short track or a TT course—an oval short track that features at least one right turn and a jump.

AN: What do you like about the Hare Scrambles series?

NH: I like the length and the challenge of the woods with the many different types of obstacles. It is challenging and fun.

QUEEN OF THE AMA ATV EXTREME DIRT TRACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

AN: How long do you plan to continue racing the AMA ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series?

NH: As long as I can. It is fun and enjoyable.

AN: What do you do in your free time unrelated to ATVs? NH: I enjoy mountain bike riding, training at the gym or biking, riding and hanging out with friends.

AN: Who would you like to thank?

NH: I would like to thank my dad and mom, my family and friends, the Wolfe family and Dale Slocum. Also my sponsors: FTR Graphics and East Coast ATV.

> EXTREME DIRT TRACK Dirt track is one of the most traditional forms of motorcycle competition in the United States.

Dirt-track racing grew from the age when riders would compete on county fair horse tracks groomed to deliver a hard-packed surface. The ATV community calls it extreme dirt track. ATV racers generally compete on an

Paula Shank:

Paula Shank, a 31-year-old racer from Petersburg, Va., isn’t afraid to mix it up with the big boys in the AMA ATV Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series.

Shank not only captured her fifth consecutive Women’s championship in 2012, but she also finished first in the Unlimited A class and seventh in the Pro-Am Unlimited class, racing some of the best men in America.

And for Shank, winning never gets old.

“I feel great and excited about winning both the Women’s and Unlimited A Championships this year. I also feel very proud because this was my 5th consecutive Women’s Championship,” Shank says.

But the victories didn’t come easy. She says all the competitors in the women’s class are tough and keep her on her toes.

Her fiercest competition in the Unlimited A class came from her teammate, TC Gordy of Germanton, N.C. That championship was decided at the last race.

“The Pro-Am Unlimited class, where I finished seventh, included many great pro and amateur riders,” Shank says.

Winning takes a lot of concentration.

Here’s how she tackles the track on the first lap: “I pull up to the line and pick a good

March/April 2013 11

A PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR ATVA MEMBERS

The attraction of hare scrambles racing, he says, is that it offers motocross sections, slow sections, fast sections, technical sections, water, mud, dust and more.

Besides speed, it requires endurance and strategy, he says. It’s a true test “of every riding skill you can have,” he says.

When he’s not racing, Samuel enjoys creating artworks and metal sculptures, reading, creative writing and relaxing on the beach.

“I also run, cycle, cross-fit, hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, snowboard, and operate Leumas Enterprises,” he says.

Samuel has many people he wants to thank for their support.

“A big thank you to all my family and friends for their support over the years,” he says, “and I definitely could not race without my 2012 sponsors: Leumas Enterprises, Greater Boston Motorsports, Moose Racing, G4 Graphics, FMF, Streamline, Derisi Racing, Hiper Wheels, JD Performance, Cylinder Works, Pivot Works, Hot Cams, Hot Rods, Vertex Pistons, Tire Balls, Clarke Fuel Tanks, Uni-Filter, Harry’s Machined Parts, Adam’s Welding, Stone Concepts, Bower’s MC Shop, Smith Goggles, Cantabrigian Mechanics, FAH-Q MC Club, SAMMY RULZ! And, of course, my wallet.”

Does he have some advice for riders and racers?

“I competed all year with an FMF Q (quiet) exhaust and gave up nothing in horsepower to my competition,” he says. “Loud machines are stupid and unnecessary, people. Let’s get ’em all quiet for everyone’s benefit!”

The Faces of AMA ATV Racing

starting spot. I clean my starting spot off and heat up my tires. The starter gives the sign to start the bikes. I pull the clutch in and put my quad in second gear. When the starter points at me, I immediately look at the light and hold steady on the gas. When the light turns green, I dump the clutch and get on the gas,” Shank says.

“My goal is to get to turn one first. I go as fast as I can and as long as I can into the first turn, pull the front brakes in and tap the back brakes to set the bike up for the turn and slip the clutch to get through the turn and out of the turn as fast as possible,” she says.

“I continue racing the entire track and concentrate as much as possible. I try to get down the straight sections and through the turns clean and as fast as possible. I don’t let up until I see the checkered flag,” she says.

Shank pilots a Honda 450R, which she says “handles great, runs awesome and is fast.”

Like other competitors in the AMA ATV Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series, Shank enjoys the family atmosphere of the races and hanging out with her family and friends. She also enjoys technical tracks, where she excels.

She’s no newcomer to ATV racing, riding a quad since the age of 5 while growing up in Clyde, Pa. “I went to a race with my brother and decided I wanted to start racing ATVs,” she says.

“I began racing in 1990 on a Suzuki 50cc.

I continued racing by competing on an 80cc

Automatic and then an 80cc Modified. While racing the 80cc Stock and Modified ATVs, I won multiple District 5 (Western Virginia, Western Pennsylvania) championships,” Shank says.

“Then, in 1996, I moved up to racing a Honda 250R and began racing the AMA ATV National Motocross Series in the Women’s class. I continued racing the AMA ATV National GNC Series from 1996 to 2000 when the series consisted of half motocross and half TT races,” she says.

“In 2001, The AMA decided to split the AMA ATV GNC Series into two different series. There was a motocross series that consisted of 10 to 12 races and a TT series that consisted of six to eight races. I continued to compete in the AMA GNC series and rode a few of the races in the TT series,” she says.

“In 2006, I decided to race the Extreme Dirt Track TT series full time and only raced a few of the AMA motocross races,” she says.

When she’s not blasting around on an ATV, Shank says she enjoys hanging out with friends, hunting, fishing, watching football and drag racing, and going to the gym or to the movies.

No racer achieves success alone. Shank thanks Gordy Racing, Fly Racing, Streamline, Quadtech, Hinson, Rath Racing, Full Flight, Tom’s Cycle, Lias Tires/American Racer, K&N Filters, VP Race Fuels, DWT Technology, Victory Motorsports, ESJ Graphics, Exotic Powder Coating “and a BIG thanks to my dad!”

Andrew Evanyke:

PRODUCTION A AMA ATV EXTREME DIRT TRACK CHAMP

Andrew Evanyke of Warwick, N.Y., earned the national No. 1 plate in the Production A class of the 2012 AMA ATV Extreme Dirt Track Championship Series.

This 18-year-old national champion won the title even though he missed two rounds of the series and faced stiff competition from everyone in the field.

“They are all a challenge,” Evanyke says.

“But what it came down to at the last round was point standings. And because of that, the competition was Mark Blystone, Jason Fisher and TC Gordy.”

Evanyke says he was very pleased with the performance of his Honda TRX450R during the 2012 season, and “between the Roberts Racing components, PEP suspension and the Turtle Racing motor, I could not ask for a better bike to be on.”

Evanyke likes the family atmosphere of the AMA ATV Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series and hopes to become a top contender in the Pro and Pro-Am classes. When he’s not racing he rides pit bikes, snowboards, fishes, bowls and plays basketball.

His sponsors are ESJ Graphics, Roberts Racing, Rath Racing, CV4, Showoff Industries and TRE. He also wants to give “a huge thanks to Lenny from TSI competition engines.

“I really can’t thank my father, Brian Demarmels, Eric Jennings, and Chuck Zovistoski enough,” he adds. “Without them this would not be possible. Also, a special thanks to the Ace family for always being there for me.”

Paula Shank

BY THE NUMBERS

Paula Shank

12 March/April 2013

• 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Women’s ATV Extreme Dirt Track TT Champion.

• 2012 Unlimited A ATV Extreme Dirt Track Champion.

• 2011 and 2012 Southern ATVA Extreme Dirt Track Women’s Champion.

• 2012 Pro-Am Unlimited Southern ATVA Extreme Dirt Track Champion.

• 2009 Production B Extreme Dirt Track TT Champion.

• 2009 Amateur Rider of the Year: Extreme Dirt Track TT series.

•2009 AMA ATVA Female Rider of the Year.

•2009 Nominee AMA ATVA Rider of the Year.

Racing Can-Am ATV Team Wins Baja 1000 After a 27-hour battle with the most brutal racing terrain the Baja Peninsula of Mexico has to offer, the Motoworks/ Can-Am DS 450 team of Josh Frederick, Jeremie Warnia, Collins Webster and Jarrod McClure crossed the finish line ahead of 297 other starters and 1121 miles away from the start line of the Baja 1000 in Ensenada, Mexico, in late November.

Once across the line, the team was officially declared the Pro ATV-class winner of the 45th running of the Baja 1000.

“This team was prepared to deliver BRP its first Pro ATV-class victory in over a decade and the first for the DS 450 ATV,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Can-Am offroad race manager. “The dedication by the entire Motoworks team was evident

from pre-running to the finish. I am proud that they are an important partner with BRP.” As the race descended the peninsula, and the terrain got rougher, the team gained time on the leader. And when darkness fell, they made up ground on the first-place team. By dawn, the

Motoworks-prepped DS 450 passed for the lead and pulled away to the finish line 300 miles away. The team won the race by more than two hours over the next Pro ATV-class competitor.

“I am so proud of everyone who Continued on page 14

Josh Frederick

RACING Continued from page 13

was part of this Baja team,” says lead rider Josh Frederick. “It was a ton of hard work, but everyone really stepped up and made it happen. The bike was flawless. We had to change out a few bent parts early on, and that set us about an hour back. But we stuck to the plan and just kept plugging away it paid off in the end. I’m so happy right now!”

The team hit a rock and broke off a frame mount for the footpeg about 200 miles into the race. After limping the stricken ATV into the next pit stop, the Motoworks crew quickly went to work to minimize the time lost. The machine was back out on the course in no time and started the amazing comeback on the lead teams.

“I can’t say enough about the racers and the pit crews,” says team owner Johnny Leach. “Winning the Baja 1000 is something everyone dreams of, and I am glad I was a part of getting this team prepped and ready for such a tough offroad race. This will be tough to top, but we can’t wait for next season.”

By winning the Baja 1000, Frederick also clinched the 2012 SCORE Pro ATV (Class 25) Championship title, earning himself the honor of being able to run the coveted No. 1A number plate during the coming 2013 SCORE season.

2013 AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Schedule MX Sports Pro Racing and the ATVPG have announced the 2013 schedule for America’s most prestigious and longest standing ATV racing series—the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series.

The 10-race series kicks off March 23 and 24 at Aonia Pass MX in Washington, Ga., and wraps up Aug. 10 and 11 at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

The series will be returning to many of the ATV racing community’s favorite venues, while adding two more for 2013.

Round four heads to Indiana’s hotbed of racing at Wildcat Creek MX in Rossville, while round six stops at Birch Creek Motorsports in Danville, Va. “The ATV promoters have put a lot of consideration into creating a schedule that best accommodates riders and families, while still creating an exciting series that is worthy of its national status,” says ATVPG Director Sam Gammon.

The AMA ATV Motocross Championship is the nation’s premier amateur and professional ATV motocross series, hosted at top

So, You Want To Race?

AMA- and ATVA-sanctioned racing is the most exciting, accessible and affordable motorsport in the world. Every weekend at AMA and ATVA events across America, thousands of racers of all ages and skill levels, ranging from beginners to experts, face off in a number of disciplines.

Getting started is quick and easy. Assuming you have the right machine and a way to get to the track, you’re almost there.

First, join the ATVA or AMA so you can participate in AMA- and ATVA-sanctioned competition events.

Not only does the AMA provide consistent rules and guidelines that make racing fairer and safer, but the AMA Government Relations Department fights for ATV riders and motorcyclists’ rights on the national level and helps organize and support local battles.

There is strength in numbers, and we need everybody to get on board.

Second, download a copy of the AMA Amateur Racing Rulebook at www.americanmotorcyclist. com/Racing/Rules.aspx. In the rulebook, you’ll learn which

14 March/April 2013

motocross facilities nationwide. The 10-round series features the nation’s best racers, teams and sponsors, and is America’s largest and longest-running ATV national motocross program.

Since 1985, the series continues to expand and produce top talent from the amateur ranks, while premiering the professional class.

• March 23-24: Aonia Pass MX, Washington, Ga. • April 13-14: Muddy Creek Raceway, Blountville, Tenn.

• April 27-28: Ballance MX, Oakland, Ky. • May 11-12: Wildcat Creek MX, Rossville, Ind. • May 25-26: Sunset Ridge, Walnut, Ill. • June 8-9: Birch Creek Motorsports, Danville, Va. • July 6-7: Steel City, Delmont, Pa. • July 13-14: Unadilla, New Berlin, N.Y. • July 27-28: RedBud, Buchanan, Mich.

• Aug. 10-11: Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

nationally recognized classes you’re eligible to enter and find out how to make your quad legal for competition. Although the vast majority of riders compete in the official AMA classes, AMA-chartered organizers also can advertise and run special classes that have local appeal. Contact the promoters for information about these classes.

Third, download and print in color the Adult Release Form from www.americanmotorcyclist. com/Libraries/Racing_Documents/2012_ ADULT_Annual_Release_2.sflb.ashx or Minor Release form at http://www. americanmotorcyclist.com/Libraries/ Racing_Documents/2012_MINOR_ Annual_Release_1.sflb.ashx and submit it to the AMA. Fourth, find an event.

Look up a race near you by searching our online database of AMA- and ATVA-sanctioned racing events at www.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Garmin Montana 650t GPS The Garmin Montana 650t GPS system features a four-inch color touchscreen dual-orientation display and TOPO U.S. 100K maps, supports multiple mapping options and has a 5 megapixel camera to boot. It’s easy to read in sunlight and easy to use. With an array of compatible mounts, the Montana 650t is designed for use on ATVs, in boats, as a handheld device or in your car.

MSRP: $699.99 Info: www.garmin.com

MARKETPLACE Koplin Hand Guards With Mirror Protect your hands and increase your safety with these nifty Koplin hand guards that feature a round, threeinch fisheye rearview mirror. They’re made of durable molded polyurethane with Kolpin’s trademark Rhino Rib reinforcement for added protection. The universal fit design mounts directly to most ATV handlebars. Price includes two hand guards and hardware. Note: The hand guard does not fit on Can-Am ATVs with hand guards or Kawasaki Brute Force models with plastic handlebar fascia.

Moose Rubber Cable Stop The Moose Utility Division Rubber Cable Stop is a simple and inexpensive solution to what could be a painful problem. Attach the cable stop to your winch and eliminate wire slivers while reducing weight. It has a soft eyelet on the working end to easily thread through snatch blocks. For ATV use only.

MSRP: $9.95 Info: www.mooseutilities.com

The following is a listing of events sanctioned by the ATVA. To find the events nearest you, locate your state and contact the promoter for complete details.

CALIFORNIA DESERT SCRAMBLES MAR 23-24: RIDGECREST: 2-DAY EVENT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DIRT DIGGERS, (661) 496-9594, DIRTDIGGERSMC.COM

3245, HUNTINGTONBEACHMC. COM

(423) 323-5497, VICTORYSPORTS.COM

MAR 10: LUCERNE VALLEY: HUNTINGTON BEACH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (661) 5103245, HUNTINGTONBEACHMC. COM

OHIO

GEORGIA MOTOCROSS MAR 23-24: WASHINGTON: 2-DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM MAR 24: DALTON: LAZY RIVER MOTOCROSS, (706) 278-1620, LAZYRIVERMOTOCROSS.COM

KENTUCKY

HARE & HOUND

MOTOCROSS

APR 13: JOHNSON VALLEY: 2 DAY EVENT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (949) 981-6776

APR 20: OAKLAND: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

SCRAMBLES MAR 9: LUCERNE VALLEY: HUNTINGTON BEACH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (661) 510-

APR 21: OAKLAND : VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM APR 27-28: OAKLAND: 2-DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC,

HARE SCRAMBLES MAR 3: ATHENS: ATHENS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 593-7459

CALENDAR 796-0294, BAERMOTORSPORTS. COM

TENNESSEE MOTOCROSS

MAR 24: LOGAN: HOCKING VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 385-7695, HOCKINGVALLEYMC.COM

SHORT TRACK MAR 24: HANOVER: TRAIL-WAY SPEEDWAY, (717) 359-4310, TRAIL-WAYSPEEDWAY.COM

APR 7: BLOUNTVILLE: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

APR 28: AMESVILLE: ATHENS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 593-7459

APR 7: SHIPPENSBURG: SHIPPENSBURG MC, (717) 796-0294, BAERMOTORSPORTS. COM

APR 13-14: BLOUNTVILLE: 2-DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

MOTOCROSS MAR 24: MARYSVILLE: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, (937) 358-2427, AMERICANMX. COM APR 28: MARYSVILLE: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, (937) 3582427, AMERICANMX.COM

PENNSYLVANIA 1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK APR 20: BLOOMSBURG: SHIPPENSBURG MC, (717)

APR 27: SPRING RUN: TWO WHEEL PROMOTIONS, (717) 368-5902, PATHVALLEY.COM

SOUTH CAROLINA MOTOCROSS MAR 16: HAMER: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM MAR 17: HAMER: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

WISCONSIN MOTOCROSS APR 21: HILLPOINT: SUGAR MAPLE MX LLC, (608) 393-8812, SUGARMAPLEMX.COM APR 28: NEKOOSA: RAPID ANGELS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (715) 451-1168, RAPIDANGLES.COM

March/April 2013 15

A PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVELY FOR ATVA MEMBERS

MSRP: $51.99 Info: www.koplinpowersports.com

I’m A “ Member!

Are You?”

— Harold Goodman, 2012 AMA ATV Extreme Dirt Track Champion

PRO RIDER ATV DIRT TRACK CHAMPION PROTECTS THE FUTURE OF ATV RIDING

PRO RIDER

COVERED BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE GETS DISCOUNTS ON GEAR AND TRAVEL

As a Life Member of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), Harold Goodman helped defeat the lead law that essentially banned the sale of ATVs for kids 12 and younger. In doing so, he helped save ATVing for future generations. He’s keeping racetracks open and fighting unfair laws that close trails.

He’s helping battle medical insurance discrimination against ATV riders and is represented in the halls of government by AMA freedom fighters. He’s saving money with various AMA benefits and discounts. You can, too. The AMA and its All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA) are the world’s most powerful voices for motorcyclists and ATV riders.

Enjoy the benefits of AMA Roadside Assistance today!

JOIN NOW!

ATVAOnline.com (866) 288-2564